Link Warning!!!

[netwrkranger]

I HIGHLY recommend installing VMWare Server. Install Linux into a virtual machine image. You can do it all right on your Windows machine through the application.

VMWare is king! Runs on Windows or Linux. Might run on UNIX, but I haven't tested that yet.

Open Office is an application. You have the choice of an installer or going portable (no installer). Open Office is open source.

Macs are good. Good hardware. Good OS (based on the BSD kernel). They are just expensive =D.

[Shuftin]

Some people don't have time to invest in learning a new OS. Here's a couple tricks to use instead. Although FireFox is a damned good web browser there is still one better yet. Safari is a web browser designed to be used on Mac's. Mac has been so kind as to design a free version of Safari to be used on Windows. Safari is 1.9 X faster than IE and 1.7 X faster than FireFox. Cruising the Internet using Safari. Spyware, adware, and malware believe that you are a Mac user and 99.9% of the time leave you alone. Therefore more speed and more safety. Safari has very little limitations but they are there. FireFox is a good backup for the rare times that Safari is lacking. http://www.apple.com/safari/ . NOTE: When installing Safari, the web browser will incorporate all existing plug-ins on your computer. No additional downloads required. Simply install and run.

This second is a little more interesting. I got this from the Kim Komando radio show

Along with e-mail, Web sites are hackers' favorite ways to spread their attacks. Some sites hide infections in downloads. Others can snag computers that simply surf to the site.

A near foolproof way to protect yourself is to surf the Web with a spare computer. If you run into trouble, simply reformat the hard drive. Trouble is, most of us can't afford a spare PC as virus fodder.

So try Sandboxie. This free program provides a safe space, or sandbox, on your computer. It's like having that spare PC. Sandboxie impersonates your hard drive. Downloads and infections are saved in Sandboxie instead of true hard drive.

If you run into trouble, simply empty Sandboxie. Infections and new downloads will disappear. Your Internet activity will disappear as well.

You can use Sandboxie for more than safe Web browsing. For example, you can run your e-mail program through Sandboxie. If you download a malicious attachment, empty Sandboxie and start over.

To run a program through Sandboxie, first open Sandboxie. Select Run Sandboxed>>From Start Menu. Then select the program you want. Start your Web browser this way to protect yourself on the Internet.

Sandboxie won't work for all situations. For example, you don't want your word processing documents to disappear. To ensure you're saving to the actual hard drive, simply start programs as you would without Sandboxie.

Sandboxie works with Windows 2000, XP and Vista.

Cost: Free

http://www.sandboxie.com/

[netwrkranger]

Sandboxie is hawt .

[Mark]

Ubuntu, if that's what you want, is not complicated to install. And it comes with FireFox web browser, OpenOffice which is a word processor, spreadsheet and some kind of presentation thing (i'm not that familiar with), and many other utilities already installed. You can also ad a powerful database to OpenOffice if you so desire.


You have three options for acquiring Ubuntu:

1. download it in iso format (700 Mb), and burn it to CD--I used Nero. -- http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

2. Purchase a copy at http://www.ubuntu.com/GetUbuntu/purchase

3. or request a copy at https://shipit.ubuntu.com/

Installing:

For Installing a Dual-Boot with Windows and Ubuntu (recommended).
Step by step instructions see: http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/installing



Everything about grub and more... http://users.bigpond.net.au/hermanzone/p15.htm#gui This will be your GUI when booting up. Here you will choose Ubuntu or windows to boot up.

Be prepared to inter a password whenever you're installing or uninstalling any programs, and when making any changes to your installation of Ubuntu. This is only one of the reasons why it is such a secure OS, over windows.

Note: If, for some reason, you ever want to uninstall Ubuntu; There is a right way and a WRONG way to uninstall Ubuntu. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the right way, before doing so.... OK? At the very least, it will keep you out of the panic mode [:-)] -- http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=211169


Peace

P.S. In the installation guide above, the guy recommends using the Live CD for two weeks before actually installing. I don't think I would recommend that, because it is unbearably slowwwwwww running it off of the CD like that; for me anyway--your choice though.

[netwrkranger]

OpenOffice is a suite of applications similar to M$ Office.

http://www.openoffice.org/