athloi's Journal: Advice to those switching from Windows

Before you "switch," try simply configuring your PC correctly. More on that in a minute.

Apple has always offered linear integration. One company makes the hardware, the software and the operating system. You think Microsoft is controlling? Apple are downright Nazis. It's probably a better business model, but it's also one that's sort of dated, because back in the 1980s when it was common people couldn't build their own machines. And with Macs bursting into flame constantly, or failing repeatedly, as I've observed over the years, I'd rather build a PC. There's ups and downs, but you're the one who's going to pay to find all new software, learn the new OS, and so forth.

I'd never buy a Dell, and recommend finding a local geek who can hand-assemble you a PC. Many of the PC problems I've seen come from a few factors: flaky motherboards, unstable configurations or hacked-together power supplies. Don't do it. Get a solid machine, with a good motherboard, even if you have to cut precious gigahertz off your chip speed to afford it. In the long run, you'll thank me.

Linux is great once you get over the fact that no one is compelled by business need to make it run on anything. It's more for a hobbyist than someone who wants a computer to just work. You will spend more time maintaining your computer on a regular basis, and while some of its functions are superior, many are not, especially for desktop tasks. And on top of that you have the overhead of switching.

Before you do anything, it makes sense to make sure your PC is configured correctly, because Best Buy/Dell won't do it for you. Owning a computer is a responsibility like owning a car or a rifle.

The Windows security problems are overstated. Turn off additional protocols, remove extra services, firewall your machine and use the Opera or FireFox browsers, and you will have no problems. Curiously, all of the people panicked about their security issues have taken none of these steps, but have Norton AntiVirus installed and consider it a magic shield.

It takes a maximum of two hours to fix these issues, while switching will take you a minimum of forty hours. It might be tempting to lash out emotionally at Microsoft, but they'll just replace your pampered consumer butt with someone from a far-off land.

From Dwight Silverman's blog