Windows(™) free home. (2001 - 2004)

Well, I used to have GNU-Linux only computers at home for a couple of years. They were not dual-boot, they ran Linux only. (In 2004 I have added Windows notebook and it boosted productivity....)

Summary: I would not recommend GNU-Linux for everybody and I would not say that every living soul should get rid of MS Win in favor of GNU-Linux, but I can say that Unix can work successfully in home environment.

Why did I switch to GNU-Linux? Because Unix is developer friendly and much more stable than MS Win. Well, MS Win stability has significantly improved and stability only is not the main reason of course. My main reason for using that alternative OS is curiosity. I do not like computer games but I do like to play with computers. For such kind of hobby GNU-Linux is ideal OS and there is nothing like this around.

Why do I say GNU-Linux? It is my small tribute to Richard Stallman, who made free OS possible, and to Free Software Foundation and GNU. I think that kernel only does not have much sense without so many programs from GNU.

Why did I switch to GNU-Linux? Because Unix is developer friendly and much more stable than MS Win. Well, MS Win stability was significantly improved and stability only is not the main reason of course. My main reason for using alternative OS is curiosity. I do not like computer games but I do like to play with computers. For such kind of hobby GNU-Linux is the ideal OS and there is nothing like that out there.

Why no dual-boot? I had dual-boot for a while but I realized that it promotes laziness, because many things are really done very well in MS Win and they are difficult to deal with on GNU-Linux. So, sometimes I gave up to get something done on GNU-Linux and used MS Win. As it was said: MS makes easy things easier and the rest impossible and GNU-Linux makes nothing to easy, but everything possible. I voted for freedom and unbounded possibilities and got rid of dual boot. It made my life harder for a while, but it pays off in many ways:

• I consider my problems as brainteasers and some kind of a game;
• I get better understanding of all processes, which computer does behind the scene.
Surprisingly, sometimes it helps to find a workarounds for some MS Win problems. (I often use MS Win at work )
• It saves time in a long run, because once configured properly, programs continue to work;
• I have ZERO worrying about installing and experimenting with different programs;
• I never got a virus;
• I have many screens (desktops);
• I can do EVERYTHING I want to with GNU-Linux software;
• It encourages (I would say: enforces ) learning;

I have two computers at home and for a while they used different operation systems: I run GNU-Linux on mine and there was Ms Win on wife's computer. Then I decided to make a wild experiment: I replaced OS on wife's computer. Wow! That was a tough time initially! Then I showed to my wife that she can do all her things without MS Win and after awhile she agreed that is indeed possible. Since that she started to do more Web development she got used to this type of environment even more and has stopped complaining about GNU-Linux.

So far I am pretty happy with my choice and do not have even slightest desire to install MS Win on my home computers.