Alternatives to Windows

In a previous post, we opined on Vista or, more correctly, Microsoft's tactics for its wide-spread adoption by the computer-buying public. The parting question was: Is there an alternative? Of course there's an alternative; there are always alternatives. Microsoft do not have a monopoly on the desktop operating system, though they do have a vast majority and a captive audience.

The first alternative is Macintosh by Apple. We've had occasion to use these prior to entering the support arena and they are both easy to use and pretty robust. They're pretty too, for the most part, but aesthetics shouldn't be top of your list when buying a computer. Another plus point is that there are even Microsoft applications available for Macs, including the full Microsoft Office suite.

However, and it's a big one, Macintosh is not Windows. You can't just take your brand-spanking new Mac and install all your old software on it. Until recently, Mac OSX (the Macintosh operating system) would only run on Power PC hardware; Windows runs on Intel hardware. Incompatibility at that level is going to take time to overcome and, for as long as Intel hardware running Windows has the lion's share of the market, there's not really any incentive for it to change.

The second alternative is Linux and, just like Mac, this isn't Windows. Nor is it proprietary. The Linux operating system is not owned by any one corporate entity, indeed some would argue that it isn't owned at all. Sure, there are corporate bodies backing their own version but they're going to find it very hard to be a viable competitor for Apple, much less Microsoft. Advertising and growth of popularity is usually by word of mouth.

Before Linux users across the land spam our mailboxes with death threats and retribution, I'm not against Linux - quite the opposite. However, to overthrow the Microsoft throne is going to take more than a collection of disparate factions ... but we digress. Linux will run on both Intel and Power PC hardware. Unlike its proprietary cousins, the cost is minimal, in some cases free. The reason is its own non-proprietary nature; it's open source, which means that the code is available for your perusal, should you wish to. Try asking Microsoft or Apple for the same privilege!

Support for Linux is usually obtained from fora, often hosted by the provider of the distribution (distro). Not all distros are created equal, many distros are specialised in what they deliver, not all fora are as useful as their cousins/rivals. And rivals they are, for you can only run one operating system at a time. Sure, you can have one than one operating system installed but you can only run them one at a time.

If you're considering Linux on grounds of cost, think again - especially about what you use your computer for. If it's only for internet access, including emails, organising your digital photographs, sorting out your household accounts and writing the occasional letter, the migration will be simply a case of learning something a little different. However, if you're a Windows or Mac power-user, it'll be a whole lot different.

DreamGenius has been, for the last several months, using Linux on its main internet access computers, and with good results but that'll be the subject of future posts. We are not yet however in a position to support either Mac or Linux, it spite of the opinions offered above. These opinions are based on experience but that experience is insufficient to offer support in return for payment. Should you choose to explore either operating system, please do so with caution and not on the machine that contains data that you wish to keep.