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May 09
2007
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I never really developed the whole 'I hate Microsoft Operating systems' mindset beloved of the more lonely techie. I rather like Microsoft software, it usually works OK and most people have it. It's not that expensive and it's nicer these days than it used to be (although I think we all miss typing 'win' every now and then). And anyway, Mitchell is much funnier than Webb. Although Super Hans beats them all...and I was about to insert a funny 'he represents this other operating system' gag there but I stopped myself, mainly because I couldn't think of one.
Anyway, I have an old PC at home, which I have plugged into a lovely big TV. It acts as a music server, and also allows me to play the occasional downloaded video via the telly without having to lug a laptop into the sitting room. I have been tinkering with it for the last couple of years.....it's become my own personal mid-life crisis. Rather than buying a classic car that doesn't work or joining the Territorial Army, I have elected to annoy my wife my tinkering with a defunct PC that's not quite up to the job of being a home media server.
I installed Ubuntu, a distribution of Linux which claims to make installation easy. Guess what? It did.
I just booted up the PC from a CD-ROM (which I made from a downloaded image) and it worked. And worked well. Much better than Windows. I tried to play some movies, Ubuntu went away and found the right codecs. I wanted to install some more software, Ubuntu gave me a list to chose from and installed it all for me.
I now have a fully-functioning music streaming, video playing, TV recording home media server, running on a nine year old PC, completely free.
This is just the first step on my road to Damascus. The thing is, if I'm now thinking Linux is better, easier (and freer) than Windows, it's probably only so long before an awful lot of other people do too.
I'm going to write about Microsoft again soon but, before I do, I want to install Ubuntu on my laptop too.
My wife will be gutted.
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harry
said:
| I don't think Linux is going to save anyone any time but it could save money - if you look at just how much of a new PC's price is paying for the operating system, or the cost of Microsoft Office or whatever other software you might end up buying, a small business could certainly save several hundred pounds per computer. Add to that the more general efficiency and sharing improvements you can get by using online (rather than sitting on your PC) applications such as Google Mail/Calendar/Spreadsheet etc and the picture starts to emerge of a future (some years hence) where Microsoft's domination of the desktop is not where it is today. It's all still up for grabs. |
Tim Rosser
said:
| How much extra time in a day would having Linux in preference to Microsoft save the average small business though Harry? I note your example covers off a domestic use situation. Thanks Tim |
Ben
said:
You're right, Ubuntu is amazing! Even I got it working (eventually)  |
