Okay folks, here is my latest chapter in my continuing search for a Windows alternative. If you recall from previous reviews (you DO read all the reviews don't you?), you know I am not happy with Windows. After some twelve years of crashing, trashing, and unsuccessfully trying to get the claimed benefits from Windows, I am in the process of migrating to other operating systems.

Like some ninety percent of desktop PC users, I still have Windows on one machine. While I would like to quit cold turkey, I can't. Too much time and money is tied up in this Yugo of an operating system. However, in my search, I have found realistic, viable alternatives, that will allow me to replace Windows with something that actually works.

The problems I listed for myself when I began are based on time and resources. Time relates to learning another operating system. I thought about all the time I basically wasted trying to get Windows to act like an OS. Doing this caused me to click on the following: learning another OS won't cost any more time than recovering from repeated Windows problems. Taking a small percentage of the wasted time on Windows and putting that toward an OS that works, I figured I would be way ahead overall. The resources part involved both hardware and software. I once again had too much invested in Windows to start from scratch. There was simply no way I could buy all new hardware and software all at once. This meant I would have to find something that would use as much existing resources as possible.

I had been trying LINUX on and off for some time, and liked what I saw. It uses the same hardware as the Win/TEL (Windows/INTEL) platform, so there is my savings on hardware. In the past, this was not really true. LINUX had poor support for drivers for the various components needed for the computer to run, forcing you to obtain hardware that someone had written a driver for. That has almost completely changed, and LINUX now has drivers for almost all the components you use in your machines. An added bonus is the efficiency in LINUX. It has far lower resource requirements than Windows, and by this I mean it runs great on everything from a 386 to screaming on the latest P-IV's and Athlons. Unlike Windows, LINUX does not consume more and more resources. Adding things like more memory, faster video, and larger hard drives, brings an accompanying and proportionally greater performance. This meant I could use all my existing hardware. Software was another matter. Initial checking indicated there were few of the applications I was currently using that were available to run under LINUX. I made a couple of lists: applications I needed; applications I wanted; applications I could do without. A pleasant surprise when I found I could replace almost all of my needed applications, and almost all free for download! Word processors, spreadsheets, databases, imaging, PIM's, presentations, audio - video, CD burners, it WAS available. Most of the application types I wanted were available. Now these were not the same applications (with the exception in this review), as the ones I am currently using, but applications that did the same thing, and in the same way.

I have been using WordPerfect for years, all the way back to the DOS era, and when WordPerfect was an actual company (a company that wrote the book on customer service!). Imagine my surprise when I found out that there was a LINUX version of WordPerfect OFFICE2000. Yes, this does add to the cost of changing OS's, but it is a familiar product that I already use and really like. If you want to save some money, there is a free for download office suite from Sun Microsystems called StarOffice. I remained with my favorite office suite, WordPerfect. This application is now owned by COREL, and they have been fairly good at keeping this product updated. This suite includes WordPerfect 9. Quattro Pro 9 ( a spreadsheet), Corel Presentations, CorelCENTRAL 9 (a PIM), Netscape Navigator, Adobe Acrobat Reader, various fonts and clipart, and COREL's version of LINUX. This is the standard version. The Deluxe version adds Netscape Communicator, and Paradox, an excellent database.

If you use any of these applications, you will be instantly at home. They are the same applications that you have been using under Windows, but have been ported over to LINUX, so I won't go into details about the applications. I will instead concentrate on the installation.

Installing any application on any operating system can be a trying experience. In the past, LINUX could frequently be so difficult to install people simply gave up. The latest installers (installers, added content, and support being the difference between the various LINUX retailers), have made tremendous strides in this area. It is still more difficult than it should be, but is easily within the capabilities of Alamo PC members. The manual included is pretty good on information about the applications, but is poor on the most important part - installation. If you use a GUI, and have automount enabled, click on the CD icon, find the "setup" file, click on it, and follow instructions. If you use the command prompt, you are on your own. That is the total of the install instructions. Worse, the sequence described in the manual is not the sequence that actually occurs during installation. My attempts to follow these skimpy instructions resulted in the installation claiming success, while the application would not run, instead giving various cryptic error messages. I contacted COREL with explanations of the problems, and as this is written, I have received no response. This is disappointing, as COREL has been very good in this area in the past. Doing a LOT of investigating, I think I found the problem. The installer apparently assumes that you installed the included Corel LINUX version, and uses instructions for that version. Digging through the COREL website, I found an updated uninstaller, and installer. If you already installed the suite, use this uninstaller to completely remove it from your computer. Use this new installer script instead of the one on the WordPerfect CD. Follow the same basic instructions in the manual, BUT, substitute this new install script. The location of the two scripts are: http://linux.corel.com/support/updates.htm. Look near the bottom of the page for WordPerfect OFFICE2000 for Linux header, then two paragraphs starting with Downloadable.... Click on each of the two links to download the two scripts. Using the uninstaller completely removed the defective installation. The updated installer worked perfectly. It went on easier than the Windows version. I am now enjoying my new office suite under an operating system that has yet (fingers crossed) to crash. WordPerfect performs the same as under Windows, and so do the other applications It is amazing how much more enjoyable it is using an application that doesn't crap out repeatedly during usage. The installation did not add the typical WP icons to either the desktop, or the bottom bar. No problem. I added the programs manually just like in Windows - right click on the taskbar, select the appropriate instruction from the popup menu, follow to the desired application, and you now have the app on the taskbar.

I won't waste my time trying to get anyone to switch from Windows, but you should do yourself a favor, and at least check out realistic and viable alternatives. Computers can really be a useful and fun tool if given an operating system that allows the applications to actually work.

As an aside, Microsoft has stated that they will port their applications over to run under LINUX, so you might be able to use applications you are used to, but run them under a more stable operating system.

The system requirements are:

Linux Kernel system 2.2 or higher with functional X-Windows system
Pentium 166 or equivalent (200 recommended)
32 MB RAM (64 recommended)
450 MB hard disk space
CD-ROM
VGA
Mouse or tablet

CompUSA has it for $97.62 for this 2000 version, and the numbers are; MFG WP2KLINUXENG0 and SKU50096466.

WordPerfect Office 2000 Documentation Manager
Corel Corporation
1600 Carling Avenue
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
K1Z8R7
http://linux.corel.com/

This is a really nice application suite, and since I have been using these particular applications for years, I am especially pleased. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to e-mail me. I don't know if I can help, but I'll try.

"A diamond hard will is the irresistible force that will overcome any immovable object" me - arben2@swbell.net

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