Reviews of Live Linux CDs

Since my first experience with Live Linux CDs started with Knoppix over two years ago dozens of variations of the "Live CD" concept have been made available. A fairly extensive list of these is available at:

http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php

I have downloaded and "played" about 10 or 12 of these over the last month and my experiences, for the most part, have been favorable. However, as one would expect, there varying degrees of usefulness and ease of use in all of them. There are a number of Knoppix variations available that have been specialized to perform certain functions better than others and then there are those that are based on completely different Linux distributions, desktops, and applications. While I like the challenge of figuring out these systems and comparing the variations, I wonder about the reality of the average homeowner jumping on the Linux ride. Face it most people have been hooked on the Microsoft OS and therefore any comparison of another operating system and applications will be gauged against that. I certainly recognize the short comings of the MS stuff but does that really matter to them. All their neighbors have the same problems but there is always someone or place ready to handle these problems for them. Depending on their uses and thoughts for potential uses, Linux can be a breath of fresh air or a frigid wind blowing up their skirts. For example, the home user that does a little typing, emailing and maybe IM stuff wants to learn nothing more than how to turn the computer on check his mail, etc. and turn it off. He wants instant ON and OFF and doesn't care what makes it work.

How does the Live CD concept fit in there with him? Well, unfortunately, not to well. They generally load slower, run slower and do not drag him through the process by his little hand. Oh and if he wants to install it on his machine and get it off that slow CD drive. He is immediately throw into a world he never knew existed and doesn't really care about exploring. Partitioning, resizing, partition types?? What are they talking about? Those that feel a little adventurous and start down the path are then told. "Back up your data!!" Well, let see, does that mean that if I don't do something right then I have to "install" a new operating system. (Remember, when he bought his computer he just plugged it in and he would have a clue as to how to install the OS.) For him it is not "re-installing"

I realize that great advances have been and are continuing to make to these operations easier and less prone to catastrophe, but I think they are still along ways off before the average homeowner is going to feel comfortable.

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