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Tired of Windows yet?

For all of you who want to get rid of Windows, look at Linux.

There are many distros that work well.

Knoppix is the best distro to read your hardware.

Artistx is one of the best distros that offer just about any sound, music, video and picture programs.

NOTE:  If you are thinking about moving or trying Linux.  There is some hardware that is supported by business with Linux.  HP is a great supporter of Linux.  My last two printers have been HP's and wireless.  I just ask Linux to find a new printer.  It finds my printers and downloads drivers and in less than 3 minutes my printer is installed.   This is a great feature if you are using a live distro.

What's wrong with you?

You go to the store and purchase a new computer.  You can't use it.  Not until you purchase a anti virus for it. 

Think about that for a minute.

You spend hundreds of dollars on a new computer and it won't work.

Then you spend another $60 to $120 for Anti Virus so you can use it. 

Then you have to get internet connection.  Another few hundred a year.

Then you get a virus this anti virus can't handle.

Then you have to take it to a geek to get the virus removed.  Another couple hundred dollars.  Get another anti virus he recommends.   Another $60 to $120 and we start all over.

Then there's Apple.  So expensive and you have to buy Apple.  Your hard drive crashes.  You can't go to Best Buy and get a $70 500 Gig hard drive.  No you have to go to Apple and Spend $700 for a 500 Gig hard drive (guessing on the price, but very expensive).

Then there's Linux, Unix, BSD and the like.  Use old computers you have laying around.  Cost's nothing, unless you want to spend money (Red Hat and a few others).  You have choice of Desktops, Software, programming, graphics, sound, video, and you just have to download it.  You can install Linux on your flash drive.  Take it with you. 

Best of all.  if you come down with a problem.  You get on the forum for your distro and within days you have a fix. 

Unlike Microsoft that may or may not send out a fix for your problem in 6 months to a year. 

Maybe it's time to look at learning a new Operating System.

It may take you years to learn it.  But you can use it right away.

Get PCLinuxOS or Mint Linux and all the codex will be installed.  So you can surf the internet, play java games, watch Youtube videos, listen to streaming music, right out of the box.  Best of all.  you can do this with a live CD/DVD.
Never have to install it unless you want to.

You many flavors of Linux.  They are built on either Slackware, Debian or Red Hat.  That means different ways of getting software.  Then you have BSD several flavors there and that is based on UNIX. 

Unix is over 40 years old and Linux is over 20. 

How long does Microsoft OS's last.  3 to 7 years?

You learn Unix you can run Linux, and the other is true.  Just some features that Unix may have that Linux doesn't.  Depends on the Company.

I have been playing with Linux for years, I prefer Debian based distros.  Mint Linux.  I have used Red Hat and Fedora.  Knoppix (I like this too)    Last time I checked Mint was the most downloaded distro.

You want to learn programming.  Linux has all kinds of programming languages available.  (No extra charge)  Try to do that with Microsoft without pirating.....

You have several different Desktops to choose from.  Office Suites, graphics, music, sound, video.  Although Video is not up to professional standards yet it has been used on several major motion pictures.

So next time you want to spend $400 to $800 for a new computer system.  Remember over a hundred of that is for the Microsoft OS.

Next time have a computer built and put a distro you like.  You just may be surprised at what is available.

P.S.  Linux also has WINE, allows you to run some windows programs.  Games. Office suites and the like on Linux.  There are some companies that have made a niche to of it, to run Microsoft window programs under Linux.  So spend that extra hundred or so on more memory.  You will thank yourself later.

Want to us LINUX?

For grown ups Linux is not an easy OS to learn.

If you are computer savvy, then Linux is not going to be too hard for you to migrate to.

Then if your a child, wants to learn Linux, it will be easy.  Think about it, kids soak up so much, a little guidance and they will be able to tell you what to do in a year or two.

What are some of the other benefits of Linux?

Don't have to worry too much about virus,

If you want to have a server, Linux does it.

Linux is low cost and even lower maintenance.  Unlike it's Window's counterpart.

Now Apple's new software is:  Get ready for it, built around a LINUX heart.  Now to keep Apple's OS  proprietary, they have crippled some of features of LINUX.

With Linux you get to enjoy using your computer and not downloading Virus Definitions and then waiting hours for it to scan your computer.  Weekly if you want to keep it as much up to date and virus free as possible.   Besides Viruses you have malware, and popups.  All slowing down your machine and costing you more money.

