Open Source One

Microsoft has been holding more than 90% market of operating systems around the world. But, the versions of Windows operating system are available only after paying the premium prices. In contrast, various equipment manufacturers are providing operating systems for personal and commercial use without any cost or fee. Further, in few cases users can even change their source code and redistribute them as well.

With these free operating systems, users will not receive any printed manuals, CD-ROMs or technical support. Further, consumers have to look for various forums and chat room to have support from the community. Meanwhile, few vendors are offering their help at very reasonable price to new users.

PC-BSD

It is a Unix-like operating system based on FreeBSD for desktops. It comes with default KDE pre-installed graphical user interface, which is very easy to install. It offers binary Nvidia and Intel drivers for hardware improvements and additional 3D desktop interface through Compiz Fusion. Its stable release was introduced in June last year. It is reported that the operating system supports x86 and x86-64 architectures.

PCLinuxOS

PCLinuxOS or PCLOS is a GNU/Linux based free open-source operating system based on KDE as its default user interface for personal computers. Its stable version, called PCLinuxOS 2009.2 was released back in June, 2009. The software was created to improve Mandrake Linux or Mandriva Linux. It is circulated as a Live CD, which can also be installed to a local hard disk drive or USB flash drive.

Pardus

Pardus is a Linux based operating system, which does not require much knowledge to operate. Its name was taken from the Latin name for the Anatolian leopard. Pardus 2009 is the latest version of Pardus. It features the OpenOffice.org office suite, internet tools like web browser, e-mail, instant messaging, etc.

Also, it supports various multimedia and graphics tools, games, and many other applications. Its package management system is called as PiSi (Packages installed Successfully as intended), which is written in XML and Python, and uses the LZMA Compression Algorithm.

Dreamlinux

It is a Debian GNU/Linux based operating system developed in Brazil and can be installed on a hard drive. Its general user interface is similar to Mac OS X, with a centered animated toolbar. The operating system has the ability to configure AIGLX for NVIDIA and ATI cards automatically.

Its latest desktop version, called edition 3.0 comes with a complete redesign. Dreamlinux 3.0 supports a new independent architecture named Flexiboost, which lets the co-existence of two or more different window managers, sharing the same customized appearance. In 2009, the company had released the Dreamlinux 3.5, which uses the now stable Debian Lenny desktop.

SimplyMEPIS

SimplyMEPIS is the most popular MEPIS distribution, which is based primarily on Debian stable. It is distributed via Live CDs that can be installed onto a hard disk drive. The operating system comes with KDE, the K Desktop Environment.

The present stable release, called SimplyMEPIS 8.0 includes several new packages and features like Linux kernel 2.6.27, KDE 3.5.10, and OpenOffice.org 3.0. Meanwhile, the company is focusing on MEPIS 8.5 that features Debian based with KDE 4.3 as a desktop manager.