You  push Linux Ubuntu because you make more money out of it

If only that were true! CoConut Solutions supplies software ‘at cost’, be-it the price of a licensed MS Windows disc or the price of the Linux media. What our clients pay for is our time in installing the software, setting things up, and where required giving basic training in its use.
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Typically for the cost of my just installing Windows XP onto your computer, we can install Ubuntu, set up the computer in a home or office, and give basic training to a Linux novice. Cost-wise, the money is the same. Value for money, our customers get more by opting for Linux.
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I have a pirated version of Windows on my computer. The idea of Linux appeals to me, but I know Windows and I don’t feel confident having a computer that doesn’t have the features that I’m used to.

There are a number of options open to you. CoConut Solutions can save your data, and install a licensed version of Windows. Alternatively it may be possible to install Linux on the same hard disc as your existing Windows install.
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This is called a dual-boot, and when installed after powering up the computer, you would be given a menu offering you the choice of booting into either Windows or the Linux operating system. We find that after only a week, many of CoConut Solutions’ customers use the Windows system less and less as they become productive with Linux. Of course the learning curve is different for different customers.

Microsoft is one of the biggest corporations in the World, surely losing my $1000TT won’t do them any harm?  Besides aren’t Linux operating systems are ‘given away’?

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When you say biggest, I think that you mean richest.  Compare the numbers of actual developers there are far more developers working on Linux based distributions than there are developers employed by Microsoft.
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Without getting into economics, different companies have different business models.  For example, MS makes a lot of it’s money selling Windows and MS branded products.  Whereas Canonical Ltd, the company behind Linux Ubuntu, derives it’s revenue through other means such as technical support.
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I want Windows because I want the most up-to-date system.

Ubuntu releases a new version of its Linux based operating system every 6 months, other Linux distributions release on similar regular time-scales.  Even the version of Ubuntu CoConut Solutions recommends to corporate and less experience home users was only released in April 2008 (8.04 Hardy Heron).
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Compare that to Microsoft:  Windows XP was released in 2001.  Five years later in 2006, Vista was launched. The next version of Windows will not be out until late in 2009.  If you want up-to-date, then Linux is the answer.

CoConut Solutions are advocates of free and Open Source software, however this does not mean that we are Windows-haters. We know that there are many people who are more comfortable with the layout of the Windows desktop, and use their PC’s for applications such as gaming and i-Tunes, that are not as well supported on Linux distributions. For this reason and we service and support Window’s customers.

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However time and time again we are presented with a machine that has a hacked or pirated copy of either XP or Vista on it. Last weekend we were presented with such a machine, and asked if we could do something to speed it up.

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We plugged it in and it was immediately obvious that the version of XP Professional was not legitimate. Firstly there was no license sticker on the case, secondly it would not download updates (and had never downloaded updates in it’s 3 year life!). Finally when we checked with Microsoft’s web-site, we got the confirmation that this was an un-licensed version of XP-pro.

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CoConut Solutions has a policy that, we will not work on or with pirated software.

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Why Not Use Pirated Software?

There are plenty of stories that the proceeds from pirated software finances terrorism, the drugs trade , and organised crime. The truth of these stories is debatable, but for us the reasons are far closer to home and much more practical.

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Pirated software often cannot retrieve security updates from the official site. This leaves your computer, your data and ultimately your persona details vulnerable to bugs, and more significantly, the risk of having personal details compromised leaving you open to being the victim on fraud or identity theft via the web.

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There is plenty of free and Open Source software available that can do the same, and in many cases, do a better job than MS packages. Also pirating software denies developers the royalties that represents their living and their continuing business.

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