Crunchbang Linux is about 1000x faster.
Posted on 12/18/2013 6:48:46 AM PST by ShadowAce
Is it time for you to dump Windows XP, or maybe to abandon Windows altogether? Windows 8 has improved significantly with the 8.1 upgrade. Nevertheless, for many users, Windows 8’s ...major changes like Live Tiles and the removal of the Start menu—remains an object of scorn. And security has always been a bigger headache for Windows...
If you’re still running Windows XP, making the switch to Windows 8.1—or to Windows 7, if you can find it—will probably involve replacing more than just the operating system. Your...hardware may not be able to handle a newer Windows OS; and even if it can, you’ll likely need to replace software and peripheral devices, as well.
If you’re going to invest money and time..., you might as well consider all your options. Microsoft’s stranglehold on the desktop market has loosened over the past few years. Mac, Linux, and even Chrome are sophisticated operating systems... Here’s what to expect if you embrace one...
There’s a reason people (and not just Apple marketers) say “once you go Mac, you’ll never go back.” Apple defined the GUI we know today and set the bar for user-friendly computing. Macs have a reputation for being expensive, but that’s not entirely accurate these days. You can certainly find cheaper Windows-based desktop and laptop options, but in bang-for-the-buck terms, Macs are on a par with—and sometimes cheaper than—similarly equipped Windows machines...
If you want to install a new OS on your existing hardware, Linux is the obvious alternative. The open-source operating system has many variants, one of the most widely used of which is Ubuntu Linux. Generally speaking, Linux has less-demanding hardware requirements and is much more forgiving of older PCs. Laptops are available from Acer, Asus, and Dell that run some version of Linux.
(Excerpt) Read more at pcworld.com ...
I retired my 10 year old Dell XP and purchased a new Dell that comes with 8.0 installed. The upgrade to 8.1 was a little bit of a problem because there is an issue with the upgrade tile not appearing in the Windows store. I had Dell phone support solve the problem. It took the tech an hour to resolve. They sent me the 8.1 update.It took two hours to download and then an hour to install.
8.1 allows you to install Office 2003 which 8.0 did not. I had to download an 8.1 driver for my Brother printer along with a program to uninstall the old version of the driver which was part of the 8.0 system.
8.0 defaults to McAfee which I do not use. The 8.1 upgrade replaced McAfee with the new Windows Defender
Overall I like 8.1
You can find all your software using the file explorer icon in the taskbar. You can find all your system features and programs using a Windows key + X command
Thank you! I do appreciate it.
I was tempted to look at Open Office until I found out my Old version of Office 2003 installs fine on 8.1
Re: wireless on Linux. The WPASupplicant package seems to be pretty much the solution to any wireless problems on Linux, in my experience.
“some apps are installed, I can’t get them to show up on every account? “
Here is how you solve that problem. Sign in to any user account. Click on the This PC icon in the taskbar (looks like file folder). navigate through the Hard Drive to the program folder, find the app you want then send it to the desktop (creates a shortcut)
This again? How many of these “Switch to Linux” threads are you going to post? Seems like once a week. Linux sucks, has always sucked, and still sucks. Only a nerd worships at the alter of an OS.
Crunchbang Linux is about 1000x faster.
PM me.
Not 100% correct - you can run emulators, and some are directly compatible. My biggest concern was always excel replacement/compatiblity. The emulators do a good job on that.
As to drivers - in the Mac environment I have NEVER had to look up a driver or worry about peripherals since my first home mac in 1996. Can’t say on Linux.
Until you admit you're wrong. :)
“So, my suggestions are to install Windows 8.1, then Classic Shell (http://classicshell.net), and after that, quit complaining so much.”
Indeed! Quit complaining so much! You peasants better swallow whatever the latest swill from Microsoft is, and you’ll LIKE it! You hear me, LIKE it! Oh, and while you’re at it, you peasants better swallow a big dose obamacare and you’ll LIKE that too!
“Also, with previous versions of Windows, if I installed a program, it was available to any user. Now, it has to be installed N times, using up N times the memory. And that is not me being stupid or lazy; that is what the app help said.”
See, this is exactly what I mean.
http://winsupersite.com/windows-8/windows-8-tip-share-apps-between-multiple-accounts
That was 5 seconds of work, not just cursing the OS like it was some plot to screw with you.
And guess what? This is what happened to me when I used that “ready to make your dreams come true from the first moment” OS called Linux, and in that case I had to spend WEEKS trying to find an answer as to how to just make the voice and video match up on YouTube or to get Samba to work more than once a week, or to get a simple printer to work.
Every one of those things involved me opening up a terminal window and typing in all types of gibberish.
So you will have to excuse me when I roll my eyes at people that are screaming bloody murder over Windows 8 that frankly dont even seem like they are trying, and are proud of it.
Linux will eat them alive.
That post occurred AFTER I got my first Win8 machine...
And I completely agree becoming familiar with the latest Mac and Linux version will have their issues as well. That is why I haven't gone down that road for home use.
/johnny
Embrace the future with Windows 8.......arrrgh!
The new ceo of Microsoft better kick some butt to fix Windows.
Imagine creating Windows 8 with the many many problems and then releasing it to the public. Were that many people at Microsoft afraid of Steve Balmer and the others responsible to tell them how bad it is?
I tried Windows 8 and like others upgraded to 8.1 which took me 1 hour 45 mins only to be disappointed in finding out the upgrade was 3.6GB !!! to download and did nothing to fix the suckiness of Windows 8. Plus you cannot save that download. If you find the ISO you will find it will not accept your serial number! There are workarounds for that but Windows 8 is needing many other workarounds.
Now I hear a Microsoft exec is taking over the obamacare website. We will soon see a “ribbon toolbar” “apps” and instead of a death panel we will see a blue screen of death panel.
Well, this isn’t news, it has nothing to do with a free republic, and it is nothing really more than you treating FR as your personal tech blog.
I have moved a number of people over to Ubuntu. Even though all are non-technical, in short order they became very comfortable with Linux. I was a bit surprised since some were in their 60's. They appreciate the security benefits.
Linux does breathe new life into older machines.
There are many of us on FR that appreciate the various Linux posts from ShadowAce. I know I always try to read them. This is from someone who works 50/50 on Linux and Windows programming.
I say this with all due respect, if Linux bothers you that much then just don't browse the threads. There are stories that I never click on for pretty much the same reason. Have a good day.
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