LiveCD: Try Your Operating System Before You Install It

Should you try Windows? Should you try Apple? What about that weird one...what was it? Oh, yeah, Linux...what about Linux?

There are many different ways that you can try and figure out what computer operating system (OS) is right for you. Read the forums, check with friends and/or check with consumer reviews. But one sure way is to experiment and try out your OS before you install it on your computer system.

The easiest way to try out an OS is to use what's called a LiveCD. The LiveCD is an OS contained entirely on one CD. The way it works is this: once your computer is set to boot from the CD drive first (very easy adjustment in the Bios, if it isn't already set up that way) you simply put the LiveCD in then start the computer. Everything will run from the CD, the desktop, the browser, just as an installed OS would run from the hard drive. In fact, if the LiveCD is good and contains a good OS, you will not notice any difference from working from the LiveCD as opposed to working with an installed OS. Except, of course, your cd drive will be occupied.

Also, the LiveCD can be used on your PC without any effect on the system. For example, you can use a Linux LiveCD on a Windows based system and, when you are done with your LiveCD session, no signs of using Linux will remain on the system. In fact, even if there isn't a reliable OS on your computer, you can still use most LiveCD's on your system.

As of this writing, there are no LiveCD options for Macintosh that I am aware of. There are a few LiveCD options for Windows, but you need to have Windows already to create them, and they are mostly the Windows ME core, rather than say, XP.

Linux, however, has a wide list of LiveCD options available to try for free. One big problem with that last sentence is that, when the "average" computer user reads the word "Linux" the most common reaction is some type of hesitation. Usually this hesitation is because of something vague and amorphous, like some guy's friend's cousin used Linux one time, and said it was tough to figure out. Well, how do you know unless you try it? Now is your chance to find out exactly what is good and bad about Linux with no risk. Linux is a free operating system and the LiveCD let's you try before installing.

But what type of Linux LiveCD should you try? One good and bad thing is there are many choices to choose from. The good thing is that you can try many and pick and chose what you like before installing. Another good and bad thing about Linux is that, in my opinion, they tend to provide too much information rather than too little. This can be difficult to weed through for those that are new to the Linux game. But with just a little bit of patience and investigation you can find a Linux version (called distributions, or distro's) that is truly suited to your needs.

Also, many LiveCD's are not necessarily designed to be installed, even though you can install virtually any of them if you really want to. In other words, they are designed to be an OS that is always on a LiveCD and are not as stable as you would like once they are installed. So, I'm going to provide some installable options for you to try, listed in no particular order.

1) Ubuntu Linux: I have used Ubuntu Linux for many years and love it. It is currently the most popular Linux distribution. Ubuntu is a very stable distribution that does not tend to lean in any one particular direction with it's LiveCD. It's main goal is to keep a solid, stable distribution on one CD.

Ubuntu can be used on new or older PC's. It does not need high powered video cards although many cool options are available once it is installed and using higher power cards. Ubuntu is definitely worth a try.

2) Mepis: another good LiveCD to try is Mepis. The main goal of the Mepis distro is simplicity. The goal is to have a complete OS up and running within minutes, and to have an OS that is easy to install. Mepis comes with a great deal of already-available software and an easy to use interface.

3) Mayix: the reason I mention Mayix is that it is essentially a LiveCD version of Gentoo Linux. The reason this is significant is best explained with an example: Ubuntu Linux is an off-shoot (for lack of a better term) of Debian Linux. Mayix is an off-shoot of Gentoo Linux. Both Gentoo and Debian have their own unique traits, better suited to be understood by someone that has been using Linux for years. Suffice it to say that Mayix may be one you try out to get a complete Linux distribution set up in a very short time.

4) Apodio: the reason I mention Apodio is to show how variable the Linux installable LiveCD's can be. Apodio is designed for those that have audio goals. It automatically comes with tools that make edititing, playing and otherwise listening to audio easier to do. If music and sound are your main objectives while using a computer, Apodio may be for you.

5) Mandriva: In the form of Mandriva One, this Linux LiveCD is definitely worth a look. Very comparable to a version of Ubuntu called Kubuntu, Mandriva One is a complete, stable, installable OS on one cd. Great desktop, good, sharp look, easy installation interface.

Again, this is not a complete list, but rather a list of ideas to get started with. Also, again, there are many, many other LiveCD's out there that are intended to be LiveCD's rather than installed (Knoppix, for example). For fun, these can be run on any system and may be something that can be very useful. For example, I've used Knoppix many times to recover data from virus-ridden hard drives. Other more-useful-as-LiveCD's-than-installed distributions each have specific focuses, so feel free to shop around.

Try out your operating system, then decide what you want. Linux may very easily be a good choice for you and your system. But you won't know unless you try it out!