Why Switch to Linux?
A more apt question to ask is “Why continue with Windows?”
A moral issue
To be clear, I am not anti-Windows. Why be anti anything especially if they work well and contribute to increased productivity?
This site’s audience is mainly students – the future leaders of society. I was quite taken aback when recently, a young graduate who was doing some design work for me mentioned casually that he uses a “cracked” Adobe Suite. The way he said it was like it is an everyday thing. Goodness gracious!
It will be reassuring to know that just about everything you are doing now in Windows, you can do in Linux – for free, including applications for power users in graphic design, video editing and audio production..
So, why continue with Windows (and paying for propriety software)?
After a lifetime of using Windows we get so used to its quirks and relatively insecure environment that we take all these flaws and weaknesses as part of life.
Many are wary of giving up a system they are so very used to and are also afraid that they may no longer be able to use their computer to do the things they need to continue doing. Indeed, you should consider “What applications (programs) do I really use?”
Unknown to most users, Microsoft has been gradually making its users surrender their privacy and other data over to them. Two examples:
- You cannot install Windows 11 without first opening a Microsoft Account – “Why, dear Microsoft, do you insist on this?” All other software packages we buy will, of necessity, require you to register your name and email address and the serial number but you are rarely ever asked to open an account with them or even to join their Users’ Group. So, why should Microsoft insist that you open an account with them?
- Windows 11, by default, now automatically backs up your data, photos, videos etc. up to One Drive. Do we REALLY want Microsoft to have them? Besides, you get only 5Gb free storage. What happens when you reach that limit?
Those are just the first couple of things to consider.
The other major consideration is cost – mostly on-going, as more and more software vendors in the Windows environment are switching to a subscription model.
With Windows, you DEFINITELY need to install a good anti-virus, anti-malware software such as Bit Defender, priced at $149.99 per year for up to 5 devices.
Microsoft 365 Family at $139 per year for up to 6 users.
Many other software (especially for graphics and backup) are now subscription-based only.
With Linux, everything is free although, of course, there are commercial software you could purchase if you choose to do so.
Perfectly good desktops and laptops will be rendered unsafe to use after October 2025 if users continue with Windows 10. There are many, many millions of these out there, in homes and offices, that are not compatible with Windows 11. Yes, most corporations will upgrade their employees’ equipment to accommodate but what about us small businesses and home users? More victims for the bad guys if we cannot upgrade.
Thankfully there is an option – move over to LINUX.
Actually, switching to use Linux is not such a dramatic move as you might imagine simply because just about everything you are currently doing under Windows you can continue to do in Linux with the added bonus of better stability, better security, better speed and minus all the push from your software vendors to upgrade. We have been using Linux ourselves for around 15 years alongside Windows machines (now limited to only 2 applications on one desktop running Windows 10).
Most commonly used applications.
Microsoft Office
The most popular alternative is LibreOffice. It uses the universal Open Document Format (.odt, .ods etc.) which is non-propriety and even Microsoft now supports this standard. Furthermore, LibreOffice reads from and saves to Microsoft’s docx, xlsx etc.
There are many other alternative office suites which you can easily try because Installing and uninstalling software in Linux is just about as easy as installing and uninstalling apps in your phone.
Slide Presentations
This is also available in LibreOffice, however, you have greater power with Scribus, a great graphics software which we will be describing in another post.
Web Browsers
Apart from Microsoft Edge, most browsers will run on both Windows and Linux
There is a large number on offer, ranging from the popular Firefox to the lesser known Vivaldi which I use. It is easy to set Vivaldi to completely block all ads which I have done, and this makes Vivaldi very fast.
Vivaldi does not track your movements on the web and its default search engine, DuckDuckGo similarly respects your privacy. The flip side of protecting your privacy is that it will not guess and fill out your search strings and you will have to be more specific about your searches. Read this DuckDuckGo vs Google comparison.
With Vivaldi, you can sync your calendars and email accounts and it has a very comprehensive and highly configurable Workspaces feature which will greatly improve your browsing efficiency.
Photo manipulation
GIMP is the truly professional level alternative to Photoshop first launched in 1996. I have been using it for the past 15 years. It is very easy to use to enhance photos you have taken with your smart phones. You will be amazed at the difference a little run through GIMP (taking under a minute) will make a big improvement to your photos.
To find out more about GIMP: https://thegimptutorials.com/what-is-gimp-software/
Graphics
Linux comes with an abundance of graphics software. The main ones we use in my design and printing business are Scribus and Inkscape.
I use Scribus for just about anything to do with graphics – from business cards, folders and multi-fold flyers through to complex books. It is equivalent to Adobe Indesign. This is where all the elements that make up a design project (text, logo, images, backgrounds etc) come together.
Inkscape is a vector graphic design program of tremendous power and flexibility. Its design abilities are limited only by our own creativity. A huge problem with propriety software is that they render your design files useless unless you continue paying the subscriptions. It saves files in the universal .svg format which nearly all other design software can access.
Lucky for me, Inkscape opens my large collection of Coreldraw files. Of course not all elements will convert properly and you will have to recreate these. On the other hand, with CorelDraw, you simply cannot open files created by a newer version than what is installed in your computer.
With the combination of GIMP, Inkscape and Scribus, you have everything you need to run a truly professional design studio.
Video Editing
Nowadays, if you are in business, presenting your products or services using video is almost mandatory. Therefore it is a real advantage if you are able to do at least some basic video editing. In Linux, there are a number of good ones on offer, ranging from the simplest to professional standard outputs. I use and recommend Kdenlive.
Audio Editing (DAW)
Linux shines here. A quick internet search will reveal the large number of professionals using Linux systems and sharing their know-how. This is the beauty of the Linux community – a great willingness of expert users to teach others. It is worthwhile watching this video.
Anti-Virus / Anti-Malware?
Well. these are not needed in Linux. These protection software are reactive and their detection definitions are updated only after a new virus/malware is already out there doing harm and they need to be constantly updated to remain relevant (meaning you have to continuing with paying subs). With Linux systems, these viruses or malware programs simply cannot run without your express permission. You have to firstly make them executable and then you run them.
Worried about Hacking?
Linux keeps all ports closed to deny outsiders entry into your system. Desktops running Linux systems are therefore very safe. Be aware, though, that no system is safe from a determined expert hacker.
It is no wonder that Defence Departments and military arms of most, if not all, countries use Linux.
Here are some notable installations:
USA
- White House started switching to Red Hat Linux from 2001.
- US Defence Department.
- US Navy nuclear submarine fleet.
- US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) since 2006.
- The US National Nuclear Security Administration IBM Roadrunner (world’s 10th fastest supercomputer) runs on Linux.
France
- From mid 2000, their national police force switched 90,000 Windows PC’s to Linux.
- French Parliament made the move in 2007.
India
- Indian government have developed their own Linux system distro called “Maya” for use in all government offices. Implementation in 2023.
You will be better off using Linux, while saving handsomely over the next umpteen years and saving another computer from landfill as Linux runs very well even on older, lower powered hardware. Visit https://waster.com.au/landfill-australia/ for more about landfills. Actually, this post is written with my trusty 12 year-old desktop (only updated with a new large monitor) using LibreOffice Writer running the latest MX Linux.
Other free applications – all Community-Based
There are simply thousands of very powerful apps out there for you to use without restriction, including CAD, Bookkeeping and Accounting, Scanning, and OCR – you will be amazed at what’s available. Dust off a lesser-used computer and give Linux a go.
Francis Chuah
