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Microsoft has recently launched a private beta test of its subscription version of Office and security software targeted at consumers. The launch package, called Albany, includes Office Live and OneCare, which is a form of anti-virus + general security product. In addition, there is an online storage and collaboration add-on called Workspace. It allows you to upload your documents and share and collaborate on them with other people. Sounds great doesn’t it? Well, not if you look under the hood.

A subscription-based service means it will work as long as you keep shelling out money. And whereas Office itself might be too expensive for many people, and a subscription service which brings down the initial investment significantly might be better, the truth is there are free alternatives which provide similar functionality.

We should be living in an age of significant competition in software spaces. But today it seems like the only software packages many people are willing to try come from big named software outfits. I just don’t believe that’s the way it should be.

There are many Linux communities, specifically related to the Ubuntu distro (a new version is coming out very soon), where the installation of software is maintained in a Windows-familiar package listing form, that offer tons of software for free. In fact, in the 7.10 release of Ubuntu, which is a Debian-based release, there are over 20,000 software titles all available for free.

My point isn’t that Linux is for everybody. My point is that there are alternatives. The Ubuntu CD can be created and booted from and test driven without ever having to install anything. Provided you have reasonably common hardware, everything will be automatically recognized and your machine will show you again how much fun it used to be to use your computer.

There are also additional features that are found in these non-mainstream versions, such as multiple desktops, a true 3D experience with Beryl Matrix that blows anything Vista has to offer completely out of the water (Note: the linked YouTube video is shown on an old Athlon 1800+, 512MB of RAM and only a GeForce 4200, running a version of Linux that is two distros out of date). Here’s a more modern one running the current Gutsy Gibbon Linux release and Compiz Fusion.

DRM, subscription services, remote data storage, online activation and self-destroying software if not activated … these are all signs of something that removes the direct control of the purchasing consumer to wield their equipment. In this author’s opinion, all of these software programs should be completely avoided and alternatives sought.

There are alternatives. They offer real functionality for free. They do not require you constantly “phone home” and tell the software author/company what’s up about your usage patterns, your content, how often you do anything on your computer. In this author’s opinion, it’s absolutely none of their business. If they want to make better software, they can ask for volunteers to participate in those kinds of information-gathering programs. In the alternative, they can simply hire very clever people who use their computers to find out what the best offering is, the one that will give people the most bang for their buck.

In the end, wouldn’t it be the best software that wins out? It doesn’t seem like it’s that way today. Not even close actually.

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