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Is Windows 7 the Greatest OS Ever? Let Me Count the Ways
PCWorld Magazine ^ | 10/26/2009 | Tony Bradley

Posted on 10/27/2009 12:55:48 AM PDT by Swordmaker

Steve Ballmer recently stated that Windows 7 is the best version of Windows ever. Now that Windows 7 is officially out, the public at large can join that debate and determine if Windows 7 is the best version of Windows yet, or even the greatest operating system of all time. Let's consider the hypothetical question of whether Windows 7 is the greatest operating system of all time.

Before the flaming comments start flowing about what a Microsoft fanboy I am, let me begin by stating that it's a hypothetical question, not a statement of opinion, never mind an assessment of any empirical facts.

How do you even measure such a thing, though? Choosing the ‘best' operating system is a little like selecting the ‘best' religion. They all have their pros and cons and the decision is very subjective because what one person considers a feature, the next person considers a bug.

Windows 7 has been favorably reviewed thus far and it seems to be doing well out of the gate, but, let's take a look at some factors you might consider in trying to choose the best operating system ever.

(Excerpt) Read more at pcworld.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: hype; ilovebillgates; iwanthim; iwanthimbad; microsoftfanboys; msfanboy
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1 posted on 10/27/2009 12:55:48 AM PDT by Swordmaker
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To: ~Kim4VRWC's~; 1234; 50mm; 6SJ7; Abundy; Action-America; acoulterfan; Airwinger; Aliska; altair; ...
This "shoot-out" starts with the premise that Windows7 is the best OS ever... and finishes with that same conclusion after misrepresenting some facts. PING!


Mac OS X Snow Leopard v. Windows7 by a Windows fan Ping!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

2 posted on 10/27/2009 1:00:21 AM PDT by Swordmaker (Remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is "AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE!)
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To: Swordmaker

3 posted on 10/27/2009 1:04:15 AM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: Swordmaker
Steve Ballmer recently stated that Windows 7 is the best version of Windows ever.

He also said that about Vista. I'm sure he even said it about Windows ME, which is quite possibly the only OS that could corrupt a beverage if its CD were used as a coaster.
4 posted on 10/27/2009 1:09:33 AM PDT by Terpfen (FR is being Alinskied. Remember, you only take flak when you're over the target.)
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To: Terpfen

I’m still using xp and I’m not changing until I have to. Then I’ll go with Ubuntu.


5 posted on 10/27/2009 1:12:55 AM PDT by rdl6989 (January 20, 2013 The end of an error.)
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To: Swordmaker

Well, well, well, the iSnobs aren’t wasting any time.


6 posted on 10/27/2009 1:13:19 AM PDT by mkjessup
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To: rdl6989

The latest version of Ubuntu (9.10) is really slick and gives Win7 a run for its money (can’t compare it to OS X since I don’t have any real experience with it). Unless you are doing something that requires Windows, it’s quite easy to get by using Ubuntu alone. With the shift towards cloud computing, it’s getting easier and easier to break away from Windows and Mac. Download the Ubuntu 9.10 live CD when it’s officially released later this week and give it a whirl (you can try it without erasing your XP partition).


7 posted on 10/27/2009 1:27:25 AM PDT by thecabal (Destroy Progressivism)
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To: Swordmaker
Redneck destroying computer

destroying old computer

Computer Repair Training Video: What NOT to Do

destroying computers

8 posted on 10/27/2009 1:36:24 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper (HARDCORE RRREDNECK! yip yip)
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To: mkjessup
Well, well, well, the iSnobs aren’t wasting any time.

Who would that be? I suspect you aren't talking about yourself. I guess that would have to be an "aSnob".

Actually, do you have anything positive to add to the discussion?

9 posted on 10/27/2009 1:41:46 AM PDT by John Valentine
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To: mkjessup
Well, well, well, the iSnobs aren’t wasting any time.

Excuse me? Has anyone on here insulted a Windows user? Nope. But you have to pollute the thread with insults.

10 posted on 10/27/2009 1:53:24 AM PDT by Swordmaker (Remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is "AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE!)
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To: Berlin_Freeper

Destroying computers? Interesting videos, sure, but if you’ve owned your computer for over a year, I think you can just pour sodium silicate in the processor engine and get government money towards a new green-friendly computer.