If you really want to spend some money, get an Apple.

Next time you fork out 30 to 120 dollars for an Anti-Virus program for your computer, think LINUX.

My new computer

My old computer was old.  Over seven years. 
Running Linux for the three years. 

I screwed up and shut down while it was doing a check.  I admit it.  I asked my wife for another harddrive, I told her the truth "I scrambled the harddrive".

She suggested that I get a new computer.  So we went to a computer store and had one made. 

Blu-Ray drive,
DVD drive,
8 gigs memory,
1 terabyte drive
and
NO OPERATING SYSTEM.

I was going to put Linux on it.

So a week later she goes and picks it up.

I put it in the place where my old computer was.
I got a new keyboard and mouse too.

About 10 minutes to put the computer together and hooked up.

Now what distro to put on it.


After going through different live distros, I decided on Mint Linux, it had everything working out of the box except for the Blu-Ray.

I spent a couple of weeks trying to get Blu-Ray working.  I am not a newbie, but I am not an expert either.  I am able to go into root and take care of things. 

So in the mean time, I got a old Panasonic toughbook.  Windows 98 and full of problems.  So this one I tried several different distros.  (Installed, not live versions)  I came across Fedora.  I like it.   It worked on the laptop just fine.

So back to the desktop.  I switched to Fedora.  It took me less than an hour to switch from Mint to Fedora.  Then I went to work on the Blu-Ray drive.

Fedora has a great forum section.  I was able to find what I needed to get Blu-Ray working in less than an hour.  Download a few files, move them to different directories, download the VLC player (this one supports Blu-Ray)
Change the /dev/dvd/ to /dev/sr0/

BINGO, Blu-Ray works.  Tried several movies all worked.  The only thing that doesn't work is the menus.  But the movie runs fine.


So next step.  Linux from scratch.  I did take business computer programming in college,  Have played with programming on my computer.

I think I might just be able to build a Linux from scratch.  Best part of it, I have a computer with plenty of room to use. 

For someone who did not like Fedora when I started Linux, I now have two computers running Fedora.

Best part of Linux.  I can get the software that I need and want.

If I want a game, education, office, utilities, music or video.  Just look it up and download it.  My first Distro was Debian.  I still like it and Ubuntu before unity.  I am not fond of Gnome 3 either. 

The other part of Linux I like.  Different desktops. 

Unlike Windows. Linux is very customizeable.



Give Linux a try.  Try PCLinuxOS, Mint and a few others have everything working out of the box.  Except for Blu-ray. 

Got a new computer for my birthday.

I was excited to get a new computer for my Birthday.

New tower with memory to burn,   Very large hard drive, a couple of DVD drives and new keyboard and mouse.

I said no to Windows.  Had to get this thing made.  Best Buy and other stores that sell computers you get what you see.  That includes Windows and you pay for it.

By having it made I saved $150 for not having Windows.  So that means I saved even more, no anti-virus, no office suite, no games, no utilities. 

I put Linux on the machine and saved tons of money and I have control of my computer.  Look at Windows License.  You lose control of your computer when you put Windows on it.  Microsoft takes control of your computer when you accept the license.  They can scan your computer without your permission to see if you are using unregistered software.  If you are they can shut down your computer.

By switching to Linux I saved Hundreds if not Thousands.

Need to save some money?

With Obamacare, and this governments attacks on its citizens.  Massive taxes and charges for everything, you are trying to save a few dollars here and there.

Well, lets look where we can save a few bucks:

You could get rid of Cable.  Some people have and relay more on Internet.

You could get rid of Internet.  Some people have done this too.

You could get rid of your land line phone.  Most people have cell phones today

You could get rid of your car.  Without public transit it’s kinda hard to travel without a car.

You could get rid of your pets.  But they bring so much joy to your life.

You could get rid of your computers.  Some people have,  use their cell phones as their computer.

You could get rid of your cell phone.  Almost everyone needs one of these.

How about you keep your computer but just change the operating system?

Yep, instead of Windows you could get a different operating system.

Let’s look at Windows.  Any version.  Windows only support their operating system for a few years and then come out  with something different.

What does that mean for you?  You have to get a newer computer in some cases, you purchase the new operating system, you have to purchase new Anti-virus to run on your new operating system,.  You have to purchase new programs to run on your new operating system.
Windows Operating system comes with almost no software.  You have to download and/or purchase software to run on your computer and operating system.

