If you’re looking for a dose of Microsoft bashing, let me start by saying this is not the place. The fact of the matter is that Microsoft products have become the targets of virus writers, worm wranglers and spyware spinners due to their wide use. There are several alternatives to using all Microsoft products.

In fact, this provides a good place to start weening off an all-Microsoft diet. The very software that gets you connected to the Internet may be opening the door to Internet lowlifes that want to take over your computer. Microsoft’s Internet Explorer and Outlook-based software (including Outlook and Outlook Express) are used far and away by the most people on the Internet. Holes in browser security and e-mail address books make them an attractive way for hackers and virus script-kiddies to work their wiles. Alternative browsers that include e-mail support provide options that reduce the risk of infection.

Mozilla was the original name for Netscape’s Web browser which now has new life outside the control of Netscape. The Mozilla Project continues the development and offers a free browser called Firefox and e-mail package called Thunderbird (www.mozilla.org). One interesting feature of FireFox is the ability to “tab” browser pages; you can view multiple browser pages in a single “session” and switch between them quickly.

Another popular alternative browser is Opera from, who else, Opera Software in Norway (www.opera.com). Opera's claim to fame is that it speeds Web browsing. There's a free version of the browser that includes some advertising. You can also pay about $39 to download an ad-free version.

While the motivation for alternative browsers may be security, the motivation for non-Microsoft “office” applications may be money. Microsoft Office has become the de facto standard for documents (Word), spreadsheets (Excel), and presentations (PowerPoint). In fact, Microsoft’s brand names for each of their software packages has become synonymous with the functions they perform. One key to looking at alternative programs is the ability to save files in Microsoft formats, so that sharing your files is easier with Microsoft users. Previous alternatives didn’t do a great job of creating Microsoft-compatible files. Now, however, OpenOffice.org provides the free OpenOffice.org suite of software. After using OpenOffice.org, there are three reasons I can recommend it. First, it’s free. Microsoft Office can account for one-third of the cost of a new, inexpensive PC. For writing a letter?

Second, it works well with Microsoft Office. In fact, this article was written in OpenOffice.org, then saved in Microsoft Word format before being sent to my editor.

Finally, OpenOffice.org works on Windows, Linux and Apple computers. Don’t tell anyone, but I have a Linux PC in the basement. Now, I can open the same document on any machine with OpenOffice.org and type away.

Move It All?

If you’re looking for me to tell you to move wholesale away from Microsoft’s Windows operating system, I can’t do that. Why not? It’s fairly simple; only two true alternatives to Windows exist. Apple Computer offers sleek, sexy machines. However, since only Apple can make Apple computers, systems can be pricey. Also, unless you know other Apple users, support can be a challenge. In geekdom, the going alternative is Linux, which comes in several flavors. Linux, like FireFox and OpenOffice.org above, is “open source”, meaning no single company owns the software and, while it’s cheap or even free, it’s supported by the user community. There’s no Support Line to call when you get in a bind. That may be OK for the programs you run on your computer, but it's a little trickier when you think about the operating system that controls your computer. Most home users would find current versions of Linux confusing and frustrating. For the best support of more devices and software, Windows is still the system of choice.