Still More on Living Microsoft Free

• RE: Why I live Microsoft Free
• Micro$oft Free, Word 5 notes
• Living Microsoft Free
• Microsoft "crap?"
• Free your mind
• Re: Why I Live Microsoft Free
• Msoft
• Re: Microsoft crap
• Re: More on Living Microsoft Free
• Why I Live Microsoft Free - Typo ?

RE: Why I live Microsoft Free

From: David Shroder

Charles,

I could not possibly agree more [with Why I Live Microsoft Free]. My wife urged me to write you, as I am normally reticent to bother people who get tons of email in the normal course of their lives. This, however, is a topic upon which I can almost wax poetic.

I have been programming professionally for 22 years. Everything from mainframes to minis to micros (regrettably never on Macs). For all that time I have intentionally worked on M/S products for only one year, and that was during a period of significant financial distress. My first home computer was an Amiga 1000 that my wife and I received as a wedding present. She thought it was too geeky and eventually bought a used Mac SE/30. The only M/S product I would let her put on it was Word, and even that was a struggle.

I have watched M/S issue a new piece of c**p every year and grimaced at the waste I see in offices and among my friends. I remember when the first of my friends bought an IBM PC in 1982. I recall being jealous that he could afford the $6,500 price tag. That was until I got a chance to sit down with it for a few hours and realized what a piece of junk I was looking at. The Apple II, never the most inspiring platform, was elegant in comparison.

My favorite bad PC story is the time that my buddies, all of whom own PCs, decided that they wanted to get all their computers networked together to play MechWarrior. After 8 hours they were still trying to get all the computers to talk on the network, much less play the game. The only time I ever had trouble networking our Macs at home was when the network card in my computer got electrocuted by a lightning bolt. It literally takes five minutes to put a Mac on a network. A wonderful thing.

I have been and still am continually amazed at the stupidity of people who will upgrade a faulty M/S product to the latest and greatest faulty product and then wonder why they still have application crashes, still suffer from virus attacks, and still require one systems administrator for every ten PCs.

I bought my first Mac in 1996. My second about a month ago (a new iMac, geez is this thing cool!) I don't know a single PC user that has been able to use his PC with the latest OS, much less the latest bloatware, without an upgrade. Now admittedly, my Performa couldn't have run OS X either, but in reality there was no need. I got a new computer because the flat-screen iMac is almost perfect for what I need a computer for.

And the best part is that I can continue to get along totally without Microsoft.

Dave Shroder

Hi Dave,

Always glad to hear from readers, and regards to your wife.

Some years ago, we had a 286 PC and two Mac Pluses here. The contrast between the lovely little Macs and the "standard of the world" was massively in the Macs' favor. That 286 was a piece of . . . you know. ;-) It's long and mercifully gone, but the Pluses are still here and still work.

Charles

Micro$oft Free, Word 5 notes

From: Andrew Main

Charles,

I was reading your recent "Micro$oft Free" columns and noted a mention of a "patch" to allow Word 5 to run in recent OS versions. So far as I know, there is no specific incompatibility with Word and any late Mac OS version, only a possible problem running on any PowerPC-based Mac, which is addressed by a freeware extension. See my Word 5 essay below.

Do you happen to know of any website/s dedicated to the concept of Micro$oft-freeness? I'm collecting reasons for an essay to distribute to my Mac clients. I remember a one-time site called "AOL Sucks" (haven't looked for it since I quit AOL several years back), and wonder if there might be anything similar addressed to Micro$oft questions.

