Free Admin Tools for Network administrators

Network Tools for network administrator are very important to check the network within his work area. Many network tools which are very important for troubleshot network problems, help administrator to find out the network problems in networks. Network tools are softwares which installed on operating system either it is network Server operating sysems, windows or Linus or other network server.

Below the list of importnat  Network Tools for every NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR.

System and network analysis

1. NTFS Permissions Explorer

Using this MMC snap-in you can quickly visualize the user and group permissions of a local or remote folder or drive in a hierarchical format to help identify problems.

http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/9743/

2. Xirrus Wi-Fi Inspector

Wi-Fi Inspector is a powerful Wi-Fi management and troubleshooting tool that allows you to locate and verify Wi-Fi devices, detect rogue Access Points, troubleshoot connections, and search for Wi-Fi networks.

http://www.xirrus.com/library/wifitools.php

3. Whois

Whois performs a lookup of the registration information of a given IP address or domain name.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/sysinternals/bb897435

4. ShareEnum

ShareEnum allows you to scan and view the security settings of file shares on your network.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/sysinternals/bb897442

5. PipeList

PipeList displays a list of named pipes on your system, including the number of active instances and the instance threshold.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/sysinternals/dd581625

6. TcpView

TCPView allows you to view detailed TCP and UDP connection information in a user friendly format.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/sysinternals/bb897437

7. The Dude

The Dude from MicroTik can automatically scan all devices within a given subnet and then draw and layout a map of your network.

http://www.mikrotik.com/thedude

8. Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer

The MBSA is a tool that can be used to detect missing security updates and typical security misconfigurations.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/security/cc184923

9. WireShark

WireShark is an interactive network protocol analyser and capture utility. It provides for in-depth inspection of hundreds of protocols and runs on multiple platforms.

http://www.wireshark.org/download.html

10. Look@LAN

Look@LAN allows you to quickly scan your network looking for active nodes. It provides monitoring, reporting, logging and OS detection features.

http://download.cnet.com/Look-LAN-Network-Monitor/3000-2085_4-10145550.html

11. RogueScanner

RogueScanner will scan your network looking for rogue devices and access points, classifying them in a way that allows you to quickly see what’s on your network.

http://www.gotomanage.com/open_source_tools/roguescanner

12. Capsa Free Network Analyzer

Using this tool you can monitor, troubleshoot and diagnose issues on your network. It has a Microsoft Office-like user interface.

http://www.colasoft.com/capsa/capsa-free-edition.php

13. SuperScan

SuperScan is a fast connection-based TCP port scanner, pinger and hostname resolution tool.

http://www.mcafee.com/us/downloads/free-tools/superscan3.aspx

14. Blast

Blast is a lightweight TCP service stress test tool that can help pinpoint weaknesses in your network.

http://www.mcafee.com/us/downloads/free-tools/blast.aspx

15. UDPFlood

UDPFlood is a lightweight UDP service stress test tool that sends out packets to a specified IP or port.

http://www.mcafee.com/us/downloads/free-tools/udpflood.aspx

16. IPplan

This tool allows you to quickly and easily track and manage your network IP addresses.

http://iptrack.sourceforge.net/

17. NetStumbler

NetStumbler is an application that allows you to detect the presence of a wireless network using 802.11a/b/g. It is useful for detecting rogue access points, finding locations with poor signal, verifying network configurations and determining the cause of wireless interference.

http://www.stumbler.net/

18. PingPlotter

PingPlotter is a lightweight tracert application that generates graphs to help you visualize the route of the packets from source to destination.

http://www.pingplotter.com/download.html

19. SolarWinds Free Permissions Analyzer for AD

Using this tool you can quickly visualize the user and group permissions of a folder or shared drive in a hierarchical format. It can track share level permissions, provide a breakdown of share level and file level permissions and help identify why certain users have the permissions they do.

http://www.solarwinds.com/products/freetools/permissions_analyzer_for_active_directory/

20. Angry IP Scanner

Angry IP Scanner is a fast standalone IP address and port scanner.

http://www.angryip.org/w/Download

21. FreePortMonitor

FreePortMonitor is a tool for monitoring servers and applications on your network.

http://www.freeportmonitor.com/

22. WirelessNetView

WirelessNetView monitors the activity of wireless networks in the area and displays information related to them, such as SSID, Signal Quality, MAC Address, Channel Frequency, etc.

