With school starting, the need for students to do homework and research might mean it’s time to replace that old home computer or laptop and buy a new one with the latest operating system and programs. But, for some, purchasing a new computer and all the software to go with it might not be affordable and it may not even be necessary. I’ve got another option.
As some of you may know, I’m an advocate of running Linux operating systems and using open-source software to do all the same things that proprietary operating systems and software will do - and, yes, it’s free!
You might think I like it just because it’s free, and that might be true in part. But, I’ve also been known to trash proprietary operating systems and software which came with a new machine in favor of Linux because it just runs better. An added benefit is little need for antivirus software, which often slows down machines terribly.
The last netbook I purchased had a recent version of Windows, but it runs much better with Ubuntu and there are thousands and thousands of software applications I can use and install for free. Mrs. Griz uses it for her work and, aside from the questions of how to do this or that which she also asks when using her Mac machine at her offi ce, she can do what she needs to do. And, I don’t think she’ll be at all offended if I tell you that she is by no means a computer geek. I also installed Linux Ubuntu on a small netbook for my 13-year-old grandson and he’s had no problems using it.
My employer recently retired our old machines (PPC Macs) because they could not do all the things writers, reporters and photographers are required to do to prepare items for page building in the new system we now use. I bought my old retired machine, installed Debian 7 and use it in my home offi ce for work purposes, doing all the things I need to do in the new system (with the exception of page design because that is done using proprietary software - and, if push cameto shove and all else failed, there is a way to build and save pages with open-source software, too. I’m working on that just in case.)
Mrs. Griz loves to go garage sales. I used to complain about it, but I started going with her and sometimes make an amazing buy. In recent weeks, I purchased a couple of desktop towers - I paid $1 for one of them and $5 for another. All that was wrong with them was the operating system. A reboot with a Linux ISO image and installation, and they were off and running. One is in use at our church for showing informational videos in Bible class. The other sits on my desk, working great with Debian 7, probably my favorite OS.
I believe I posted something like this on my Facebook page after my last garage-sale purchase: $5 garage-sale find - desktop computer with 2.6 Ghz dualcore processor, 400 Gig hard drive, 3 Gigs of RAM, dead with Windows, alive again and well with Debian 7. The $1 find was probably even better as far as hardware goes.
I share this only so that you might know your old computer or laptop may have some useful life still left in it. If it at one time ran Windows XP or later or Mac OS X, there is hope that it can run and be productive once again.
The process of making it a Linux machine is not as complicated as it sounds. Linux ISO images can be downloaded free from the Internet. For PCs, I recommend Debian, Ubuntu, Xubuntu or Linux Mint, though there are hundreds or thousands of other flavors. I like Linux Puppy and Slacko for machines with a smaller amount of RAM or hard disk space, but they can require a few small technical steps to make them more user friendly. Debian is a great system but can also require a few technical steps to get all features to work correctly. Kubuntu and Lubuntu are also good, userfriendly choices.
Simply download the ISO file from the Internet (choose the 32 bit ISO for older machines and 64 bit for machines which are not as old(usually, if they ran Vista or later), burn it to CD or DVD as an ISO image, put it in the old machine and boot from it at startup - in some cases, this requires changing boot order in BIOS and setting it to boot from the CD drive as a first option (entering BIOS to change the boot order is usually done by pushing down F2 at startup), but often a screen will allow you to boot from CD or DVD at startup (usually by pushing the F12 key). Once the system boots into the new OS, just follow the install directions.
You can often try the Linux OS first without actually installing it. And, when you choose to install, the option of installing alongside your old OS is usually there, giving you a choice of picking Linux or Windows at startup. Having the machine connected to the Internet during installation will allow all the latest updates to the install as well - some smaller ISOs require it.
With Macs, the procedure is much the same. Usually holding down the “c” key at startup will cause the machine to boot from the CD drive. One important difference is choosing the correct ISO for your machine. If your machine is of PPC architecture, an ISO for Mac PPC is necessary. If your machine has an Intel chip, 64 bit PC ISOs should work. Running dual operating systems may be more complicated on a Mac - I have to admit I never tried it, mostly because I didn’t wish to keep the old OS.
Once the new operating system is installed, you can choose and install almost any software you might need by finding it in the add and remove software application. Libre Office and Open Office work well as a full offi ce suite and will open the fi les of most proprietary offi ce software.
Help and directions with programs and technical issues are available on the Internet. I have been amazed at some of the technical stuff I have been able to do with just a little persistence and research on the Internet.
So, before you give up on that old machine and toss or recycle it, give Linux a try. Once you’ve tried it, you may never want to go back!
Randy Moll is the managing editor of the Westside Eagle Observer. He may be contacted by email at [email protected].
Opinion, Pages 4 on 08/28/2013