(Tech) Stepping Away From The Mainstream

Dare to be different from the majority.

Yes, because Windows and Macs are too mainstream. My sources for my alternatives here...

For the rest of us, we'd be contented to have whatever it is that's available and convenient. Just be like the majority, not stand out, and just be like everyone else.

For some, however, that's just not enough. There's a sense of dissatisfaction with the status quo... The same goes with computing. While many are contented with what is easily accessible within reach. Others, however, appreciate a degree of individuality. Some prefer that they be able to have their own preferences. Many prefer personalization that transcends just merely having a different desktop wallpaper, or theme, or whatever there is that's aesthetic. Some prefer a different platform and experience, like switching to a Mac. But that costs a lot of money. Others, they simply switch their OS with something free. Curious? Two words: Try Linux.

Linux is mostly free (as in free beer, and as in freedom) since you don't have to pay anyone anything to have and use it. Additionally, some flavors don't require you to overhaul your computer-- They can be installed on top of your existing Operating System. If you're fed up with the usual, you might want to check them out:

• Ubuntu - Among the alternatives, this is probably THE most popular. A lot of people use this and this is is what made Linux a household name. It's based off of another distribution
• OpenSUSE - A free project by Novell. It is based from their paid product, Suse Linux Enterprise used on servers.
• Fedora - A free project based from Red-Hat Enterprise Linux, a product by Red-Hat.
• Linux Mint - An alternative to Ubuntu. Those who did not like the User Interface being used by Ubuntu have switched to this alternative. The benefit of this, though, is that it is compatible with Ubuntu repositories. When Ubuntu released their Unity user interface, many have switched to using this as an alternative.

The ones listed above are only the tip of the iceberg. There are a LOT more options to choose from. You can visit this site to see the rest of the alternatives -- Distrowatch.