fred avolio's musings

On October 18, 2005 I mentioned this book and pointed to this interview with its author. This is a short review.

You might think that the purpose of this book is to promote Linux or Mac use. And you would be both right and wrong. I was on guard against Microsoft-bashing for bashing’s sake. Not that it is not a temptation. Microsoft is the company that people love to hate. But most of us use it anyway (though, me to a very small degree, of late). While I think Bove does dip into Microsoft-bashing, there is still useful information here, and the bashing is not too often or blatant.

This is an excellent introduction the the alternatives available to the computer user. Bove talks about the joys of moving to Mac, the openness of of the Linux world, and mostly gives the person thinking of a change the courage to try. He talks about how most of what the average user uses their computer for is available on either Mac or Linux (I will shortly blog about my positive opinin of Linux with Gnome as a replacement for Windows for anyone; I’ve already been raving— in a nice way—about my Mac experience). He talks about Open Office as an alternative to MS Office as well as tries to make a case for PDF as a document exchange format.

Okay, diversion. I am struggling with this. I would like to get away from “Microsoft Word as a document exchange format.” I just don’t know what else to do. PDF is fine —and he makes a case for it. But, it is lousey for collaboration (unless everyone has expensive Adobe products.) So, I still send plain, ASCII text e-mail. I do send ASCII when the recipient doesn’t need to change it. And I did enjoy his pointing to We Can Put an End to Word Attachments, by Richard M. Stallman (January 2002), and MS-Word is Not a document exchange format, among others.

Recommendations?

Here is the table of contents, taken from the publisher’s web site.

Introduction PART I: YOU SAY YOU WANT A REVOLUTION Chapter 1: Playing Monopoly Is No Longer Fun Chapter 2: All You Need Is a Mac Chapter 3: Linux: Land of the Free, Home of the Brave PART II: REHAB FOR YOUR MICROSOFT ADDICTION Chapter 4: Slay the Word and You’ll Be Free Chapter 5: De-Microsoft Your Office Chapter 6: Media Lib: Microsoft-Free Music and Video PART III: THE WHOLE NETWORK IS WATCHING Chapter 7: The Message Is the Medium for Infections Chapter 8: This LAN Is Your LAN Chapter 9: Browsers and Your Own Private Identity PART IV: GETTING ON WITH YOUR COMPUTER LIFE Chapter 10: Twelve Steps to Freedom from Microsoft Chapter 11: Where Do You Want to Go Tomorrow? Appendix: The Truth Is Out There Citations

Just Say No to Microsoft: How to Ditch Microsoft and Why It’s Not as Hard as You Think