Thanks to Ray Ontko and Ubuntu, we now have dozens of CDs with open source software to give away.

These CDs not only contain great software for free, but they are multi-functional. You can:

• Install open source software for Windows, including OpenOffice, Firefox and Thunderbird.
  
• Boot directly into a memory test program, to confirm if you have any bad memory.
  
• Easily boot directly off the cd into a completely functional Ubuntu Linux desktop. This is an easy and risk-free way to evaluate Linux-- your hard drive will not be touched.
  
• Finally, you can use the CD to install Linux to your hard drive if you like it, possibly alongside or replacing Windows.

If you'd like one of these CDs and live around Wayne County, Indiana, contact Mark Stosberg to get one.

If you live elsewhere, you can contact Ubuntu directly, and they'll mail CDs to you.

Challenges

Martha's Mac Performa was dead. The monitor worked, but she needed a complete hardware and software solution otherwise. She could not really afford a new computer, and needed to spend an absolute minimum.

She lives three hours away and does not plan to connect her computer to the internet, so it would be difficult for me to help remotely. She needed a solution that required no training. She needed to be able to take care of her own system administration nearly all of the time.

However, her software needs were simple: She wanted to use a word processor and spreadsheet, and have Windows compatibility.

When it comes to office suites, OpenOffice is the clear choice. A capable rival to Microsoft Office, it is available Linux, Mac and Windows, and is installed by default on the most popular Linux distributions.

OpenOffice is known for it's high compatibility with the Microsoft Office file formats, so files can be easily exchanged with people who still use that. As well, the look and feel is designed to make the transition from Microsoft Office easy.

Locally, Earlham School of Religion uses OpenOffice exclusively in its student labs, and Randolph Southern High School uses it on 120 computers. OpenOffice is in use regularly at area businesses including Whitewater Acupuncture and Summersault website development.