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/wireless_network_view.html

23. BluetoothView

BluetoothView monitors the activity of Bluetooth devices in the area and displays information related to them, such as Device Name, Bluetooth Address, Device Type, etc.

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/wireless_network_view.html

24. Vision

Vision allows you to view all open TCP and UDP ports and then maps them back to the owning process or application.

http://www.mcafee.com/us/downloads/free-tools/vision.aspx

25. Attacker

Attacker is a TCP/UDP port listener that allows you to define a list of ports that you want it to listen on and it will notify you when a connection is established on that port.

http://www.mcafee.com/us/downloads/free-tools/attacker.aspx

26. Total Network Monitor

Total Network Monitor is a comprehensive network monitoring application that allows you to view the state of your network. It is customizable and has advanced alerting features, letting you know when something is wrong.

http://www.softinventive.com/products/total-network-monitor/

27. IIS Logfile Analyser

This tool allows you to analyse your IIS logfiles to determine website statistics such as number of visitors, number of downloads, etc.

http://www.nodesoft.com/iislogfileanalyser/

28. ntop

ntop uses a web-based interface that allows you to monitor network traffic and statistics.

http://www.ntop.org/get-started/download/

System testing and troubleshooting

29. Pinkie

Pinkie is a collection of network troubleshooting utilities that allows pinging multiple hosts, forward and reverse DNS lookup, a ping sweeper, and a subnet calculator.

http://www.ipuptime.net/

30. VMWare Player

VMWare Player is a multi-platform virtualization solution that can be used to create and run multiple 32-bit or 64-bit virtual machines. Ideal for testing or development environments.

http://downloads.vmware.com/d/info/desktop_downloads/vmware_player/3_0

31. Oracle VirtualBox

VirtualBox is a free, multi-platform general-purpose virtualization solution that can be used to create and run multiple virtual machines. Ideal for testing or development environments.

http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

32. ADInsight

ADInsight is a real-time monitoring tool used for troubleshooting LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) clients.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/sysinternals/bb897539

33. Process Monitor

Process Monitor allows you to monitor activity related to processes, threads, DLLs, the registry and file system in real-time. Useful for troubleshooting application and system related issues.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/sysinternals/bb896645

34. SpiceWorks Network Troubleshooting

SpiceWorks Network Troubleshooting is an all-in-one tool that allows you to perform routine troubleshooting tasks such as killing processes remotely, access devices remotely, ping, tracert and nslookup, and even compare the status of two devices.

http://www.spiceworks.com/free-network-troubleshooting-tool/

35. RAMMap

RAMMap allows you to analyse physical memory allocation in your system. You are able to determine how much file data is cached in RAM, how much RAM is used by the kernel and device drivers, etc.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/sysinternals/ff700229

36. Autoruns

Autoruns allows you to view which programs are configured to run at system boot up or login.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/sysinternals/bb963902

37. LogFusion

Using LogFusion you can view and monitor log files in real-time.

http://www.logfusion.ca/

38. Microsoft Log Parser

Using Microsoft Log Parser you can generate a custom-formatted output file containing the results of multiple log file sources such as XML, CSV, Event Logs, or the Registry.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=890cd06b-abf8-4c25-91b2-f8d975cf8c07

39. AppCrashView

AppCrashView allows you to view Windows Error Reporting (*.WER) files in a simple user interface and then save the results into TXT/CSV/HTML/XML file format.

