Linux is a secure, viable Windows replacement
It’s not unusual for old computers to keep working for years. However, even though your ancient computer may be running fine, the operating system, such as Windows XP, might be obsolete or the old processor or memory might be too slow. It would be a shame to dump your old computer at a recycling depot just because it’s out-ofdate. Luckily, there is a solution that will bring your outdated XP or Windows 98 computer back into the modern world, or let you give up Windows altogether. Even better, it’s free.
In 1991 a Finnish student named Linus Torvalds developed a computer operating system which was simple to use and required little in the way of hardware resources to run. He called it Linux and released his open source system for free, which meant that any good programmer could tinker with it and improve on Torvald’s creation. Soon Linux became a popular free alternative to Windows and used by millions of people.
Because it’s open source, there are many versions of Linux, called distributions, which are free to download and install. Some of the most popular come with strange names such as Knoppix (www.knoppix.org), Suse (http:// en.opensuse.org), Debian (www. debian.org), Fedora (http://fedoraproject.org), and the very popular Ubuntu (www.ubuntu.com) and Linux Mint (www.linuxmint. com).
The beauty of Linux is that it will run effortlessly on older computers and it is a great and secure alternative to Windows XP. Each Linux distribution comes with plenty of software pre-loaded which should pretty well duplicate most of the Windows programs you’re familiar using. For instance, Libre Office is fully compatible with the Microsoft Office suite of programs and will create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations similar to those produced in Office.
If you’re hesitant to give up on Windows, Linux can offer you the best of both worlds by letting you install Linux beside Windows so that both will run on the same computer. When the computer starts you choose which operating system to run.
Or you can try Linux on your computer without installing anything or getting rid of Windows. When you boot your computer from a Linux disc you’ll usually get the option of running it as a live CD or DVD, which means that the whole program will run from the disc without installing anything on the computer. I tried the live DVDs of Linux Mint and Ubuntu and each detected my home wireless network and connected effortlessly. The desktop was not as flashy as that of Windows but all of the many programs were available at the click on a mouse and worked flawlessly. When I shut down the computer my laptop was unchanged and re-booted to Windows again.
To try Linux go to any of the websites I listed above, although there are many more, and download the iso image of the program. Most older computers will be 32 bit but you can get 64 bit images as well. Burn the iso image to a DVD which you can do by downloading and using a free program called CDBurnerXP (https://cdburnerxp.se). Otherwise you can purchase a version of Linux on a DVD. Check at any distribution’s website to see if there is a Canadian vendor of the Linux DVD package. You boot the computer from the disc and choose to install Linux over or beside Windows or run it as a Live CD or DVD. Needless to say, you should backup your important files before installing any version of Linux.
Many people have opted to switch to Linux and give up on Windows completely, which is understandable since Linux has a reputation for being secure and easy to use. Be prepared though that some of your hardware, such as printers and scanners, may not work with Linux although many manufacturers now have Linux drivers available at their website.
If you want more information or would like to delve into Linux more then you may want to join the Peterborough Linux Users Group, PLUG, (http://plugintolinux.ca/) or attend a meeting.