| Other Operating Systems? |
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Jane B. of Prospect Heights, IL called today and asked about other operating systems. Other meaning other than Windows. Currently running Windows XP and worried about the horror stories she has heard about Vista, she went to the local Mac store and bought herself a new iMac. Unfortunately, she was so used to the Windows file system and interface that she quickly learned that the Mac wasn't for her. So she was left wondering if she should go with Vista, fore-go the upgrade, or if there was something else available. After talking to us, Jane went with a brand new custom built system with Vista Home Premium installed, built by On-Site Computer Repair. And she loves it. Unlike many, we are fans of Vista and believe with the right build, it is a great operating system. We will write more about Vista in another post, but for now we are going to explorer just a few of the "other" options you might be interested in looking into. If you have been computing for a while or at all involved in using the Internet you have probably heard of something called Linux. Also sometimes refereed to as GNU, Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system. Linux is one of the most prominent examples of free software and open source development: typically all underlying source code can be freely modified, used, and redistributed by anyone. What this means is basically anyone can use it, build it, modify it etc all for free. Now Linux in its own right more than likely isn't going to be a novice computer users answer, however, specific end user builds of the OS may be. Now, there are several (many many) versions of Linux available for free and a couple that you can pay for that are very user friendly and offer a safe and productive user environment. We are going to expand a bit on 2 of these builds, 1 free and 1 paid for option. Even though we believe in, and are recommending that you take a closer look at the two options below, a web search will reveal several other options, some of which might interest you. The first version of Linux, which is also a free version, is Ubuntu. Ubuntu is a community developed, Linux-based operating system that is perfect for laptops, desktops and servers. It contains all the applications you need - a web browser, presentation, document and spreadsheet software, instant messaging and much more. Ubuntu is and always will be free of charge. You do not pay any licensing fees. You can download, use and share Ubuntu with your friends, family, school or business for absolutely nothing. Ubuntu issues a new desktop and server release every six months. That means you'll always have the the latest and greatest applications that the open source world has to offer. Ubuntu is designed with security in mind. You get free security updates for at least 18 months on the desktop and server. With the Long Term Support (LTS) version you get three years support on the desktop, and five years on the server. There is no extra fee for the LTS version, they make their very best work available to everyone on the same free terms. Upgrades to new versions of Ubuntu are and always will be free of charge. The second option, a paid option, is Linspire 6.0. Linspire is another Linux build (actually based on Ubuntu) that offers the same stable platform as Ubuntu, with some custom applications and the ability to download 1000's of software titles with point and click ease. Starting with the best that open source has to offer Linspire adds CNR, proprietary software, drivers, and codecs to provide the world's easiest Linux-based operating system designed for laptop & desktop PCs. Basically, Linspire is a beefed up version of Ubuntu, that includes allot more software, a unique interface, better tech support, instant software downloads with no cost and no programming experience needed, etc. It is a very good option for someone who is migrating from another OS but has no real Linux experience. So which one is right for you? Well, if you're like Jane and have been using Windows for a while, you may find it difficult to switch. And that's ok because Windows really is a good operating system. All OS's have some quirks and all will fumble and stumble and fall at some point. All have their venerabilities and their strengths. The key is finding something you are comfortable with. If you are 60 and not in the mood to learn new software or find it difficult to compose even a simple email, stay where you are. If, on the other hand, you are a quick learner, find most PC tasks a breeze, and would rather video conference than email, looking into a Linux OS might just tickle your fancy. For those in the middle there is an option for you as well. If you are able to add a partition to your hard drive, about 2 GB but best in the 10-15GB range, you can easily add dual boot capability to your existing system. Just remember to set-up the partition before you start. Using an ISO file of Ubuntu burned to CD, you can easily add the Ubuntu OS to this new partition and a boot manager named Grub will be setup to allow you to choose your existing OS or Ubuntu when you start. With this setup you can truly have your cake and eat it to. For more information on these 2 OS's, use the links in the article to view information directly on their respective web sites. If you have further questions feel free to call On-Site at 1-888-725-4509. |