Tom's Linux Series For Windows Power Users
Part 1: Installing Ubuntu Linux
Part 2: Internet Application Roundup
Part 3: Communications Application Roundup
In the previous segment of Tom's Definitive Linux Software Roundup, we looked into Internet Apps. These were defined as applications that rely on Internet access to connect the user to the Web at large.
In this segment, we will be focusing on communications applications. While these apps still rely on Internet access to function, their focus is to allow the user to communicate with other individuals using the Internet simply as a transit medium. We will go over Personal Information Managers (PIM), email clients, Instant Messengers (IM), Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) software, and Internet Relay Chat (IRC) clients. That means replacements for Outlook, Outlook Express, Trillian, and mIRC are to be found within. Many of these apps you may already be using in Windows. Mozilla Thunderbird, Skype, Pidgin IM, and others have native Linux installations available, too.
Semanticians may point out that most of these apps appear in the Internet category in the Ubuntu Applications menu. So why weren't they in the last installment of Internet Apps? Well, these apps started out in the Internet Apps section of this roundup, but the Linux software environment is a diverse one, and I quickly found that there were enough options out there to sub-divide further. So, I had to come up with some form of distinction other than what the GNOME menu gave me. It's also true that some of these apps, personal information managers in particular, may feel more at home in the Office section of the Applications menu. Truth be told, the upcoming Office Apps installment was actually written first and, like Internet Apps, that one is a real monster as well. Hence, some of the office software is making an appearance in this segment, too.
As with the previous installment of Tom's Definitive Linux Software Roundup, feel free to skip to the sections that interest you. Links to the appropriate installers are provided so that you can check out the apps for yourselves.

- Skype for Linux is currently in version 2.1 (beta) which differs from 2.0 (final) only in the fact that it is now able to deal with ALSA, OSS and PulseAudio transparently - and it doesn't wreck webcam outputs as much.
- Skype for Linux has supported video ever since version 2.0 (beta); it does work quite well if your webcam sends uncompressed video to the system (if your webcam streams MJPEG and you have a 2.6.28+ kernel, you will need some hacker-fu; details on demand)
- a quite well known single protocol IM is aMSN, which is also multiplatform; its other main advantage is that it supports voice and video chats. However, it's not always very stable and requires manual setting up of a TCP port for video and voice to work properly.
As far as KDE vs. Gnome, I see no problem with the current format, maybe just do a Ubuntu(Gnome) vs. Kubuntu(KDE) vs. Xubuntu(Xfce) vs. MoonOS/OpenGEU/JAD(Enlightenment) roundup, to show off the different desktops(and the few apps that only work on a particular desktop). Any look good with the right theme and some Compiz/Beryl, but KDE and Enlightenment have an edge right out of the box.
This is just plain wrong. Pidgin has supported Jabber for a long time. It's called XMPP in the later versions which is the name of the protocol used by jabber clients
Actually, Thunderbird allows you to permanently accept the certificate, which will do what you want. Just pay attention when the confirmation dialog comes up, and select "Accept this certificate permanently". It's the first option (the default is the second option, which is to accept the certificate for the current session).
It's a great lightweight Os, without all the frills and gadgets of Ubuntu, runs on low system specs, which means on a regular system it just flies.
Takes a little of experience over Ubuntu to handle things, but over time you'll get the hang of things.
Runs good on a USB stick too!
I like the 'Live' idea, no need for installing; but for a full experience it's best to just remove your HD (which can get messed up in installations), and install the OS on an external USB!
Some users experience a very good system response on a PCIE SLC SSD. Latest version you can install on 4GB, previous versions you could install on less.
Takes about 2,75GB in size, with some apps and updates installed.
Ahh, so that's where they got that name, awesome. Thanks for the tidbit
orly?
Fantastic idea! I've got my plate full right now, esp with the gaming guide on the horizon, but I like this a lot. I will begin looking into it for Q1.