Well - I used a product like that in the past, and helped others to use it. That was a never-ending battle to patch and or apply a loose fitting band-aid to something that needed fundamental change at the root. That product is the ubiquitous operating system Windows.

Now - before I get into all the reasons that you shouldn't use this product, I want to tell you that I understand why you do. Sure - I understand. It's not pretty, and I don't like it - but I have learned that arguing with a brick wall is a fool's endeavor. I don't do that anymore.

There is deep psychology and effort in play here to keep you using a product that causes you problem after problem. While this is no self-help article, I will ask you this: Remember when your Mama asked you if you would follow your friend off that bridge? Remember when you said "No"? It's imperative that you maintain that posture. It's YOUR computer and YOUR money and YOUR time.

When you bought your fancy new computer you were overjoyed that you would be able to compose nicely formatted documents. You could now share recipes with your Aunt Agnes, read hitherto unavailable documents on the web, learn how to fix your engine, keep track of your family photos and make movies out of them if you wished.

You were happy to shell out your hard-earned dough on this new appliance, but there was something that was overlooked. You never really learned how to use this fancy new computer - nor were you told that you needed to. Rather than taking that one day, or 2 weeks to learn about your computer - you have suffered its shortcomings all this time. You can count yourself as fortunate if you have never had a moment when you wanted to pick up your computer and toss it out the nearest window. I know I have - and I was an admin.

I won't begin to discuss in this article the marketing strategies of making Windows number one - it turns my stomach, but I will write that you don't have to keep using it. Sure, some of you have that one (or 2 or 3) application that you need to run - and that keeps you using Windows. Well, I'm sorry for you that in order to keep that software you are forced to use a sub-par operating system to run it. Hopefully you have learned how to make the best of your situation; I wish you continued success and diligence.

For the rest of us we have a myriad of alternatives. Some very expensive and just as limiting (Apple) and some free (Linux, Sun-OS). There are others, but you're no company - you need this computer at home not work. Your IT department is YOU, or your 12 year old.

It's difficult for me to write this without getting too technical, and I think that you might need a technical lecture, but I don't want to scare or bore you away with too many details. I understand that you simply want to use your computer and not suffer for it. With this in mind I have to present my arguments in a fashion that you might not take too well - a bitter pill to swallow, but I'm a Dad (here it comes) just do what I say. Or, please seriously consider this advice and do your best to push aside all the FUD that has inundated you lo these many years and use the mind God gave you. I would like to tell you of my experience that you might take my advice seriously. I'm not just spouting here - I do and have done what I preach, as well I have helped many others do the same. I've heard no complaints other than FUD dominated. All fixed, and all assured. Let's begin:

During the past 10 years I have used and mostly enjoyed Windows. Just like you - when I bought my fancy new computer Windows came pre-installed. Oh, joy. Again just like you I sat there looking at my computer the first time I turned it on wondering what to do and how to start. In 1996 I didn't have too many places to turn for help, so - in my fashion - I started to break things. You see, I'm a tinkerer. I guess I'm lucky that way. Learning to fix what I broke (and believe me - it was very easy to break) was a terrific way for me to understand my computer. Trial-by-fire, ey. If I wanted to be productive, or even just play, after I broke Windows I had to learn quickly how to fix it. Learn I did. Paying $3500 dollars for a metal box that dominated my time needed justification.

I bought some books that turned out to be mostly garbage - by the time I bought them I already knew most of the information contained within them. I took the hit, though, and lent them out to friends. Having attended college I justified the expense as part of my education. Consider this - I know you don't want to be sysadmin, you simply want to use your computer and not get bit in the arse. We're getting there...

Within 2 years I knew Windows 95 cold. There really wasn't much to know - but I did and it was rather easy after breaking and fixing. At this time I began to help my friends and family take advantage of their computer. At work it was known that I was a "computer guy" so I ended up taking care of the network and desktops. I had the bug, this was cool. Then I dumped Windows 95 and went to Windows NT (4.0). A much better operating system in terms of reliability and performance. I learned that, too - cold...and kept on helping - businesses and regular folk like you and me.

