Linux For My Daughter

Not too long ago my daughter's outdated Pentium III Compaq laptop computer utterly died. This occurred close to Christmas so her reward checklist was a straightforward one. The issue was that I did not want to spend a lot of money. The opposite problem was that I hated her having a computer.

I hated it as a result of I consistently needed to work on it. She used the pc for homework, instantaneous messaging, and browsing. Every couple of months, I discovered myself removing spyware and other junk from the computer. Occasionally it was simpler just to re-build the pc by re-putting in ALL the software program, together with the operating system. I monitor her internet utilization through my router so I do know that she has not been to "questionable" sites but this stuff proceed to work their means into her computer.

I decided to contemplate one thing that I had by no means earlier than considered. LINUX! I picked up another Pentium III (this one was a bit extra highly effective than her old laptop) desktop for under $100.00. I added some old reminiscence that I had sitting on a shelf. I downloaded SUSE Linux and went to work.

I used to be pleasantly surprised at how easy the set up was! There was little or no interaction and my choices had been very simple. In about half-hour, I had a working computer connected to the internet.

There are some things with which I used to be very pleased. It was working very effectively with the outdated hardware. If I had used Windows XP I'd have been compelled to get a more recent pc and spend a whole bunch of dollars. The working system came with a browser (Firefox) and complete office software (OpenOffice - which is appropriate with Microsoft Office merchandise). There was additionally a very nice immediate messaging instrument that enables her to make use of many different IM clients in one piece of software. It had CD ripping and burning software program in addition to a number of audio programs. On prime of that, the working system and all of the software program were FREE!

Now I do know the general public studying this are considering, "Ok, we now have another anti Microsoft man here". That's completely not true. I'm a Windows and web developer by commerce and use Microsoft products solely (aside from using Firefox as a browser when testing). I'm an enormous believer within the products that Microsoft produces simply because they work and usually work VERY nicely together.

The best factor about this alteration of operating system is that my daughter's pc is now free of spy ware and is not targeted by most viruses. The fact is that almost all viruses and spy ware goal Microsoft Windows only. Now I can relaxation easy understanding that I will not be rebuilding a pc every few months.