OS.ALT

S1 · E1 · Feb 12, 2012

Linux Vs. Windows Episode 1

For the vast majority of desktop & laptop computer users, Linux Mint makes a great alternative to the proprietary (and expensive!) Windows... but not always.

S1 · E2 · Feb 17, 2012

Open Office / LibreOffice Vs. Microsoft Office Episode 2

Microsoft Office 2010 compared to OpenOffice & LibreOffice.

S1 · E3 · Feb 24, 2012

Video Editing Roundup : Professional Vs. Open Source Episode 3

Looking for free video editing software but don't know if it measures up to the big boys? Check out this week's episode of OS.ALT for a rundown on how Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro compare to KDEnlive, my favorite open source video editor.

S1 · E4 · Mar 2, 2012

GIMP Photo Editor: A Free Photoshop? Episode 4

Can free software compete with a product so popular that it has become a part of our language? In the world of digital imaging, no other piece of software comes close to matching Adobe Photoshop's power. Check out this week's episode of OS.ALT to see how Photoshop compares to GIMP, a free and open source graphics editor.

S1 · E5 · Mar 9, 2012

GDC 2012: Best Linux Games Episode 5

While the AAA games are still mostly available for only Windows, indie developers are pushing the envelope, when it comes to native Linux games.

S1 · E6 · Mar 16, 2012

Media Players: VLC vs Windows Media Episode 6

There are so many media players out there, it's not easy to find the best one. VLC is a free media player, but is it better than other free players? Check out this week's episode of OS ALT for the rundown on my favorite cross-platform media player, VideoLAN's VLC Media Player.

S1 · E7 · Mar 23, 2012

Complete Privacy Protection with TAILS + Tor Episode 7

Privacy advocates, people who believe in personal liberty, and tinfoil-hat conspiracy theorists, this free and open source system is for you. There's no better way to hide your IP, browse the internet, chat, and conduct private business than by using TAILS; The Amnesic Incognito Live System.

S1 · E8 · Apr 1, 2012

Open Source Audio Editors: All Things Audacity Episode 8

Audacity, a free and open source sound editor and recording application, is put to good use whenever Nixie produces videos. Record, edit, and convert sounds in Windows, Mac, Linux, and BSD. In this video, learn how Audacity works and explore all the fun things you can do with this open source audio editor...

S1 · E9 · Apr 7, 2012

Email Clients: Mozilla Thunderbird Episode 9

Mozilla Thunderbird is a shining example of an open-source project that has become extremely popular. An estimated 15 to 20 million people use Thunderbird as their every day mail and news client. It is truly cross-platform, running on Windows, Mac, Linux, and more.

S1 · E10 · Apr 13, 2012

How To: Ubuntu Themes Made Easy Episode 10

Installing themes in Ubuntu has been easy in the past, but with Oneiric Ocelot and Precise Pangolin it's a bit trickier. Watch this episode of OS.

S1 · E11 · Apr 20, 2012

Pidgin Instant Messenger Episode 11

I don't often use an instant messenger, but when I do.. I prefer Pidgin. Here's why.

S1 · E12 · Apr 27, 2012

12.04 Precise Pangolin is Here! Let's Make it Pretty Episode 12

After much anticipation, Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin was released yesterday. Here's how gorgeous a Linux desktop can be, but we can make it look even better.

S1 · E13 · May 4, 2012

Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin Review Episode 13

Last week, Canonical released Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, Precise Pangolin.

S1 · E14 · Apr 11, 2012

All About Partitioning Episode 14

What is a filesystem, a partition, and how do they relate to your hard drive? In this week's episode of OS.ALT, I describe how to separate portions of your hard disk into usable chunks, how to partition it, and why file systems are important.

S1 · E15 · May 18, 2012

Linux Tutorial: Changing Grub 2 Boot Options Episode 15

Don't like how ugly your PC looks when you dual boot? Customize how your computer boots with Grub 2! In this tutorial, I show you the basic ways to configure your bootloader.

