Ubuntu 8.04.1 LTS: Three months into its release, Ubuntu 8.04 already has an updated installer disc. If you have been updating your ini¬tial installation then you may already have this. This disc though, is helpful if you're doing a fresh install and don't want to have to download 200 updated packages. Some significant changes include Firefox which has been updated to version 3.0 final, no more problems with network shares that require a user¬name and password, and audio-stuttering issues that have now been fixed.

OpenSuSE 11.0 LiveCD: Open¬SuSE is the free, community variant of the com¬mercial SuSE oper¬ating system sold by Novell. The full installer DVD is.. abetUt 4.3 GB, and we have provided the LiveCD ver¬sion, to let you try out this OS. As always, the YaST package and setup tool's ease of use is unique among all Linux distri¬butions. It includes the KDE 4 desktop interface with 3D effects, and OpenOffice 2.4 with support for VBA-rich documents. With desktop and server virtualization being a buzzword now, OpenS uSE includes the Xen hypervisor. Also included are the Banshee a rescue CD.

It can run from most media, including a CD, pendrive, hard disk, or even off the network. The current official ver¬sion was code¬named 'Dingo' and included on the DVD is Macpup Dingo, which is a re-master of the base to make it look more attrac¬tive, with no changes to its functionality and features.

Madana Prathap media player, Firefox 3.0 browser, and WINE 1.0 (for running EXE files of Win¬dows applications). Puppy Linux 4.0: There are LiveCDs and then there are mini LiveCDs! This very c?mpact Linux distribution focuses on providing a functional desktop without too many applications to clutter the disc, excellent as