Warning this article may contain opinions of the author that you and iTWire don't necessarily agree with. Don't let them get away with it - have your say with a comment!

No. 1 Story

ACCC clears Optus to scrap HFC network and use NBN instead

The ACCC has cleared, provisionally, the proposed deal between Optus and NBN Co under which Optus is to be paid around $800m to shut down its HFC network and transfer customers onto the NBN. read more

The best looking Linux is nearly here - and it's not Ubuntu

Opinion and Analysis

It’s well known that Ubuntu utilises the GNOME desktop manager to present all its windows and menus and graphical items. Fans of the KDE desktop manager would instead prefer Kubuntu because it is all the goodness of Ubuntu but under a KDE facade.

If you are unfamiliar with the terms GNOME and KDE please do refer to my earlier tutorial, “Seeing Linux clearly.”

Now, like Ubuntu, its GNOME and KDE that get talked about the most. However, there are other graphical environments available.

One of the many impressive features of Linux is that it is so flexible and has components that can be swapped in and out, and this includes its complete look-and-feel.

So, Xubuntu then is Canonical’s other ‘buntu release. It is Ubuntu under the hood with all the same design philosophies and packages and mechanisms, but with window manager Xfce giving its punters something to look at.

And giving something to look it does in spades!

Check out the Xubuntu login screen, below.

Xubuntu 9.04 login screen

Not long to go now! The Xubuntu team have made this nice countdown in the same style.

Xubuntu countdown

So, come the end of April be sure to give Jaunty Jackalope a try - but maybe this time check out Ubuntu's lesser-known siblings. I'll definitely be firing up Xubuntu.