Who is this site for?

This site is designed to help anyone who — for whatever reason — wishes to explore the possibility of living without Microsoft software. We aim to build a resource which will be informative, impartial and accessible to non-techies.

Why did you create it?

We created Living Without Microsoft because the market dominance of Microsoft leads many non-technical people to assume that there really is no alternative to using its software. In many cases, there are real alternatives, and our aim is to help you find them.

What makes it different from other sites?

There are many other sources of information about non-Microsoft products, but they often exist to promote a particular viewpoint or platform. We wanted to create a higher-level resource to help those simply trying to decide whether to adopt a Microsoft solution or whether to try an alternative. We do not assume, for example, that a Linux-based solution will always, by definition, be superior to a Windows-based one.

What’s wrong with using Microsoft software, anyway?

That’s an issue you have to decide for yourself in the end. Some people prefer to avoid Microsoft because they need to be in control of the format of their own data. Others find the substantial cost of the software to be prohibitive. Some disapprove of Microsoft’s business practices, or feel that it’s unhealthy for any industry to be in the grip of such a monopoly. Governments often feel a duty to their citizens not to be under the control of a single corporation to the extent that use of Microsoft software often implies. And many, many people are simply frustrated with the constant battle against bugs, worms and viruses.

This site is not intended to be anti-Microsoft. It is, perhaps, intended to be anti-monopoly. It is about showing people that they have freedom to choose alternatives, and helping them with the information needed to make the decision about whether or not to go for the Microsoft solution.

Do you welcome outside contributions?

Certainly! We want this to be a community effort. Please read the guidelines below to know what sort of contributions we appreciate most.

What kinds of contributions do you like?

We are keen on posts which include unbiased comparisons of Microsoft software with other alternatives. We like stories of people’s experiences in changing to or from Microsoft solutions. We like links to other relevant stories on the web. Pointers to high-quality reviews of competing products, for example, would be eminently suitable, especially if they include comparisons with the Microsoft offerings, or information on conversion of Microsoft-format data.

What are you not so keen on?

Anything that looks like a simple sales pitch will be treated with all the respect it deserves. If you are associated with any product you mention in a post, please let us know. We may well post straight product announcements, or (more likely) link to another site that has the information, but if we’re suspicious that you’re simply trying to get free promotion while pretending to be an unbiased user we won’t be amused. So please let us know.

Anything that seems too one-sided, or too religously anti-Microsoft, also might best be posted elsewhere. We also reserve the right to edit posts for grammar, spelling, language etc.

Do you agree with everything you post?

No, not necessarily. All opinions should be taken to be those of the authors of the posts concerned, and should not be considered to be the view of the editors, or the official view of any organisation that the poster or the editors may be associated with.

Why do you want me to register before submitting news, etc?

Because this is a moderated site and we may need to communicate with you if we have queries about your posting. Because we feel people should be willing to take responsibility for their postings. But our privacy policy is simple: we will never pass on your details to any third party without your express permission.

Who’s funding this?

We are. This is a pure pro-bono venture. We might get round to hosting some moderate amount of advertising, or selling mugs or tee-shirts or baseball caps, to help pay the rent on the server!

Who are you?

LWM was initially created by John Naughton and Quentin Stafford-Fraser, but many others have contributed since then. It’s really run by a group of volunteers.