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Linux on the Go

Generally when I don’t keep up with my Reader subscriptions, like if I don’t access it for a day or so, the unread RSS feed items pile up. Usually they number around 50 or so. Well yesterday, I went to the National Museum on Janpath road with RS (as an aside, we had a blast!), so didn’t check in on my RSS feeds. Imagine my surprise when I logged in today to find more than a hundred unread items! well 120 to be exact but who’s counting?

Anyway the first item that caught my eye was an article over at Gizmo’s Freeware on an easy way to use Linux in windows itself. That triggered my memory on a similar article I had read at Lifehacker some time ago. So I checked it out and landed up at the Portable Linux homepage. Seems a pretty nifty way to run Linux without messing up your windows system, I’m always on the lookout for those.

For someone who wants to try out Linux, or only needs a few particular applications or even someone who’s bored and simply wants to mess about with something (hmm am I describing myself?), this is an ideal method to get your feet wet. It is a lot better than many other ways of trying out Linux simply becauseportable linux
  1. Its only a 450MB download and installed takes up about 2GB, although you can increase it later
  2. Its portable, so if something does go wrong (which is highly unlikely) you can just delete the folder and start over
  3. It runs all the software inside your regular Windows windows, like in the screenshot, so you do not have to worry about UI or customizing any menus etc
  4. It can access and work on your windows files and the changes are persistent
Also if anyone does install this and start working in Linux, don’t forget to read the comments over at Lifehacker, which detail how to access your Windows drive and files from within Linux. As always, before doing anything that you’re not sure of, Google and read it up, you’re bound to find advice from someone who’s been there and done that. Remember Google is your friend!
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Comments

  1. Rahul SharmaApril 22, 2009 at 5:10 AM

    great stuff, though i wd say knew abt it and pendrivalinux is far better option. because basically they both do the same thing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Shilpa JApril 22, 2009 at 6:56 AM

    I'll try out pendrivelinux too and see what happens.

    ReplyDelete

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