@Blooooo: True, Fluxbuntu is even lighter and leaves a smaller system profile than Xubuntu. Ubuntu Studio and Mint Linux are also likely updating their versions now or very soon, but I stuck with the "official" variants because they tend to be better maintained (Fluxbuntu's Web site only has a countdown timer right… Read more

@LastVigilante: Great question. The closest thing to official system requirements are in the Ubuntu wiki, but IMO the "recommended" specs are actually the realistic bare minimum: Read more

Two quick notes, based on comments here and on Digg: Read more

Hey everybody — Apologies if the full-size screenshots aren't loading when clicked on. We're aware of the issue and working on it. Read more

@Duane: Ouch. Good catch. Sadly, I spent a few minutes Googling this each way this morning, but found it hard to determine which way to go. I'm assuring you, no subtle inferences were meant any which way! Read more

@krom: Actually, I should note that the Associated Press stylebook, used by almost every news outlet in the U.S., has a certain list of cities that don't necessarily need a state clarification, but you've got a point. Maybe Web writers should try to be more specific. Read more

I also would like to ask Mark whether he's had any recent contact, or at least any promising exchanges, with developers and games firms that are at least thinking about Linux as an emerging market. Read more

I truly enjoyed reading Mark's series on Challenges Ubuntu needs to overcome to gain wider acceptance and usage, finding it (like much of Mark's work) both realistic and optimistic. Read more

One thing I've always wondered about the oft-praised power nap — how can people with contacts manage to pull them off without having to carry their gear around or wake up with gummy, aggravated eyes? Read more

The very-stripped-down Linux distro Xubuntu (uses a less feature-packed environment and streamlined apps, and can run on 64MB memory) still uses Firefox as its default browser, which I think is something of a vote of confidence from even speed-obsessed hackers. Read more

I'm on an ancient "Bondi Blue" iMac at work (for those unfamiliar with the line, that means it was built while Clinton was just starting his second term as President). Read more