Are you tired of paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for your computer's software? Tired of having to buy upgrades, and new hardware to run the upgrades? Tired of crashes, security flaws, cyber-attacks, and worrying if your computer is safe to use? Had enough of license agreements, lock-downs, and restrictions on what you can do with your computer? Worried about your business being sued for making a careless copy?
It doesn't have to be that way. You can live your life free of Microsoft, and free of their thousand and one petty annoyances. And you can save money in the process.
This website is devoted to helping you say Goodbye to Microsoft, and to "Take Back the PC."
I received an email from Howard Fosdick (thanks!) to let us know that a new, updated version of his 40-page guide "How to Secure Windows and Your Privacy" is now available. "This version adds screenshots and new topics. It also makes many minor improvements based on reader feedback." Download it from http://rexxinfo.org/html/open_consulting.html
Mr. Fosdick reminds us that "while most of the guide is Windows-specific, the third section on how to retain privacy when using one's computer applies equally to Linux."
It's a really useful resource. Download it, and give copies to friends.
As with many Linux applications, you have an abundance of choice, which may lead to bewilderment. My first Linux distro (Red Hat) used Nautilus, which I didn't particularly like, so I installed Konqueror instead. My current Linux distro (Xandros) came with a modified Konqueror by default, so I haven't experimented much with alternatives. (At least, not until I started testing lightweight distros.)
Just a brief note to those who may have been wondering what happened to the daily additions to Goodbye, Microsoft. I'm just back from five days of traveling, during which I had little Internet access and even less free time. My apologies for the unannounced absence. Daily posts will now resume.
I knew that Microsoft was avidly pushing the idea of "software kill switches," that let them remotely disable your Windows operating system or Microsoft applications. In theory because of (a) not having properly licensed software, (b) not having properly updated software, or (c) missing a payment on "rental" software (a model they are exploring for some of their products).
However, I did not realize that this particular contagion was spreading to other vendors, until I read this article by Steve Lake:
It's been around for years, but really didn't start coming into its own until Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) came onto the scene. Since then, proprietary vendors have looked at Microsoft's success with the Software Kill Switch and realized the money making potential of it. They also have seen the power it can give them and it's become an intoxicating drug to them.
One vendor I deal with daily did exactly that to me this week. I had a fully legitimate copy of their software with all my dues paid and ducks in a row. But because I chose not to pay extra to get the newer version, which had been out for several months, they pulled the plug on me this week and won't let me use my legally purchased software unless I upgrade to the newest version. They say this is because the copy I'm using "is not the latest version." Uh, hello? I bought that software and I own it fair and square. But by their definition it's suddenly no longer a "legally owned copy" that I can do with as I wish.
I only wish that he had named the vendor of that software. It would be a public service for someone to post a list of all the vendors that perpetrate such despicable practices, so that others could know to avoid them. Needless to say, my position is that you should never depend on software that can be remotely disabled by a vendor. That, of course, includes Windows Vista. (Hat tip Linux Today.)
I know this notion is getting some ridicule in the Linux community, but my parents are exactly the kind of people who would be influenced by this: you can now purchase a boxed set of Ubuntu Linux at Best Buy. As silly as it may seem, this confers a kind of "acceptance" that suddenly makes the product worth serious consideration.
Of course, for those not willing to spend money, you can still get free CDs directly from Ubuntu (though it will take several weeks).
As others have pointed out, it's not the first time you could buy Linux on a store shelf. I still own (and perversely treasure) a copy of Caldera Open Linux 2.2 that I bought several years ago on clearance at our local Staples store.
In a few days I'll be going to visit my parents, which of course means I'll be performing a couple of computer service calls. And now I dearly hope that I won't see something like this. Or this. Or this.
I'm going to have to add a new rule to my "bulletproof computing" advice: don't add toolbars. First, a lot of "toolbars" are really tricks to get you to install spyware on your computer. Even the legitimate toolbars will take resources -- including screen space, which I'm starting to view as a valuable resource -- and slow your computer down.
