wIndependence Day Essay: 'wIndependence'

Keywords: Match:

by Tom Searing (August 1, 2002)

Hello, my name is Tom and I am a Microsoft Windows addict.

This is a reality that I face each and every day. I started with a Kaypro running DOS back in 1986. Eventually I was hired by my current employer in 1989 as a System administrator maintaining a Wang VS for our field office. In 1991 I received my first laptop with Microsoft Windows 3.1 loaded onto it. Upon receiving the laptop, the first thing I did was delete the Windows system, little did I know that my first instinct was the correct one. When my home office checked in on me they freaked that I had taken it on myself to delete Windows. From that day forward the drug of Microsoft Windows edged into my life. My company insisted I use this operating system. In my personal life I saw no substitute. Eventually the world darkened and all I had was Microsoft Windows.

Having read 'Atlas Shrugged' I believed and still believe in innovation and the right of the people not government in controlling creativity. What I didn't see through in those dark years of the 90's was that Microsoft was an entity that had become the government and was hindering creativity. Microsoft had created the situation of darkness. The definition of darkness is the absence of light. Microsoft had become and still creates an environment where light is absent so the darkness continues. Slowly one by one the applications I had been using, Lotus 123, WordStar, and others began to disappear.

In the late 90's I heard of Linux. In fact I bought Red Hat and tried to load it on a spare PC. Everything went fine, but having to find all the drivers in different places discouraged me, so I slipped back into the darkness. One night while visiting a friend we had a heated discussion on the Microsoft case and of course I defended Microsoft. One concept my friend threw forward was that what if the government or someone with evil intentions controlled Microsoft then we all would be at their mercy. The light began to seep in around the edges.

Over the next couple of years I saw how Microsoft manipulated the industry both in hardware and software development. I experienced at my job how Microsoft products had more problems than they solved. I also saw the political winds and how Microsoft would have to concede something to the government to survive in the trial. My fears were and are that Microsoft would concede us their addicts that are suckling at their tit called Microsoft Windows.

My friend whom I had the previous conversation then challenged me to use Linux for three months as my primary system. The reward was a dinner at the restaurant of my choice. I investigated the different distributions and went with Suse 7.3 Pro. I loaded up an old laptop I had with Suse figuring if it could configure the old laptop along with the PCMCIA card it was a go. Well, the rest is history I now have two laptops running Linux, one with Suse and one with Mandrake. My main system is a dual boot with Suse 8.0 Pro as my main Operating system. I have been able to get all of my peripherals working including scanners, and digital camera. My PDA which was a Casio PC Pocket has been sold and replaced by a Zaurus. The light shines once again. I have found the joy I once had finding new applications, new configurations and challenging myself. I have especially enjoyed working with developers directly giving them feedback on products and watching my suggestions
implemented. No longer do I have to deal with the annoying and expensive purchasing of Microsoft applications.

The other great thing is that now I have so many resources. Each day I find new and interesting sites for Linux. Being a US citizen I feel more connected to the world as I now work and speak with people around the globe about Linux. Today I was in conversation with a web master in Canada on how he can start the Linux path.

My father, who is 70 years old now, has a laptop with Suse 7.3 Pro and finds it very easy to use. My father is a retired missionary also has been able to suggest Linux to other missionaries who cannot afford the expensive Microsoft solutions. Computers and software should not bind us in chains and major cash outlays, but free us to extend ourselves as humans. Linux has brought this to myself and I see it doing this for others. I maybe a Microsoft addict still due to work which has not seen the light, but each day I find something else to challenge me in the world of Linux.

My favorite links:

www.linuxdailynews.com - (Good centralized Linux information)
www.desktoplinux.com
www.kde.org - (Great add ons)
www.zauruszone.com
www.suse.com
www.mandrake.com
www.tldp.org - (Great HOWTOs site, They also have reviews although I might not always agree.)
www.linuxformat.co.uk - (Linux Format magazine just awesome)

Talk back! Do you have comments or questions about this story? talkback here

Please note: The opinions expressed in this essay are those of the writer, not of the management or staff of DesktopLinux.com.

(Click here for further information)

7 Advantages of D2D Backup
For decades, tape has been the backup medium of choice. But, now, disk-to-disk (D2D) backup is gaining in favor. Learn why you should make the move in this whitepaper.

4 Legal Reasons to Control Internet Access
The Internet is obviously a valuable resource for many organizations. However, many are exposed to legal liability concerns because they fail to control Internet access. Learn if you're safe in this white paper.

Rapidly Resolve J2EE Application Problems
Whether you are in the process of building J2EE applications or have J2EE applications already running in production, you must ensure that they deliver the expected ROI. Learn how in this white paper.

Load Testing 2.0 for Web 2.0
There are many unknowns in stress testing Web 2.0 applications. Find out how to test the performance of Web 2.0 in this white paper.

Build Better Games Online
For the game infrastructure providers, life is complex. Making money from games has become more complicated. Why? Find out in this white paper.

Building a Virtual Infrastructure from Servers to Storage
This white paper discusses the virtual storage solutions that reduce cost, increase storage utilization, and address the challenges of backing up and restoring Server environments.