S1 · E16 · May 27, 2012

Review: A Long Wait for GIMP 2.8 Episode 16

After three years of hard work, the latest GIMP 2.8 image editor has finally been released.

S1 · E17 · Jun 1, 2012

Linux Gaming : What We Can Expect Episode 17

Both Steam and Source have been rumored to be coming to Linux for years. Linux games are probably the biggest need when it comes to Linux software.

S1 · E18 · Jun 10, 2012

Gnome 3 vs. Unity - Battle of the Desktops Episode 18

Since the release of 11.10, Ubuntu has used Unity as its default desktop environment. There has been a lot of controversy around choosing Unity over Gnome 3, and many of you have requested my opinion.

S1 · E19 · Jun 15, 2012

The Ultimate Battle - Mozilla Firefox vs Google Chrome Episode 19

This week in OS.ALT it's internet browser battle week! I compare Google Chrome and the open source Mozilla Firefox.

S1 · E20 · Jun 22, 2012

Why Linux Gaming Struggles and How to Make it Better Episode 20

At a recent Linux Aalto University talk Linus Torvalds, on camera, dropped an f-bomb and flipped NVidia the bird. You can see that here along with my opinion of why Linus is dissatisfied with NVidia's Linux support, the state of gaming on Linux, and how Linux drivers and hardware play a roll.

S1 · E21 · Jun 29, 2012

Top 10 Best Android Applications Episode 21

The Android Market can be a scary place. So many Android applications to choose from! I've been testing out Android apps since the very first droid came out and here are my top 10 picks.

S1 · E22 · Jul 6, 2012

Mumble Replaces Popular Ventrilo and TeamSpeak Episode 22

Ventrilo and Teamspeak are the most popular game voice chat programs, but are they the best? Not many people have heard of Mumble, but you should listen to the hype about it.

S1 · E23 · Jul 13, 2012

You've Installed Ubuntu! Now What? Episode 23

So you've finished your Ubuntu install.

S1 · E24 · Jul 20, 2012

Big Changes in the Open Source Initiative! Take a Stand Episode 24

In this week's OS.ALT you can see my interview from oscon with Simon Phipps from the OSI.

S1 · E25 · Jul 27, 2012

Fedora 17 is a Beefy Miracle: Review! Episode 25

In honor of meeting Beefy Miracle in person at last week's OSCON, I have reviewed the latest Fedora release. Rich with features, including some exciting new cloud service applications, and great for developers, Fedora 17 is an RPM-based Linux distribution making a big splash. You know that I am an Ubuntu/Debian girl at heart, so check out what I think of Beefy Miracle in this week's OSALT.

S1 · E26 · Aug 3, 2012

5 Free Games That Don't Suck Episode 26

In this week's OS.ALT, I talk about five of the most addicting open source games available to be downloaded free today.

S1 · E27 · Aug 10, 2012

Linux Gaming News: Open Source Console Makes Millions and Valve Shocks Us All Episode 27

Valve's recent announcement that Left 4 Dead 2 runs better on Ubuntu than on Windows has caused a lot of excitement and controversy. Also in this week's OS.

S1 · E28 · Aug 17, 2012

How to Fix Ubuntu Black Screen of DEATH Episode 28

By popular request I'll be providing a couple of tutorials to help solve some problems you have identified! This week on OS ALT I go over how to fix the black screen some Ubuntu users have seen with the latest version, especially for people with Intel HD graphics.

S1 · E29 · Aug 24, 2012

The Top 5 Open Source Utility Software Picks! Episode 29

From an awesome free antivirus to a sweet FTP, there are many ways to improve the performance of your computer for free! In this week's OS ALT, I talk about some of the best open source utility software available today.

S1 · E30 · Aug 31, 2012

Top HTPC Applications Episode 30

The heart of the home theater PC is its media center software. This is one area where free and open source applications shine - some of the top HTPC programs, home automation systems, and operating systems are FOSS. Check out this week's OS.ALT for my thoughts on some of the very best, including mythtv, xbmc media center, and LinuxMCE.