Look, if you really need all those search functions, there's an easier and more efficient way. Tip #1 is to use Opera, which offers a customized search feature. If I type "g linux" in my address bar, Opera does a Google search for "linux." This can be customized by the user! I can type "n linux" to search Google News, or "d linux" to search dictionary.com, or "w linux" to search Wikipedia. Tip #2 is to use Firefox, which has a similar feature, except that it has a separate small search box next to the address bar.
Oh, and for all those other functions on the toolbars? Both Opera and Firefox include a "Personal Bar" where you can put bookmarks. And folders of bookmarks. I have all of my most-used bookmarks at most two clicks away...and it takes minimal screen space, and doesn't slow down my computer.
P.S. Yes, I do have one toolbar installed -- the "web developer toolbar" extension for Firefox; extremely valuable if you manage web pages. But Firefox is my secondary browser -- for specific purposes -- not my primary browser.
Update: For those who want to see what my browser toolbar looks like, click here.
I actually like Ubuntu, except for one thing: the latest version (and soon to be only supported version) has become such a resource hog. So I'm always happy to hear of attempts to trim Ubuntu down to fit on smaller PCs. Here are two new contenders that I have not yet tried.
Ubuntulite. Requires Pentium 2 and 96 MB of RAM. This runs the LXDE desktop environment (thanks to Brian C. for this tip).
WattOS. A new Ubuntu "remix," currently in "alpha test" status. I couldn't find information about minimum hardware requirements, but it is intended for older computers. WattOS uses the Gnome desktop; milliWattOS uses XFCE. (Hat tip to Capn Kirby's Linux News.)
I love it when someone writes an article like this...so I don't have to. Scott Spanbauer at PC World explains why it can be a smart move to switch your business from Windows to Linux:
Windows Vista debuted to muffled applause, followed by lackluster sales. Up until June 30, cash-strapped businesses looking to avoid the cost of upgrading to new Vista-compatible hardware could still purchase trusty Windows XP. Now, however, Windows XP is available only as a costly "downgrade" from Windows Vista--if you buy a copy of Vista, you can install the 6-year-old XP operating system using the Vista license.
If that feels like a waste of your small business's precious IT budget, and you're still looking for an alternative to Windows Vista, look no further than Linux. The latest distributions are free, easy to install, and highly customizable; they harness your existing hardware without overtaxing it; and they include a wealth of productivity applications and utilities. You may already have a closet Linux expert on staff, but if you don't, paid support is usually available at rates far less than Microsoft's.
Be sure to click through to his earlier article "Linux Replacements for Your Favorite Windows Apps", too. Rather than inundate you with options, he recommends one (or at most two) specific Linux alternatives for the most common Windows applications...and I agree with almost all of his recommendations. (Not that I disagree with any; there are just a few I haven't tried.)
I've been meaning for some time to try to write an explanation of how the different package management systems work in Linux distributions, but have been daunted by the task (and by my limited knowledge of the different systems). Fortunately, DistroWatch has stepped in and offered this very good introduction to Package Management by John Frey.
One subject that he glosses over is "dependencies". Most Linux software requires that you have certain other software installed on your computer. Not only that, but usually you must have a certain version of that supporting software. For example, if I want to install Kmail, I must have the supporting package kdelibs4, with a version number of at least 4:3.4.1-1. But I don't need to worry about that number. Linux package managers keep track of which packages are required by other packages, and can either warn of a conflict or a missing package (dependency checking), or go one step further and attempt to fix any problems (dependency resolution).
Windows users will be familiar with this; the supporting software usually comes in DLL files, and is usually installed with the application program. Many a Windows user has entered "DLL hell" when a new application replaces a DLL that was being used by a previously installed application, breaking the old application. Such a conflict is possible with Linux packages -- Xandros users need to take special precautions -- but for most Linux distributions, this is never an issue, and your package manager will take care of any problems.
This is the first of a series of posts I intend to write about "Frequently Asked Questions." They'll be distinguished by the question-mark icon, and will eventually be collected in one place.
There are a lot of reasons why people choose alternatives to Microsoft. Here are just a few. It's unlikely that all of these will apply to your situation, but if even one fits, shouldn't you be having second thoughts about Microsoft?
