Tag Archives: linux

Nerd Corner Endorses – All Open Source

January 25, 2026 Tony Burgess 1 Comment

I wanted to share with you the operating system and apps that powers Nerd Corner. I use them on my desktop and laptop computers. They are vital to me in my creative endeavors. I use them daily to make connections with my family, friends and this blogging community. Check them out and give them a spin.

I love Linux and my official operating system is Zorin OS, which is in its 18th version. It powers both my desktop and laptop. This open source software looks and feels like Microsoft Windows, and many use it because of that reason. You don’t have to put up with all the bloat and ads of Windows 10/11. It comes with loads of productivity and entertainment software already installed and has a library of thousands of apps I can download to make it my own.

Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox is my long-time favorite browser because it is open source, secure and offers enough features that don’t get in the way of getting stuff done. I use Firefox for browsing the web, posting blogs, watching YouTube videos, e-commerce, and connecting to others on social media among other fun things. There is also a mobile app that I use daily.

Thunderbird is my go-to email app. You can send and receive email from various places like Gmail, Yahoo and the like. It is highly customizable so you can make it work for you. It also comes with a built-in calendar you can sync to your online calendar. Not only that, but it’s also secure.

In disclosure, I have made a very small donation to the organizations that maintain and distribute these programs. If you use them, it makes sense to support them in whatever way you can. Each of them are also non-profit and community supported, which is something I feel good about.

Nerd Corner

RIP Microsoft Windows 10

October 14, 2025 Tony Burgess Leave a comment

Today is the end of life for the Microsoft Windows 10 operating system. After today there will no longer be updates sent out unless you buy extended service programs.

Upgrades to Windows 11 are available to compatible computers.

Those who don’t have machines that will run Windows 11 will have to buy a new computer or use open source operating systems like Linux Mint to keep their systems from becoming unusable. I do recommend Linux for those with some experience. Thank you Windows 10 for your service.

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Windows 10, Your Time Has Come

September 6, 2025 Tony Burgess Leave a comment

Microsoft Windows 10 will reach its End of Support (EoS) on October 14, 2025. My wife’s computer this week had to be upgraded from Windows 10 to Windows 11.

At home, we are a Linux/Android/Chrome OS family so we don’t run Windows or iOS outside the office. We have some older hardware that would struggle to keep up with the resource hogs that are Windows machines.

I found this meme on Facebook that shows the lament of people who really liked Windows 7 and didn’t want to upgrade to Windows 10. Those same people now don’t want Windows 10 to go away. I like Windows 10, but I think my Linux Mint 22.2 Dell desktop works just fine for my needs. A lot of older hardware will fall by the wayside because of Windows 11’s heavy resource and technology demands.

It will be an interesting few days in October to see what people will do when they have to upgrade. I suggest Linux Mint because it is less bloated, and it’s a solid and familiar feel too. Of course, many will buy new machines when they don’t have to if they will embrace an alternative.

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My Fedora Experiment Has Ended

September 3, 2025 Tony Burgess Leave a comment

I used Fedora KDE for a few days, and it seemed that it was a little buggy. There was an issue with integrating Google Mail, calendar, and drive with it seamlessly. Linux Mint, my long-time distribution, does all of that without a problem. I am using the Cinnamon desktop variation, and it’s well-equipped and feature rich.

I am glad to be back with something I feel comfortable with and has an old school feel about it. Experimenting with something new is always a good thing to do to flex your mind and muscles. Linux Mint is going to release distribution upgrade soon.

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Trying A New Operating System, Fedora KDE Plasma

August 31, 2025 Tony Burgess Leave a comment

I have been tinkering again, and this time I have been experimenting with the Fedora Linux operating system.

Fedora Linux is a Linux distribution developed by the Fedora Project. It was originally developed in 2003 as a continuation of the Red Hat Linux project.

There are different flavors of Fedora and I have been testing the KDE Plasma variant and I like it very much. I am a long-time user and I have been able to customize it to my liking and my workflow as an enthusiast who knows enough to be dangerous. I am using it on my desktop and laptop, so I am all-in.

So far, it’s worked well for me. I look forward to using it more and adjusting to how different it is from the Debian/Ubuntu distributions I have been using since I switched to Linux from Windows many years ago. This looks like a promising start to doing something new in Nerd Corner.

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Linux Mint 22.1 Upgrades Weekend

January 18, 2025 Tony Burgess 2 Comments

I run Linux Mint as my desktop and laptop operating system. It is free, open-source, and runs well on older hardware like mine. They released a terrific upgrade with some new and updated features so I have installed it on both of my machines and they run very well. I can do everything on Linux that I can do on Microsoft Windows without the bloat and slowdown.

Among the many things I like is when Linux Mint does an upgrade it doesn’t take forever to set up. I use Linux Mint 22.1 for web browsing, media, word processing, and playing games like Tetris and Solitaire and much more. So, It’s been fun setting things up and customizing the look on both machines.

Many machines are going to be without support from Microsoft as Windows 10 support ceases soon. I suggest Linux Mint for anyone who needs a fresh, modern operating system to keep their older machines running. There is a lot of support out there to help you get it running and use it for everyday tasks and the like.