This isn’t directly personal finance related, except if you consider I am trying to recondition something instead of just buying a new one. I’ve had it with my slow desktop PC and I’m converting it to the Linux operating system!
Here’s the story: I bought a new PC about three years ago which came with Windows XP. It worked great for a while, but it just kept getting slower and slower. I’ve tried cleaning up the registry, clearing temp files, uninstalling unnecessary programs, and defragging the hard drive, but these always seem like very temporary fixes and before I know it the computer is back to its old slow self. At this point it takes several minutes to load Windows (I can start it, run to the restroom, get a Diet Coke and a sandwich from the kitchen, and then still come back to find it loading), so I think this would be a great opportunity to give Linux a try.
I actually tried Linux before on an old system about three years ago and just gave up on it. The system I installed it on was too old to be useful anyway (it was six years old at the time and was running a 300Mhz AMD processor, while my main computer was a 1.8Ghz P4), so I think this will be a fairer test of Linux’s capabilities.
I still need to backup my old data files from my PC before I load the new OS, which will be the latest release of Ubuntu Linux. Everything I have read says that Linux has come a long way in the last few years, so I am excited to see if Linux can be a usable OS for everyday needs and if I can get apps for it that work as well as what I was using in Windows. I will post updates as I get the OS installed and start using the applications.
As an FYI, we are not going Windows-free in our home. Our laptop still runs Windows Vista, so if I really need something on a Windows platform I will have access to it.
Let the nerd games begin!!!