Open Source Updates (slackratslair.blogspot.com)

For the flashiest, fastest and most innovative Unix distributions I've come across in a while, look at PC-BSD (an easy install FreeBSD with added tools and an 'easier-than-Windows' install) and the newly regrouped gang from Kanotix offering called Sidux.

To date, they are the fastest distros I've come across since slackware, and would venture to say that Sidux has an edge over Slack. Especially considering its running on a mere 256 RAM. When Kanotix ground to a halt with their last stable release dating 2005, most developers moved on to create Sidux.......based on pure Debian Sid/Unstable. So far, the system is anything but unstable, and when the Debian branches get slammed with major changes, theres a helpful forum and irc channel to keep you up to date on when and how to keep your Sid both stable and up to date. Between the two of these, running on the bleeding edge has never been so easy. And keep in mind that even the 'unstable' branch of Debian is more stable than a lot of the less security and choice driven distributions available.

And all that without the Micky Mouse mentality that seems to predominate the Ubuntu world at present. How are you supposed to promote a disro known for being dumbed down Debain when they keep giving releases names like Feisty Fawn and , are you ready? Gutsy Gibbon???

Given that Debian 4 finally got released, now might be a good time to test the waters of unstable before the floodgates of KDE, Xorg and other main components of unix systems release their latest versions......which will of course require more careful attention to repositories in the testing and unstable branches. Think of Sidux as an easier to install Debian with plenty of folks testing the ongoing changes and possible breakages so you don't have to go it alone.

Meanwhile, the word from media and friends alike is that Windows latest Vista is more of a headache than nearly any system out there at the moment. Hardly a day goes by without anothr Tech headline revealing a bug or security breach ............