What alternative OS's could I use to do my job?
We talked in our impromptu text chat earlier today about a few systems... and getting them working enough to do my job.
So I was thinking through it... and here are the things that I need to be able to do reliably on a system for my work:
- Writing
- Recording audio, minor editing, encoding as MP3
- Basic bitmap editing (Photoshop, GIMP, DeluxePaint, etc. will do)
- Email
- Spreadsheet
- Modern web browser to work with Locals and Substack
That last one is the hard one. All the rest are highly doable on most systems made from the early 1990s onward (and many from the late 1980s).
Note: I'm not including "Video Chat" on this list, as I tend to do that from my smartphone most of the time anyway... even when my laptop is nearby. Just easier.
With all of that in mind, here's a list of alternative OS's (not Linux, Windows, MacOS X) that can do all of that with relative ease, right now, without significant workarounds (such as proxy servers, or relying on moving data to a smartphone or other device):
- Haiku
- ArcaOS
- FreeBSD / OpenBSD
- ChromeOS (heh, lol)
- ReactOS
- OpenIndiana / Illumos
Those systems have modern (or modern "enough" ) web browsers... and meet all the other criteria.
Serenity, Amiga OS (and AROS / MorphOS), MacOS classic (9.x, etc.), and many others almost meet my needs. But fall short in just one or two parts.
MacOS 9, for example, checks every box... except for a web browser that will work with Locals and Substack. Same with AmigaOS.
Just the same... the list of viable systems is somewhat encouraging.
Now, if I were willing to rely on a smartphone (Android, Linux, or iOS) for posting to -- and working with -- both Locals and Substack... all of the sudden multiple other systems become viable as well.
Shoot. I mean... technically I can do my entire workflow from an Android or iOS device. Which. Is kinda wild.
