Did I really need a new computer? Perhaps not.

It's been a while since I've blogged here.  My primary excuse for absence is that my 7-year old Dell laptop computer has been running slower and slower with every passing month, and refusing to install Microsoft updates. In desperation, I tried several of Microsoft's remedies and lots of 'useful' tips on respected Internet sites, but to no avail. Finally I concluded that the ageing machine – which was far from 'state of the art' when I bought it – had reached the end of its useful life and (like its owner) needed to be pensioned off.  It's replacement – a snazzy HP that doubles up as a tablet – cost me rather a lot of money and goes like the wind... but that's not the subject of this post. 

What could I do with the old one? It had been too faithful a friend to consign to landfill. I'd heard some nice things about the Linux operating system and wondered what would happen if I installed it on the old Dell.

Unlike Windows, there are many incarnations of Linux – all compatible with one another, but aimed at differing sectors of the computer market.  For beginners like me, Ubuntu came out top of most reviewers' lists as it has many similarities to Windows. I decided to give it a try.  

After several hours learning about GNOMEs, ISO files and a program called RUFUS (which does wonderful things to ISOs) – and getting it wrong several times – I finally succeeded.  In retrospect, it really isn't that complicated if, unlike me, you follow the instructions instead of guessing the next step. Sigh...

Here's the main screen, with a selection of 'favourite' apps on the left side. It must be possible to change the background picture to a photo, but I rather like the pussy cat.  Presumably, he's supposed to be a wild (but friendly) big cat to fit with the name Ubuntu, which (according to Wikipedia) comes from the South African Bantu language and means 'humanity to others'.  

One of the founding principles of Linux is that everything is free. Moreover, thanks to its relative unpopularity, it's also inherently safe as the criminal fraternity prefer to plant their viruses in popular operating systems such as Windows and Mac OS. 

Ubuntu comes with Mosilla Firefox and Libre Office already installed and ready to go. I have long been a fan of Libre Office, and it's ancestor Open Office, and use it for all my word processing, spreadsheet and presentation work.  Why pay for things that one may have for free?

Firefox is great, but I prefer Chrome. Downloading and installing it was very easy, and it works every bit as well as its Windows cousin. 

Finally, if Linux was going to be a success then I needed an app to edit my photos. As with Windows, I was spoiled for choice but, at least for now, I've settled on one called PixelFX. It's a 'beta' version, which means that it might have a bug or two in it, but first impressions are that it's perfect for my needs. 

So there it is.  My ageing Dell laptop has been given a new lease of life. With speeds in excess of its best days as a Windows computer, I can already use it for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations (PowerPoint-type applications), surfing the Internet, blogging, emails....  And all at zero cost.

The big question is....  

Why ever did I bother to buy a new Windows computer?