31 January 2013

Even If You’re A Windows User: Top 5 Uses For A Linux Box



uses for linux boxDespite advances made by other operating systems, Windows still stands as the most used operating system in the world. And, as a Linux user, I respect your decision to stick with it as it does have a large ecosystem that both businesses and consumers seem to agree on.


But just because you use Windows as your daily driver does not mean that you can’t experiment with other operating systems for any of your computing needs. In this case, Linux systems are the most flexible and least expensive to build, plus I’m sure you’re not going to experiment with other operating systems by getting an expensive Mac. But, as a Windows user, what exactly can you do with Linux boxes that will still benefit you and your Windows setup?


Second Desktop/Laptop


uses for linux box

First, we’ll need to get the obvious option out of the way. You can install Linux on any of your computers, either alongside Windows or as the sole operating system. When installed on your main system, it will be a great way to try out Linux and everything you can do with it. As some people have been disappointed with the direction Microsoft is taking with Windows 8, now is one of the best times to check out Linux as your future operating system as you are offered plenty of choices and low costs if any. When installed on any other computer, especially an older one, it can give it a few more years of life before it really is time for it to hit the dump. Linux can be used for plenty of daily computing tasks where it won’t disturb your affair with Windows.


Home Server


best uses for linux

Linux has also been an operating system of choice when it comes to the creation of home servers. The OS and any tools needed to share files are all free and relatively easy to configure, so any household without too many complicated needs will find Linux to be highly beneficial and cost efficient. Users also have the choice of combining all the tools that they want to use themselves, or rather use a package that combines many different technologies together such as Amahi.


Media Center


best uses for linux

Besides sharing files among your home network or across the globe, your Linux box can also be used as a media center. There are many possible interpretations of this, where it can act like a home server and stream media across your network, be a box that sits near your TV and is connected via an HDMI cable, or a combination of both. There is plenty of software out there which can be used as visually-pleasing media centers, such as XBMC. Plenty of streaming sites also support Linux, such as Hulu or Netflix (unofficially).


Hobbies/Enthusiasts


While Linux doesn’t have a lot of software that many businesses rely on as the developers of such software know that most businesses run Windows, there are still plenty of software available under Linux which address certain tasks. For example, with software that is freely available for Linux, you can run your own weather station, play around with ham radio, mix music for DJ purposes, and much more. While I’m sure that there is free software available for Windows to do all of these things as well, why not do it on Linux and save yourself from buying another Windows license!


Gaming


uses for linux box

Finally, the last top use of a Linux box — gaming. Yes, I said gaming. While it isn’t a very convincing point at the time of writing, it certainly will be a few years down the road. The push for games on Linux is starting to get on a roll as Steam is making great progress with their client and the porting of games. Before you’ll know it, most games offered via Steam will be playable on Linux as well, making the platform a much greater force in gaming. Even while we wait, there are a handful of great games available; just not quite as many.


Conclusion


Of course, there are plenty of other great benefits of trying out Linux or using it for certain tasks. It’s free, frequently updated, virus-free, and easier than ever to use. Linux is also becoming an increasingly common technology as everywhere you turn you hear about more Linux adoption. Therefore, whether you are interested in trying out Linux or just want a cheap box to do what you need, look no further!


As a Windows/Mac user, what Linux boxes do you have sitting around and what do they do? How well does this setup work for you? What prevents you from using Linux as your daily driver? Let us know in the comments!


Image Credit: Pablo BD


The post Even If You’re A Windows User: Top 5 Uses For A Linux Box appeared first on MakeUseOf.



Custom Date Range Tips for Google Search



Google's search engine has a cool feature that lets you restrict the results to a certain time range. It's mostly used to find recent results, so the default options are: past hour, past 24 hours, past week/month/year, but you can customize the time range. Just click "search tools" below the search box, then click "any time" and select "custom range" from the list.






You can use Google's calendar widget to pick the dates, but there are some tricks that help you enter dates faster:



1. Enter "2011" in the "from" field, instead of "1/1/2011". Obviously, you can use any other year.



2. Enter "3/2011" or "March 2011" in the "from" field, instead of "3/1/2011" (or "1/3/2011", depending on your country).



3. Enter "2011" in the "to" field, instead of "12/31/2011" (or "31/12/2011", depending on your country). Obviously, you can use any other year.



