Save money on software!

This blog is primarily about earning money online, but how about saving some money?  No reason to spend money that is not necessary.  If you want to make money online, one thing you need is a computer, and that requires software too, so let’s look at a great way to save money in that area!

For about 2 or 3 years now, I’ve been using Linux on almost all of my computers, replacing Windows.  Microsoft Windows is expensive, around $100 for each licensed copy of the Operating System.  I have 15 computers in the house for myself, my kids and my business employees.  So, to put a licensed copy of MS Windows on each machine, I would be looking at spending $1,500 or more.  Let’s say that each needs a copy of MS Office too, and then you are talking some REALLY BIG bucks!  On top of the cost in actual dollars, there is the cost in keeping your Windows operating efficiently.  Unfortunately, MS Windows is a big target for people who put out Viruses on the Internet.  If you are not an experienced Windows user, you can spend a lot of time trying to avoid Viruses, and still get infected.

For me, Linux was the solution to that!  There are many different “flavors” of Linux out there, and it can be quite intimidating for a non-techie to get Linux up and running.  A few years ago, a friend who was visiting here from the States told me about Mepis Linux and how easy it was to get installed and in use.  I tried it out a few months later, and found it to be quite easy, just as he said!  I ended up switching all of my computers over to Mepis, and everybody loved it.  Even people who know virtually nothing about using a computer found Mepis to be very simple to operate.  Honestly, many people didn’t even realize that they were not using Windows!

In the past year or so, I have been reading a lot about another version of Linux called Ubuntu.  I tried it once, but I was unable to get all of my hardware working with Ubuntu, so I went back to Mepis quickly.  The other day, though, I was helping set up Mepis on a friend’s computer, and we could not get the sounds system working!  I tried and tried, but no luck.  I decided to give the latest release of Ubuntu a try.  I downloaded the Ubuntu, and installed it.  Hey… it worked like a charm!  It found every piece of hardware on the computer, and automatically loaded the proper drivers for it.  I was so impressed, I immediately tried it on my own PC, and again it was perfect!

I have now installed Ubuntu 7.1 on a number of PC’s here in my office, and so far I have no complaints.  I was very happy with Mepis in the past, but this is much better than Mepis, in my opinion.  It’s much smoother, and professional.  I recommend it highly!

If you are thinking of trying to abandon the Windows world, think about giving Ubuntu a try!  I know that I love it!