Greetings all,
Motivation
In the past several months my laptop, running Windows XP, has been afflicted four times by a virus, three times while behind a corporate firewall and under auspices of corporate IT. Even the IT people had to deal with two of the viruses by re-imaging the hard-drive, and restoring data. As I do not work in the corporate world anymore, last time I had to do it myself. After restoring everything to working condition I changed anti-virus software to AVIRA, supposedly the best rated anti-virus software for 2008 - with the result of the software blocking some of the web-sites I need.
From perusing the Internet, it appears that two arguments are made in this regard for non-Windows software: (1) inherently safer design, and (2) smaller base of "naive", i.e., non-corporate users, which makes it more profitable for hackers to write malware against computers running Windows. Please let us not turn this thread into an argument re (1), I do not have enough knowledge to resolve it, but (2) appears rather convincing to me.
Additionally, please let us not discuss basic precautions as firewall, anti-virus software, not-opening e-mail attachments from unknown origin, not visiting shady web-sites, etc. First, I have been practicing that, second, my FreeBSD general purpose computer/server, which I have been using in similar manner for years have never been affected.
Consequently, I have been thinking bout moving away from Windows even on the laptop, and, as summarized in Other Consideration section below, Linux appears to be the most likely option.
Necessary requirements
1. Stability, which I define as an ability of the OS/Application environment to run in a consistent manner each session. Thus, no memory leaks, no random application crashing, no incompatibility issues caused by unnecessary (for me) cutting edge features. (As an example, of some of the above the AVIRA application turns itself off from time to time, without leaving any log to let me determine why).
2. Security. As the computer will be used to work on my clients' documents, it needs to be as secure as reasonably possible, i.e., firewall, non-essential services turned off, and the like.
3. Excellent WINE integration/implementation. I need Word, Exel and PowerPoint because all my clients expect the work product in these formats.
4. Painless wireless set-up because on customers' premises I need to be able to connect into their open wireless networks. Something that would match OS X would be a (probably unachievable) dream.
5. Print support.
6. Flash, which is used by some web-sites I need to access. I am web-browser agnostic if it matters, as long as it cooperates with the OS.
7. Skype because it is preferred by some customers for communication.
8. TIFF support.
Desirable
1. Preferably LDXE, Open Box, Flux Box insted of GNOME, KDE, XFCE. First I am very comfortable with the former running it on my FreeBSD computer, and second, I do not need the latter functionality/bloat.
2. Multimedia support, at least for listening to music and perhaps for occasional DVD viewing.
3. Painless GnuCash installation.
4. As a minimal installation as possible. First, I have limited hard-drive estate (5GB), which I do not want to change due to the (in)famous Error 2010, (this is T43), at least until I am satisfied with this proof of concept. (But if anyone is willing to donate small unused 40-60GB PATA, I can relax this requirement ;-) ). Second, I do not see any reason to have packages installed that I will never use, i.e., various localizations, eye-candy, etc.
Unnecessary
Any cutting edge gadget support - tablets, eye candy - COMPIZ, conky, games, etc.
Other considerations
I have been considering OS X, but I would prefer to avoid it, due to relatively high costs. Further, some of the desirable packages (GnuCash) are not available, and I had no luck to install them from sources. Although OS X is supposedly based on FreeBSD, which I have some experience with, I find OS X administration, i.e., the non-standard application installation confusing.
I used to have Debian installed by my friend, the installation being stable in the above-stated definition. However, after upgrading hardware, I was never able to make it perform as flawlessly as my friend's install. I tried CentOS, which is supposed to be very stable, but could not install the required/desirable desktop applications - I had problems with finding the packages and when I tried to compile them, I had library compatibility problems. I was successful with Ubuntu, but did not like it (no offense to Ubuntu meant).
Then someone suggested FreeBSD, which I fell in love with, never having any problems. Regretfully, FreeBSD does not satisfy some of the requirements - no native flash, non-native Skype, etc. I do not think that I want to run them in compatibility layer.
I really like Opensolris, perhaps due to my FreeBSD background, but again, some of the applications are not yet as easily installable as FreeBSD's ones.
Consequently, I was wondering if - based on the foregoing - I should attempt to switch, and if so, to which OS. Additionally, if someone were from San Diego area, or could assist me, e.g., via network with the initial set-up, I would appreciate it. I believe that once I had a stable installation, there would be no need to change it, and I can replicate it on my other computer for learning purposes.
Thank you,
M