S1 · E31 · Sep 7, 2012

Note to a Linux Gaming Killjoy Episode 31

Disclaimer: I like John Carmack. He's an intelligent and strong-willed businessman. I just had to set him straight on a few things.

S1 · E32 · Sep 14, 2012

Linux Gaming News - Vote on Your Linux Games Now Episode 32

We've known for a while that Valve is bringing Steam to Linux. One of the most exciting Steam projects for Linux gamers is Steam Greenlight, where we, the gamers, can vote on which games we want to see made. In this week's OS.ALT, I discuss Steam Greenlight and how it impacts Linux Games.

S1 · E33 · Sep 23, 2012

Top 5 Firefox Add-Ons Episode 33

With over 2 billion add-ons downloaded by Mozilla Firefox users, using extensions seem to be essential to using an Internet browser. Let me show you which ones are worth the download.

S1 · E34 · Sep 30, 2012

This Week in Linux Gaming - Steam for Linux a Bad Idea? Episode 34

The most recent indie bundle, Humble Bundle 6, is full of great Linux games and recently added 4 more indie games to the bundle.

S1 · E35 · Oct 13, 2012

Ubuntu Howto: Fix Unity Launcher Episode 35

Though this most recent release of Ubuntu has been good to us, it's not without faults. The launcher for Unity is awesome when it works.

S1 · E36 · Oct 19, 2012

Using a Virtual Machine to Run an Operating System Inside Another Episode 36

Nixie shows you how to run one operating system inside of another using a virtual machine, specifically the free virtual machine software, VirtualBox. She explains what a virtual machine is and then runs through how to install and run Windows inside of Linux using VirtualBox.

S1 · E37 · Oct 27, 2012

Whats New with Ubuntu 12.10 Quetzal Quantal Episode 37

Is it worth the upgrade? What if you're new to Ubuntu? Today, I'll be covering some of the best new features of 12.

S1 · E38 · Nov 4, 2012

Linux News: This Week in Open Source Episode 38

Doing things a bit differently today, since there's so much linux news to be shared! So in the FOSS spirit, here's this week in open source.

S1 · E39 · Nov 11, 2012

Command Linux 101: Wget - Get ALL THE THINGS! Episode 39

Get ready, get set, it's wget! This is the most robust command in not just Linux, but Mac and Windows as well, to download all your favorite videos, music and media in every way imaginable. Truth.

S1 · E40 · Nov 18, 2012

Understanding the Linux File System Episode 40

In Linux, everything is a file. All the files the kernel can understand are displayed.

S1 · E41 · Nov 30, 2012

Open Source News: Vibrators, Netflix on Linux and Germany Episode 41

Finally, Netflix for Linux runs easily, Munich saves millions by switching to LiMux, and San Francisco girl shows us what an open source sex toy is really like. Giggity.

S1 · E42 · Dec 9, 2012

Install Netflix in Linux Mint, Fedora and Ubuntu - Tutorial Episode 42

You've probably heard by now - Netflix works on Linux! Yes, installing Netflix on Linux has become much easier, but we still need to break out the command line.

S1 · E43 · Dec 17, 2012

Linux Commands 101: Howto Tar a File Episode 43

Though gz, tar, zcat and gunzip sound like names of rejected superheroes, they're actually part of a really powerful archive and compression tool in Linux. Learn about tar and more with my terminal tutorial.

S1 · E44 · Jan 4, 2013

Linux Steam Beta Tutorial: Installing Steam on Ubuntu Episode 44

Valve has finally opened the Steam beta for ALL Linux users to download, install and play.

S1 · E45 · Jan 4, 2013

Terminal Fun - My Top 5 Commands Episode 45

Happy Friday! Here's some semi-pointless but super fun commands in the Linux terminal that will keep you coming back for more...semi-pointless but super fun commands....

S1 · E46 · Jan 18, 2013

One Linux Steam Client to Rule Them All - Full Review Episode 46

Whether you're a veteran or new to playing games on Steam, the Linux Steam beta is a new experience all on its own. Here's my review of the beta, outlining all the features that Valve has to offer with it's steam client.