It was amazing the rhetoric everywhere about how good and easy Windows was. Knowing differently, I tried to spread my own truth from experience about the diligence and patience necessary to run Windows effectively. This was a difficult task - people bought the Microsoft FUD. Sure, I liked Windows NT (4.0) but my level of understanding was deeper than yours. I had to WORK hard to compute how I liked and maintain the integrity of my computer. It was easy to understand why so many people needed help keeping their computer from crashing all the time or being affected by viruses and the like. It was difficult for me to understand why people kept on buying computers with Windows - and accepting the license (Humph! License?) and continuing to use the product. Then again there really wasn't much alternative. Buy an Apple? Who can afford an Apple? Linux - at this time (1997-2000) - no way, not for you and me at home.

I kept on helping people - over and over. The same problems, the same reluctance to learn about their computer and protect it. Many people don't like to see a firewall (what's a firewall?) warning window - they are under the impression that it's the same type of "pop-up" they see constantly when using the Internet. Not so. People don't like running an anti-virus or an internet browser that will keep them safe (relative). They just wanted to turn their computer on and play or work. Well, sorry fools (AHEM! I mean Folks) you learned to drive before you drove. What's the difference? And your car won't sell you out! So, I silently and slowly stopped supporting Windows and its users. It's a fools endeavor really. I am not so money motivated. I had had enough. Even when Windows NT 5 and 5.1 came out (2000 and XP) people still didn't bother to learn how to use it and they continued suffering. Would you keep using a toothbrush that ripped your gums? Would you keep watching a TV that could explode any moment? Well, maybe, but would you drive a car that had no brakes? I think not. Then why continue to use Windows?

Even with all the bad press Windows gets and all its vulnerabilities and shortcomings it remains the most popular operating system in the world. Boy, if you sat with me for 20 minutes and I showed you evidence of how it's simply not made well and how it sells you out and does almost nothing to protect your data I bet you would continue to use it. Because it's everywhere - and you use it at work. Right? What sort of parent or employee or friend are you? It's the same thing. I digress - I don't mean to insult you, simply strong medicine that's all. Now - take it.

Let me get a little technical for just a moment. The Internet Explorer web browser is built into an operating system that, by default, gives you administrative authority. Meaning, as an admin, you have complete control over all aspects of your computer. Free reign to completely fubar it. This browser has the same control that you do when you are using your computer as an admin. It is part of the OS so it has a terrific effect on it. When you use it to surf to "Billy Ray's website of ill repute" and some script or other malady on the page you are viewing sees that you are using IE, and it knows the flaws in it and takes advantage - you just fubar'd your box. You cannot blame Microsoft (too much) you can only blame yourself for continuing to use it. You see, all those "script-kiddies" and other malicious types out there that would like nothing better than nuking your computer or stealing your personal information, or even hijacking your computer, are counting on your continued use of the flawed Windows. They are completely aware that you have no idea what is going on behind the scenes or even how to protect yourself against the very operating system you are using.

Now, Microsoft likes to throw phrases like "Trusted Computing" around. They like to spend zillions on marketing and strong-arm tactics to keep you using Windows. This way they can go to the Fed's when they are sued (or the attempt) and say, "Windows is so pervasive that to censure it or otherwise punish, it would have disastrous effects on National Security" It's true, they said that very thing. Worse yet was that people bought this. Supposedly smart people like Judges. For shame. More to the distasteful point is the fact that they bilk you and me (well not me, man) for money every time you want to upgrade. They bilk you for crummy products that other more ethical and hard-working folks would gladly give you for free. For whatever reason. See Open Source. Consider this in continuing pervasiveness, Microsoft created a technology (proprietary and closed-source) called ActiveX. It allows programs to be run on your machine and to some like businesses, it allows development of custom apps to help them run their business. You might think that's a good thing, but I'm telling you that it's not at all a good thing. ActiveX does 2 disastrous things:

1) it allows malicious code to run unchecked on your machine. Use your imagination, yeah - you're done.

2) It keeps enterprises from migrating their IT infrastructure to a more secure, inexpensive, and productive environment because these enterprises have built applications with this ActiveX technology. Personally, I know of many managers that would love to be without Microsoft; or better yet, to not have sold their souls to and be at the mercy of Microsoft.

