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Why switch to free?
Free software is software that respects your freedom. Programmers and users are allowed to do anything they want with the software so long as it doesn't infringe on the freedoms of others. For this reason, when you see "free software," think "free speech" and not "free beer."
However, this isn't something reserved to programmers; it's something that greatly benefits the non-programmer users. Since those programmers can do as they wish without restriction, the software they make is often (if not always) more secure, more reliable, and designed to empower the user, not the developer.
Free software developers don't make money by selling the software (but they are allowed to); it's usually easier to make money by selling support or taking money in exchange for making changes to an existing program.
Users of free software can normally get the software free of charge as well, and they are always allowed to make copies and give them to anyone else without fear of a lawsuit. Owners of free software actually own the programs; people who pay for non-free (also called proprietary) software are not actually buying the software, but rather a license to use it. They do not own what they use.
Software like Microsoft Windows is filled with "digital handcuffs" called DRM (Digital Restrictions Management) designed to limit your capability. If the developer didn't want you to use the software to make money, the license agreement doesn't permit you. Free software guarantees that you will be able to use the software in any way that you desire.
More to the point, you should use free software in everything to ensure not only that you get the most out of your computer, but that you are more safe (still not invulnerable) from malicious people and programs which would seek to steal and use your data against you and/or for their benefit. I am prepared to offer you a computing environment that is completely composed of free software to use just as you desire in exchange for as little money as possible. I'm doing this to empower you, not just to draw in a paycheck. Those I've helped so far have been extremely satisfied and did not have difficulty being productive after the switch. For details, see the outlines for the different procedures I offer. I am also happy to answer any questions you might have about using and/or switching to free software.
Services
Windows Application Installation
Interested?
If you'd like to make the switch to freedom, contact me.
I will most easily respond to e-mail, but I am available by phone between the hours of 5:00 PM and 9:00 PM CDT during the week.
If you contact me by e-mail, I can send you a digital copy of my questionnaire for you to fill out, or you can request by phone or e-mail a hard copy to be delivered by hand if you are of close enough proximity.
The questionnaire will help me to better understand what you want out of your system and may help you to understand what it is that I'll be doing.
Of course, if you have any other questions, you may ask those as well, so long as they wouldn't fall into any of the categories in the previous pages.
Nervous?
I'm offering a new service now for people that I can stay in contact with to make the transition to freedom a little easier. Click here for more information.
Credit
Opening image courtesy of the Free Software Foundation, released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported license.