Linux is a free and open-source desktop operating system, and is recognized as the third most popular desktop operating system in the world. Unlike OS X or Windows, there are many different versions — called distributions (or distros) — that all fall under the “Linux” umbrella. Among the many flavors of Linux, the Debian Linux-based Ubuntu is the distro that tends to receive the majority of mainstream attention. Interestingly, according to the ever-popular DistroWatch, much as Ubuntu has surpassed Debian in popularity, Ubuntu has been overthrown by its own forked distribution: Linux Mint.
Linux Mint is merely one of many Ubuntu forks. Whether Mint is actually more popular than Ubuntu is up for debate, but the important part is that the Linux community has taken the Ubuntu code (you know, the Debian c0de) and customized it to add new features, serve a specific purpose in niche markets, and to offer up unique twists on user experiences.
So while Ubuntu is generally a good choice, it might not be exactly what you need. There are many other options out there that are worth knowing about.
BackBox Linux
Although BackTrack Linux is generally-considered the de facto distribution for penetration testing, BackBox has emerged as a promising Ubuntu alternative. The latest release isBackBox Linux 3 and it features an Ubuntu base with Linux kernel 3.2, a customized XFCE 4.8 desktop, and a number of computer forensics tools. The project began as a small project led by Raffaele Forte approximately three years ago.
Popular vulnerability assessment and cracking tools such as aircrack-ng, Wireshark, XHydra, ophcrack, and w3af (among others) come pre-installed with the OS. BackBox can be used in a live environment from a CD or USB flash drive, or installed permanently onto a system. Thanks to the Ubuntu base and included desktop applications (multimedia, email, web browsing, and document editor), BackBox can be used as a day-to-day OS on your main machine while also being capable of venturing into computer forensics, software exploits, and password cracking on the weekends (with permission, of course).
Bio Linux
The scientific community has heartily embraced the open-source Linux operating system on systems ranging from desktops to workstations to supercomputers. Bio Linux 7 is a perfect example of scientists using Linux as a workstation OS for data analysis that is free and can be used by anyone around the world. Specifically, Bio Linux 7 focuses on providing a platform for bioinformatics, with is a biological science that studies the storage, retrieval, and analysis of biological data (the IT parallel to biochemistry). Bio Linux 7 is the latest release, and is based on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS.
Along with the traditional pre-installed applications found in Ubuntu 12.04, Bio Linux 7 also packs in several applications used in the sphere of bioinformatics. These applications include database and analysis tools that are used for tasks such as DNA and RNA sequencing, drug design, and software development. The operating system is developed by community contributors and the NEBC, which is the Environmental Bioinformatics Centre sub-group of the Natural Environmental Research Council. Its open-source nature allows it to be freely shared and used by researchers worldwide to study bioinformatics from a common platform.
PinguyOS
Developed by Antoni Norman, PinguyOS is a general-purpose operating system that is packed with features and ready-to-run with little-to-no user tweaking required. It focuses on a simple user interface that is friendly to new Linux users — especially those who are migrating from Windows or OS X computers.
The latest release is PinguyOS 12.04 Final, which (as the name suggests) is based on Ubuntu 12.04 LTS. On top of the Ubuntu OS, PinguyOS features a customized Gnome 3.4.1 desktop and a wide breadth of pre-installed applications. The OS includes applications for web browsing, email, messaging (Skype, IRC), torrenting (Deluge), remote desktop, media playback (Clementine, VLC, XBMC, PS3 Media Server), gaming (Wine, PlayOnLinux), word processing (Libre Office), backup, Ubuntu One cloud storage, video and photo editors, and even support for burning LightScribe discs. Needless to say, just about any task that you are used to performing on Windows or Mac OS X can be done using PinguyOS out of the box.
The PinguyOS desktop includes two Docky application docks along the left and bottom edges of the desktop. Meanwhile, the right side of the screen hosts the Conky resource monitor which displays CPU, hard drive, RAM, and network utilization graphs. The Docky bars with its application shortcuts will be familiar to OS X users, while ex-Windows users longing for a Start menu will be right at home with the Cardapio application menu. According to a review by RefuGeeks, PinguyOS tends to require more system resources than most Ubuntu-based distros. On the other hand, PinguyOS does not require any tweaking or tracking down programs to get rolling — that step is already taken care of — and for new users that is a huge advantage.
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