Mr. Modem's Desktop
Reprinted with permission from Smart Computing.
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Going Open Source
There are certain dates in our lives that we'll always remember. Weddings, anniversaries, the birth of a child, one's first acquittal; these moments are the mileposts of our lives. Is there truly any more memorable date, however, than the day a new computer arrives? I think not.
Two days ago, as I write this, a new system arrived. Crafted to perfection by the miracle workers at RedSeven Computers (www.redsevenlinux.com), it is affectionately known as "The Beast." Under the hood, it has an AMD quad-core processor with 8GB of RAM (random-access memory), and a Western Digital Raptor drive running Linux (Ubuntu) with Windows XP, Vista, and Win 7, each fully functional in its own VirtualBox.
The icing on this digital cupcake is a 32-inch Samsung LED monitor. Yes, 32-inch. Mrs. Modem, a psychiatrist by profession, muttered something about over-compensation and pixel envy, but I'm sure it was intended in the most complimentary sense.
The addition of this new system represents a seismic shift for me, in that my primary operating system is now Linux, with Windows being secondary. Why Linux? Three reasons: Stability, price (it's free, as is its software), and it is impervious to viruses and spyware. A stalwart in the server industry for many years, Linux is at the very foundation of the Internet, running many (if not most) mail and Web servers.
Though there are hundreds of Linux distributions (versions are called distributions in LinuxSpeak), I prefer Ubuntu, which is arguably the most user-friendly and thus ideal for the average computer user. If I can send and receive email, visit Web sites, use a word processor, create spreadsheets, and do minor photo editing, that describes 98% of my computer usage.
The arrival of my new system heralded one other significant change for me. As a writer, I spend most of my time slaving over a hot word processor. Eons ago I started with WordPerfect, but switched to Microsoft Office 97 and Word approximately 12 years ago. I eagerly purchased Office 2003 when it made its debut, which served me well until Office 2007 was released.
In knee-jerk fashion, I purchased Office 2007 and quickly discovered that Microsoft had inexplicably moved or renamed many features. Instead of passively accepting these changes, I asked myself, "Why should I have to relearn how to perform tasks I already know, only to achieve the same results I have been achieving for years? Why must I become less productive initially, in order to become equally productive later?"
I decided enough is enough. After using Office 2007 for four irritating months, and knowing that Office 2010 is (gasp!) already in the works, I uninstalled it and made the move to OpenOffice.org.
As open-source software, not only is OO free, thus saving me hundreds of dollars, but it's also a first-class office suite that contains applications very similar to, and compatible with, Microsoft Office. For example, instead of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access, it has Writer, Calc, Impress, and Base.
So what's the point of all this yammering? The point is that, as computer users, we have choices. And particularly in these challenging economic times, we have very cost-effective choices.
I am not suggesting that anybody toss their current Windows system out the window. (Oh, the cleverness of the wordplay!) What I am suggesting is that we elevate our awareness of alternatives. For example, when it's time for a new computer, instead of purchasing a new Windows PC because that's what you have always done, consider purchasing a Windows-Linux dual-boot system that you can use to launch either operating system, and slowly become acquainted with Linux in that manner. (Apple is another alternative, though not particularly inexpensive.)
Mrs. Modem presents an excellent case study of a non-techie's migration from Windows to Ubuntu. A couple of years ago, when her Windows machine was in its death throes, instead of replacing it with another Windows PC, I replaced it with a system running Ubuntu.
She had been using the Firefox browser and Thunderbird for email under Windows, which function identically under Linux, so other than different wallpaper, from her perception as a user, there was no difference using Linux. She can open every file anybody sends her, and she (meaning me) no longer has to worry about viruses or malware, so it was a perfect choice.
I will be discussing Linux and open-source software as an alternative to Windows on occasion in the months ahead. In the meantime, I'll be basking in the glow (and radiation) of my 32-inch "Widow-Maker" monitor. I sure hope that's just a nickname.
by Mr. Modem
Mr. Modem (Richard Sherman) is an author, syndicated columnist, radio host, and publisher. "Mr. Modem's Weekly Newsletter" provides personal responses to subscribers' computer and Internet questions, plus weekly computing tips, Web site recommendations, virus alerts, hoax warnings, and more. For additional information, visit www.MrModem.com.