About Word 5 compatibility

So far as I know, M$ Word 5 can run on any Macintosh from a Plus to a G4. (I suppose it could even run in Classic under OS X, if you really want to.) Some notes:

1. If you have Word 5.0, it's a good idea to update it to 5.1a, the final version of generation 5. I don't remember exactly what the differences were (I never used the program myself) but believe they were significant. Unfortunately, a quick look at Micro$oft's Web site (I don't like to spend any more time there than I have to, not knowing what information is being collected from me while I'm there) failed to locate any 5.0 to 5.l updater (see below). Perhaps, as with WriteNow, there is some private Word 5 user who offers such support.
2. Word 5 is, of course, a 68K app, so runs in emulation mode on a PowerPC-based Mac, where it's not entirely happy, sometimes showing a message that it cannot start up because there's not enough memory (it requires all of 1 MB by default). A freeware extension named "FixWordSystemMemory" prevents this glitch. For some reason, Version Tracker and MacDownload don't seem to have this invaluable fix, but it can be found at the author's Web page <http://homepage.mac.com/lrosenstein/programs.html>
3. One of the nicest things about Word 5, besides the fact that it doesn't require 100 MB of disk space and 20 MB of RAM to run on a 500 MHz Mac, is that - since it doesn't have the macro functionality of Word 6 & later - it isn't vulnerable to the multitude of cross-platform Micro$oft-specific macro "viruses" that are the only serious class of pathogens in the Mac environment these days. However, keep in mind that, as with Micro$oft Outlook Express, Word 5 can pass on such viruses in documents received from later & PC versions that harbor them.
4. Despite all the wonderful features of later versions (especially for those unfortunate Mac users who are burdened with extra, unused memory), Word 5 has remained amazingly popular for an "obsolete" application, so much so that Micro$oft apparently felt obliged to provide ways for Word 5 to open documents produced in later versions. This back-compatibility is available for Word 6 & 98 docs (& PC equivalents) but not later versions (such as Word 2000), so far as I know. Of course, if you open a Word 6 or 98 document in Word 5, you may lose high-end formatting and features that the earlier application doesn't recognize, but not that many people use these features anyway - which is why Word 5 is still a very usable application.
   1. For the Word 6 to 5 converter, go to <http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/>. Do a search for "Product Name: Word 5.0" in "Operating System: Macintosh." The first item in the list is the updater to patch Word 5.1 to 5.1a. There doesn't seem to be an updater from 5.0 to 5.1, I don't know why. The second item, "Word 6.0/7.0 Updated 32-bit Converter (Mswrd32.exe)" contains utilities that allow Word 5 to open documents created in Word 6/7 for Macintosh or Windows. Basically, this is a set of translator files that go into the "Word Commands" folder in Word 5's folder. (Despite the ".exe" in the name, this is a Macintosh file.)
   2. For the Word 98 &c converter, go to <http://www.microsoft.com/mac/download/>. Under Office 98, get the "Microsoft Word 97-98-2000 Converter." Again, this is a set of translator files that go into the "Word commands" folder in Word 5's folder, along with a Batch Converter utility.
5. Keep in mind that Word 5, like most Macintosh programs, works best when the application is in the same folder with its other parts, including the "Word Commands" folder. If it is outside its folder, it won't be able to find its spelling checker, converters, etc. If you want a quick way to open Word (or any other app) from the Desktop or Apple menu, make an alias to put in those places.

Andrew Main

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for all the helpful Word 5 information.

I don't know of any specifically Micro$oft-free Websites, but it's a good idea!

Charles

Editor's note: Give Living Without Microsoft a try, although the emphasis is far more on Windows hardware than on Macs.

Living Microsoft Free

From Brian Warren

Two things for you:

For your Word needs:

Have you considered ICWord? It's a great shareware program made just for opening MS Word documents, you can print, or save as text, rtf, AppleWorks, etc.

It opens super-fast, and works like a charm. I'm not sure if it will open Word 5.1 docs, but I haven't found a Word doc I couldn't open yet.

For Steve Wassenich, who needed to do presentations: My company needs me to do a "PowerPoint," but I convinced them to let me do a presentation in Flash instead. The files that Flash exports can be opened without a Web browser. You can tell flash to expand to full screen and hide the cursor so as to be in "presentation mode."

