On Being a Computer User

To me using a computer is very closely related to my interests in writing. Both allow me to turn creative energies in intriguing and hopefully useful ways. The main difference comes from the immediacy of using a computer. You can take an action and then see the final product in short order.

Linux is my operating system of choice. Being both powerful and relatively free I was able to upgrade along the Linux path when the Windows 9x path was well out of my grasp. The open nature of the Linux architecture has only helped to solidify my interest in this alternative system.

Yes, there are many things I cannot do right now because so many commercial products are built strictly for the Mac/Win environment. While products like Wine allow me the option of using some of these products, these systems have a long way to go before they become viable alternatives for everyday use. Until then, I am generally satisfied with using my legacy Win 3.11 partitian for those few products I still need to use. On those few occasions when Win 9x is demanded, there are enough users out there that I can usually find someone willing to give me a little bit of time. For the rest, I am content to work with what I do have available. Ultimately, if I need it badly enough, I could always join or start an Open Source project, which is, after all, the way of Linux development for the most part.

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