The column was reprinted in several other PCUG newsletters and finally caught the eye of Microsoft. I received a letter from Aaron Coldiron, manager of Mindshare, the MS connection with the User Group community. The letter is too long to reprint here, but is available on our Web site at http://swipcug.apcug.org/special/MSalts.htm. Following are some quotes from the letter and my comments.
Coldiron wrote: "I'm concerned that some user groups are pushing members to adopt software that they ultimately won't be happy with." Pushing? Heaven forbid! Suggesting maybe.
Quote: "First, Windows XP Service Pack 2 is available on CD for free, and has been since August. The CD order form may be found here http://www.microsoft.com /windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en_us/default.mspx." Microsoft's issuance of XP-SP2 to correct weaknesses in Windows XP was not unlike a car company issuing a recall - for free - for a potentially dangerous brake design. Later in 2004 we received a supply of the CDs from the Mindshare program that we distributed to our members who asked for them.
Quote: "Also, you may not know that Microsoft provides free technical support for Service Pack 2 should a user have any problems installing." That is good to know.
Quote: "Finally, you mention various incompatibilities with SP2. This isn't actually quite true. As you may know, Microsoft eliminated certain ways programs may access various resources throughout the operating system; we did this to tighten security and close loopholes that aren't officially supported programming functions. As a result, some programs which aren't designed to run under the tighter security protocols of SP2 may not function correctly (or at all) until the program is updated to a more recent version. There is a list of about 35 known incompatibilities on Microsoft's help site here." It is a point well taken, although it doesn't help if your peripheral or program suddenly doesn't work any longer.
Mr. Coldiron appended a copy of a letter he wrote earlier in response to a review of OpenOffice. In it he writes: "For instance, we created the Works Suite of applications for consumers who don't need to do spreadsheet functions and can use the free Outlook Express. Works 2005 can be bought for as little as $69 major internet shopping sites." Well, yes, but OpenOffice is free, and in addition to its MS Word-compatible word processor it includes an Excel-compatible spreadsheet, a PowerPoint-compatible presentation manager, and simple database and drawing features. And as far as compatibility is concerned, I notice that Word 2002 needs a conversion utility to display older versions of Word, including some available in Works.
Also: "Microsoft Office is the gold standard in interoperability. I'm sure you could think of a long list of features you love given a few minutes. Here's a few of the one's I like. As I type this I'm using Word as my email editor, allowing me to use advanced word processing functions if I want. Icons appear next to names in the "to" bar telling me if they are on or offline and allowing me to instant message them. I use OneNote which allows me to drop in meeting dates and times directly into my note files. I can also send my scribbles from OneNote as the text of an email - in my own handwriting if I want. I can copy and paste PowerPoint Slides whole into other applications like email. For that matter, I can drop Excel spreadsheets into PowerPoint and even link them so that the PPT file updates automatically if I change the spreadsheet in Excel." Impressive, but few of us need that sort of software acrobatics.
Furthermore: "Several studies have shown that Microsoft Office has a lower total cost of ownership than its free or open source competitors. It has a higher up front cost, but the additional productivity and lower support cost more than offset the higher up front cost." Maybe for a corporate office, but not for individuals.
Finally: "I really hope that consumers choose the suite that best fits their needs, whether it is MS Office 2003, Works 2005, or one of our competitors' products. I just wanted to point out that it isn't just a case of the price out of the box. There are a lot more factors to consider." I agree.
Currently only a few minor, obscure computer manufacturers, often outside the US, sell systems with one of the Linux distributions pre-installed, or nothing at all. You can order one on the Wal-Mart web site and find others through links on the Linspire or Xandros Web sites. Of course, you can also go to a local computer builder, or build your own.
It may take a long time to break the Microsoft monopoly in the US, where the Microsoft Windows and Office programs are deeply entrenched and anti-trust laws seem to be a quaint footnote to history. But overseas, and especially in rapidly developing countries such as China, there is greater open-mindedness toward new ideas, and Linux is making rapid inroads. It also helps that the open source nature of Linux allows foreign governments to make sure the software doesn't contain backdoors for access by spy organizations.
I own three Wi-Fi connected computers. The newest, a 3.1GHz Dell Inspiron laptop uses Windows XP PRO. I update the operating system, MS Office, spyware, virus, and firewall programs with great regularity. I use it mostly for photo editing and financial programs, as well as to maintain the SWIPCUG Web site, because I am familiar with the programs. My older desktop, a 600 MHz Dell Dimension runs Windows ME but is mostly used to evaluate various Linux distributions on a dual boot basis.
The computer I use most is an old 600 MHz Celeron Inspiron laptop running Linspire 4.5 - Linux laptop edition. It sits on a small roll-around desk stand next to the La-Z-Boy in my den. It connects wirelessly with the router on the other end of the house. At any time I can check e-mail, get the latest news from all over the world, look up crossword puzzle clues with Google, maintain my checkbook file, and play FreeCell or BreakOut. All of that without fear of being attacked by worms and viruses. Seeing is believing - I add a photo taken by my wife Pat.
This article represents only the opinions of the author and not necessarily those of the Southwestern Indiana PC Users Group, Inc.There is no restriction against any non-profit group using this article as long as it is kept in context with proper credit given the author. The Editorial Committee of the Association of Personal Computer User Groups (APCUG), an international organization of which this group is a member, brings this article to you.
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