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/app_crash_view.html

40. RootKitRevealer

RootKitRevealer allows you to detect the presence of rootkits that operate by attempting to hide their files or registry entries.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/sysinternals/bb897445

System and network management

41. Bitcricket IP Subnet Calculator

This tool allows you to calculate subnets and CIDR routes automatically using its intuitive interface and auto-discovery feature.

http://www.wildpackets.com/resources/free_utilities/ipsubnetcalc

42. EMCO Remote Installer Starter

The free version of EMCO Remote Installer (Starter edition) allows you to perform a software inventory of applications installed on your network. You can retrieve and track changes as well as save reports.

http://emcosoftware.com/products/remote-installer/features.php

43. ManagePC

ManagePC allows you to create an inventory of all your machines in the domain, including hardware, software, devices, patches, group policies, etc.

http://managepc.net/

44. Pandora FMS

Pandora FMS is a network monitoring solution that allows you to monitor multiple platforms, from Linux machines, to Solaris machine, to Windows machines. It provides alerts and reporting for CPU, disk and memory usage, temperature, or even application values.

http://pandorafms.org/index.php?sec=project&sec2=downloads&lng=en

45. SNARE Audit and EventLog Management

SNARE (System iNtrusion Analysis and Reporting Environment) allows you to install agents onto your server machines to facilitate the centralized collection of logs, including Windows, Solaris, AIX, ISA Server, IIS Server, SMTP, Exchange, Apache, etc.

http://www.intersectalliance.com/projects/index.html

46. OCS Inventory

OCS Inventory is an automated inventory and deployment application. It allows you to determine what devices or software are installed on your network and deploy software or configuration scripts using a simple web-based interface.

http://www.ocsinventory-ng.org/index.php?page=downloads

47. Zenoss Core – Enterprise IT Monitoring

Using the Zenoss Core application, you can monitor systems availability, performance, events and configuration across the network.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/zenoss/

48. Unipress Free Help Desk

Unipress Free Help Desk is a simple yet powerful Help Desk solution that allows you to create, assign and receive issue tickets. It contains a web portal and knowledgebase for self-help.

http://www.unipress.co.uk/free-help-desk-software.html

49. SysAidIT Free Help Desk

Using this tool, you can easily manage and service requests and create an inventory of installed software and network devices on your network.

http://www.ilient.com/free-help-desk-software.htm

50. Cyberx Password Generator Pro

Cyberx Password Generator Pro allows you to create random highly secure passwords.

http://sourceforge.net

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Top 10 Best and Most Popular Game Consoles Of All Time

Gaming is one of the main source of entertainment among the youth and kids of any country. It has also seen many phases from Atari 2600 to graphical power houses that are being used in today gaming. There is also a realistic animation used in the gaming. There are many exclusive consoles from different firm’s build by the top developers. There are many gaming devices that have broken all record in the number of sales. So, here are 10 best and most popular gaming console of all time.

Best and Most Popular Game Consoles Of All Time

1. PlayStation 2Sony PlayStation 2 is the most popular and the bestselling game consoles in the history of gaming. Sony has reviled that it has sold approximately 155 million units of PlayStation 2 till March 2012. It runs on the broadband connectivity through which users can select and play their favourite game over internet. The competition is very high because there are gamers from the different parts of the world. The gaming console also supports DVD and CD playback.

Nintendo DSNintendo DS was released in 2004. It has two LCD screens and the bottom one has a proper stylus through which it takes input. According to the company figures, they have sold approximately 153.99 units of the device. The number of units sold makes it the second most gaming device ever sold in the history of gaming. It supports multiplayer game using one game card.

