Software In Use
Software In Use
This page of the site was about software that I use regularly. However, the list was starting to get rather long and complex so I have now moved it to its own section here and split it onto several pages for clarity.
The software section lists the software, what it does, what version I use, gives links to the software on the Internet, lists key requirements I have for that kind of software and any special settings that I personally use.
The lists use a database driven design to make it easier to manage.
I also have a list of software that I do not use (because I personally find it not worth the money or effort).
One of the reasons the lists have become longer is the inclusion of PalmPilot and increasingly extensive Linux based applications I now use.
The great Windows vs. Linux desktop Debate
Like many people, I have become increasingly concerned over the power that Microsoft hold over how people can use their now ultra-powerful desktop computers and the probable stifling of innovation that results. However, there has not been a credible alternative, certainly in the areas of the desktop operating system and core Office applications.
This is rapidly changing though and Linux is just starting to reach the point where people other than "uber-geeks" can get to grips with it. Similarly, the likes of OpenOffice (and other office suites too such as the K office suite for Linux/KDE) are now at a point where they can provide 80% of most peoples needs.
I am even finding now that there are things that I want to do (for example get more out of my PDA PIM files using XML) that I either cannot do on the Windows platform or is prohibitively expensive. So I find myself switching over to Linux more often to get things done! That is even more common when I take into account the times I switch to Linux because it is working when Windows has failed. Despite Windows/XP being supposedly more robust, I have found that this is far from always true. A good example is the sudden failure of XP to print to my (admitedly aging) Lexmark 7200 inkjet printer. On two different PCs, this was working (even after a fresh, clean install of XP) and then just stopped! Whilst this may be a driver problem (thought the driver has not changed) it is none-the-less annoying and currently inexplicable. Fortunately, Linux has continued to work as expected and I now do my home printing from Linux not Windows.
Of course, not everything is wonderful and there remain a great many areas where there is simply no possibility of using Linux. Still, things continue to change and I predict that we will see a critical point where enough people are using Linux to garner much greater support from hardware and software vendors.