S1 · E47 · Jan 25, 2013

The Truth About OUYA - Open Source Gaming Console Episode 47

A fully open source gaming console for 100 bucks.

S1 · E48 · Feb 1, 2013

Ubuntu is Slow! How to Fix It Episode 48

This week I'm showing you some tried and true ways to get the most performance out of your Ubuntu box.

S1 · E49 · Feb 9, 2013

Be Efficient - Best Free Productivity Software in the Universe Episode 49

Be your own Success Kid with these 4 must-have open source applications! Works on Linux, PC and Mac.

S1 · E50 · Feb 21, 2013

Linux Howto: Free Up Hard Drive and Remove Hidden Packages Episode 50

[Works in any Debian based distro] How do you know if a program is truly deleted from your drive? Here are some of the best commands and software to free up your HDD by fully uninstalling programs.

S1 · E51 · Feb 22, 2013

Nixie Answers Your Linux Questions Episode 51

I should have known better to have you ask me anything. You definitely didn't hold back and so I'm not going to either - here are the more tame (yet equally popular) FAQ from me to you! If you like this style, I'll get to some of the more... challenging ones when I don't have the zombie plague.

S1 · E52 · Mar 1, 2013

Ubuntu Touch is Here - Why Should I Care? Episode 52

Ubuntu has gone to our phones, and it seems like a dream come true. Except with Android dominating the Linux mobile space, what can Ubuntu Touch really bring to the market? Find out this week on OS.ALT as I begin my open source mobile operating system BATTLE ROYALE... n' stuff.

S1 · E53 · Mar 8, 2013

What is Firefox OS and Why Should I Care? Episode 53

I continue the battle of open source OS's with a more developed project, Firefox OS. (previously named B2G ; Boot to Gecko) It's the new mobile pride and joy of Mozilla.. Let's see how it stacks up to the competition.

S1 · E54 · Mar 18, 2013

Linux How-To: Globbing and Wildcards! Episode 54

As weird as it sounds, globbing is essential when using Linux. It will also make your life approx three million times easier! Here's how to use wildcard symbols and why you need them.

S1 · E55 · Mar 22, 2013

Tizen : The Android Killer? - Mobile OS REVIEW Episode 55

S1 · E56 · Mar 30, 2013

Tux Joins the Race @ GDC 2013 - Linux Gaming! Episode 56

S1 · E57 · Apr 8, 2013

Regex Fu : Learning Regular Expressions Episode 57

Regular expressions are the best. They are an ultra-powerful search pattern language that almost anyone can learn, whether you are into programming or not.

S1 · E58 · Apr 15, 2013

Sailfish OS Review - Jolla Revives MeeGo for Mobile Episode 58

It's time for the final mobile OS in the battle of open source operating systems; Sailfish. Many of you thought that MeeGo had a good thing going before it was canceled a couple years ago. Have no fear! Sailfish has risen from the ashes of MeeGo and proves to be even better still.

S1 · E59 · Apr 22, 2013

Canonical Corruption, Linux Phones and Best Distros Episode 59

I don't usually do the 'ask Nixie' type thing...

S1 · E60 · Apr 26, 2013

Clementine Review : The Last Music Player You'll Ever Need Episode 60

Just because a program is free and open source doesn't mean that it's good. Unless you're Clementine that is; an intense media player for Windows, Mac and Linux.

S1 · E61 · May 3, 2013

Top 5 Networking Tools in the Command Line Episode 61

Be careful, you might actually enjoy learning how to troubleshoot your network in the terminal. Monitor performance, bandwidth usage much more using these five easy commands.

S1 · E62 · May 10, 2013

Ubuntu Review : 13.04 - Raring Ringtail Episode 62

After 6 months of waiting, Ubuntu 13.04 (Raring Ringtail) is finally here! Watch my review and find out if it's worth the install.

S1 · E63 · May 17, 2013

4 Tips for Working Smarter - Software and Hosts File Edits Episode 63

Distractions be gone! Since there's so many good programs and tips out there on how to work smarter, this video is a two parter. We first start by productivity suites, and our beloved hosts file.