WiiIt was released by the Nintendo Company in 2006. It was such a success that it outsold both PlayStation 3 by Sony and Xbox 360 from Microsoft. The worldwide sales of the gaming device crossed 101.15 million since it was released in 2009. The console has Wii remote controller and a pointing device that can detect the movement in three dimensions. The users can control game through physical gestures. It also has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Game BoyThe gaming console was initially released in Japan in the year 1989.After it became a success in the Japan market, the very next year it was released in the international market. The display of the console is of low quality but the battery backup is very good. It will provide approximately 30 hours of playback. It has the smallest digital camera in the world which has been mentioned in Guinness book of world records in the year 1999.

PlayStationThis was the first gaming console in the PlayStation series released by Sony. It was released in the year 1994.Along with playing users can also play audio CD. The games that became popular through this series are Air Combat, Battle Arena Thoshinden and Street Fighter. It was discontinued by Sony in 2006. It was a great success for the company and they have sold approximately 102.49 million.

Xbox 360The Xbox 360 was the second gaming device in the series Xbox released by Microsoft in 2005.The console is not only limited to the gaming but the users can also watch DVD movies. The console also allows users to play with their friends online. The company has sold 25.1 million alone in the US by 2011. There are also three major peripherals of the Xbox 360 series namely controllers, motion sensing camera and more hard disc storage. The disc drive for Xbox 360 has many options such as 20, 60, 120, 250 or 320 GB.

PlayStation 3It was launched after the success of PlayStation 2.Sony will continue to sell PlayStation 3 till 2015. The most unique feature of PlayStation 3 is that it uses blue ray discs as primary storage device. It can store up to 54 GB of data. The console also features USB port, one HDMI output and Bluetooth 20.

Nintendo Entertainment SystemThe console was initially released in Japan in the 1983.Later it was shipped to North America, Europe and Australia. It was sold approximately 62 million making it the best gaming device of that time. The directional pad was introduced in this gaming device.

PlayStation PortableThis was the first ever handheld gaming console launched by Sony. It was initially released in Japan in the year 2004. The gaming device was very popular in Europe, America and Japan. It uses optical disc format as its primary storage. It also has USB 2.0 and memory stick port.

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Healthy Foods in the World

We should be very much aware to keep our body healthy because this is the place where we are living. What is exactly meant by healthy eating? It can be defined as the eating different things in a proper manner that will provide your body all the required nutrients. So, here we are listing Top 10 Healthy Foods in the world.

Top 10 Healthy Foods in the World

1. Almond

Almond is one of the most Healthy Foods in the world. It has many health benefits that any other nuts that exist in the world. Almonds are very rich in proteins and minerals. The fatty acids present in Almond helps to regulate sugar level, blood pressure and also help to boost immune system. They are very much famous for increasing your brain activities because it contains riboflavin and L-carnitine. Almond has very high phosphorous content that helps to make your bones and teeth strong. Also the Vitamin E present in the nuts helps to decrease the risk of heart diseases.

Image Source: hereandnow.wbur.org

2. Apple

The Juicy apples are considered to be one of the healthiest foods in the world. The fruit has been rich in dietary fiber, phytonutrients, thiamin, riboflavin and vitamin B-6. There are many benefits of Apple like it can protect against the Parkinson’s diseases because of the high viber content. If you are drinking apple juice regularly it will keep your brain young and active because it contains high level of acetylcholine. Apple has antioxidant properties that will improve your immune system, prevent cataracts and lower your risk of asthma.

Image Source: sites.psu.edu

3. Avocado

The Avocado is cultivated in very large quantity in many countries like Mexico, Chile, Dominican Republic and United States. The fruit is very rich in essential minerals and vitamins. It contains Vitamin A, D, C, B-6, B-12, Magnesium, Calcium and Iron. There are many benefits of avocado like it will risk of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases because of dietary fibre content. The fruit has a high level of monounsaturated fats hat can regulate the sugar level in your body. They are also a source of antioxidants namely carotenoid lutein that helps to reduce eye problems like macular degeneration and cataracts. It is also one of the Healthy Foods in the world.

