I have been increasingly frustrated with Serenity Computing for some time. I established the business shortly after I arrived from Sydney in 2005.

My goal was to establish a computer support business for both home and small business. I have the experience and background. I have worked with computers since they were the size of wardrobes. My first personal computer was a Microbee I bought from Jaycar Electronics in 1983 for $499, the limit on my new Bankcard. It strained the marriage, but I survived.

I worked for small and large computer companies. I was retrenched 3 times when companies I loved folded through management discord, competition or lack of foresight. They never failed for lack of trying.

I moved to the University of Sydney, managing “Security Technical Resources” for a number of years. Then I fell in love with Tasmania and moved here in 2005.

Serenity Computing started slowly. The first few months were largely me and my partners (my wife and son) printing and distributing flyers to almost every mailbox in Launceston. People called, and in most cases, had problems solved. If I could not fix the problem, there was no charge. I only had to pay one refund.

Then two things happened:

1) Microsoft stealthily used Window Update to install “Windows Genuine Advantage”(WGA) a copy protection program that trashed the computers of tens of thousands of innocent people because it thought they used pirated copies of Windows. I was busy for weeks trying to help, often to no avail. A new copy of Windows was the only solution if you had lost your original disks.

2) I lost my mind. Well just my memory really. I became one of the 2% of people who suffer memory loss because of Lipitor, a Cholesterol medication. The business went downhill because I could not remember what I had done or said moments before. It took a long time to discover and remedy the problem. I wrote a blog post on “Phil on Whatever“ at the point of my first recovery and another later. I was angry, hurt and confused. Even later I wrote a more measured and better researched article on a new web site I registered called “Escape to Simplicity”. I am still not quite sure what I will do with this site, but the name gives you a good idea where I want it to go ultimately. I still suffer lapses, but they are getting fewer, don’t give up on me yet!

The result of these two events is:

1) I have lost all faith in Microsoft and the Windows operating system and Microsoft Office. I no longer use them.

2) Serenity Computing as a business has shrunk, and I find little enjoyment in sticking more patches on the sinking Titanic that is Microsoft Windows. And because I don’t use Windows, my expertise is aging.

I love helping people, but the real solution is to get the world away from Windows and using a REAL operating system. There are two solutions. Sell everything and buy an Apple Mac, or switch your existing computer to Linux.

Serenity Computing is changing focus

You will note from the links I have  inserted here that I am working part-time as a bus driver while I get re-established, so income from Serenity is not my first priority. As a result I have decided to cease all customer support for Windows based client issues.

I will focus the business on supporting people who are interested in moving to a secure, safe, reliable, virus-free and fast operating system, Linux. Linux also has the advantage that it and almost all of the programs it uses are FREE.

I have been trying to find a good alternate home computer support provider in Launceston, and will give a link soon. They will almost certainly cost more, but I will try to negotiate a discount!

Soon the Serenity Computing web site will contain more information on the whys and hows, ups and downs (yes, there are downs) of using Linux. In the meantime, please e-mail me if you have questions. And of course I would LOVE to see your comments on this Blog entry.

I wish to thank all my clients, most of whom I now consider as friends, for their support over the last six years. please feel free to call me if you would like a chance to try Linux on your computer.