Hi All,

I’m not a writer, but do things – like all those others out there e.g. run / work / play / have a life / use a computer / have a PDA. I don’t hate, was frustrated, and dumped Microsoft. Why, I took the personal initiative. I got tired of Microsoft and its updates, scanning for virii, defragging the HDD, spyware, adware, and the general nonsense one encounters running the Microsoft Operating System and its applications. Let alone all the costs in time, energy and effort.

There are a lot of buzz-words out there and one of those is OpenSource that means no Microsoft or MAC. That means Linux to me. I took the plunge. I have been running the Linux based UBUNTU. All too often, what is never mentioned, is the additional word Community. Join a Linux Forum with your issues — save a lot of time, energy, effort, and money. LOL! Get involved, it is Free! I mean the Operating System is free!

Simply, Linux does things for me that I always wanted to do. Once you get involved, the end result is simply amazing. No one lead me by the hand – but I took the personal initiative. I had no budget, but always asked, why can’t I do this, or that, with all the Microsoft software that I bought, or was handed to me. Oh, I have had at a time one, or two, large budgets. And, paid for Microsoft licenses all over the planet. Then the price kept getting higher.

Meanwhile, I started to get frustrated. Lots of things to do, and pay for out there. But, no help. Developing a business became a problem. Joining a Linux Forum was amazing. People with the same problems that I had gave me solutions. Noticing why I shifted to Linux?

Here is a great example of Linux. I’ve always looked to Spell Check my e-mails in multiple languages. The reason is, I have worked Internationally (Globally) for a good deal of my life, and always, always wanted to spell check my e-mails in American English (not the Queen’s, but the President’s), stay in contact with my son in Germany, and deal with my Hispanic friends. Plus, throw in the occasional French phrase. All spell checked.

Now, as a thinking individual, go try to find a solution with Microsoft. I’ll bet you can’t. My solution Evolution, which is included in all Linux Operating Systems. Can you imagine after having dealt with the largest, most monopolistic software company on the planet, my multiple phone conversations with their Tech Support? I can now spell check in four languages at the same time.


Hey, we have all been there, done that, and have the T-Shirt. C’mon guys – get with the program, it’s a small world after all. Wasn’t that once a big hit song from a Disney film? I truly think that Microsoft has become too – what would the right word be here? Perhaps too something or other. I don’t want to beat them up, but the shift came to me a while back. I had ideas in mind, and wanted to do something. Linux, and all those thousands, and thousands of applications gave me the solutions.

They don’t call it a PC – Personal Computing — without a reason. I’ve a my PC. It is now all OpenSource.

Next, I hated having to buy all those additional programs / applications so that I can create a .pdf, burn a CD, DVD, let alone have a good Office Suite of programs. That’s not counting going on the search for a good secure browser, virus scanner, firewall, running disk fragmenters, checking on virii, adware, spyware, malware, root kits. Oh, and the ever popular Microsoft up-dates.

A Linux Distribution gives it to you all for free! First things first – OpenOffice. Result perfect. There are the haters out there that complain about Excel spreadsheet conversions, but I’ve often enough been stuck with Excel – as an application itself. If some one can’t convert a Word .doc, they never had the slightest clue what was done in the first place. And they need professional help, and a life. I’m not a big fan of Microsoft Office.

Ever tried talking to Microsoft about trying to do something with Outlook, like trying to do a mass e-mail to clients, getting them the latest NewsLetter? You can do that with Mail Merge in Word, but not with Outlook. Buy another application, plus keep getting hit with security warnings, and up-dates. I’d become my own Microsoft System Engineer!

My newest friend is the OpenSource Communities. Funny word there. Lot’s of great support. My other friend is Google. A long time ago people were stuck with issues, but now we can do a “Google”. This time around everyone can do it and save themselves a good deal of time, effort and frustration dealing without Microsoft. Non-frustrating = Linux.

The free applications?

Run Linux, Run Free!