Image Source: www.bonappetour.com

4. Walnut

They are oldest known tree food in the world dated back in 10000 B.C. The nuts are cultivated in U.S, France, Romania and China. The nuts are known for their many medical properties. Walnuts has chemicals like melatonin, carotenoids and ellagic acid that will reduce inflammation, aging and neurological diseases. It has many essentials minerals like manganese, copper, iron, magnesium, zinc and selenium. These minerals help in regulating your digestion.

Image Source: changinghabits.com.au

5. Salmon

Salmon are the good source of vitamins, minerals and proteins. Salmons have two important fatty acids namely EPA and DHA. These fatty acids will prevent against cardiovascular disease, brain diseases, reduce inflammation and blood clots. The fruit is also very helpful to improve your mood and cognition.

Image Source: drjodynd.com

6. Garlic

Garlic is acting as natural medicines since ages. It is also used as a ingredient that is used as a flavour for food. They are very rich in nutrient and very low in calories. They are capable of fighting against many diseases. The daily intake of garlic helps in preventing colon cancer. They are also helps in reducing harmful LDL cholesterol. They are also very helpful in reducing sugar and insulin.

Image Source: en.wikipedia.org

7. Spinach

Spinach is a rich source of Vitamin A, C, K, B2, iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium. According to science the consumption of Spinach is good for your skin, bone and hair. The high fibre content is very good for digestive system. If you are taking spinach on the daily basis it will be increase your muscle efficiency.

Image Source: heymikeyatl.com

8. Sweet Potato

The Sweet Potato is very easily available and is good source of Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin B-6, potassium and calcium. There is no fat content in the sweet potato so they are very good for your health. The antioxidant compounds in sweet potato will protect you against cancer and will be very good for your eyes. The Vitamin A and Vitamin E present in the sweet potato will boost your immune system.

Image Source: foodb.ca

9. Banana

The Banana is the fruit available all year around and has numerous health benefits. The banana is helpful in relieving morning sickness, reduce tension, cure diabetes and improve heart health. Banana are fat free and have many types of vitamins like manganese, vitamin C, potassium, dietary fibre, iron, vitamin A and protein.

Image Source: fitnessandhealthadvisor.com

10. Dark Chocolate

If you are taking Dark Chocolate in a moderate amount there are numerous health benefits. Dark Chocolate is rich in Iron, Magnesium, Fibre and Copper. It is rich in calories so if you are taking in large quantity it can lead to weight gain.

Image Source: http://www.explosion.com/

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Most Magnificent Caribbean Islands

Caribbean Islands are one of the best and beautiful tourist attractions in the world. It is a combination of about 7 thousand islands. The tourist always remain confuse which island to visit. The facts are that every island is amazingly beautiful in its landscape and offer multiple services to its visitors. So, here we are listing 10 most magnificent Caribbean Islands in order to reduce your confusion and will be very helpful in planning your trip to the beautiful islands.

Most Magnificent Caribbean Islands

1. Jamaica

Jamaica is the heart of Caribbean Islands. They have magnificent beaches and beautiful landscape. Jamaica is also known for reggae music and resorts. The Flora and wildlife of the island is quite famous among the tourist. There will be many exclusive offers that are only available on the Jamaica island resorts. There is good news for the golfers as island have the best golf courses in all the Caribbean.

The average temperature of the island is 27 degree Celsius. According to the reviews of the tourist, The Jamaican people are very friendly and always there for the visitors for any kind of help. The Rastafari and Kumina music forms will give you a lifetime experience. The beaches are very clean. The seven mile beach is one of the most popular Jamaica beach. The sunset experience of the beach will also give you a lifelong memory.

Image Source: www.bahia-principe.com

2. Barbados

Barbados is also one of the perfect destinations for the tourist in Caribbean. It is basically known for its fantastic climate and clean beaches. The tourist also comes here for the delicious food and nice restaurants. The beautiful landscape beauty and different cultural activities will give you a lifetime experience. The island has been formed by the oceanic sediments having limestone foundation. The island is gifted with many natural underwater lakes and caves. The Harrison cave is the most beautiful among all the caves. The lively city of Bridgetown is also very famous among the visitors.