4. Enter "3/2011" or "March 2011" in the "to" field, instead of "3/31/2011" (or "31/3/2011", depending on your country).






5. To restrict the results to pages from 2011, enter "2011" in the "from" and "to" fields.






6. To restrict the results to pages from March 2011, enter "3/2011" in the "from" and "to" fields.



7. Leave the "to" field empty instead of entering today's date.



8. Leave the "from" field empty to find pages created before the day entered in the "to" field.






5 New Ways In Which You Didn’t Use Google Circles Before



Google Plus Circles allow you to organize your contacts and the people you follow into groups. Most people intuitively group contacts based on how they know them, i.e. family, friends from school, colleagues etc. For Google Plus Circles, a better way to arrange people is to ask yourself two questions; (1) What do you want to share and experience with your contacts? and (2) How much do you care for what they want to share with you? I touched on the first point in a previous article. The key is, how you want to interact with people doesn’t depend on how you know them, but on the type and quality of the relationship.


This article provides some ideas on how you could organize your Circles. Keep in mind that neither people you are following, nor people who have you in their Circles, can see what Circle/s you add them to or even that you add them to more than one Circle. So do experiment with Circles!


Introduction


You might have picked this point up in the introduction already, but I would like to make it very clear. There are two main functions of Google Circles:




  1. To organize people you share stuff with and determine who gets to see what.



  2. To organize people you are following to read what they share with you at your leisure.



Obviously, you will want to keep the first point in mind anytime you share something. Be sure to double-check what Circles are selected before you hit the Share button. When you are posting from within Google Plus, it depends on what tab you are viewing. When you share from anywhere else, Public is typically selected per default. Public means that anyone visiting your Google Plus profile can see the post. Posts shared with your Circle/s can only be seen by the people in the respective Circle/s.


google circles


Interest Based Circles


Many people use Google Plus to share stuff they like. But you know that not all of your friends are into the same stuff you are or maybe you don’t want your entire family to find out about your fetish. Creating Circles based on common interests can help you share relevant content with your contacts.


how to use google circles


Likewise, you should organize the people you follow in ways that allow you to read only the updates you care for. Not everyone’s update is interesting all the time. So put the people or accounts whose updates you might want to see in one read into the same Circle, so you can read them at your leisure.


Location and Language Based Circles


With today’s lifestyle, we know people all over the place. If you travel a lot, have lived in different cities, or have friends, family, or colleagues in different places, maybe even different countries, it probably makes sense to create location or language based Circles. Not only can you share relevant local content with the people who understand and care about it. You can also send messages to people in your area to meet up spontaneously or ask for local advice in the local language, without making anyone feel like they’re excluded.


how to use google circles


Projects and Events Based Circles


This is similar to interest and location based Circles, but slightly different and a little more specific. Projects and events based Circles are temporary, meaning you create them for the occasion and resolve them afterwards. To make this type of Circle worthwhile, you should share it, so the everyone involved in the project or event gets to participate equally.


how to use google circles


For example when you plan a party, you could create a shared Circle of co-organizers and potential participants. You can then discuss the party, including the theme, location, schedule, food etc. Not only can you discuss, but you can also share relevant material, such as the website for a restaurant, a link to its Qype rating, or an article on cool party themes.


Circles as Invite Lists


You can use Circles to create an invite list for Google Hangouts. This comes in very handy if you have regular Hangouts with a particular set of people.


google circles


Circles as Gmail Labels


Finally, it’s good to remember that Circles are also shown as labels in Gmail. You can even search mail in Gmail by Circle, e.g. circle:friends. This means you can take advantage of Circles to indirectly organize your email.


Conclusion


Understanding Circles means taking back control over your sharing, as well as your time spent on Google Plus. Google Circles allow you to target who gets to see what and determine when you want to see posts from specific groups of people. A smart use of Circles can lead to engaging and meaningful exchanges with your contacts.


How do you use Circles? Are there additional types of Circles you would suggest?


The post 5 New Ways In Which You Didn’t Use Google Circles Before appeared first on MakeUseOf.



Office 2013 or Office 365 – Which Edition Should You Buy?



Microsoft has introduced a new version of their trusted Office productivity suite and home consumers essentially have to make a choice between Microsoft Office 2013 and Office 365.

Office 2013 vs Office 365


Also see: Where to Download Microsoft Office 2013


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Digital Inspiration @labnol This story, Office 2013 or Office 365 – Which Edition Should You Buy?, was originally published at Digital Inspiration on 30/01/2013 under Microsoft Office, Software.