Now, I don't know about you but I find it hard to trust a company that through licensing and proprietary software keeps me in the dark (ages) and using flawed and unsafe software. What gives? $$ That's all. Really - you've heard it before and I'm boring you with it now - take away the money and there is no reason not to make good software. Software that you can trust.

I have left statements in this article unsupported. For good reason. I want you to do a little research - the kind you might have done before your Windows nightmares started. You go find the supporting information (HINT: Google, Slashdot, and others) and read for yourself. Try to separate the FUD (fear uncertainty and doubt) from the facts. It's difficult because of the propaganda machine that is Microsoft, but you can do it. You must. This madness has to stop somewhere. Our kids are learning computing on Windows!

Here's a tip, governments both national and local are migrating their IT infrastructure away from Microsoft. Right now Microsoft is bending over backwards in an attempt to thwart this trend, but they will be unable. You see, if a nation runs on Windows, then that nation is controlled by a software company. You are obligated to abide by the rules of some monopoly that only has its interests in mind. Please see that for what it is.

Honestly, a better way.

I use Linux (Debian) and so should you. Linux is an operating system written by a fellow Linus Torvalds while he was a student. He wrote it because he couldn't do some of the things he wanted with the Os's that were available to him at the time. It was ~1991. Linux is not owned by a company that needs to perpetuate itself - make money - at whatever cost. No matter what yo may hear, SCO and the like, Linux is not owned. It is, however, based on an operating system that IS owned by a company. It's based on Unix that is owned by SCO. You're read the news and heard the fiasco, SCO is suing IBM for stealing some of its code. That's their business. As a user of an operating system you are free to buy or download (at no cost) Linux and use it to your heart's content. I wish you would. It's a whole lot safer to use than Windows and a whole lot less expensive. To your nerves and wallet.

I want to address some reasons why Linux is not the most popular operating system in the world. Until about a year ago it was difficult to use. Well, not difficult, just different enough from Windows that it scared most people away. Microsoft likes to spread FUD about it, but it does know that Linux is a direct threat to their ability to keep Windows number one. There are many reasons for this.

Number one(1). Linux is free. Keep cool - no matter what you've heard all your life from people expecting to be shafted, sometimes you can get something that is damn good for nothing. I need to explain free, for those semantics zealots out there. Free as is it won't coast you a dime to get. It will coast you about 10 minutes to an hour to install and about a day in learning. Keep cool - my 4 year old son and 6 year old daughter use Linux. They had some trouble with Windows and the educational software that we bought for them that runs on Windows was complete garbage. Nothing more than product placement and slow running videos. It was insulting. I built them a Linux box after I found GCompris and Kedu software. Both free and written by geeks that value education. My 4 year old son knows where Texas is...and Great Britain and China. Although we're not a household that allows computers or technology to supplant good-old-fashioned learning.

Linux is built in a fashion that protects you from harming your computer. Remember when I wrote that the default user in Windows was admin? Well in Linux you must run as a regular user. Phew! You run as a user that almost cannot ruin your computer. Sure, there are ways - but you're not going to do them.

Linux keeps processes separate from each other and the kernel (the brain). To be fair, Windows NT does this as well. However, they don't do it nearly as well. Again, seek this information for yourself, you will learn by default and be glad that you did.

The Linux operating system knows that if you give a user an inch they will be sorry. This isn't done to control your access (well it is) or to insult you, it's done to protect the operating system. The only damage you can really do to your Linux machine is to your own files. Heartbreak, sure, but at least you won't wreck your computer.

Linux computers run software that is made by geeks that make good software. This software is also exposed to the world in order to find and fix (rapidly) any flaws that might be present. You and I can complain about buggy software and ride lazy programmers all we want. Software will always have bugs - we can just pick the best software for our needs. Hopefully you see the value of Open-Source software that passes muster - that satisfies the world - over software written as closed, proprietary software that only has a few eyeballs on it. Eyeballs that are paid by the same company that makes the software. Can you see the outcome here? There are about a zillion distributions of Linux. A distribution is the Linux kernel (brain) and supporting utilities that has been packaged and tweaked to run with a set of software. For example: Debian (what I use and recommend to everybody) makes its own custom kernel. It takes the freely available kernel that Linus and his group of kernel-hackers makes and tweaks it a bit in order to be able to package it with its better than 15,000 pieces of software. (You would think that if a group of people (often earning no money) can do this - get a kernel to play nicely with that much software, AND on all of the computing platforms it supports, that the richest software company in the world with unlimited resources could do the same. Ey?).

