Why Use Generic Computers and Free Software?

by Howard Fosdick, Last Update 2025 © RexxInfo.org

Do you depend on your computer? Most of us do. I hope you’ve carefully thought about your choice of hardware and software, and your recovery strategy if something goes wrong. Otherwise you'll end up in a pickle when your computer fails.

I'd like to explain why I rely on generic desktops and laptops running free software to give me 100% availability. They're a low-cost solution that also offers better security and privacy.

Replaceable Hardware = High Availability

I use generic computers with all stock parts. They're very inexpensive so I keep several on hand. It’s easy to swap parts if necessary. PCs are highly standardized, so long as you acquire them with an eye to non-proprietary components.

For my self-service approach to work, you have to know how to identify and remedy common hardware problems. That's not hard. Anyone can do it. I even wrote my free Quick Guide to Fixing Computer Hardware to show you how.

The key is that when you identify a hardware problem, you quickly swap in a replacement part. If a hardware issue requires more than a few minutes to fix, I use a backup computer.

Years ago, this was prohibitively expensive. Today cheap generic boxes and a huge market in used machines make it feasible.

The fact is, you no longer need current hardware to run current software. I run all the common home and office apps with computers that are eight to twelve years old.

You can get an entire fleet of them for the cost of one hot new Microsoft Surface laptop.

Key to my approach is that you keep your work — your data — portable. Back it up and move it between machines with a USB memory stick or portable disk drive.

Never get caught in a situation where your data resides only on a single machine. Or on one storage device.

Of course, these backup-and-recovery principles apply regardless of how you try for 100% availability. Machines do sometimes fail. Up-to-date data backups are essential no matter what hardware and software you use!

FOSS Software = Flexibility and Control

I use free and open source software (FOSS) that can easily be installed, copied, or duplicated.

This saves money, but that's not its biggest benefit.

Flexibility and licensing are the key. You control this software -- it doesn’t control you.

Here's an example. One time my motherboard died. I removed the boot disk from the dead system and plopped it into another. Then I booted from that disk on the target computer.

It took all of ten minutes. Problem solved!

Can you do this with Windows? Well ...

The license and activiation key may prevent you, depending on its version. And the Registry binds the install to particular hardware. So, maybe you can do this with Windows, maybe you can't. You'll have to do a lot of research to figure out it.

Why? Simply because Microsoft has designed in barriers to prevent you from stealing their software.

Now, Microsoft has every right to protect its property. But that’s not our problem! Our problem was fixing our motherboard failure. Because of their hidden agenda -- which they hold supreme -- Microsoft makes our life very difficult. Proprietary software limits your flexibility — on purpose.

Remember, you do not own the copy of Windows you “bought.” Microsoft owns it! You only paid to license it.

With FOSS, all those Registry, activation, licensing, and software copying restrictions disappear. You can easily move a disk drive between computers. Or a motherboard, or anything else. Your computer will still boot. You can copy software anywhere you want.

You can copy, duplicate, replicate or distribute Linux and all its apps free of any corporate-imposed barriers. And at no charge!

Privacy and Security

Security, privacy, and availability require that you control your computer. If you use the Windows that comes installed on your computer, you don’t control it.

You get a system preconfigured and weighed down with a ton of craplets -- software you don't want and didn't ask for, designed to lure you into paying more or losing your privacy. Who needs that?

Oh, and about privacy... Windows tries to force you to create a "Microsoft Account". Its sole purpose is so that the corporation can monitor your computer use and steal your privacy. Don't like that? That's more research for you to spend your time on. Start with this article, for example.

What about security? Windows is famously vulnerable to viruses and malware.

One reason is that Windows is more frequently targeted. It offers a much larger pool of potential victims. The lion hunts where the sheep congregate.

More subtly, Windows presents a much larger attack surface to hackers. Researchers estimate that Windows 11 consists of between 60 and 100 million lines of code. Linux clocks in about 40 million lines.

Lastly, both expert and conventional wisdom opines that Linux's design is inherently more secure than Windows. (If you wish to explore this controversy for yourself, read these references.)

Viruses and malware are so rare with Linux as to not concern desktop users. What a relief!

Plus, your computer doesn't have to squander its resources on the overhead of running anti-malware software.

FOSS Software = No Forced Upgrades

Microsoft implements planned obsolescence through its Windows versions. This forces you to buy new hardware to run current Windows releases, even though your hardware works fine -- and is fully capable of running current Linux versions.

The usual pattern is that your installed Windows can upgrade one version, but will be obsolete by two. So you can upgrade Windows 7 or 8 to Windows 10, but you have to buy new hardware if you want to run Windows 11.