The saturation of people having the Flash 5 plugin is immense, so there is no worry that the people on the receiving end wouldn't be able to use the presentation file (it's only a 1 MB download if they do need it). As well, the capabilities of Flash are far beyond that of PowerPoint or Apple works. I can embed movies, and have full screen animations, the possibilities are quite great. And the file size is so incredibly small, I can just email it to my boss for proofing!

No need for us to lay down the cash to get Microsoft programs when the solution is right there in flash.

take care,
Brian Warren

Hi Brian,

Yes, I've tried icWord and it works great.

Thanks for the presentation tips.

Charles

Microsoft "crap?"

From Beautiful Voice

I suppose I applaud you for living "Microsoft-free". Personally, I've never really had any terrible problems with any of Microsoft products, nor have I noticed significant changes in system performance with or without Microsoft software on my system, whether it be a Mac or an Intel box.

As for Microsoft's business ethics, don't fool yourself. Apple would do the same thing if it had the market share that Microsoft did. Furthermore, the idea that Microsoft should open it's software up to it's competitors is preposterous. This is the world of business, not the playmat in your Pre-K, as some would have you believe.

People complain about the security holes in Windows XP, but I would bet there are just as many security holes in OS X (and many more in Linux). The simple fact is that because Microsoft has a product that is relatively stable, runs on the majority of boxes, is centralized and updated frequently, makes Microsoft the majority OS. Therefore, since it is the majority, it has the most people attacking it. If everyone suddenly switched to the Mac OS, Apple would be in the same predicament. If everyone suddenly switched to Linux, it would be a disaster, because the average home/business user doesn't have the knowledge it takes to do basic troubleshooting on a Linux box (something which concerns me to some extent about OS X, though with a "locked" GUI, this shouldn't be a big problem). Not to mention that Linux isn't "pretty" like OS X or Win XP.

Now don't get me wrong: I love the Mac OS, and I'm eager to try Mac OS X. Right now, I'm stuck using my friend's Win 98 box, but I'm in the market for a (used) Mac. I'll probably run IE on it, and possibly OE as well. I used Linux as well for several months on my Mac without major problems (though there were always drivers missing). I don't do much heavy gaming, and the most processor intensive thing I probably do is some overdubbing of music. I can do anything I need on a Mac, Linux, or Windows box easily, but I choose Mac because I'm familiar with troubleshooting and general procedure.

As for Microsoft being evil, there are more important things in the world to worry about. And besides, if you don't use it, why complain? Why assume the average person won't listen to logic? Most people would love the Mac OS given a chance. Don't force it on them.

Those who spell Microsoft with a $ obviously don't understand that software is a business. If you want to run freeware all over your computer, fine, but who do you have to run to when your computer crashes?

The Beautiful Voice Admin

Hi BV,

If Apple behaved in the marketplace like Microsoft does, I would harshly criticize them, too. In fact, let the record speak that I've never been an uncritical Apple cheerleader.

However, Microsoft's (lack of) business ethics and naked, hegemonistic ambition are repugnant.

Actually, Yellow Dog Linux 2.2 was released last week for the Mac. I have a review copy coming, and Kai Staats of YDL says that the new Gnome GUI compares very favorably with OS X Aqua for prettiness. We shall see.

Another M$ issue that I simply will not tolerate is their draconian product activation copy protection protocols - and their soon to be subscription rather than licensing scheme for users. No thanks! Not even if functionally their software was the best in the world.

Which it isn't. My son works for Microsoft's subcontractor doing tech support for Windows XP eight hours a day, and he says the problems are just desperate. He still uses a Mac (OS X on a 333 MHz Lombard PowerBook) for his personal computing and has no intention of switching to Windows even though he can get a massive discount on Dell hardware through M$.

Charles

Free your mind

From JF Paradis

Thank you Charles for your great article. The subject of living MS-free should be brought up more often, and I invite you to address all aspects of the this subject.

