Getting rid of Windows (part 2)
I have finally found a little bit of time to work on removing Windows from my machines. The obvious choice (for those of us who need to use a computer to get our work done) is Linux or MacOS.
Unfortunately, when using a PC laptop (like Dell), one cannot legally install MacOS without an actual Macintosh. I know it can technically be done, but one has to hack the MacOS installer to bypass the initial test of the hardware that is in there to prevent it from being installed on a non Apple computer.
Being a computer professional, I believe one should pay a license (and respect its terms) when the product needs to be licensed.
We can all argue about the choice made by Apple, but in the end, they own the product (Mac OS) and we must follow their rules about licensing it.
So, until I actually buy a Mac (which I will probably do as soon as they release the new MacBook Pro) Linux is my only option to get rid of Windows.
Lately, Windows has triggered some really nasty feelings in my brain. This so-called "Operating System" keeps getting in the way. The network connections get dropped for no apparent reason (ok, it is easily fixed by rebooting) the system freezes from time to time for a few seconds (even the mouse doesn't move any more, what is crappy Windows doing under the hood?) etc.
I got a new PC and Windows is definitely -not- going to be installed on it. I even expressely asked my vendor not to install Windows on it nor to charge me a license fee (that looks more like a Microsoft tax.) I installed CentOS 4.3 on it and this machine is flying.
For my laptop, I purchased a new hard drive at Fry's and I installed Suse 10.1 on it. I migrated my emails, calendar, address book etc. over to the new system. It took a bit of time, but it was well worth it. No more questions like "what is the OS doing?" or "Why is it frozen now?"
I made the choice of Suse 10.1 because it contains a lot of tools for laptops and it was easy to install. The only trick I had to use with my laptop (a Dell Inspiron 600m) was to install a small package called "NDIS Wrapper" that implements an NDIS layer to be able to use a driver written for Windooz. Some hardware manufaturers still don't understand that providing a driver for Linux is to their advantage. Anyway, the installation of the NDIS wrapper was easy and now, I can use my wireless card in the laptop, using the driver written for Windows.
I don't think Linux is ready to be installed on every desktop/laptop in the world to replace Windows.
However, compared to the first version of Linux I was using back when I was a student (in 1994), it has made significant progress. The main limitation that I see is that Linux is giving you too much power and thus, too much responsibility with your system. The average user is probably not willing to spend the time to learn Unix.
There is hope, however. The hope of a world where Windows and Microsoft are not the de facto monopoly on the computer. India is now training its students, starting in High School on Linux only, not Windows any more. This means that these students will then go to College, using Linux instead of Windows. In less than ten years from now, India will have millions of people entering the work force who know how to use Linux and won't be willing to buy the crap MS is selling any more.
Windows is gone from my machines. Good riddance!
Unfortunately, when using a PC laptop (like Dell), one cannot legally install MacOS without an actual Macintosh. I know it can technically be done, but one has to hack the MacOS installer to bypass the initial test of the hardware that is in there to prevent it from being installed on a non Apple computer.
Being a computer professional, I believe one should pay a license (and respect its terms) when the product needs to be licensed.
We can all argue about the choice made by Apple, but in the end, they own the product (Mac OS) and we must follow their rules about licensing it.
So, until I actually buy a Mac (which I will probably do as soon as they release the new MacBook Pro) Linux is my only option to get rid of Windows.
Lately, Windows has triggered some really nasty feelings in my brain. This so-called "Operating System" keeps getting in the way. The network connections get dropped for no apparent reason (ok, it is easily fixed by rebooting) the system freezes from time to time for a few seconds (even the mouse doesn't move any more, what is crappy Windows doing under the hood?) etc.
I got a new PC and Windows is definitely -not- going to be installed on it. I even expressely asked my vendor not to install Windows on it nor to charge me a license fee (that looks more like a Microsoft tax.) I installed CentOS 4.3 on it and this machine is flying.
For my laptop, I purchased a new hard drive at Fry's and I installed Suse 10.1 on it. I migrated my emails, calendar, address book etc. over to the new system. It took a bit of time, but it was well worth it. No more questions like "what is the OS doing?" or "Why is it frozen now?"
I made the choice of Suse 10.1 because it contains a lot of tools for laptops and it was easy to install. The only trick I had to use with my laptop (a Dell Inspiron 600m) was to install a small package called "NDIS Wrapper" that implements an NDIS layer to be able to use a driver written for Windooz. Some hardware manufaturers still don't understand that providing a driver for Linux is to their advantage. Anyway, the installation of the NDIS wrapper was easy and now, I can use my wireless card in the laptop, using the driver written for Windows.
I don't think Linux is ready to be installed on every desktop/laptop in the world to replace Windows.
However, compared to the first version of Linux I was using back when I was a student (in 1994), it has made significant progress. The main limitation that I see is that Linux is giving you too much power and thus, too much responsibility with your system. The average user is probably not willing to spend the time to learn Unix.
There is hope, however. The hope of a world where Windows and Microsoft are not the de facto monopoly on the computer. India is now training its students, starting in High School on Linux only, not Windows any more. This means that these students will then go to College, using Linux instead of Windows. In less than ten years from now, India will have millions of people entering the work force who know how to use Linux and won't be willing to buy the crap MS is selling any more.
Windows is gone from my machines. Good riddance!
posted by A Cat in California at 12:01:00 AM
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