Similarly, if your computer runs Windows 10, you can upgrade it to 11. But if you want to run 12, you'll probably be forced to buy a new computer.

The result is that you're stuck on the Windows Upgrade Treadmill, paying for new hardware when you already own a computer that works just fine!

Planned obsolescence harms the environment as computer hardware is prematurely trashed.

Many of these computers end up in a landfill, or a developing country where they're stripped for parts in unsafe conditions.

Only a minority of junked computers are properly reused or safely recycled.

Keeping computers in service for their natural hardware lifespan reduces the scope of this problem.

How to Replace Windows

As the premier FOSS alternative to Windows, Linux comes bundled with a complete set of applications. These cover everything you can think of, from home and office apps, to graphics, multimedia, internet, communications, and games.

It's all free. The Linux master libraries (or "repositories") offer upwards of ten thousand free apps you can download and install at your whim.

But even with all this available, much of the world still uses Microsoft’s desktop software. So a common question is: Using FOSS, how do I fit into Windows World?

File Compatibility

For most of us, compatibility with Windows users means just one thing: file compatibility. We need to be able to create, edit, update, send, and receive Microsoft Office files.

Many have moved on from Microsoft Office to products like Google Docs and Google Workspace. These have features that allow you to either work directly with Microsoft Office files, or convert them into Google's own formats.

The Google products handle Microsoft Office formats well. However, it's not unusual to find minor differences between the two if you use certain advanced features. Just by knowing what they are, you can usually avoid any problems.

I use LibreOffice, the free competitor to Microsoft Office. LO does a great job with MO file compatibility. Just stick to features common to both LO and MO. Avoid arcane features and complex formatting.

Here's some irony for you. LO is often more compatible with older versions of Microsoft Office than is the current version of Microsoft Office!

That's because Microsoft has to keep changing Office in order to sell more product -- regardless of whether customers feel they need or want these "upgrades." LO doesn't face that commercial pressure.

I should note that, while word processing and spreadsheet compatibility is outstanding, the picture isn’t quite as rosy when it comes to presentation graphics. Move a 40-slide PowerPoint file between Microsoft Office and LO and you’ll often see minor changes (in spacing or fonts, for example).

So moving presentation files for a one-way, one-time transfer works well. But having people interactively edit a presentation using both LO and MO doesn't.

(Your experiences may vary depending on the type of work you do and the kinds of presentations you create.)

Other Ways to Compatibility

Beyond exchanging office files, there are many other ways to compatibility between Linux and Windows.

First, there is a FOSS equivalent for any Windows program you can name. This article and this one show exactly what FOSS apps you can use instead of Windows programs.

Second, many software vendors provide Linux versions of their Windows products. So you can still run the same application, but under Linux instead of Windows.

Third, you can run most any Windows program directly on Linux using a program called WINE. You can look up any application in the WINE database to verify that it runs under WINE and find out how to set it up. Tools like PlayOnLinux or Winetricks help with installation.

A Huge Opportunity

Abandoning Microsoft's Windows Treadmill offers a big opportunity to save money.

You'll also achieve higher privacy, security, and 100% availability, too.

Many companies could switch from Windows World and save a ton in licensing fees and hardware costs caused by forced upgrades to new releases.

Others could remain on Windows while strategically replacing specific components. This avoids the need for a platform change while still capitalizing on open source tools and apps.

Office suites are the perfect example. Microsoft Office licenses are not cheap, especially for smaller companies that can’t swing the big discounts.

Competitors like LibreOffice and Google's offerings are functionally equivalent, yet way less costly.

Some say they stick with Microsoft for support. But what kind of support do you get these days?

Years ago, when customers reported a bug, vendors would create a fix for them.

Today, vendors just tell you to wait for the next release -- which they always insist you install, whether or not it fixes your problem. (Of course, you have to pay to upgrade.)

All "support" consists of is advice about how-to's and work-around’s. You can get that from websites and online forums for free.

Another strategy is for companies to keep Windows but replace Microsoft’s software development environment.

Leave the ever-shifting sands of Microsoft’s proprietary developer frameworks for FOSS tools, programming languages, and databases. Many sites achieve good cost savings while producing more durable apps with WAMP (Windows + Apache + MySQL + Python/PHP/Perl).

The bottom line is that some security blankets are worth paying for. Others only represent inertia or inexperience. Don't fall into a vendor trap because you didn't make the effort to look at software alternatives.

My Home Office

Inexpensive stock parts work well for my needs. I can switch hardware and software on a moment's notice, however I like. In return, I enjoy 100% availability, low cost, high security, and better privacy. You owe it to yourself to look into this approach.

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