The crystal clear water flows through the caves thus creating beautiful waterfalls and pools.

Image Source: beachbarbums.com

3. Aruba

The beach is very famous for the beach activities because the weather is mostly warm and has sunny skies. The vacation destination is quite famous among the tourist. The island is situated in the Southern Caribbean Sea. The island is also famous for its white sandy beaches, beautiful landscape and warm weather. It comes under the Kingdom of Netherlands. The Arikok national park situated on the Aruba islands are one of the most visited place by tourist. There will be many beautiful rock formation and diverse wildlife that will give a long memory. The accommodation at Aruba island is quite cheap and you will find beautiful view of the Caribbean Islands.

The nightlife of the island is also very amazing and there are many casinos too situated on the island. They have a desert like appearance rather than forest. There will be many activities available at the island for all kind of age groups.

Image Source: www.ua.aw

4. Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is a combination of larger and smaller islands. They are well known for its perfect weather condition thus making it perfect place to visit throughout the year. The temperature will be around 21 to 26 degree Celsius all year around. The white sandy beaches of Puerto Rico are very famous among the global tourist. The visitors love different activities like sailing, surfing and snorkeling. Puerto Rico is a home to Yunque National Forest which is the only tropical rainforest that lies within the U.S territory. It is also home to amazing waterfalls and unique wildlife.

The U.S citizen does not need a passport to visit this island. The cities San Juan and Ponce offer has lot of historical sites that must be visited if you are going to Puerto Rico. It has also a amazing nightlife and casinos.

Image Source: http://planmytripto.com/

5. Antigua

Antigua is a small group of islands which is very popular among the tourist as a gambling destination. The island is also known for its great restaurants, cafes and discos. The beaches have beautiful white and pink sandy beaches that look very beautiful. The local people are very friendly. Antigua islands have also very exciting night life. It is also known as Waladli or Wadadli by the native population. It is also one of the most important island of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua economy is totally dependent on the tourism and they promote the island as a luxury Caribbean escape.

The country’s official currency is the East Caribbean dollar.

Image Source: www.cip.gov.ag

6. Anguilla

Anguilla islands are most famous for its white sandy beaches among the tourist. If you are planning to stay on the island for more than three days then you will able to explore all the parts of the island. The island has about 30 beaches and all are very clean and beautiful. The island is basically for that kind tourist who is searching for the peaceful environment on the beaches and less crowded island of all Caribbean Islands.

The nightlife of the small island is also very exciting and will give you a lifelong memory for sure.

Image Source: en.wikipedia.org

7. Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic is the second largest country of Caribbean and has a fantastic tropical weather conditions all year around. So you need not to plan that which part of the year you have to visit Dominican Republic. The place is famous among tourist for its clean beaches, crystal clear water and beautiful landscape including stunning mountains. The capital Santo Domingo of Dominican Republic contains many historical sites and also known for its thrilling history. The capital of the country was founded by the brother of Bartolome Columbus in the year 1496.Santo Domingo is also a UNESCO world heritage site since 1990.

The country is also known for its music and dance just like Jamaica and most famous form is merengue. Merengue is a fusion of African and European musical forms. Dominican rock is also one of the most famous dance forms in the country. Its a must visited Caribbean Islands among all the islands.

Image Source: www.frawsy.com

8. Bermuda

Bermuda is considered to be one of the most elegant beaches of all islands. The island is also a ideal place for the golfers and cricket lovers. Local people along with tourist playing cricket matches can be very easily seen in different parts of the island. The island has also any class golf courses being made for the local people and the tourist. The island can be reached very easily from New York. The Eastern U.S. Flights from New York city will take you to the Bermuda in only 2 hours.

