Defenestrating Windows (Part 2)

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(continuation)

Early scorecard

Next, I set about gathering up the various bits and pieces of software necessary to satisfy my check-list of system requirements.

Knowing the reputation of Linux as a reliable server operating system, I expected that having a stable OS would be the easiest part -- and sure enough, it was. As a matter of fact, despite my countless downloads and experiments with dozens of programs -- including many beta versions labeled "Warning! This program will definitely delete all your data and explode your system!" -- I was continually amazed at how Linux itself never crashed. Meeting requirement #1 was clearly not an issue.

Since I was already a Netscape user on Windows, and a mature Linux version of Netscape was readily available, I was confident that the browser and email software I needed were but a few quick mouse clicks away. Eager to get going with Linux as my daytime OS, I downloaded and installed Netscape 4.75 for Linux. But I soon found several severe limitations that would clearly need to be overcome before I could use Linux as my daytime system. These were . . .

inability to use my Windows Netscape email files
the email address books didn't work properly
horrible fonts and an overall ugly appearance

While I managed to locate a good solution to the first of these problems, the other two were real deal killers. In fact, the fonts and appearance were so bad that I tended to get a headache whenever I used Netscape in Linux for more than about half an hour.

I definitely needed a better solution for my browser and email requirements.

My browser and email ordeal

I thereupon commenced what I hoped would be a quick search for suitable Linux browser and email software (per my check-list of requirements). The quick search grew into many months.

I tried everything.

I downloaded the latest Mozilla. It really looked a lot nicer than Netscape. Its email address book worked properly and it could access the email files I had by now learned to transfer from Windows Netscape. "Surely this is the solution!" was my initial reaction -- until I realized how totally s-l-u-g-g-i-s-h-l-y it ran. Like molasses. No way I could use that all day!

Being a flexible sort of guy, I even decided to consider using Netscape for its browser and some alternative email program. I tried Balsa. Spruce. Evolution. Later releases of Mozilla. You name it! They looked pretty good, but none of them provided everything I required (which included the requirement for compatibility with Netscape's email files and address book).

Hoping to improve the appearance of Netscape, I also tested each new release GNOME and KDE as soon as their "stable versions" became available in binary format, in order to be sure I was aware of the best Linux had to offer at any given moment. But to no avail -- the ugliness persisted.

Eventually, I decided that the solution to my browser/email problem would most likely come from the ongoing (and relatively rapid) evolution of Mozilla.

Sensing that I would have to wait a while for the arrival of that solution, I grudgingly acquiesced to continuing to use Windows during working hours, while focusing my after-hours efforts on assembling the rest of what my check-list said was needed.

--- Continued ---

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Use of this site is governed by our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Except where otherwise specified, the contents of this site are copyright © 1999-2008 Ziff Davis Enterprise Holdings Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Ziff Davis Enterprise is prohibited. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.