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Can You Live Without Microsoft? One expert evaluates the necessity of Microsoft software.

By Robert J. McGarvey

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

When my computer comes on in the morning, there it is: theMicrosoft logo signaling Windows 98 kicking into action. SoonMicrosoft icons cover my desktop-Word, Excel, Internet Explorer andmore. But with Microsoft judged a certified villain by the federalgovernment, am I guilty by association with all my use of Microsoftstuff? Are you? For any entrepreneur, these are more than academicquestions because if there's anything we should be against,it's big guys who deny oxygen to little companies.

Hold your snickers, Mac users, because you're in no bettershape when it comes to using Microsoft software. If you don'tbelieve that, click here.

Can we purge ourselves of complicity by ridding our computers ofMicrosoft software? This morning that question gnawed at my brainand I set off to find the facts for homebased entrepreneurs whodon't have much time or technical expertise. For starters, whatabout Linux, the so-called "open source" operating systemthat's winning fans and offers from the Windows operatingsystem?

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