HOME
TOPICS
ABOUT ME
MAIL

 
We live in a culture that prizes stability. We don't want things to change.
   technofile
Al Fasoldt's reviews and commentaries, continuously available online since 1983

We need Windows, like it or not, and that means we can't just turn our backs on it


Oct. 24, 1999

By Al Fasoldt
Copyright ©1999, Al Fasoldt
Copyright ©1999, The Syracuse Newspapers

    Has half the world suddenly gone crazy? Why are otherwise sensible people talking about getting rid of Microsoft Windows?
    Don't we need Windows?
    If you've followed what I've written in the last six months about Linux, you might be surprised by my answer.
   Yes, we need Windows. We need it in some important ways. Let me explain.
   I've been pointing out for many weeks that Windows users have an alternative to Windows. Linux is a PC operating system that doesn't crash and mess itself up the way Windows does. Install Linux and give it a try if you're fed up with the way Windows behaves.
   But we live in a culture that prizes stability. We don't want things to change. We all have habits that comfort us. I like two donuts every morning. You like skim milk in your coffee. Somebody else likes pizza on Saturday nights or quiet jazz after midnight.
   Windows is a habit, too. We're used to the good things about Windows. We're used to the bad things, too, but human nature is forgiving. The good stuff matters more than the bad stuff most of the time.
   Windows is also part of how we get important things done and how we entertain ourselves. Windows is a lot of things that matter to people. It's Quicken. It's America Online, Microsoft Excel, CorelDraw and Internet Explorer. It's Monster Truck Madness and Myst and Riven.
    We could all agree that non-Windows substitutes for programs and games such as these might be hard or impossible to find. But why should we have to find substitutes at all? Why not just run Windows programs and games when we want to, and leave it at that?
   That would be a perfect world. Reality is something else again. Windows users all around the world know why. Windows crashes. Windows runs out of memory - even if your PC has tons of memory. Windows has a lot of flaws. The sad part of this is that Microsoft, the company that created Windows, can't or won't fix the problems. Windows has just gotten worse each time Microsoft says it's making Windows better.
   So I need to put my complaints in perspective. Windows itself is a sad story. If you don't really need Windows programs - if, for example, you mostly do Web surfing, e-mail and word processing - you can do all those in Linux without the penalties of Windows and the dangers of the thousands of computer viruses that prey on Windows. But if you rely on Windows programs that are not available under Linux, don't get rid of Windows. It's that simple. If you spend a lot of time and money on Windows games, keep Windows. Don't be a martyr.
   One of the best aspects of Linux is the way it coexists with other ways of doing things. Current versions usually let you install Linux without getting rid of Windows, so that you can run one or the other any time you want. That's a great way of getting the best of both operating systems. If you're running Linux and want to run Windows, you reboot and choose Windows from a little menu when the computer starts up again. You can do the same thing to go from Windows back to Linux.
   Or you can do as I do and run Windows as a program inside Linux. This method basically fools Windows into thinking it's got a real PC. The advantage you have is that Windows is actually just running within the Linux operating system, and that means Windows can crash all it wants without affecting your PC in any way. You need a really fast PC with a lot of memory to do this, and you can't run most games this way. But otherwise it's splendid. (You'll find a report on this method, using a program called VMWare, on my Web site.)
    The final possibility isn't really a possibility at all. It's more like the way things are. For most Windows users, life with the operating system that self-destructs is life as normal. If that's your situation, if you can't or won't switch to Linux, if you have no interest in another way of doing things, stay tuned. I'll continue to help. I'll keep writing about ways to get things done when Windows gets in the way. I'll watch for new utility software that might tame some of the bad habits Windows has. You should also check my Web site, where you can find hundreds of articles on PCs and Windows.
   I'll also keep up with Linux. I'm not a prophet, but the signs seem pretty clear: Linux is the hottest thing in computing since the introduction of the Apple Macintosh in 1984. It's an exciting time. To those of us who are tired of the shoddy way Windows works, it's even more. It's a promising time. Come along for the ride.