Gaining Faster Wireless Connections with WiMAX
Welcome to what is quickly becoming the hyperconnected world where anything that would benefit from being connected to the network will be connected. Learn more in this white paper.

Is Your Desktop a Security Threat?
The new wave of sophisticated crimeware not only targets specific companies, but also targets desktops and laptops as backdoor entryways into those business’ operations and resources. Learn how to stay safe in this white paper.

Increasing SAN Reliability by 100 Percent
Storage area networks (SAN) are a strong part of storage plans. Learn how to increase your reliability and uptime by 100 percent in this case study.

Got a HOT tip? please tell us!

ADVERTISEMENT
(Advertise here)

Popular recent stories: • OpenSUSE 11.0 arrives • AMD/ATI touts faster Linux drivers • Banshee achieves first stable release • VirtualBox: The best hypervisor you've never heard of • Gutsy Geeks take Linux to the airwaves • Ubuntu "MID Edition" ships • World's cheapest Linux-based laptop? • Xandros 4: The best desktop Linux for Windows users • Microsoft pushes India toward Linux All-time Classics: • Choosing a desktop Linux distro • Banshee -- the next best thing to Linux iTunes • The Best Free Desktop Linux . . . and how to make it better • Running World of Warcraft on Ubuntu • Linux-powered Asus Eee PC mini-laptop arrives • A simple Linux backup method • The well-tempered Debian desktop • What's the best Linux for beginners? • Linus versus GNOME • Hunting for the perfect Linux Media Center	Desktop Linux books Join our Desktop Linux discussion forums: • Moving to Linux • Linux/Windows debate! • Linux Q&A . . . and more

BREAKING NEWS

• Judge Kimball rules. Ho, hum.
• Writer tells Penguinistas to chill on closed source
• Linux 2.6.26 enhances desktop Linux
• BeOS-like distro focused on content creation
• OpenSUSE rolls out auto-build service
• Best Buy, Amazon selling Ubuntu for $20
• Wine, Bordeaux ship
• New Gentoo updates installer, revises profiles
• Graphics board vendor touts faster Linux drivers
• Private St. Louis school goes Linux
• Xandros quietly acquires Linspire
• Microsoft pushes India toward Linux
• "Intrepid Ibex" plucks up courage for alpha release
• Military-grade USB key supports Linux desktops
• CentOS 5.2 ships with enhanced virtualization

Linux-Watch headlines:
• Judge Kimball rules -- the sequel!
• Microsoft tactics push India toward Linux
• Bell, SuperMicro sued over GPL
• "Business intelligence" software goes GPL
• Will Atom bomb?
• LF Summit videos posted
• Linux gains "embedded" maintainers
• Virtualization on tap in SLES and RHEL upgrades
• Linux gets security black eye
• Verizon chooses Linux "platform of choice"

Visit the...

news feed

Home \| News \| Articles \| Forum \| Polls \| About \| Contact

	Ziff Davis Enterprise Home \| Contact Us \| Advertise \| Link to Us \| Reprints \| Magazine Subscriptions \| Newsletters Tech RSS Feeds \| White Papers \| ROI Calculators \| Tech Podcasts \| Tech Video \| VARs \| Channel News
	Baseline \| Careers \| Channel Insider \| CIO Insight \| DesktopLinux \| DeviceForge \| DevSource \| eSeminars \| eWEEK \| Enterprise Network Security \| LinuxDevices \| Linux Watch \| Microsoft Watch \| Mid-market \| Networking \| PDF Zone \| Publish \| Security IT Hub \| Strategic Partner \| Web Buyer's Guide \| Windows for Devices
	Developer Shed \| Dev Shed \| ASP Free \| Dev Articles \| Dev Hardware \| SEO Chat \| Tutorialized \| Scripts \| Code Walkers \| Web Hosters \| Dev Mechanic \| Dev Archives \| igrep
Use of this site is governed by our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Except where otherwise specified, the contents of this site are copyright © 1999-2008 Ziff Davis Enterprise Holdings Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Ziff Davis Enterprise is prohibited. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

Home \| News \| Articles \| Forum \| Polls \| About \| Contact

	Ziff Davis Enterprise Home \| Contact Us \| Advertise \| Link to Us \| Reprints \| Magazine Subscriptions \| Newsletters Tech RSS Feeds \| White Papers \| ROI Calculators \| Tech Podcasts \| Tech Video \| VARs \| Channel News
	Baseline \| Careers \| Channel Insider \| CIO Insight \| DesktopLinux \| DeviceForge \| DevSource \| eSeminars \| eWEEK \| Enterprise Network Security \| LinuxDevices \| Linux Watch \| Microsoft Watch \| Mid-market \| Networking \| PDF Zone \| Publish \| Security IT Hub \| Strategic Partner \| Web Buyer's Guide \| Windows for Devices
	Developer Shed \| Dev Shed \| ASP Free \| Dev Articles \| Dev Hardware \| SEO Chat \| Tutorialized \| Scripts \| Code Walkers \| Web Hosters \| Dev Mechanic \| Dev Archives \| igrep
Use of this site is governed by our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Except where otherwise specified, the contents of this site are copyright © 1999-2008 Ziff Davis Enterprise Holdings Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Ziff Davis Enterprise is prohibited. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.