When you write a letter, term paper or newspaper column, you'll probably use Microsoft Word. Buffing up a balance sheet? You'll probably use Microsoft Excel. Nodding off during a mind-numbing presentation? You're a victim of Microsoft Powerpoint... Today, however, some powerful challengers are chipping away at the Office edifice...

Canonical's Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala) and Microsoft's Windows 7 are expected to debut within days of one another in October 2009. Some open source pundits will surely hype a showdown between the two operating systems. But Canonical will need to carefully communicate the broader Ubuntu 9.10 story to media, customers and partners.

If you want to embrace open operating systems, quit the Microsoft monopoly or the Apple cult, Ubuntu is one of the most powerful operating systems based on the popular open source Linux kernel. It can do everything that the costly operating systems, only oh so much more, and for free!

In a couple of weeks I’ll be switching my main computer back to Ubuntu from Windows 7. But the reason isn’t exasperation with Windows 7, and it’s not one that should give Mac fans hoping that the new Microsoft OS will be a failure any kind of comfort.

What is it that makes Microsoft's products sell? Why is it that Microsoft seems to reign supreme in our microcomputer industry? Sure, we all know that IBM and Linux are strong in the research field, and we know that Solaris had a strong following in some areas as well, but niches aren't what dominate markets. Niches are just small pockets that concentrate on specific things...

I have been a big supporter of Ubuntu over the last few years and I have been using Ubuntu for many, many releases. I turned several friends onto Linux using Ubuntu and one of them has been quite excited about the operating system. Over the past year or so the Linux fan boys have been pushing eye candy on Ubuntu touting it as ahead of both Microsoft and Apple's desktop operating systems.

It may be a brave opinion but I predict that Ubuntu Linux and Windows Vista are going to be the two operating systems that will take over the largest chunk of the desktop OS market during the next couple of years

Just how important are computer operating systems, anyway? We're going to get an indication Thursday morning, when Microsoft Corp. is scheduled to launch Windows 7.

Most of you think that Microsoft windows and Mac OS are the only two famous operating systems. But now Ubuntu a linux based operating system is also getting popular. Since most may not know how to install custom themes in ubuntu , here is a quick guide for all those newbies.