Yes, I am living Linux in a Windows world. If you don’t have any idea what this means, well, you are not geeky enough. If you are curious, then read on. If not, stop. It is as simple as that.
I do not use the Microsoft Windows operating system for anything other than playing games. My primary operating system for my computers is the Linux operating system. This is an operating system based on the design of Unix (which predates MS Windows quite a bit) and is available for free. It runs on almost anything with a CPU - not a joke, you can google “Linux on camera” or “Linux on a phone” or just about anything else - and has been ported to nearly every computing platform on the planet.
I use Linux because first and foremost, it frees the user to do whatever they want (regardless of how stupid it may be). Secondly, the architecture and design of the operating system is technically better in my opinion than that of MS Windows. This is not fan-boy blather, it is based on my 24+ years of software development experience using systems that pre-date even MS-DOS and an inside understanding how it all fits together within the operating system kernel and framework.
And finally, I use Linux because nearly all the software you could ever need for it is free. Yes, free. As in “no cost”. Seriously. Oh there are commercial applications and I have bought some from time to time, but generally I can get everything done with free software.
If I am going to be on a computer, I prefer to be using Linux. At those times when I am on a Windows machine, I just treat it like a toaster: it does its one thing and don’t ask it to do a bunch of other things at the same time. It often feels like I am in a straight jacket when I am on a Windows box. I encounter something odd and think “I could just pop into a command shell and …”, but alas, if you do that in Windows there is not a whole lot you can do at the command line. Well, recently MS has included a better shell, but still the venerable old command shell from the days of MS-DOS still seems to be the default. I don't get that feeling with Linux. I don't feel hemmed in at all.
However, in terms of personal computers, most people, at least here in the United States, typically think of some version of Microsoft Windows as the only operating system choices out there. Many people have heard of a Mac, but even among that set, they are only vaguely aware that the operating system is entirely fundamentally different in its inner workings. And even fewer have heard of Linux or have any clue what it is. I was once asked if Linux was some kind of prescription medication. This comes from years of PC vendors making deals (or being forced with deals) with Microsoft. And this is why it is difficult to find PCs that ship with something other than MS Windows.
What? You disagree with my “most people” and “many people” generalizations? Well, online polls and studies say that generalization is correct. Most people using a PC are not, to put it bluntly, all that technically savvy. They know enough to get online, check email, browse the web, share pictures of cats with bad grammar, post their “eating pancakes” morning status, and forward spam/scams to everyone on their contact list.
I admit that may be a bit harsh, still I think it seems correct. It appears that not only do most users start out technically inferior, but the industry actually encourages it by hiding more and more of the details of the computer beneath a glossy user interface. And that I believe is part of the problem and part of a solution all at the same time. But I am getting ahead of myself. Hold that thought. First something to consider.
Less than 10% of computer users can define what a “browser” is. Watch the following and weep:
Now for statistics fun. Hey, you are still reading this, you’re a geek, you should think statistics ARE fun, right? The world-wide statistics for operating system market share show that Microsoft Windows accounts for about 86% of all personal computers out there. I think if you look at just the US market that number may actually be closer to 90% but the rest of the world is not so MS-centric.
According to Wikipedia, at the time of this writing, the median estimates for OS usage are:
Interestingly if you look at mobile devices, the median estimates for OS usage are:
I think it is more interesting if you look at supercomputers, the median estimates for OS usage are:
The numbers are harder to pin down in the server and mainframe markets but generally when you use installation counts and not revenue, Linux dominates the server market and has a good chunk of the mainframe market which is essentially owned by IBM’s System Z operating system.
Ok, so what does all this mean and what does it have to do with “Living Linux in a Windows World”? I am glad you asked.
