Linux is slowly becoming an acceptable choice as a mainstream desktop operating system but some users do not like the applications which are part of the system. The hunt has thus been on to find the best way of running Windows applications from within Linux.

Windows virtualisation that really works: it isn’t without foibles, but it’s a great way of running Windows from OS X.

When Symantecs Norton Ghost 2002 was released last year, it offered few improvements, with support for Windows XP the only significant addition. Not so with Drive Image 2002.

Windows SideShow is a fascinating distraction, but even without the supplementary screen the W5fe is impressive.

This book aims to provide information on Microsofts latest operating system, in a fast and easy to digest style.

Despite various attempts at Windows Desktop alternatives, Linux is still best suited to servers, for which Red Hat is by far the most popular choice. With this in mind, it came as no surprise when in May 2002 Red Hat split its product line in two: Linux and Enterprise Linux.

As you're probably aware, LindowsOS is an attempt at a consumer-friendly Linux that looks and works like Windows. It was even originally intended to run Windows applications, using the Wine emulator, although this only works well with certain high-profile programs such as Microsoft Office.

It's a sign of the times when Compaq's Aero 8000 runs Windows CE in a box bigger than a Sharp PC-A250 (reviewed issue 23, p86) running Windows 98. So what's the big idea? Windows CE uses no moving parts, while software in ROM means immediate start-up times, high reliability, and long battery life all highly desirable qualities in a portable.

PreviewA good attempt at all-in-one system security, fully integrated into the OS.

In the tradition of the Dummies series, spends the first part of the book familiarising readers with hardware terminology

It's a little ironic that every new version of Mac OS comes closer to Windows when you consider that Microsoft was originally accused of hijacking Apple's interface. Apple claims to have put 150 new features into Panther, but the two it highlights first are improvements to Finder and the new Exposé[alt+0233 in courier new]. The improvements to Finder bring it one step closer to the Windows menu system, which since 95 has been superior to Apple's. The new one click-reveals-all Finder was sorely needed and makes Panther much easier to navigate than its predecessors.

Disk-imaging software can be put to many varied uses, and products like Drive Image prove particularly useful in our labs when upgrading to a new hard disk or for swiftly refreshing a test system.

True Image provides a simple but effective disaster-recovery system, with useful data backup facilities.

Formerly called Redmond Linux, Lycoris is probably the most Windows-like Linux around.

The first OS to make a serious effort at an easy, integrated Linux to rival Windows was the now defunct Corel LinuxOS.

We've put both mini-notebooks through their paces, and while Linux fans may disagree, the winner is clear.

To be fair, if you were going to deploy Netware 6, you would have a trained Novell engineer (CNE) configure it on a Netware 6-certified box from a major manufacturer. We, nevertheless, decided to wipe our Windows 2000 clone server and start afresh with Netware.

Lacks in power, but terrific hardware design makes this an intriguing take on the Eee brand.

We never thought we’d see it happen, but now you can run Windows XP natively on a Mac.

The arrival of Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 (ES2K3) is a significant event in the history of this product. First, it brings to a close the second era of the codebase. Released back in 1996 on the NT 4 wave, ES4 (there was no 1, 2 or 3) brought enterprise-level email, contact management, diary management and so forth to the Windows Server platform in a new and comprehensive BackOffice application.