Matt Hartley

1) Linux will behave like Windows. The misconception that one OS acts just like another makes me crazy. It’s like me going from a Toyota Prius to a sixteen wheeler “big rig” and expecting it to handle exactly the same. The fact of the matter is that the Linux desktop has no singular way of […]

Like most of you, I’m tired of hearing about the latest Ubuntu Linux distribution spin-off. Doesn’t it feel like everybodyhas released their very own variant of Ubuntu? This does nothing for those working in the enterprise space, who need deep support, not one-offs. And this approach to customizing a Linux distribution isn’t all that reliable. […]

Is it feasible to drop Google for a period of time in exchange for unfettered open source alternatives? When I first pondered the notion of such an idea, I figured I must be losing my mind. Drop Google? The search giant, regardless of how well-intentioned it may be, has an octopus-like hold on the Internet […]

GTK vs QT. Now there’s a fast path to a geeky argument between passionate programmers of all walks of life. Despite this once widely debated divide, Mark Shuttleworth has announced that Ubuntu is about to add QT libraries to the Ubuntu release known as Ubuntu version 11.10. According to Shuttleworth, the reasoning behind the inclusion […]

It’s a tough economy out there. It doesn’t matter which industry you happen to be experienced in, people need to be focused on keeping themselves as competitive as possible — at all costs. Even more so when you’re underemployed, or worse, unemployed. If you’re between gigs, would-be employers may look at you with unfair doubt […]

In this economy, employees who can save their employers money are highly regarded and will potentially be in line for advancement. Using open source technology is one great way to help your company cut down on costs across the board. In this article, I’ll share twenty great open source applications that can help save your […]

Why are you using Linux on your desktop? Before answering this question, consider the advantages and disadvantages and then come back full circle to your own motivation for using Linux. Nearly every week, I find my news feeds filled with the usual generic articles describing rather vanilla reasons for using Linux on the desktop. Why […]

Linux has managed to carve a little slice of success for itself in nearly every industry. Well, with the exception of broadcast media that is. While I’ve found some limited Linux presence in the broadcast radio industry, I’ve found that in the broadcast TV market, Linux software appears to be completely absent. It’s almost like […]

Go ahead and try a Google search for “Linux” in the news feeds. In fact, try looking up “Linux” in any news search engine and see what you come up with. Notice a pattern yet? For some reason that seems to escape most people, Ubuntu “owns” the Linux headlines with very few exceptions. Obviously Chrome […]

On a regular basis we see studies claiming that the way forward in effective IT is with open source concepts. This means open source software, Linux desktops, Linux servers, Linux embedded devices, and the list just keeps on expanding. At the same time, the forces behind big label proprietary software applications rail back against open […]