Debian packages this tweaked kernel and all that software together and calls it a distribution. There are many different distributions for different purposes. General computing, servers, clusters, secure-hardened environments, etc. I think that this is a terrific thing, but it can be overwhelming a bit. Sometimes it might be tough to get the right distribution. Just use Debian, you will be happy, I promise.

There are also some distributions that attempt to be Windows. Much effort goes into producing a distribution like this, because like it or not, Windows has "dumbed" you down. For example, you could buy (yeah, distributions like this actually charge you - but they have to pay their developers) Linspire or Xandros. Personally, I think it's insulting to try to mimic Windows - but customers demand it, so these companies do it. For those of us in the know, we steer clear of distributions like this. They tend to be bloated and a bit buggy - just like, but completely not, Windows.

There are also distributions based on other distributions. Last year the big noises were made by Mepis and Ubuntu. Two distributions that are based on Debian ( with good reason ). Both of them have attempted to make a distribution for you that makes it terribly easy for you to stop using Windows and start using Linux. These distributions have certainly succeeded on many levels. I have personally tried both of them ( in order to report to you my recommendations) and must agree that they are generally very good and will not limit you much at all. However, there are kinks in both of them that keep me from recommending them. For example, Ubuntu had a problem with my HP OfficeJet 7110 printer. I stick with Debian and you should, too.

Other distributions like Gentoo cater to the really geeky ( I say Geek with respect and love) crowd. Those of us that demand total control. Using Gentoo, you work hard for about a week setting your computer up just the way you want it and then enjoy the fruits of your labor. This is a daunting task - not for everybody - but it does have its audience. I'm more like you - I just want to install and run, with minimal tweaking or work. Again, see Debian. (OK so bullshit, but you dig what I mean.)

By using Linux for the past couple years I have been able to stop using an anti-virus. Although I didn't always run one in Windows, it's almost completely unnecessary on a linux box. Remember Linux is based on Unix, an over 40 year old operating system that your bank probably runs. It's damn near bullet-proof and in all this time there have been 5 viruses written for it (the number varies depending on who you ask). Not one is in the wild, all kept tight in labs. They weren't released because they cannot really run. The architecture of Linux is such that a virus is helpless to mess with your computer. Don't believe me - go find out for yourself. Remember, I may not personally know you, but I'm no company trying to make a dollar here. My reasons for all this are to help you stay safe...and because I like to talk. Mostly because I like to talk. As well, by using Linux I don't need to run Internet Explorer. I could by installing it with an emulator called WINE, but why? Why the hell would I want to do that? I didn't use it when I ran Windows either. Opera and Firefox are inherently better and they won't help ruin your machine. Much; software is software and computers really suck. Don't trust anyone! They are both available for Windows and Linux. If you must continue using Windows - do yourself and your computer a favor and use one of these 2 browsers.

If your bank makes you continue to use Internet Explorer for online banking I would make them sign something so that when they loose or otherwise allow mischief to befall your personal information - they can be held responsible. If I told you how terrible Internet Explorer was you might not believe me. But I can prove it all day long. You should be scared using that browser. Those in the know are.

Linux distributions employ a packaging system for you to download and install software. Many use a little program called Apt. Debian created it to maintain your install of same and it's terrific. I showed a Windows user the other day how quick and painless it was to use. She didn't know what to say. After a moment she asked "You just use that little program to install software?" I said, rather smugly, "Yeah". I also told (and showed) her that I use it to keep my computer updated and current. All for free, all bullet-proof. She wasn't used to that. She was amazed.

