Well it's been quite a while since I added something here so it is about time an update was available. It has been a very busy half year with a lot of interesting developments. First off, to blow my own trumpet, the Linux distribution I created a year or so ago is now in its 2nd version. Released just before Christmas it has now had 100,000+ downloads and the support forums have grown beyond anything I expected with 2200+ registered users. Eeebuntu (http://www.eeebuntu.org) is a Linux specifically designed for the new wave of netbooks, especially EeePC's. Being based on Ubuntu Linux it widely supported. It even gets a mention in this months Linux Magazine.

I was a bit dubious about what use I could get out of the Netbook but it has proved very handy. It stuffs easily into the bag, the battery life is not too bad, giving about 4.5 – 5 hours constant use and with bluetooth and wifi it is connectable to almost anything, anywhere. The down side of this is that I can be reached and have no excuses for not replying. Though the keyboard is relatively small I found that I could type quite quickly once I got used to it but it isn't like I am writing War and Peace, with a few tweaks the trackpad actually became less annoying and more useful. All in all it has proved its salt and with the synchronisation tools available it has helped me become more productive. The media player also helped to while away the hours on a long flight and keep me entertained when in the terminal waiting for it.

Since the first mention of Netbooks it seems that there has been a flood of them and every manufacturer is releasing there own version in a desperate attempt to. The good news here is that most of them sell with Linux installed. No matter what distribution of Linux your netbook runs you can always try the others available and find the one that suits you best. Changing the operating system does not, in most cases, invalidate the warranty but it is always worthwhile checking some of the small print first.

These past months have also seen Ubuntu release a new Linux version. This version, Intrepid Ibex or 8.10, retained the top spot on the most downloaded Linux distribution list. It is easy to see why. Users find it very easy to migrate from Windows to Linux using Ubuntu. There are a number of utilities contained on the free downloadable disk that allow you to install Ubuntu within windows so, until you are totally comfortable using Ubuntu you can work between the two. A wise move by Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu.

Also in the news are the large number of companies cutting back on staff, budgets, production and everything possible to save money. Whilst this does affect the IT budget it does give a wider scope and will force IT professionals to cast the solution nets a little wider than the usual Microsoft solutions. In these times Open Source software should be looked at as viable, cheap and reliable alternatives. Not just to save costs but to build a platform for the future. There are solutions out in the Open Source world that are just waiting to be found and utilised. There are huge opportunities to save the finances and finally start to make a break away from the usual and begin to bring on-board a wider range of solutions. Whilst the solution may not be a snug fit the source code (the 1's and 0's that make it run) is open and companies can tailor it to suit their needs. As there is an abundance of developers available finding a good deal for the development work won't be difficult. This development could pay dividends in the long game, a break from proprietary, expensive, closed sources.

Even for the home user, Linux could be a way to cut costs if you are willing to invest a little time in learning something new.