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The answer, of course, is Right Here. And I don't mean my attitude, but rather Microsoft's latest mock-up, Vista, which you undoubtedly have heard was released last week. I've made a living taking care of computers for business and individuals, all on Windows boxes as most of you know. But now that bus stops with Vista.

I'm tossing in the towel and jumping ship, and moving to Linux. One of the biggest reasons, which is why I'm mentioning it right near the top, is DRM (digital rights management), which doesn't belong in any operating system. Microsoft has decided to side with the RIAA and the MPAA and deciding on it's own whether or not it is going to let you play your music or your movies, or even your pictures, on your computer. You read correctly: unless Windows approves of your hardware and your setup of your speakers and/or monitor, will can and will NOT play or show your music, movies, or pictures! You may find that you indeed can play certain movies, but forget about Blu-Ray or HD-DVD. If you don't have the right hardware (which at the time of this writing doesn't exist) you might be able to play them, but the quality will be so badly reduced you'll have no interest in watching it. Oh, forget about your right to copy your music to CD's should Vista decide you aren't authorized. Even if you have a legitimate CD in the CD drive, Vista can prevent you from playing it or putting it on your iPod or MP3 player.

You are surely asking yourself how Windows Vista knows what's legal and what's not. Well, certain CD's have special protection built into them. (Note that these protection schemes violate your rights, and Windows Vista forces you to accede to the RIAA and MPAA). But not all CD's and DVD's have this. That's one of the reasons Vista requires you to have an Internet connection so that it can send any information it wants to Microsoft. What happens to your pictures of your child with Mickey Mouse you took at Walt Disney World when Vista decides that the picture's copyright belongs to Disney and not you?

Furthermore, if Microsoft decides that you have made unauthorized changes to your computer's hardware, you may find that you are no longer allowed to use Windows on that computer. You will have very little recourse as well except to buy Vista for a computer that you already have. That means that unless a manufacturer or a programmer doesn't pay the extortion fee to Microsoft to get the drivers digitally signed you aren't allowed to install that great new DVD-burner or that awesome sound card in your computer. Say hello to higher hardware prices. One more thing: in most cases, you will no longer be able to put Vista on a different computer should your computer die. If your computer dies, you loose your license. Nice, huh?

Sorry, it's my computer and my music/movies/pictures, and how I use them is my right! It's not the only reason, but the mentality behind it is a big part of it.

Have you considered Linux? Chances are, you've heard about it but don't really know what it is. Well, it is an operating system, just like Windows XP and Macintosh are operating systems. Consider it a third choice (not incidentally, it is analogous to the Libertarian party) for computers; you no longer have to choose either Windows or Macs. Most people haven't switched to Linux for just a few reasons, albeit huge ones. The biggest reason is, while many newer Mac programs can be adapted to work on Linux (or so I'm told), most Windows programs don't work. That's changed, and I'll address this in a moment. Another main hindrance is familiarity. You are used to programs looking and working in a particular way. People don't like change, and they certainly don't like learning something new, especially if it is thrust upon them unwillingly. (Just wait until you see Vista and Office 2007!)

People want Windows to look like Windows and Office to work and look like Office. Many complain that Linux doesn't work or look enough like Windows. That's changing due to a new agreement between the two most popular interfaces called KDE (which looks more like Windows than Vista does) and the power user's favorite, called Gnome. Power-users will, incidentally, realize that they've been short-sheeted by the Windows interface for more than a decade. Both KDE and Gnome developers are working together to make sure that all programs will work the way they should on whichever interface a user chooses to use. All of which is bad news for Microsoft.

Why should people consider leaving Windows (and Macs) for Linux? The reasons are many, mostly to do with Apple's and Microsoft's vision of the future (you no longer "own" your own computer) and more than a little to do with economics. A great reason is Linux now has a much more unified core of developers and has such heavyweights behind it such as IBM, Novell, Sun Microsystems, and Oracle. And believe it or not, Microsoft itself who now has a partnership with Novell (who owns SuSE). This partnership will make it easier for Windows programs to work on Linux. And if you think that's great, just wait until you discover "virtualization"! Virtualization creates special "virtual PC's" that allow Linux to actually run Windows inside Linux! Remember, the biggest drawback to moving to Linux is far too many programs you need do not run on Linux. With virtualization, this all changes. Not only can you run Windows inside Linux, with just one Linux computer you can run literally dozens of different "fake" Windows computers, each inside a virtual machine.

Furthermore, that Linux computer doesn't have to be anything special, which brings us back full cycle to Vista. Vista's hardware requirements are such that Gamers have figuratively and literally killed for a powerful computer such as the one you need to run Vista's best version called "Ultimate" (there's four to choose from). Why the need for such power? Because it's pretty. Really.

As usual, don't just take my word for it. Get online and see the reviews for yourself. Then visit an interesting site called BadVista.com. Oh, speaking of economics, Vista ranges from $99 for the basic upgrade to $399 for the Ultimate version, and you are allowed to put it on just one computer. Linux prices range from free for distributions such as Ubuntu (probably the easiest to use) to $50 per year for SuSE Linux with technical support included. By the way, SuSE Linux has very cool "Aero Glass" type special effects, too.

Until next week, ask yourself; "Where does Microsoft get off?"

From an article in The Bartow Trader, Dated Tuesday-February 6, 2007
By: Robert Reese
Used with permission

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.