I too is MS-free . . . at home.

I am always amazed by how many people think the other way. I guess that the IT press is so MS-focused (one press release a day, one bad article a day, but talk about it) creates a whole set of paradigms:

• You are "safer" to install MS, just in case you need it.
• Without MS, you are alienating yourself from the rest of the world.
• Others will not be able to use your work.
• MS is what people already know how to use.
• You have to train people if you don't run the MS version of the application.

And so on.

JF

Re: Why I Live Microsoft Free

From Matthew Butch

Excellent article. I, too, am MS free (except for the stuffed Windows Media Player I need to view some videos I have). For my word processing and spreadsheet needs, I use AppleWorks. If I need to give a presentation, AW has a slide show feature.

But what I really wanted to say is that you didn't mention MacLinkPlus. Whenever I come across a Word or Excel document, I use it to convert the file to an AppleWorks document. It is a $100 piece of software, but then that goes to a Mac company and not to MS.

Matthew Butch

Free State Project "Liberty in Our Lifetime"
http://www.freestateproject.com

Msoft

From Louis Rifkin

Hi Charles,

If you do not know about it yet, you may want to consider trying RagTime from BE Software <http://www.besoftware.com/RagTime> Business Publishing Software or ComGrafix, Inc. (the North American distributor). Try it, and you'll like it. I have been using this as my standard app. since version 2 - way back in 1990 (I think). NisusWriter is also handy.

Just fyi.

Hi Louis,

Yes, I'm aware of RagTime and hope to review it soon.

Charles

Re: Microsoft crap

From: Matthew Chappell

"I don't use newsgroups myself, but I *think* that Mozilla/Netscape supports them, and Mozilla might be a partial answer to your browser dilemma as well. I really like it, especially the OS X version. I'll poll our readers in the newsgroup client thing.

"As for Web archives, iCab supports them too, and there is even a free, downloadable utility that will convert IE Web archives to iCab."

G'day there Charles,

Thank you so much for getting back to me so soon! I wasn't expecting anything for another couple of weeks yet . . . you must be a very well organised person with your current workload. I wish I was like that! I indeed will be getting copies of the programs you mentioned, as soon as ER is over and everything is done.

I thought that Mozilla was a Windoze only application. And for some reason, I thought it was a utility that helped downloads, uh, download faster. Gee, who ever said that you never learn anything useful on a Monday!

Thanks once again, and please keep up your excellent work and defiance of the Dark Side.

Take care,
Matt Chappell

Re: More on Living Microsoft Free

From Stephen Ashton

Hi Charles,

"But with Internet surfing, I am forced to use Explorer. It is the only browser that I know of that will save the entire contents of a Web page and reproduce it off line accurately. I've tried Netscape and OmniWeb, but such facilities were not available. Unfortunately as well, Explorer was also faster.

"As for Web archives, iCab supports them, too, and there is even a free, downloadable utility that will convert IE Web archives to iCab."

How about using the "Print to PDF" feature available in OS X? I know that the links won't work and that you cannot easily copy the text, but for basic offline reading it works - and it's M$-free cross-platform, too!

Thanks for your articles.

Stephen Ashton

Why I Live Microsoft Free - Typo ?

From Peter WA Wood

Dear Charles

It seems that time moves very slowly in Canada if a five year deal signed in 1977 is going to run out in 2002! I suspect that you meant 1997.

I'm no great fan of Microsoft but use Office 98 to share documents and presentation with customers and associates. I've suffered from the Outlook Express email "database" problem on a couple of occasions and wiped-out the whole lot. Perhaps I need to be more adventurous when considering email clients.

Regards

Peter Wood
Kuala Lumpur

Hi Peter,

Whoops! Yes, I meant 1997. :-b

One Outlook database wipeout would be one too many for me. None of the email programs I have used extensively has ever lost data on me: Eudora; Nisus Email; SweetMail.

Charles

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