What it means is that I am in a very clear minority. Because I am not using Windows, I generally cannot run Windows applications. I say generally because there are ways to run Windows applications unmodified in the Linux operating system, but not all of them really work. But I have found that there are very, very few Windows applications I really want to run. Usually just games, but there are a couple things I miss. And yet, I alternatives in the Linux world that are as good, better, or close enough (depending on the tool) that are available freely from the “software center” (something like the fore-runner of an “app store”).
It also means that the world of viruses, trojans, and malware is to me “something that happens to Windows users”. In 12+ years of running Linux, I have never had any virus or malware attack. I still have to take care about information leaking out of web sessions and web sites, but that is more of a user behavioral factor than a technology factor. There is anti-virus software available for Linux, and it is mostly there to scan files from Windows systems. There are many IT people who keep a Linux box on hand to scour and clean infected disks and files.
So I sit here writing this on my Linux laptop using Google docs as my editor on the web while I have a zillion other things going on at once across multiple virtual desktops. I am not confined to a single desktop. I am not confined to just doing things the way it was designed. Linux allows combining apps and tools in many unique ways, allowing for really creative and quick solutions to problems.
Yes, I am in the minority. But as I think about it, I have been all my life. I could just abandon all hope and join the Windows herd and graze among what is offered. But I have never been like that in my life and I am too old to start now. I don’t mind being in the minority. Especially when the minority is essentially the top 1% of techies and geeks.
Yes, I am in the minority, but I sit with my geek brethren at the top 1% of users.
So in practical terms. how do I go about living Linux in this Windows world? How do I get along without MS Office, Outlook, Internet Explorer, and oh let’s not forget the favorite software title to toss into the mix, the one Windows users think is the “killer app”: Adobe Photoshop.
So here is how I live Linux in a Windows world, at least according to the software applications I use. I will only touch on the main apps at this point.
There you have it, a basic set of alternatives to the most common Windows apps used by users. Besides running on Linux, what other characteristics do those apps have in common? Care to guess?
Well, yes they are all free. But something else that most Windows users don’t think about is that LibreOffice, Thunderbird, Chrome, Firefox, The GIMP, Pidgin, and Banshee are all multi-platform.
“Multi-platform? What does that mean?” I can hear the questions already forming.
What it means is all those application run on multiple operating systems, even MS Windows. So anyone could run those apps on nearly any personal computer around.
Well not only does “living Linux in a Windows world” mean that I am in an elite minority, it means that I am universal. My application set is supported on all current PC operating systems.
So in summary (yes I know you are glad to read that bit), living Linux in a Windows world means that I am not bound by the controls the software designers try to impose to protect their systems. They create walled gardens because if you were free to wander around in their systems, you would most likely break something, and then you would complain, and call tech support. So they protect themselves by restrictions. I don’t like that.
I do not use the Microsoft Windows operating system for anything other than playing games. My primary operating system for my computers is the Linux operating system. This is an operating system based on the design of Unix (which predates MS Windows quite a bit) and is available for free. It runs on almost anything with a CPU - not a joke, you can google “Linux on camera” or “Linux on a phone” or just about anything else - and has been ported to nearly every computing platform on the planet.
I use Linux because first and foremost, it frees the user to do whatever they want (regardless of how stupid it may be). Secondly, the architecture and design of the operating system is technically better in my opinion than that of MS Windows. This is not fan-boy blather, it is based on my 24+ years of software development experience using systems that pre-date even MS-DOS and an inside understanding how it all fits together within the operating system kernel and framework.
And finally, I use Linux because nearly all the software you could ever need for it is free. Yes, free. As in “no cost”. Seriously. Oh there are commercial applications and I have bought some from time to time, but generally I can get everything done with free software.
If I am going to be on a computer, I prefer to be using Linux. At those times when I am on a Windows machine, I just treat it like a toaster: it does its one thing and don’t ask it to do a bunch of other things at the same time. It often feels like I am in a straight jacket when I am on a Windows box. I encounter something odd and think “I could just pop into a command shell and …”, but alas, if you do that in Windows there is not a whole lot you can do at the command line. Well, recently MS has included a better shell, but still the venerable old command shell from the days of MS-DOS still seems to be the default. I don't get that feeling with Linux. I don't feel hemmed in at all.
