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For those who who’ve taken issue with my earlier post (http://windowssecrets.com/forums/showthread//167089-An-introduction-to-Linux-for-Windows-users?p=987898&viewfull=1#post987898), you’re missing my point.

I don’t have a thing against Linux. I’m glad it exists. It’s powering a webserver that I have. I have Linux Live CD’s that I keep ready in case I need some alternative way to repair a Windows issue. See, that would be a useful topic for Windows users – as it goes directly to how to use Linux in a pinch to get to a Windows file system.

But what I don’t need, as a premium subscriber, is articles about how to use and possibly switch to another operating system. Why would I? It’s a site purportedly dedicated to imparting more knowledge and useful tips about — wait for it — Windows. I can’t make it any clearer than that.

Here’s a test for you: Go to a Linux forum and start posting tips for how to use/install/tweak Windows. See how that works out for you. Do you think you’d get “Hey, thanks for those Windows tips!”. Sure…

If Windows Secrets wants to branch out and cover more OS’s, that’s great! But do it under its own banner, that’s all. It seems understandable to me. Perhaps you disagree. But I don’t peruse Windows Secrets for info on other operating systems.

I came to Windows Secrets because of Fred Langa and his LangaList. He had and has the most useful information about getting the most out of Windows. Who knows, perhaps Fred is a big Linux fan, too. And I have zero problems with that. But I read his columns for Windows tips. I can’t be any clearer about this.

I use Windows and Macs on a daily basis, and, as mentioned, have Linux on a web server as well as Live CD’s. I enjoy the Macs, too, but I don’t want see Mac articles in my Windows Secrets subscription – unless it’s something relevant to me as a Windows user, such as how to install Windows on a Mac for dual-booting with Boot Camp, etc.

I wouldn’t want to see ASP.Net how-to articles on a PHP forum. See the point? In the end, it has nothing whatsoever about the value of a particular operating system. It has to do with having a site called Windows Secrets delving off into subjects really having nothing to do with Windows, per se. If people have an issue with my point of view, so be it.

The article is right on. Linux works on older machines and it frequently updates. I am bound to Windows only because Quicken doesn’t make a Linux version. I’ve been toying with Wine, a windows emulator, which should run Quicken just fine. If Microsoft doesn’t offer free upgrades to Windows 10 from the awful Windows 8, I’ll probably make the switch on my desktop. On the road, I already use a Linux laptop with Libre Office and Skype and, for the cloud (e.g. One Drive, Google Drive), all you need is a browser.

Why don’t you just run Windows in a virtual machine on Linux? Plenty of ways to do that. Here’s one way: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/18768/run-windows-in-ubuntu-with-vmware-player/

This is exactly the type of anti-Microsoft article that makes me give the bare minimum to Windows Secrets for a paid subscription. If not for Fred Langa’s columns, I would have ditched this ages ago.

I don’t have anything against Linux, but more and more I’m seeing columnists and articles on this site essentially taking pot shots at Microsoft all the time. I don’t expect anyone to be a cheerleader for them, but come on…Give me articles that make Windows more usable, not switching to a different operating system. If you have to go there, then you really have no reason to exist as “Windows Secrets”.

This article doesn’t make any sense, and here’s why: Netflix CEO Reed Hastings is explicitly calling this Comcast agreement a “toll” for better Netflix performance on its network. If it were merely an argument about Cogent not paying Comcast more money, why couldn’t Cogent just go to Netflix and say “Hey, they’re charging us more for Netflix traffic and we have to pass that along to you”?? That would be the typical business arrangement. In other words, if this is beneficial to Netflix from a money point of view – as well as a user experience point of view – why would the CEO go out of his way to decry essentially being blackmailed into a pay-for-play scenario? You see the problem there?

Read here: http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/03/netflix-says-it-will-pay-tolls-to-more-isps-not-just-comcast/

I think this does present possible security concerns for people unaware of it. Why? Say you’ve “shredded” (securely wiped) what you think is the only instance of a document, only to find out that there may be several backups of these documents still “living” elsewhere? Perhaps a utility that will seek out these backups when someone goes to securely delete a given document might be handy, or at least some kind of notification that such backups might exist.

This in no way, however, diminishes my appreciation for learning of this feature. I still see far more upside potential than negative. Nice job, Fred.

Edit: Yes, I do know that apps like Word might be creating their own backups of documents that one might need to be aware of, too.