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I’ve been working on Windows computers for nearly two decades and have never been compelled to use anything else. But a recent experience with something called Linux Ubuntu has turned my computer world view on its head!

You’ve probably heard of Linux, and you may have even heard that Dell sells computers loaded with Ubuntu. But what could be so earth shattering that it’s got some geek going bananas over it!?

Let me start at the beginning.. About a week ago I started working on someone’s computer with Windows XP Professional. From what I understood, Windows prompted the user to do an update and as soon as it was installed, their computer no longer worked.

I’ve seen that happen before and normally don’t have any problems fixing it but this computer was really bad. After a few hours of trying different things I called my customer and explained that they’d be better off buying a new PC than paying me for several hours of labor. So I gave them a backup of their hard drive files and didn’t charge them anything. To my surprise, they graciously gave me the computer.

If you’re getting bored, hold on, this is where it starts getting good! You see, I couldn’t look at that computer sitting on my bench every day and not do anything about it. A couple people at work had been talking to me about Linux but part of my job is working with a UNIX server and running command lines just isn’t that exciting to me, so I put it off. But now, low and behold, I had an older computer with a mishmash of hardware and no operating system.

It was the longest wait of my life (not really, I went to sleep) downloading the 700MB Ubuntu to burn to a CD. The rest of the setup was so simple it made loading Windows look like brain surgery. 

I have to give one word of caution here. A while back I got a call from a lady I know from church. Her son tried to make their Windows PC into a dual boot computer so they could boot into either Windows or Ubuntu. Unfortunately all of their files were wiped out during the installation. So the lesson is, don’t try this unless you’ve backed up all your important files! And I’m not even going to talk about making your computer dual boot since the computer I was working on didn’t have a working copy of Windows anyway. OK, enough of the disclaimer!

After about 15 minutes, I had Ubuntu loaded and was prepared for the worst. But to my astonishment all the hardware was detected and worked and I was looking at a very nice desktop! And that’s just the beginning.  At work I design applications and occasionally they even let me build them. What caught me off guard was how intuitive they made the Ubuntu operating system. I couldn’t help thinking, if I were to design an operating system, it would be just like this one…

Click the pics to enlarge them

I’ve only been playing around with Ubuntu for about a week but here’s what I like best:

1. It’s FREE! Yes that means I didn’t have to pay Microsoft or anyone else hundreds of dollars for the ability to make this hunk of metal into a functional PC.

2. It’s FAST! The install was very fast compared to Windows, the boot-up is fairly quick and the shutdown is fast. What’s most impressive though is working with multiple documents and browsers open. In fact, right now I have a several browsers open and a few different versions of this document and I’m only using half of my 512MB of RAM.

3. It’s EASY! Here’s where I was really amazed. This OS comes pre-loaded with everything most people use a computer for. It comes with Firefox for Internet browsing, which worked perfectly from the moment I booted the computer. It also comes with OpenOffice which is just like Microsoft Office, without the Bill Gates price tag attached. You can even create or edit Microsoft Office documents. It comes with Evolution Mail, which is a full blown email program like Outlook that includes contacts, calendars and everything else you need.

Need another application? Simply go into Add/Remove programs and pick from a long list of other free programs to install.

Aside from the pre-installed programs I really like how the desktop is set up.  There’s a top and a bottom toolbar that are very simple and well organized so things are easy to find. One of the things I like best though is something called “Big Desktop” that allows you to move back and forth between two separate desktop views. It’s like a dual monitor setup but with only one monitor.

I could go on and on about this amazing Operating System but instead I’ll just leave you with the fact that a few days ago, the computer I’m now using to write this was virtually worthless. Microsoft had crashed it with one of their own updates.. Given no money and not much time I now have a fully functional computer and couldn’t be happier :)

If you’ve got an old computer just lying around it’s time to dig it out of the closet and put Ubuntu on it!

-Bert

In celebration of their 15th anniversary, Check Point Software will be giving away their ZoneAlarm Pro software for free!

This offer is only good for 24 hours starting at 6 AM PDT on Tuesday November 18th, 2008.

ZoneAlarm is excellent security software that includes a firewall plus identity theft and spyware protection. Normally they charge $39.95 for this software which includes one year of updates. 

Be sure to click here on Tuesday to get your free copy of ZoneAlarm Pro.

Thank you Check Point Software!

-Bert

Caring for your computer hardware today will go a long way towards extending its life. I’d like to share with you some easy things you can do to keep your computer running in top form.

1. Many of the computer desks available today have a closed cabinet for you to place your computer in. Computers need circulating air to keep them from overheating. I recently replaced a video card that got too hot and blew some capacitors because it was in a closed cabinet. 

If possible try to put your computer out in the open and up off the ground. Also the environment should be moisture, smoke and dust free if possible.

2. I’m often asked if it’s better to leave a computer left on or shut it down when you’re done until the next time you need it. If you use your computer daily it’s best to leave it on. Every time you have to cold start your computer it causes stress to the electrical components. 

Leaving your computer on is better for it but make sure you’re using the energy saving features that turn off your monitor and hard drives after a set amount of time. I don’t recommend the Windows hibernate feature though. Also insure your computer is plugged into a surge protector and that you’re using a firewall if you have a broadband connection. The Windows firewall is sufficient, Comodo’s free firewall is even better.

3. Dust inside the computer case can plug fans and coat components causing your computer to work extra hard and overheat. I worked on a computer recently that the fans were literally plugged with dust and debris. 

The extra stress and heat caused three blown transistors right next to the processor and a fourth was bulging. 

The life of this computer has been cut short due to too much dust. Once a year I make it a point to clean up the inside of my computers. I also clean the inside of every computer I fix.

Here’s how to do it:

A. Shut down the computer and unplug it.

B. Open the case. Usually it’s as easy as removing two screws in the back of the computer or pushing a latch. See the documentation that came with your computer if you’re not sure how to open the case.

C. There’s a huge debate about whether you should use a vacuum or not since vacuums can create static electricity which can cause permanent damage to the computer. Everyone agrees though that using compressed air is OK to use as long as you keep the can upright. If you tip the can it starts blowing moisture and can even freeze components in the computer. 

I’ve always used a combination of compressed air and a vacuum. You might want to do this outside or in the garage if you don’t want a bunch of dust blown into your house. I usually just hold the computer hose outside the case and blow the compressed air to dislodge the dust.

If the computer is really dirty and you can see that the fans/heat-sinks are plugged and components are coated with dust you can carefully use a small paintbrush and/or these great, inexpensive vacuum micro attachments. Personally I would never purchase the special vacuums created specifically for vacuuming out computers because most of them get bad reviews.

4. While the computer is still unplugged, close the case and take a slightly damp rag and wipe down the exterior of the computer. I usually wait at least a couple hours after doing step 3 and 4 before I plug in and turn on the computer.

5. Next I unplug and clean the monitor. It’s very important that you don’t just start spraying Windex on your screen. LCD screens used on laptops and flat screens can be ruined using abrasive cleaners. Personally, I use Monster ScreenClean Display Cleaning Kit that includes a reusable MicroFiber cloth to clean any type of screen. Don’t spray the screen, spray the cloth then wipe the screen gently. You can find other screen cleaning options in your owner’s manual or a quick Google search.

6. You’ll also want to clean your keyboard. I usually just turn the keyboard over and shake it out then use compressed air to blow the dust out.

Following these simple and inexpensive steps to keep your computer hardware clean will extend its life and save you money in the long run so get started today!

-Bert