[TriLUG] Re: Frustrated MS users turn to Linux, Apple

[Greg Brown]

I know I'm frustrated!  I'm actually putting together a webpage called 
"Microsoft Free in 2003" where I'll be detailing my efforts to displace ALL 
Microsoft software in my house.  I started to outline this project on the 
long flight back from Korea and it's actually more complex than just 
purchasing new Apple hardware or loading up Linux on the existing systems.  
My entire household depends on the existing computer infrastructure so there 
is bound to be more than a little resistance to the new software as we are 
all addicted to MS in some way or another.  Besides, the default browser for 
the Mac is Internet Explorer - the result of a dance with the devil between 
Steve Jobs and Billy-Bob Gates.  Since I cannot - and will not - purchase any 
software from MIcrosoft does this rule out Mac laptops?  The other question 
is does Microsoft make any money from Apple when a new Mac is sold (for the 
IE software)?  If they don't then I suppose I can still purchase the Mac and 
immediatly rip out IE as step on - or better yet - contact Apple as ask them 
to ship a custom burn of OS X without IE, which I doubt they'll do.

One thing that stikes me as weird here is it was easier to quit smoking 
cold-turkey than it is to change operating systems.  That's an addiction on 
some level.

Anyway, I'm still working on the webpage.  I'll send out a link when it comes 
on-line.  I picked 2003 to be MS free because .NET is on the horizon and I 
will NOT upgrade my systems to XP or .NET.  I'm sick enough of my computers 
transmitting data to Microsoft and other compaines without my premission 
running Win2k.

Blah blah blah.

Greg