I admit, I use MS Windows but it's a love/hate relationship. I need it but hate needing it and wish I had other choices for a good, stable, secure and inexpensive operating system.

There has to be something else and I think I found it. Ubuntu. If you're saying "Gezunheit" you  need to know Ubuntu is the latest flavor in the Linux based world of operating systems.

Linux is what's called "Open Source" software. That means the coding and programming for it isn't proprietary like Windows and OSX. SO what you ask? I'll tell you. Open source means anybody can use the base program to build a better program. And many have already done so. The other thing about open source software is much of it tends to be free or at very low cost.

Did I just say free? Yes I did and I'll say it again, free software. In this case, free operating system software supported by thousands of Linux users throughout the world.

But choosing a Linux based OS is only good if it's a true contender to Windows and not just another pretender. That's how I used to feel about all Linux based OS's until recently. None fit my comfort level or supported the kind of programs I needed to run my business.

But all that has changed with the latest Linux based OS, "Ubuntu."

Productive paint programs, music, recording, video editing and much more are all available and they're free. (There's that word again!) In fact Ubuntu comes bundled with a very formidable arsenal of productivity applications.

Have you heard about Open Office? It's a virtual Microsoft Office clone that's 100% compatible. That means files generated by one program are opened and edited in the other.) Like MS Office, Open Office has a spreadsheet, database, text processor, drawing program and even a presentation program (can you say "Powerpoint?"

Unlike MS Office, Open Office is 100% free with free periodic updates. And that's just for starters.

Anyway, I'm going to be blogging about my impressions as I learn Linux, or more specifically "Ubuntu." If you're new to the whole Linux thing, come along with me and we'll discover some exciting new things. I'll be making notes along the way and putting them up here. You're welcome to add what you know as well. Like the African word "Ubuntu," this will be a learning project made easier through the combined input of many.

The most exciting part for me is knowing I'll never be tied to a one-size-fits-all operating system again! Reason enough to give Ubuntu a try.