Linux? Really??

The Problem

There are several persons whom advocate Windows. I used to be one of them. My name is Wesley Mullings. I am the founder and Owner of Digital Lifestyles, LLC, and I started working with Windows when version 3.0 was new, in 1991. I stayed with Windows as my personal and professional choice operating system all the way until Windows XP, Service Pack 3 was released. The thing that I noticed that always bugged me about Microsoft was that, no matter what I learned, no matter how I set up and deployed my systems and network, Windows always had to be severely maintained at some interval. In my case, it was every nine months to a year, and I prided myself to not have the unbelievable maintenance schedules of my friends, family, and associates, whom all had to sevice their computers much sooner.

I found myself reinstalling Windows several times, to the point that the registration and activation via the internet would not work for my copy of Windows, even though it was the exact same copy! When I would call in to register and activate, I would have to explain to Microsoft that I had undergone a hard drive, or CPU, or motherboard upgrade, to receive an activation code. This caused quite a bit of inconvenience to me.

When I would service clients, it would be a hard thing to tell them that I could not fix their computer problem because they had a faulty copy of the operating system, or their installation was so overrun with problems that only a new installation (and a new copy of Windows) would fix their issues, or they had to spend an additional $130.00 or more to make their computer efficient enough to work. I was also tired of having to maintain the ability to offer licensed copies of Windows to these clients, or I would have to search out local vendors whom I would be able to buy licensed copies from. Being a businessman, I did enjoy the service that Microsoft afforded me—guaranteed recalls for follow-on work, clients would call back every 6-9 months for a software or hardware upgrade, or make their computer fast again, or clean out viruses. Things were good, but I always felt computers should be better than this, like I was just another sheep being led down the same path as everyone else even though I was an expert with Windows.

The Solution

I learned about Open-Source computing when I returned home from the military in 1999. My cousin, whom is an NJIT graduate with a double major in Actuarial Science and Computer Science, told me about this great operating system that was, of all things, free! It could do so much naturally that Windows needed to be tweaked to match, and required less memory, a weaker CPU, and less hard drive space than Windows! It was next to buttered bread as the greatest invention of all time! I declined to participate with the operating system then, which was BeOS, feeling that hardware and software compatibility issues would keep it from being adopted. Sadly, I was right.

In 2006, another Open-Source operating system was presented to me, Linux. I had investigated other distributions of Linux (Red Hat and BSD) before and found that their use at that time was not what I would desire to use for myself or offer to my clients at all. However, a recent distribution, named Ubuntu, had a very user-friendly interface! I could navigate through this system with a great deal of ease! Moreover, Ubuntu seemed to be widely accepted as the Linux distribution of choice for those whom are migrating from Windows.

I investigated further to find that a lot of work went into this operating system, and that hardware issues were immensely minimized, making it compatible with almost all PC hardware. In my investigations, I learned that Linux is virtually virus-free, requires less memory and hard drive space than Windows, and can run on much older CPUs, making them useful again.

I looked into compatibility with personal electronic devices and found that it works with most of the MP3 players, cellphones, digital cameras, and PDAs made today. I learned that Linux is stable and dependable enough to enable the internet, being that most servers that make up the internet are Linux-based, along with banking ATMs, many of the digital signs at Times Square, and some military aircraft. I learned that you can still run and use some of the most popular Windows-based software on a Linux machine. In fact, that you could run Windows on top of Linux to isolate your copy of Windows from some malware tactics, while maintaining the ability to run Windows software on your computer. I learned that for every Windows-based software, there existed a number of free Linux equivalents available for the asking.

So, after trying out Ubuntu on my computer, and learning the new ways to navigate through and use Ubuntu, and discovering the smorgasbord of cool, interesting, and useful free Linux software, I left Windows for good and hadn't looked back since!

The Offer

I will perform the following:

• • Change your desktop or laptop computer over into Linux. I will choose the distribution that will work best with your hardware.
• • Preserve your original files and ensure you can still view and modify them
• • Setup your local email client software if you already had one set up
• • Set up your internet access
• • Set up your instant messaging if you already have accounts set up
• • Ensure you can print with your existing printers
• • Set up your web browsing with tools that will rid you of adware and spyware
• • Set up your existing personal electronics so that you can still synchronize with them and transfer files as you did before.
• • I will also support you by answering any and all of your questions, and perform remote service calls for your computer up to nine months after your computer is converted for free.

You will have a virtual Windows machine installed so that you can still use Windows software on your computer, as well as a Windows compatibility software that will allow you to run Windows software as if it were native to your Linux operating system. I will also give you an install CD or DVD or a bootable USB flash drive if you should ever need one.

The Conditions

I do have some requirements for this program to work for you. It is very important that these conditions are met.

1.      1. You must have a valid and legal copy of your original operating system's install disc. This will allow me to give you a virtual Windows environment that will guarantee the usability of your Windows software.
3.           A. If you do not have an install disc for your operating system, you automatically waive the virtual environment feature of this offering and it will not be installed.
4.      2. You must have broadband internet access. It does not matter if you subscribe to cable, DSL, or fiber, you must have a hard line into your home.
5.           A. If the only internet access is wireless, it must be a 3G network only, used with an Linux-enabled 3G modem only.
6.      3. If you have a router installed, it must be set up to be administered outside of your network. I do not leave your network open to hackers, and you will participate in every attempt to remotely administer your computer.
7.           A. If you do not own the router that gives you internet access and cannot legally give remote administration rights, you will have to pay for an in-house service call for every service incident.

The Plan

I am not selling software, I am selling the service of installing free software on your computer. This constitutes work performed for services and is subject only to my discretion for refunds.

The software that I provide does not carry a warranty. I am not a developer nor contributor of the software installed, therefore I do not offer nor honor a warranty for the software installed.

Refunds on hardware will be honored up to 30 days from the delivery date for any reason. After 30 days, refunds will be granted only if the equipment submitted is eligible for warranty.

If an honored refund yields a balance, that balance will be furnished in a form of a money order, made out to the name of the client on record only.

Exchanges will be honored up to 60 days after the purchase of equipment of the same or greater value only. The exchanged-from equipment must be in mint cosmetic and operable condition. Shipping and handling of both will be the responsibility of the client only.

COD pick-up or deliveries from my location will not be accepted.

I will not setup, arrange, or secure shipping for a client’s property. This is the responsibility of the client. It is also not my responsibility to insure the equipment being delivered to or from the client’s site.

I do not sell or share your personal information with any other party without your expressed written consent.

I do not expose your network to anyone outside of your household (including myself) for navigating, viewing, command, or control for any reason.

I do not have credit accounts with my purchasing sources, and therefore do not extend credit to my clients for any reason. All purchases must be satisfied up front before equipment is ordered or shipped to your site.