Brits to test life without Windows

Sam Varghese
Wednesday, 13 May 2009 12:42

Opinion and Analysis

At the moment, both Derek and Blair use the following Windows applications: Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver, WinRar, iTunes, Internet Explorer, Google Sketchup, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Visio, Microsoft Outlook, MSN Messenger, Daemon Tools, GMail Notifier, IIRC, FileZilla, Diptrace, Microsoft Live Writer, Paint.Net, Google Desktop, Xobni, 7-Zip and Firefox.

Both participants will erase Windows from their eeePCs on day one and use GNU/Linux for everything, apart from the work environment where neither can do so due to the nature of their work.

Efforts will be made to find alternative applications to carry out all tasks that are currently done in a Windows environment; where possible, all alternatives will be open source and native to Linux. Non-open source or non-native applications will only be used if Linux applications are unavailable or unable to replicate the function or ease of use supplied by Windows applications.

Data files from the existing environment will be preserved and an attempt will be made to access them from the GNU/Linux environment.

Applications used will be rated on ease of use, function and familiarity (similarity to Windows). Familiarity in this context means how comfortable a Windows user is with the interface or method of functioning of the replacement.

The pair hope to reach a conclusion on day 31; if this is not possible, the project will be extended to a day when they can reach a conclusion.

Others who wish to participate in the project or offer suggestions can write to Blair or else visit the forum . An additional participant, Daniel Cumming, has already joined the project. As an amateur musician, he will be looking at software associated with sound production.