For example, I can open my command line (or, if you like a pretty face, a GUI program called Synaptic, and others) and type this: ( you do something like this as "root". Linux doesn't let just anybody install software. It's a good thing, and very easy to work)

# apt-get dist-upgrade

I then hit enter and my computer is upgraded to all the absolute newest (for that distribution) software. The newest kernel, if I allow it, and all the current supporting software. Was that hard? Hardly. Can you do it? How can you not? Would you rather surf the net for your shareware that comes complete with trojans and spyware - or go to the nearest BestBuy and pay $40 for the same software (well, the Linux version) that I just downloaded and installed in about 30 seconds? And for FREE! and with NO ILL EFFECT to my computer.

You must be aware of Windows software that spreads itself all over your computer, changes system settings and is a complete nightmare to remove. You must. Yet you still use Windows.

Using apt I can also do this to install a cool new audio player:

# apt-get install "cool-new-audio-player"

Bam, it's done. Then I open my cool new audio player. Isn't that the functionality that you want and deserve from your computer? Yeah - I thought so. Oh, it is unnecessary to reboot a Linux machine. For all practical purposes you should never have to reboot. I like that. Of course there are times, but very few and really far between. Let's talk about digital cameras. Last night I exchanged email with a buddy that knows that I use Linux. He also respects my opinion because he knows I ran Windows for many years and he knows my abilities. He also knows that I won't try to bully him, even though sometimes I tease him for suffering Windows.

He told me that he is almost ready to take my advice and change to Linux. He needed some assurances, though, so he asked me about what's important to him. Digital cameras, running a web server installation, email programs...that sort of thing. He also needs to be able to install Photoshop. No sweat.

As far as digital cameras - I plug my camera into my computer and BAM - within 4 seconds I can either import my photos into my picture directory ( I turned this functionality off - but it's there for you, by default) or my camera will be "mounted" as a hard drive. I like to have it mounted: an icon appears on my desktop within that same 4 seconds, a shortcut to my new camera hard drive. Now I can go to it, or I can even put pictures onto it.

That's functionality. You can do the same in Windows, depends on your camera.

Following, I took screen shots of Photoshop installed on my Linux computer. He was impressed. I also took screen shots of my email program (Evolution - not my favorite, but it's an Outlook clone for those wanting it. I used TheBat! in Windows.) and my local websites. How cool is this: I have a recipe database, a movie database and any number of other databases running as websites on my computer. As well, I have a document manager and a group collaboration site. My friends are impressed no end. Yes, you can do this in Windows, but not as easily or securely. As well, all my databases and sites are free, not so in Windows.

He was impressed. Again, he trusts me because he knows me. He knows that I want the same thing he does and I have it. In spades, for free, and I don't worry about viruses, trojans, crashes, any of that. You can't do that in Windows.

Let me tell you this, I have Verizon DSL. When I installed my Debian operating system and booted to it for the first time, I opened a command line, typed the following (as root):

# pppoeconf

I hit enter a few times, typed my username and password and I was online. Then and always. Online and protected by a firewall that is built into the brains of the operating system itself. You just cannot top that. On the technical side, when you do a new installation of Windows - the first thing that a geek like me does is turn off all those unnecessary services that run in the background EXPOSING MY COMPUTER TO MISCHIEF. Following this I install a real firewall, set that up, and only then do I make my internet connection.

A few months ago to demonstrate the inherent insecure nature of Windows XP SP1 (SP2 isn't much better), I installed it on a spare drive, left the thing at its default and then went online. Within 3 minutes my computer was hijacked. I just sat back and watched it happen. It rebooted itself, and was infected with better than 30 trojans and other maladies. This happened because the operating system left gaping holes in security. Personally, I think Microsoft should be held responsible and be sued out of existence, but that's just me.

I must apologize for this article, it is messy and perhaps all over the place, but I believe that I made some good points. Maybe I am jaded and slanted, but that's only because of my experience; personally, and helping others. If you contact me I will help you keep your sanity and help you change to Linux. I do not support Windows any longer so please don't bother with asking me to set it up for you - but I can show you how to back up all your stuff and install and run and be happy with Linux. Hell, (my boy shouts "HECK!) I'll even show you how you can install Linux and keep Windows. I know you have your reasons and I can respect that. Sure, I'll charge you, but you'll gladly pay my pittance (that helps support my family, not a monopoly) to keep your peace-of-mind, and have a solid computer, finally.

machiner - Tuesday, April 19, 2005 12:36 PM

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