This is not a review of the Ubuntu OS, but rather my adventure to look for an alternative OS.  This adventure stemmed not from a general hatred of Windows but rather the need to look for a more affordable alternative for Windows.  First a background about myself, I am definitely a computer geek started out in the 80s with the old Apple ][ when I was still 12, moved on to DOS, XENIX, AIX, WIN 2.0, 3.0, 3.1, NT.  Did my fair share of tinkering from those early times with the hardware, but I am mostly a software guy.  I do programming and have focused on RDBMS  development work.  But I am also a part of our family business which owns a small food chain in Asia.  My general responsibility is of course handling the MIS requirements of our company but I do also have other responsibilities on the Sales and Operations and Marketing aspect of the business, of course, being part of the owners, I do need to be part of all the aspects of our company.   Before joining our company, I was employed in several Software Development houses and also some Software Sales companies.

I just recently acquired magicJack service, another VOIP service. MagicJack provides you with a US number once you activate thus allowing to call to other US numbers as a local US phone number. Since, you get a US phone numbers, your relatives and friends in the US can call you without the cost of an international call.