However, in terms of personal computers, most people, at least here in the United States, typically think of some version of Microsoft Windows as the only operating system choices out there. Many people have heard of a Mac, but even among that set, they are only vaguely aware that the operating system is entirely fundamentally different in its inner workings. And even fewer have heard of Linux or have any clue what it is. I was once asked if Linux was some kind of prescription medication. This comes from years of PC vendors making deals (or being forced with deals) with Microsoft. And this is why it is difficult to find PCs that ship with something other than MS Windows.
What? You disagree with my “most people” and “many people” generalizations? Well, online polls and studies say that generalization is correct. Most people using a PC are not, to put it bluntly, all that technically savvy. They know enough to get online, check email, browse the web, share pictures of cats with bad grammar, post their “eating pancakes” morning status, and forward spam/scams to everyone on their contact list.
I admit that may be a bit harsh, still I think it seems correct. It appears that not only do most users start out technically inferior, but the industry actually encourages it by hiding more and more of the details of the computer beneath a glossy user interface. And that I believe is part of the problem and part of a solution all at the same time. But I am getting ahead of myself. Hold that thought. First something to consider.
Less than 10% of computer users can define what a “browser” is. Watch the following and weep:
Now for statistics fun. Hey, you are still reading this, you’re a geek, you should think statistics ARE fun, right? The world-wide statistics for operating system market share show that Microsoft Windows accounts for about 86% of all personal computers out there. I think if you look at just the US market that number may actually be closer to 90% but the rest of the world is not so MS-centric.
According to Wikipedia, at the time of this writing, the median estimates for OS usage are:
Windows 86.37%
Mac OS 7.4%
Apple iOS 2.8%
Linux 1.1%
Android 0.97%
Everything else 1.36%
Interestingly if you look at mobile devices, the median estimates for OS usage are:
Android 33%
Symbian OS 31%
Apple iOS 16%
Blackberry RIM 14%
Other 6%
I think it is more interesting if you look at supercomputers, the median estimates for OS usage are:
Linux 91.8%
IBM AIX 3.4%
Unstated 3.2%
MS HPCS 1.0%
Other 0.6%
The numbers are harder to pin down in the server and mainframe markets but generally when you use installation counts and not revenue, Linux dominates the server market and has a good chunk of the mainframe market which is essentially owned by IBM’s System Z operating system.
Ok, so what does all this mean and what does it have to do with “Living Linux in a Windows World”? I am glad you asked.
What it means is that I am in a very clear minority. Because I am not using Windows, I generally cannot run Windows applications. I say generally because there are ways to run Windows applications unmodified in the Linux operating system, but not all of them really work. But I have found that there are very, very few Windows applications I really want to run. Usually just games, but there are a couple things I miss. And yet, I alternatives in the Linux world that are as good, better, or close enough (depending on the tool) that are available freely from the “software center” (something like the fore-runner of an “app store”).
It also means that the world of viruses, trojans, and malware is to me “something that happens to Windows users”. In 12+ years of running Linux, I have never had any virus or malware attack. I still have to take care about information leaking out of web sessions and web sites, but that is more of a user behavioral factor than a technology factor. There is anti-virus software available for Linux, and it is mostly there to scan files from Windows systems. There are many IT people who keep a Linux box on hand to scour and clean infected disks and files.
So I sit here writing this on my Linux laptop using Google docs as my editor on the web while I have a zillion other things going on at once across multiple virtual desktops. I am not confined to a single desktop. I am not confined to just doing things the way it was designed. Linux allows combining apps and tools in many unique ways, allowing for really creative and quick solutions to problems.
Yes, I am in the minority. But as I think about it, I have been all my life. I could just abandon all hope and join the Windows herd and graze among what is offered. But I have never been like that in my life and I am too old to start now. I don’t mind being in the minority. Especially when the minority is essentially the top 1% of techies and geeks.
