There are many uses for Peach OSI even if your main PC runs Windows
Even if you're a Windows or a Mac user knowing how to use a Linux system like Peach OSI is a valuable skill. Here are 8 ways you can use Peach OSI even if you're not ready to go full on for Linux.
Drawing by Jim Carpenter
1. Troubleshoot Almost Any Computer Like a Genius
You don't need to be a genius in order to install Peach OSI on any computer in order to make it useful—all you need is a solid live CD or a bootable Peach OSI USB stick . Just boot from the CD or USB stick and you can grab any files from the hard drive, even if the computer won't boot or you've forgotten your password. Peach OSI can also help if you accidentally formatted your entire drive. Of course, not all system rescue disks are by Peach OSI — and there are a lot of good ones out there — but a bit of basic Linux knowledge that you will easily pickup using Peach OSI can turn you into a PC troubleshooting genius.
2. Work with Hard Drives or Partitions Without Buying Any Software
If you want to dual, triple or quadruple boot your computer and/or ever want to move partitions around, you'll have a much easier time with a Peach OSI live CD and GParted. Even if you don't multi-boot, you could always need a bit of help from Linux if you ever want to migrate to a different sized solid-state drive, or upgrade to a more spacious drive. And, if you ever want to securely wipe a hard drive so no one can get your data Peach OSI and Linux can help to do that too.
3. Automate Almost Anything In Your Home
With a little Linux knowledge and with Peach OSI and an inexpensive PC like a Raspberry Pi you can create all sorts of home automation tools. You can control your home in many ways like mount a Google Calendar tablet on the wall or set up a home surveillance system. You can control your blinds or air conditioner or stream music to anywhere in your home. Or how about building a cheap digital photo frame with almost an unlimited number of images. Or try your luck at a sunrise alarm clock? Just about anything that you can think of with a cheap board like the Raspberry Pi and a free OS like Peach OSI, you are more limited by your own imagination than you’ll ever be by your wallet or your skills.
4. Create a Home Server for PC Backups or Audio/Video Streaming and More
Who wants to leave your main computer on 24/7 just to share files or download torrents? A tiny dedicated Linux Peach Box might be the perfect solution. With an old computer or a cheap new or used one you can put together a home server that stores your backups, streams movies and music, seeds torrents, or performs any number of other tasks quietly and securely in the corner, on a shelf or even in a closet. Just start with Peach TV and add anything you need to make the PC do what you want with the included package managers to download and install the tools you need. Most of the software you could ever need is all open source meaning it is totally free.
5. Show off Your Newfound Tech Savvy Creations With a Dedicated Media Center
If you have a computer that you can't use even as a desktop or an older media center PC - why not just set it up with Peach OSI's "Peach TV"? It's free and easy to do. Kodi works great on Peach TV whether you're running on a Raspberry Pi or just a low-powered PC. You could even use it to create an old style arcade coffee table complete with sound. Come closer ... I’ve got a secret to tell you. We’ve already done the work for you. We call it Peach TV and Peach Pi TV. Download either now from our download page. We also have a Peach TV version for older 32 bit machines.
6. Brush Up on Your PC Security Skills
Peach OSI users install software from approved reliable package managers rather than from sketchy websites which means your PC is more naturally secure. Some Linux distributions, like BackTrack or Kali, are distros focused on security for testing the security of PC systems. That means you can use them to learn how others hack WEP or WPA Wi-Fi passwords which is a great way to learn a bit more about your own network security and how to protect yourself from similar attacks. Knowing the tricks of the trade will give you a good way to prevent similar attacks on your systems. Eventually we here at Peach OSI intend to develop our own version of a security augmented Linux OS.
7. Revive an Old or a Slow PC and Find Out if There is Anything Wrong With It
If you have a perfectly good PC that has a few years on it, Windows is far from the ideal OS for it with all the updates and - well - need I say more? Simply install a lightweight Linux distribution on it like Peach OSI and that PC that you thought was ready for the junk heap will perform and feel like a new machine again. Best of all if there is something wrong with it - Peach OSI can help you to find out why it is not working as it should. You would be surprised at how little is usually wrong with an older PC. The illusive upgrade treadmill that Windows want to keep you riding is nothing but a cruel hoax.
But to me this next one is one of the very best reasons for installing Peach OSI - Personal Power
8. To Learn More About How Computers Work
If none of the above 7 reasons sound like anything you might want or need then why not just get in the spirit of doing something for yourself and learn a little bit more about how your computer(s) work? Many - many things already run Linux. Everything from TVs to the Android phone in your pocket and learning about Linux is not only a fun hobby but it will help you learn a bit more about what makes these machines work. We recommend getting started with something like Peach OSI’s “The Works” or perhaps "Peach TV" and then when you get a little more familiar with Linux move onto Peach “Barebones” for some serious learning where you can pick and choose your own software and system setup. There is one thing for sure. If you think you know how to use a computer and all you’ve ever done is bang around on a Windows machine then you are in for a real treat. Our Peach offerings can single handedly make you an absolute computer guru in just a matter of days.