Last Updated on Monday, 28 July 2008 04:19 Written by Carl Johnson

Over the past 2 months my computer has started to act up. You know, it runs really slow, gives errors that the 10 billion gigabytes of memory is not enough, stopped talking to my printer. Typical Windows stuff. It seems to start happening about every 3 years.

Ive tried running software that purports to fix your computer. In the past I have taken it toa  computer professional to fix. $300 later I was told they fixed a whole bunch of problems I did not know I had, but could not fix the problems I knew I had. HMMM!

So the last couple times I just went out and bought the cheapest computer I could find. About $300 for just the computer. This time  I looked into switching to.......Linux.

 I know, how could I consider leaving all the great programs only available on Windows, and leave that great Windows Desktop? Well it turns out that Linux has evolved and it too has a great Desktop and, well honestly I have been using a lot of Open Source software anyway, so why not try it. 

About 2 weeks ago I downloaded linux (Ubuntu Linux) and burned the install CD. Did a little reading and decided I would try it out on my failing PC. the install partitioned the hard drive to make space and allowed me to boot up the PC into either Linux or Windows. Really clever!

the only hicup was that Linux would not talk to my wireless card. Big problem since I have to be able to work on the internet. well I finally resolved the problem and I am completely amazed. the machine boots up quickly (I can no longer go and make a pot of coffee, and drink a cup while Windows loads) installing software is a breeze and it even recognized my printer  and worked out of the box. I didnt even have to spend 30 minutes loading a driver like with Microsoft! Amazing.

 All I really want a computer to do is to perform,without errors, without rebooting constantly, without waiting. I basically just use a word processor, spreadsheet, and do some graphics work. I am not designing a spaceship here, so why do I have all this processor power and all this memory only to have the computer it doesnt have enough of either. 

Hopefully my new Linux install will just work and let me...just work, uninterrupted!