Fedora Core 2 is the newest release from The Distro Formerly Known As RedHat. Updates include the 2.6 kernel, KDE 3.2, Gnome 2.6, X.org replacing Xfree86 and numerous package updates. Having played around with SuSE 9.1, Arch .6 and Slackware 9 with the 2.6 kernel, I was interested in seeing how the Fedora team did with this release.

I am a recovering distribution junkie. I would obsessively spend my time at Distrowatch, looking for something new. There were plenty of exciting releases. After a while, the excitement would wear off, and the sexy distribution I installed would have some annoyance, so I would dump it and look for something new.

Xandros Desktop is a beautifully crafted operating system by a staff of meticulous and talented human beings. Had I not experienced one major roadblock during my initial installation, I would doubt that this creation had sprung from human hands. With that said, I will take you further into the highest highs and the melancholy lows of my awkward waltz with Xandros.

I have tried for the last three weeks to generate a review of Mandrake 9.0 without much success. Not that I have ever been accused of being at a loss for words, but this particular release has left me speechless. I can't think of much to say about this release that hasn't already been said about several other Linux distributions. Perhaps that's the problem. As I have been working with this release, I have had this reoccurring thought - "This looks like YALR (Yet Another Linux Release)".

SuSE software has always impressed me by the attention to detail they employ in generating their best-in-class Linux OS. The installation routine is simple and straightforward, the progress bar (lie meter) is generally accurate, and the finished install is relatively painless to configure. This release is no different in those aspects and more improvements have made their way into the finished product as well.

Most people who know me often tell me that I am paranoid. I say that I have good reason to be. Hacker attacks and malicious code are just a few examples of why I am cautious with my computer systems. Guardian Digital's Engarde Secure Linux Professional offers a lightweight, robust, and secure Linux Distribution for small and large networks.

As you may have already guessed from my previous articles I prefer RedHat's Linux distribution. As a loyal follower over the years I must say that RedHat 7.3 is the best Redhat has offered so far. I'm not saying this because it is the latest incarnation. A lot of this distributions enhancements make it so. For example being able to use the keyboard number pad during the GUI installation was great. I know, it is a little thing, but the last few distributions didn't have that feature (to my knowledge) and my fingers really depend on the keypad for speedily imputing numbers.

I was prepared for this review of SuSE 8.0 Professional to be a no-brainer. I had last used SuSE at version 6.4 before switching to Mandrake. I was basically happy with it then, and figured it had only improved since then. What I've seen after using SuSE's latest and greatest for the past two weeks has surprised me, and not all in a good way. This review will look at SuSE as a desktop system.

A buddy of mine introduced me to RedHat Linux back in 1996, on a CD. Until then I had downloaded different flavors across 28.8/33.6 modem, a rather painful experience. After that introduction I have been a loyal follower since. I have looked to RedHat Linux for stability, features, and ease of use. Their latest release, 7.2, is perhaps the best yet.

My first version of the GNU/Linux operating system came to me via a shareware disk that I purchased from a friend of mine. That GNU/Linux version was numbered in the 0.9x series and I tired quite easily in my attempt to get the system up and running. It wasn't until I purchased a manual on Slackware Linux a couple of years later that I was able to get the system working properly and I haven't looked back since.

I'll be the first one to admit it. I haven't touched any variant of the Debian Linux distribution for a really long time. I personally could never get comfortable with the distribution. When this review was up for grabs I decided what the hell. I'd heard some good things about Progeny circulating and thought I'd give it a whirl.

Linux Mandrake has been my distribution of choice for quite some time now. The Red Hat-with-some-stuff-added moniker has been peeled away and Mandrake is now standing tall against the competition.