I was a Linux user for years before I turned to the dark side. From about 1998-2001, I used RedHat (this is before there was a Fedora). We used it for various server functions at our family business, and for a while I forced Linux on all the family members. At one point, I had five Linux workstations/servers running in the house. From about 2001-2003 I was an avid Gentoo user. I loved being in total control over the various settings, always tweaking compiler flags, installing only the packages I needed, compiling my own kernels, etc.
By 2003 I had changed jobs, and the company I work for was switching over from AIX to Windows for the area I support. Although I was still a believer in Unix, it was now my job to eliminate it. I thought I had better get myself on the Windows bandwagon and learn how to be a proper Microsoft developer. So I switched my home workstations over to Windows XP. Got a copy of Visual Studio. Learned how to be a .NET developer using (gasp) Visual Basic .NET. Pirating all the software I could have never afforded if I had to buy it.
Well, it’s 2009 now, and after six years on the dark side I’ve come home to Linux. In this case, Ubuntu. I’d heard good things about it, and to tell you the truth, it’s better than I expected. It installed flawlessly on my Toshiba laptop, and I was instantly comfortable with it. In the past I’d been a real command-line geek, but now the GUI utilities are so good I don’t even need to dredge that up. Now I can try out tons of software with a guilt-free conscience.
It’s good to be back. I don’t miss Windows one bit, especially the horror that is Vista.
Update: my son finally got tired of relentless waves of viruses and strange behavior on XP. Even after starting with a fresh install, all the Windows Updates, and AVG 8.5, his computer would soon be trashed after a month’s use. So he let me install Ubuntu Jaunty on his computer. He uses his computer mostly for streaming movies and keeping his iPod music. We’ll see how it goes!