Yes, I am in the minority, but I sit with my geek brethren at the top 1% of users.
So in practical terms. how do I go about living Linux in this Windows world? How do I get along without MS Office, Outlook, Internet Explorer, and oh let’s not forget the favorite software title to toss into the mix, the one Windows users think is the “killer app”: Adobe Photoshop.
So here is how I live Linux in a Windows world, at least according to the software applications I use. I will only touch on the main apps at this point.
- Office Suite - LibreOffice (formerly OpenOffice)
You do realize that even on Windows there are several alternatives to Microsoft Office don’t you? LibreOffice is just one of them. It is mostly compatible with all MS Office files, though it still has some issues with .docx files. But nearly everything else is spot on.
- Email Client - Thunderbird
I know a lot of people really love MS Outlook, and hey, it has some excellent features. But there are alternatives, even alternatives that will connect to MS Exchange servers for email. Thunderbird is from Mozilla, the guys that brought you Firefox. Thunderbird is an excellent piece of software in its own right and when coupled with the calendar plugin available for it, is an excellent replacement for Outlook.
- Web Browser - Chrome or Firefox
Sorry, but Internet Explorer really just sucks. Well at least up until version 9, it did. It seems to have improved quite a bit. But still, the fact that Microsoft does not correctly implement the web standards just makes it mediocre. I use Google’s Chrome browser mostly. Often I will use Firefox just for some sites. But both are in my opinion tied for the best browser on the whole planet.
- Photo/Graphics Editing - The GIMP
I have said it before and I say it again, not everyone needs Adobe Photoshop. That is a professional grade tool that most people get lost in. It is like buying a battleship to go fishing in a pond for most users. The GIMP is an excellent alternative to Photoshop. I allow that professionals will have different opinions, and that is ok. Just remember though that I am a computing professional, so a lot of my opinion is backed up by technical understanding. The GIMP also can be daunting for most average users. It does a lot, but it also may be overkill for most users. Still, I prefer it and have used it for years.
- Instant Messaging - Pidgin
My use of instant messaging has dropped off considerably in recent years. But when I want to get onto the IM systems, I use Pidgin. It allows you to connect to multiple systems at once - AIM, Yahoo, MSN, ICQ, IRC, and many others.
- Media Player - Banshee
I know iTunes is really good. I know a lot of people really like iTunes. But I cannot run iTunes on Linux. Nor do I want to. I don’t have an iPod, I have an MP3 player (actually my Android phone). Also, I think Windows Media Player is really awful and it also is not available in Linux. So I have been using Banshee and find it an excellent alternative to iTunes and many other media players. It is simple yet has enough features to make it very useful.
There you have it, a basic set of alternatives to the most common Windows apps used by users. Besides running on Linux, what other characteristics do those apps have in common? Care to guess?
Well, yes they are all free. But something else that most Windows users don’t think about is that LibreOffice, Thunderbird, Chrome, Firefox, The GIMP, Pidgin, and Banshee are all multi-platform.
“Multi-platform? What does that mean?” I can hear the questions already forming.
What it means is all those application run on multiple operating systems, even MS Windows. So anyone could run those apps on nearly any personal computer around.
Well not only does “living Linux in a Windows world” mean that I am in an elite minority, it means that I am universal. My application set is supported on all current PC operating systems.
So in summary (yes I know you are glad to read that bit), living Linux in a Windows world means that I am not bound by the controls the software designers try to impose to protect their systems. They create walled gardens because if you were free to wander around in their systems, you would most likely break something, and then you would complain, and call tech support. So they protect themselves by restrictions. I don’t like that.
I am free: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR7bBEBIC9g
Have a great computing experience, use Linux.
Copyright 2011, Kevin Farley (a.k.a. sixdrift, a.k.a. neuronstatic)
