Re: Why I made the switch to Linux

Roodwriter_at_core.com
Date: 05/31/04 

Date: Mon, 31 May 2004 14:12:54 -0400

Gunnar wrote:

>
> "sam" <samwun@hgcbroadband.com> wrote in message
> news:c9e5d9$qm6$2@news.hgc.com.hk...
>> Paul Allen Panks wrote:
>>
>> >
>>
>> http://people.freebsd.org/~murray/bsd_flier.html
>
> Free Applications: For Windows, add that spyware and backdoors are a very
> real risk of the socalled "free" software.
>
> Gunnar

Not that I am promoting Windows by any means, but the unfortunates that
can't dump Windows can find many GPLd programs at Son of Spy Freeware. Just
Google for it.

Despite the name, Son of Spy is committed to passing along only non-spyware.
If there's something at his site that proves to be spyware, he'll remove
the link and mark the entry prominently. Some of the programs he offers are
in fact closed source and he occasionally gets stung. Still he's got a
pretty good batting average.

As a matter of fact, Son of Spy's site is where I got my first introduction
to GPLd software while I was still on Windows 95 (the last I used). I
downloaded one of the early versions of AbiWord. Later I went to StarOffice
5.2 and that's what I used when I switched to Linux. So it wasn't a real
big plunge.

Although it has some exceptions, Emacs for Windows among them, Son of Spy is
a great place to start for Linux programs ported to Windows.

Won't solve Windows vulnerabilities and other problems, though.

I know this is a sensitive topic with people who believe Linux programs
shouldn't be ported to Windows--and they have a point--but I think that
it's at least a way for people to get their feet wet and stop fearing free
software.

This is NOT trying to start a flame war. Just a suggestion to people reading
this group who are still hesitant to switch to Linux.

--Rod

__________

Author of "Linux for Non-Geeks--Clear-eyed Answers for Practical Consumers"
and "Boring Stories from Uncle Rod." Both are available at
http://www.rodwriterpublishing.com/index.html

To reply by e-mail, take the extra "o" out of the name.

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