You are talking big bucks.  $100 + for a new operation system.
$300-$500 for a new computer in some cases.
$30-$100+ for anti-virus program.
$30-$1,500 for a program to run on your new operating system.
X how many programs you want on your new operating system.
It adds up fast.
You will soon be spending $500-$10,000 for your new computer.

How about an alternative?

You could go to Mac.  But that is more expensive then Windows.

Then theres Linux.
What?
Linux.

It is a open source version of very expensive version of Unix.  Now Unix has been around for 40 years.  Still going.

Linux has been going for over 20 years.

Open source is just that, open source.

You can get the source code and compile your own operating system.
 You don’t need to anymore.  In the early days of Linux you pretty much had to compile everything from the source code.  Could take weeks to get your operating system and programs running.  Well, see like Windows, programs depend on other programs to run properly.  But in the early days of Linux that was not bundled together.  You had to find the source code to all these programs and compile them.

Today, you have CD’s and DVD’s where Linux runs from the disk.  Just put it in and restart the computer.  If you like it, you can get a thumb drive (flash drive) and install the operating system to the drive and you can have YOUR computer wherever you go.  With a large enough thumb drive you can install a couple of versions of Linux, and store your files there as well.  In other words, carry your computer wherever you go.

What do you mean versions of Linux?

Linux was developed over 20 years ago,   Many people have compiled and offered versions of Linux.  The older ones around are Slackware, Debian, and Red Hat.  There are many, many more.  One thing about Linux, you can change the way your Operating System works.

Example, Windows has 95, 98, 2000, XP, Vista, 8.  Each one is a little different.  Well, say you use Mac and really like the way Mac works over Windows.  With Linux you can have your Operating System look like Windows, Mac, or something completely different.

You can go to http://distrowatch.com/ and see which distros have the most hits.

The top 35 are the most active.  Most of those I have played with.  

My first adventure into Linux was when it was a year old.  I had one big problem.  Linux would not work unless you had a 386 processor and my computer had a 286.

When I did get a computer large enough to run Linux, I was busy with school and had no time to pla y with Linux.

Over the years Linux was there in the background but I was trying to find any way I could to get cheap software for Windows that did what I wanted without spending several hundred dollars at a time.

Then I went through a divorce, some alone time and then I was found by my current wife.  I moved and got back into my computers.

Then the day came when Windows no longer supported the operating system I was using.  It cost much more than I was willing to spend to upgrade to a newer operating system.

A friend gave me a copy of Red Hat.  (by the way, that is legal with open source software) and I put it on my computer.  It ran better than Windows did.

I went Linux crazy.  I downloaded Debian, Suse, Knoppix, PCLinuxOS,  Fedora, Ubuntu, Mint, Slackware, FreeBSD (Not Linux but open source Unix) Puppy, Sabayon, and a few more.

Just starting off I had problems with flash players, movie players, music players.  Then I found what they are calling Windows type.  There were a couple of versions of Linux set up just like Windows, the creators thought many people would pay them instead of Windows.  They were wrong and went under.  

But if you stick with Mint, PCLinuxOS, Ultmate Edition, all have the software installed when you install and will be able to watch movies, listen to music.  Basically everyting works out of the box.

Most of the others you have to install flash player, Java, Libraries to watch movies and listen to music.

One other feature of Linux, you can change the Desktop.  KDE, GNOME, UNITY and many more.  

Then theres software.  You can download software from repositories, thousands upon thousands of programs to download.  Games, Office, utilities, Graphics, Sound, Video.  Just about anything under the sun you can find.  

One huge problem with switching to Linux.  You have to spend a little time learning how to use Linux.  Some programs have their own language.  But if you are learning computer languages you can use Linux.  Almost every language out there, there is an open source for Linux.

So you can just use your computer like Windows, and just surf the Internet write a few emails, play a few games.  You don’t need to learn how to use Linux.  Just start and go.

Oh did I tell you, you can run Linux without anti-Virus.   

So to sum it up you can switch to Linux, get programs for Linux and use Linux without any anti-virus software and without much cost to you.  You do have or purchase a computer that you can burn a CD or DVD (Most computer today have that ability) and purchase some blank CD's or DVD's.  Have Internet access and time to download ISO's.  

You do need a cd burning program that will burn ISO's.  

Good luck and most of all, have fun.