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Computer Help and Discussions The Lounge
21

Microsoft Bob. . . :lol: . . . wow that goes back a ways.

Fix win 8 . . . too little too late.

There are problems w/ Linux, yes, but hey, windows is not exactly a stroll in the park.

For me, win 8 was the straw that broke the camel's back. You couldn't turn it off!! You had to log in with a windows live account. (I know, not really, but it seemed so.) It is hugely difficult (for me at least) to dual boot some other OS. UEFI, GPT, TPM, etc . . . Improvements . . . <_<

Some commentater [sic] kept referring to a "windows powered system" with the implication that the user had no business tweaking it, nor asking it to do something microsoft had not included. Further, my spanking new HP win 7 machine did not even have available drivers for XP, a year before microsoft stopped support. HP forums, no help. I think it was a sweetheart deal, (Die, xp, Die!!) with microsoft. Several Linux distros had working drivers for that same win 7 machine.

That got me started thinking, "Who do they think they are ?!?" It is after all just a machine; it has spinning parts, wires, lights & switches. It gets me on the 'net and allows me to use softwares. Now, is there some other OS that will do that?

Soooo, When xp is no longer viable I shall go to Linux unless there is some unforseen development by microsoft, like a Disturbance in The Force. The Linux crowd is improving Linux distros much faster than microsoft is improving windows, just my opinion, and Linux is getting more windowish, stable and versatile. To wit, Linux Lite & Zorin.

As to speed, fwiw, xp runs much faster than win 7 on the same hardware. Cannot compare xp w/ win 8, haven't yet tried to dual boot that machine, haven't turned it on for months. But the Puppy distros are faster than any of the windowses (is that a word?) after they boot.

Good news, a survey popup from Avast! today said they will be supporting xp for 3 more years, wanted to know how users will react to end of support.

22

My experience with linux is that while there are sometimes drivers for certain hardware, they often don't perform the same as on windows. Especially graphics drivers, wifi, sound, and power saving functions. I use the latest linux distros just to try them out but there is always something that doesn't work right on every one, and there is never a solution.

23

You're right. With that rant out of my system, it's easy to acknowledge it. :)

I'm gonna go with Linux anyway, cause I'll be mostly reusing older hardware anyway, same as with my car. :lol:

24

I tried to switch to linux. I just couldn't do it. The software just wasn't stable enough for me. Every distro would crash for one reason or another.

I've had issues with every one of them I've ever tried myself, it's usually non-working sound. The only one that ever crashed and completely froze on me was Zorin-OS.

25

I think my transition will be to tablets. I use my iPad the most as it is, but as these platforms become more powerful I can see it becoming my only computer at some point. I like the battery life, performance of apps, ecosystem, ect. I use my iPad with a really nice Microsoft keyboard and I love typing and doing work on it. The only thing I like better about android is that it has mouse support which would be nice when doing office type work. I may get a nice android tablet once MS releases office for android. My nexus 7 is just too small for that type of work.

I will probably always keep a desktop for gaming on steam but my current one is hooked up to a tv and not at a desk. I use steam big picture mode.

26

Interesting about the crashing. Just the opposite here. mostly they work well, only one or two glitches, don't remember which OSs. Even made office documents, docs nd ppts, and use them with microsoft office. Tried LibreOffice and AbiWord. LibreOffice is compatible, Abiword too iirc.

27

In my experience there is "compatible" and compatible. You can technically make powerpoint and word files in google docs, openoffice, libreoffice, ect. Will they be the same in MS Office as they were in those applications? sometimes. I will not use anything but MS Office, its just not worth the hassle to me anymore.

28

Nice to see start menu coming back.

Not that I was always using it, but it does not really waste space or focus, and sometimes gets handy to open one of the plethora of software I seldom use, or to start search without wasting screen with a search gadget.

It may be sound like Capt. Obvious, but it is that sort of feature you understand it was needed only when it is missing.