The world outside your Windows

TechTalk
By Ken Doyle

Some of you may have heard of a small software company in Utah called SCO Group, and their pending litigation against IBM, Novell, and major users of Linux, the most viable open-source alternative to the Windows operating system. Well, maybe you hadn’t heard of SCO until earlier this month, when several rumors pointing to a relationship with Microsoft were confirmed. Although Microsoft has been careful to avoid direct involvement in the dispute, it did introduce SCO to a major source of funding to pay for its legal battle.

All this attention has fueled the rapidly growing fire started by those dedicated to finding an alternative to Windows dominance. Is it realistic to expect 93% of the computer-using world to migrate to another operating system, the fundamental software that drives the PCs they use in every aspect of their business and personal lives? Probably not. Yet, there are alternatives for those who seek them.

The alternative that has received the most attention recently is Linux (www.linux.org), SCO’s legal posturing notwithstanding. Many businesses, small and large, see Linux as a viable option and are migrating to it for a number of reasons. The fastest-growing market for Linux is currently in Asia; this week, HP became the first major computer vendor to roll out Linux-based PCs in twelve Asian countries.

Although there are many versions (distributions) of Linux, perhaps the most popular one for home users is Mandrake Linux (www.mandrakesoft.com). You can even find it at many department stores, a testament to the growing consumer interest in Linux. However, Linux is not for everyone. Despite vast improvements in what’s essentially a “geeky” operating system, some home users will still be intimidated when trying to set up any Linux package on a PC.

That’s where Apple comes in. Three years ago, the company made a fundamental change in deciding to switch the Macintosh operating system to a totally new foundation—one based on Unix, a rock-solid operating system that’s been in use for the past three decades. Thus was born Mac OS X, and Apple succeeded where Linux had failed: OS X opens up the world of Unix open-source software to the power user, yet it has a familiar, friendly interface. An average home user will be up and running with Mac OS X in minutes, even if they’ve never heard of Unix.

Perhaps the most common argument I’ve heard against the Mac is, “But there’s no software for Macs!” That’s far from the truth, especially in the age of OS X. Yes, there are some applications that will never run on a Mac (like Microsoft Access), but alternatives are readily available. For most people who surf the web, use e-mail, and need Microsoft Office, the decision to switch should be an easy one.

If you want to keep your current PC but you’re determined to eradicate the last trace of Microsoft software from your hard drive, give Linux a try. However, if you’re in the market for a new computer, the choice should be obvious—buy a Mac, and you’ll never do Windows again.