"Oh great, another Linux nut!"  That's the general response when I begin to ask people if they would consider using Linux or alternative software.  I'd like to show people why I use open source software and maybe pique their interest as well.

I'll admit, I have seen many of those rather extreme bloggers or comment posters that get kind of radical in their battle against proprietary, commercial software.  I must also admit there are times when I let my passion take over whenever I am dealing with the constraints of most non-free offerings.  We all look in horror as we view the two headed dragon that rules the mainstream software world... planned obsolescence and software patents.  But I also live in the real world.  I'm not a radical.  I'm not lobbying for the collapse of the current technology infrastructure.  I don't set in front of Congress waving banners with pictures of Borg Bill Gates.  (Stories to the contrary are mostly untrue.)  This isn't going to be a puppies and kittens post about how we can all get along and sing Kumbaya while holding hands.  That'll never happen and we all know it.  I would simply like to explain why I use Linux and hopefully convince someone else to take part in the great experiment.  

Reduce, reuse, recycle...

First and foremost I use Linux to bring old computers back to life.  "You have to be a computer nerd or programmer to do that."  Wrong!  Anyone can install Linux on a PC or laptop.  Here's a pretty good article about recycling old computers and extending the life of old hardware.  This has been the mainstay of the Linux movement in general.  Think about it, when your old Windows XP install finally receives the 'death switch' from Microsoft and tech support tells you, "We no longer support that product you must upgrade to Windows 7."  Now look at the minimum requirements for Windows 7...  http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/system-requirements.  Bear in mind that is the minimum requirements.  This means the least you can get the software to run on.  This leaves you with a less-than-optimum computer.  Now look at the specs of the system you own.  (Probably far less.)  So the least expensive option of an upgrade ($150 - $250) is out of the question.  As a result, replacement is the only option left.  While you can get a PC from Walmart or Best Buy for around $399 or $499 you'll end up with that 'minimum' system which will more than likely run as slow as your old XP machine.  So you'll be spending $800 to $1000 for a new PC and you will still have the old box to deal with.  At this point most Americans throw it out.  (But think about the polar bears.) 

That same PC you started with can run just as fast as the $1000 unit for free!  Seriously.  Those who have a few minor PC skills can download a freely available disk image and burn it to a CD or DVD.  Then use that to very easily install Ubuntu, PCLinux OS, Fedora or any from a huge list of distributions.  Don't want to mess with that?  Don't have a CD burner?  Ubuntu, Fedora and Debian (as well as many others) will mail you a CD for simply the cost of the CD and shipping.  Barring that, you can contact some geek like me who will set you up and even offer some training.  

Ok, if you are more than happy to shell out your hard earned cash for the latest and greatest PC from your retailer of choice, another popular option I would like you to consider is a recycler.  This is a world-wide movement that utilizes existing, unwanted hardware which is cleaned, repaired, tested and upgraded with Linux.  The resulting useful computer is then donated to underprivileged schools, communities or individuals who cannot afford new hardware.  Here's a nice listing of freecyclers.  

The recycling of electronics is now the best option whether you install Linux or not.  This stuff doesn't belong in landfills.  Think about it, do a little research and do what you can to protect the planet.

What if I want a new computer?

Well you couldn't be luckier.  Everyone is used to the claims of great performance on old, limited hardware.  But what if you have a shiny new laptop with all the bells and whistles?  Even better.  We tend not to give Linux the benefit of current hardware as it seems to be off-limits until Windows takes a crap.  Another reason is that when somebody decides to drop hard cash on PC hardware they simply buy a turn-key solution from on of the popular retailers.  But what if you want to save some cash.  Remember a significant percentage of the cost of a new computer is Microsoft or Apple licensing fees.  For instance my most recent server installation was $8500.  The hardware cost was $1475.  The remainder was Windows Server 2008, MS-SQL Server and licensing for 15 users.

Here's an article from PC Magazine where they do an annual PC build for under $200.  Anyone can do this and end up with a very nice computer.  Spend some more money and have something to really brag about.

All I ask is that you open your mind to the possibility of using Linux.  You may be pleasantly surprised. 

One of the more difficult issues I have faced in the journey to freedom from proprietary software has been Visual Basic for Applications or VBA for short.  

Now, you are asking a couple of questions at this point.  First of all, "What's VBA?"  Visual Basic for Applications is a tool supplied by Microsoft to users of their Office suite.  You have probably used it without even knowing.  If you use macros in MS Office, they are simply a series of commands that are recorded in Visual Basic.  While you can use the macro recorder to set up nice simple automations, using the editor available in Office, you can transform a simple spreadsheet into a hugely complex stand alone, executable program.  This is very convenient for rapid application development.  Combined the features of Microsoft Excel such as data importing and web queries you are able to build quite elaborate data reporting and analysis tools.  At least that's what I did.  This leads us to the second question.

"Why is this a problem?" Microsoft appears to have a philosophy, which states everyone should buy the latest copy of Microsoft Office even if they currently have a perfectly good copy of the previous version installed.  Part of this 'theoretical' philosophy is to remove legacy support, meaning macros written in an older version either do not function in the newer version or are automatically upgraded which then makes it incompatible with the older version.  Of coarse when you try to get tech support for this situation you are politely informed that "We no longer offer support for previous versions of that product, you must upgrade to Microsoft Office Two Thousand what-the-hell-ever."  Two or three times rewriting a reporting program, you find that this isn't such a rapid way to develop an application.

Now to solve this problem. One option I used at first was to rewrite the tool with a web based tool.  I have several Linux servers running Apache, MySQL and PHP.  This works for some things but not standard spreadsheet work which is essential for most office work.  Luckily I found a better solution.  IBM is now offering a modified version of OpenOffice.org as their Lotus Symphony Suite.  I had tried it out but saw no real need to switch from my trusty old OpenOffice.  Until now...  

Check out this article. (Opens in new window)

Yes, Lotus Symphony offers (limited) support for Visual BASIC for Applications.  Yes I did say limited.  Some of my VBA programs are pretty extreme and far beyond the scope of what Symphony is intended to address.  However, that being said there is a certain sense of accomplishment when you are running a VBA macro from an Excel spreadsheet on a Linux desktop.  Oh yeah, did I mention that Lotus Symphony is cross platform just like OpenOffice.org?

I believe the playing field has just leveled a bit.

Click here to go download IBM's Lotus Symphony 3 Beta 2.  Note: This is NOT the standard release.  It is a beta available from this link. The standard download is still at 1.5 and does not support VBA so make sure you get the version 3 beta or you will be very disappointed.