HOUSTON, TX – May 1, 2009 – Belltown Media, Inc., publisher of the award-winning monthly magazine Linux Journal, has announced the winners of its annual Linux Journal Readers' Choice Awards. The 2009 winners appear in the June issue, with awards presented to vendors and organizations in 36 categories, ranging from favorite version control system to favorite Linux laptop.

Linux Journal's annual Readers' Choice Awards take the pulse of the Linux community, allowing readers to choose their favorites in a number of categories, and write-ins also are accepted. The voting took place during the months of January and February and was open to everyone. Nearly 5,000 individuals voted for their favorite Linux solutions.

“In an industry conceived, created and driven by peers, an accolade from the community is the highest compliment you can get,” said Linux Journal publisher Carlie Fairchild.

Announcing Linux Journal's 2009 Readers' Choice Award winners:

Favorite Primary Linux Distribution of Choice - Ubuntu
Favorite Desktop Environment - GNOME
Favorite Web Browser - Firefox
Favorite E-Mail Client - Mozilla Thunderbird
Favorite Office Program - OpenOffice.org
Favorite Audio Tool - Audacity
Favorite Audio Player - Amarok
Favorite Media Player - VLC
Favorite Communications Tool - Pidgin
Favorite Graphics/Design Tool - GIMP
Favorite Digital Photo Management Tool - Picasa
Favorite Text Editor - vi
Favorite Version Control System - Subversion
Favorite Database - MySQL
Favorite Linux Monitoring Application - Nagios
Favorite Programming Language - Python
Favorite Scripting Language - bash
Favorite GUI Remote Access or Network Computing Solution - SSH and X
Favorite Linux IDE - Eclipse
Favorite Platform for Developing Rich Internet Apps - Adobe Air
Favorite Linux Game - Frozen Bubble
Favorite Virtualization Solution - VirtualBox
Favorite Backup System - Amanda
Favorite Backup Utility - rsync
Favorite Package Management Application - apt
Favorite Content Management System - WordPress
Favorite Web Server - Apache
Favorite Linux-Friendly Web Hosting Company - Contegix
Favorite Linux-Based Gadget - ASUS Eee PC
Favorite Linux Laptop - ASUS Eee PC
Favorite Linux Desktop Workstation - Dell
Favorite Linux Server - Dell
Favorite “Green” Linux Product or Solution - Virtualization
Favorite Linux Book of All Time - Linux in a Nutshell
Favorite Linux Journal Column - Tie: Marcel Gagné's Cooking with Linux and Kyle Rankin's Hack and /
Linux Product of the Year - Android Platform and the T-Mobile G1 Phone

"The Linux Journal Readers' Choice Awards have become an annual ritual, almost as fun as the holiday season," said James Gray, Linux Journal products editor. "Our editorial team members can't wait to get their hands on the results to see what products and tools from the Linux space are keeping readers productive, satisfied and wowed. And, who better to ask than our readers, the most talented, informed and (nearly always for the better) opinionated group of Linux experts anywhere. These characteristics are what make the awards such a great snapshot of what's hot and what's not in Linux."

Linux Journal's 2009 Readers' Choice Awards are featured in the June 2009 (#182) issue, available on newsstands internationally May 15. For further information, please contact publisher@linuxjournal.com.

About Linux Journal
Linux Journal is the premier Linux magazine, dedicated to serving the Linux community and promoting the use of Linux world-wide. A monthly periodical, Linux Journal is currently celebrating its fifteenth year of publication. Linux Journal may be purchased at all major bookstores and newsstands and may also be ordered by calling 1-888-66-LINUX (5649), sending e-mail to subs@linuxjournal.com or visiting http://www.linuxjournal.com/.

About the Publisher
Belltown Media, Inc. is the leading provider of integrated information and media in the open-source marketplace. Media offerings span print and on-line, custom publishing, e-newsletters and other Web-based services. Belltown Media is based in Houston, TX, with offices throughout the United States.