Clerks BLAH!

Figure 1

Launchy is a really cool program that not only saves you valuable time, effort, and screen real estate, it also looks really cool.  it’s design is simply to launch a specified program simply by typing the name of it.

With Launchy, to launch an app, you press the desired keystroke (default -> ALT-SPACE) to launch the main Launchy menu (Figure 1) and simply start typing what you are looking for. as you can see from the image, by just typing the letters “ama” the suggestion to run the Amarok application has come up. Then when you press the enter key the selected application loads and the Launchy app goes back into idle mode.  When it is in idle mode it just hangs out in the background waiting to be launched again.  Out of sight, and saving all that valuable screen real estate that the Windows Start menu takes up!

So now you can hide that Windows bar, with confidence that you don’t have to rely on it so heavily!

Launchy is available from: http://www.launchy.net/

xPUD is classified as an “Instant On OS”, which means that it boots very fast, and is designed for when you are on the go, and you don’t want to have to wait for Windows to boot up all the way. You just want to be able to turn on your computer and either do something online or work with a document, or both.

xPUD is downloaded as a Windows .exe file, ant installs just like any other program.

Once installed, you simply have to reboot, and select it from the Windows startup boot screen. Once selected the entire operating system will be displayed in anywhere from 7 seconds to 15 seconds (hardware dependent).

The initial boot will probably take longer because the system has to figure out what all of your hardware is, but don’t fret, just reboot again – This time with your stopwatch ready – and then you will be able to enjoy the ultra fast boot.

The best thing about this program is that it is FREE.  There are many others out there with similar programs, that make you pay $20 or more.  Plus they have a live CD (or USB flash drive) that you can download to try it before you install it.  Also remember, that since it is installed like a regular Windows program, it is also uninstalled the same way.  You don’t have to deal with repartitioning your hard drive, or have to worry about data loss.

Moblin is an exciting new Linux distribution that stands alone due to the fact that it is designed for netbooks, specifically with the atom processor.  it is an extremely easy to use OS (Operating System) and is faster than anything I have ever tried before.  It’s visually pleasing with animations and sliding toolbars, but that doesn’t change the performance at all.

Moblin is distributed as an .img file, that has to me “byte copied” to a flash drive to use (See http://moblin.org/documentation/test-drive-moblin/using-moblin-live-image for more details).  Then you simply have to plug in the flash drive and choose the option to boot from the flash drive.  Moblin will then boot into it’s “Live Mode” which runs completely off the flash drive, with no changes made to your hard drive.  This give you a chance to try it before you actually install it alongside your current Operating System.

The system has all of the main options listed within tabs, which includes access to your calendar, email, web browser, social networks, music, etc.  Anything you would normally use in Windows, just a lot easier (and nicer looking).

It is a free OS and is Open Source software, so that the source code is available to anyone that wants to view it, change it, and compile the system yourself.  People are encouraged to join the community, and if you find a bug or have a question, there is a strong community of people to help you, and get the software fixed, without the mess of a corporate conglomerate’s tech support department.

Moblin is available to download from http://moblin.org/downloads.