Year of Linux Desktops?

Once again, it's the year of the Linux Desktop. Actually, it might be the eighth Year of Linux Desktops, because I stopped counting. However, I have shifted my main work machine from one running Windows XP to two running (right now) Ubuntu 7.10 and OpenSuSE 10.3. All my browsing, e-mail, and word processing work now takes place on a Linux machine.

I'm using an Avocent KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) switch to jump between four computers: two running XP, and two running Linux. This KVM switch is several years old, but Avocent just sent a new one to try that should support my Macintosh as well. I'll let you know when I get it up and running.

My “old main” PC running XP still hosts a Personal Information Manager application with 450+ entries I'm trying to transfer to an online PIM. Any suggestions? I also need to do something organized with e-mail left in Thunderbird on the XP box.

The majority of my time on a computer during the day now happens on a Linux system. Things are a little different; some are better, some are worse. This blog entry is being written on OpenOffice 2.3 running on Ubuntu Linux 7.10. I'll post this using Firefox on Ubuntu. I store all my files on a Network Attached Storage device, so I can access all of them from any of my computers.

If you're interested, I'll write up more details, including Linux wonders and warts, in a newsletter. Let me know.

• SMB
• Linux
• OpenOffice 2.3
• OpenSuSE
• Ubuntu
• Windows XP