[TriLUG] Re: Frustrated MS users turn to Linux, Apple

[Mike Helms]

Greg,

A couple of thoughts.

It would be virtually impossible for me to ditch Windows completely.  Part
of my living is made on AutoCAD, and there simply isn't a competing product
that can do what I do with AutoCAD.

I have also yet to find a suitable replacement for Microsoft Office.  I know
there was a lengthy thread about this earlier - but love it or hate it, Word
and Excel are the standards of the world, and for a lot of what I do, I need
to submit reports (fairly complcated ones at that, with embedded tables and
graphics and advanced formatting).

So, for that reason, I'll probably always have a Microsoft machine on my
network.

However, it won't stop me from running a good firewall that will block it
from "phoning home".  I do, and I open up only the ports that I need for my
regular internet activity.  I believe that this is good network dilligence,
and not just something to spite Microsoft.

Having said all of that - I love the idea of moving the bulk of my day to
day work over to Linux.  Email and web browsing probably constitutes over
half of my work, and there's absolutely no reason why this can't be moved
over with minimal pain and agony.

I think the sentiment of "Microsoft free in 2003" isn't a bad one, but it
may not be realistic, given Microsoft's virtual domination in the various
computing standards of the world.  Make sure your motives are actually going
to make you more productive and effective, since political agendas rarely
get work done.

Cheers,
-- Mike Helms

-----Original Message-----
From: Greg Brown [mailto:gregbrown at mindspring.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2002 6:55 AM
To: trilug at trilug.org
Subject: [TriLUG] Re: Frustrated MS users turn to Linux, Apple


I know I'm frustrated!  I'm actually putting together a webpage called 
"Microsoft Free in 2003" where I'll be detailing my efforts to displace ALL 
Microsoft software in my house.  I started to outline this project on the 
long flight back from Korea and it's actually more complex than just 
purchasing new Apple hardware or loading up Linux on the existing systems.  
My entire household depends on the existing computer infrastructure so there

is bound to be more than a little resistance to the new software as we are 
all addicted to MS in some way or another.  Besides, the default browser for

the Mac is Internet Explorer - the result of a dance with the devil between 
Steve Jobs and Billy-Bob Gates.  Since I cannot - and will not - purchase
any 
software from MIcrosoft does this rule out Mac laptops?  The other question 
is does Microsoft make any money from Apple when a new Mac is sold (for the 
IE software)?  If they don't then I suppose I can still purchase the Mac and

immediatly rip out IE as step on - or better yet - contact Apple as ask them

to ship a custom burn of OS X without IE, which I doubt they'll do.

One thing that stikes me as weird here is it was easier to quit smoking 
cold-turkey than it is to change operating systems.  That's an addiction on 
some level.

Anyway, I'm still working on the webpage.  I'll send out a link when it
comes 
on-line.  I picked 2003 to be MS free because .NET is on the horizon and I 
will NOT upgrade my systems to XP or .NET.  I'm sick enough of my computers 
transmitting data to Microsoft and other compaines without my premission 
running Win2k.

Blah blah blah.

Greg
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