The place has a huge British influence and still you will be seeing the traditional British afternoon tea being servers at many parts of the island.

Image Source: ubervida.net

9. Curacao

The island is located in south western Caribbean and known for its pleasant and mild temperature all year around. It is also one of the largest islands in Norwegian Antilles. Curacao lies just below the hurricane belt that is the main reason for its mild and pleasant weather all year around. The delicious food and clean beaches make it one of the favourite Caribbean Islands among tourist. The island is also very famous for its beautiful art and architecture. The Willemstad capital of Curacao has many building that clearly signifies the history of the island.

The capital city Willemstad is also a UNESCO world heritage site since 1997. The local art of Curacao are very much admired by the international tourist. The sculptures and the beautiful paintings too can be enjoyed. It is also one of the best Caribbean Islands.

Image Source: http://www.pelican-villa.com/

10. St. Lucia

St. Lucia is a very popular spot for the couples. The landscape beauty of the island is amazing. The people of the island are also very friendly and will welcome with their full spirit. The beaches are very clean. There are many resorts you will be find on the island and services on the all the resorts are very god. There will be many offers you will find in different resorts thus making it comfortable for you to make a budget choice. The annual jazz festival is very famous among the tourist and will give you a lifetime experience.

Image Source: http://www.scubastlucia.com/

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Alternatives For Windows 10 Users

You will be no longer to get Windows 10 for free after this month, according to Microsoft. Users have to pay to either get a copy of Windows 10 or to upgrade from an older version. This isn't a good news for anyone who hasn't yet upgraded their PC or planning to build a system of their own in near future. 

Here are 4 alternatives to Windows that you should consider in case you missed out on the free upgrade window or if you are bothered by the privacy issues concerned with the operating system and looking for a change.

1. Ubuntu
Ubuntu is world's most popular free Operating System. It is Linux based and used very widely across the globe. Noticeably, many important government agencies across Europe and Asia use Ubuntu in their offices.
The fact that Ubuntu gets a free upgrade every year and it comes with familiar apps like Firefox and Thunderbird along with free MS Office alternative called Libre Office makes it a very valuable alternative.
Additionally, Ubuntu requires very fewer system resources enabling it to run quite well on older systems and are mostly free of viruses and malware.

2. Chrome OS
Chrome OS, the web-based Operating System developed by Google, has been gaining popularity across North America in recent years. Its rising popularity is so evident that in many online stores such Amazon the best selling computers are Chromebooks pushing Windows PCs to second place.
Although, it may seem that you must need a Chromebook to run the Chrome OS, a little workaround developed by New York based start- up Neverware makes it easy to install it on any computer.
It is light on resources and is automatically updated regularly. You can find our guide on how to turn your computer to a Chromebook here.

3. Hackintosh
If you don't want Windows on your system, then why not install MacOS on it? No, it certainly isn't a joke. Making Hackintosh computers, or computers build with MacOS is a very popular choice among many PC building enthusiasts.
Running a MacOS on anything other than a MacBook can be considered illegal, but so far there hasn't been any legal problem with regard to individuals making Hackintosh PCs. However, the main problem is that not all hardware work with the Hackintosh, and finding drivers for the hardware component can be a nightmare.

If you are willing to sacrifice a lot of time and energy in building a PC then it can be an option and you can find many guides explaining how to do it on the internet.

4. Linux Mint
Linux Mint is almost same as Ubuntu internally as they both are Linux based operating systems and apps and software for both are always the same.

However, where Linux Mint, despite being a lesser-known Operating System than Ubuntu, gained its popularity is through easy to use user interfaces called Cinnamon and Mate.

They look very similar to Windows in many ways, unlike Ubuntu's Unity which bears more resemblance to the MacOS. The familiar visual elements such as taskbar and Start Menu like application launcher found in Linux Mint eliminate the learning curve of moving to a new Operating System.

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