Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Hasta la Vista, Windows

Dear Windows,

You are a long time pal of mine, we've been friends since you were just 3.1. I've grown up with you on my computer and we have many fond memories together (except during your ME years), but I have to tell you something old pal. I've found someone else. I know, I know, this may come as a shock to you, but ever since you grew out of XP and into your new Vista body things just haven't been the same. Its not you, its me... ok its you too, but you just don't have the tools and stability that I need. Plus I'm tired of telling you that I'm your Genuine® friend all the time. Why are you so insecure about that?

Now I know who you think I've found, but you're wrong. They may have better looks then you (sorry) and seem to be cooler than you (again, sorry) but they are even more controlling than you are. I just can't be with an operating system that is so willing to lock me down in both hardware and software. Instead, I've found someone else, and they aren't afraid of a little choice. And not just between Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, or Ultimate (what do they all mean anyway?).

I'm sorry Windows, but I will not be installing another version at home again and I will avoid you as much as I can at work as well. Of course, we'll see each other from time to time since I have to make sure my code works with you, but thats all it will be. Linux is my new best friend and we are happy to have superior tools and the freedom to use and modify them how we choose. Its been fun Windows, but your day has passed.

5 comments:

  1. I was a life long Windows user. I was given a computer that came with Windows on it. When Windows broke and I didn't have an install cd, I switched over to Linux, and haven't gone back.

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  2. @ben Thats how I stumbled on Linux. My Windows computer broke so I thought I'd try out Knoppix. It got me really interested in Linux. Though I admit it took me a while before I was ready to move all the way over to Linux.

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  3. Knoppix is great. If I could have easily set it to boot from my hard drive I would have been happy. Luckily it isn't very easy to get into onto a hard drive, so I found Ubuntu.

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  4. @ben Knoppix is indeed great. I had a lot of fun playing with it. After that though, I tried out Slackware, then Mandriva, then I found Debian which finally introduced me to the goodness that is Ubuntu.

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