11 posted on 10/27/2009 2:40:11 AM PDT by Zack Attack
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To: Swordmaker

My old computer crashed three days ago and just yesterday I got a loaded Dell from Best Buy with 7 on it.
Haven’t used it enough to know how good just yet but in the next few days I’ll put it through its paces.
Quad processer is fast compared to my 1st garteway of years ago.


12 posted on 10/27/2009 3:12:30 AM PDT by Joe Boucher
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To: Swordmaker

When it comes to installing these upgrades I think most would agree, “no upgrade will go unpunished.” Putting
new software on an older computer with other older programs is brutal.


13 posted on 10/27/2009 3:55:54 AM PDT by charles1252
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To: Swordmaker
But you have to pollute the tread with insults

Of course he/she does, I have worked with Window advocates who are gonzo like that. It is best to ignore them. They have been assimilated and can't be reasoned with. I have no idea why someone would express so much passion over an operating system.

14 posted on 10/27/2009 3:57:43 AM PDT by stratboy
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To: Swordmaker
Given that Windows XP users outnumber Windows Vista users almost 4 to 1, and that three out of four users still use the older version of Windows, the reigning champ in this area has to be Windows XP.

The bottom line though is that only you can determine what is the best operating system for you. Determining the ‘best' operating system is, in fact, a matter of subjective opinion. Surveys and statistics may be useful, but what matters is how it works for you to do what you want a computer operating system to do.


Says it all I think
15 posted on 10/27/2009 4:11:05 AM PDT by BornToBeAmerican (We the people, ..... never)
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To: Swordmaker
If you have modern hardware on the motherboard (e.g., a dual-core CPU and motherboard chipset that supports x86-64 instructions and 4 GB of RAM), Windows 7 is BY FAR the best operating system out there, only missing perfection by the lack of a small number of software drivers. Windows Vista in this case has more drivers but uses more system resources and doesn't have as polished an interface as Windows 7.

If you have an older motherboard (circa 1997-2005), Windows XP is still the better solution, since the motherboards of this period support between 768 MB and 2 GB of RAM, which is necessary for Windows XP to run decently fast. And Windows XP will run decently even with something as slow as an Intel Celeron 366 MHz CPU, provided you can max out the system memory to 768 MB.

16 posted on 10/27/2009 4:13:41 AM PDT by RayChuang88 (FairTax: America's economic cure)
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To: thecabal

Has Ubuntu figured out that mouse thingie yet?


17 posted on 10/27/2009 4:16:48 AM PDT by djf (Grasshopper: The game is rigged. Patience takes forever to learn. You're so screwed!!)
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To: RayChuang88
Windows XP will run decently even with something as slow as an Intel Celeron 366 MHz CPU, provided you can max out the system memory to 768 MB

Guess what, it'll run pretty good on an old Gateway Pentium II, 400 MHz with 384 MB Ram.

18 posted on 10/27/2009 4:27:44 AM PDT by The Cajun (Mind numbed robot , ditto-head, Hannitized, Levinite)
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To: Swordmaker
I installed Windows 7 on a 6 year old pc with xp and I have to agree, it is the best OS that microsoft has released to date. It boots in half the time of my vista laptop, software and drivers load flawlessly, and it seems to use resources even better than xp did.

An email client is not included in the system - it recommends windows live which does the job.

My reason to install it was the fear that microsoft would stop supporting xp with security fixes (they've been announcing that for several years), but I am very pleased with it.

19 posted on 10/27/2009 4:28:12 AM PDT by Abby4116
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To: Swordmaker
Excuse me? Has anyone on here insulted a Windows user? Nope. But you have to pollute the thread with insults.

Well, we started out of the gate with apparently unsubstantiated accusations of the the author "misrepresenting the facts".

20 posted on 10/27/2009 4:33:45 AM PDT by tacticalogic ("Oh bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: Swordmaker

Apple haters infest MAC threads and Microsoft haters infest Windows threads. And Linux people are equal opportunity infesters.

And it’s the same tired arguments every damn time.

Discuss facts and offer opinions, fine, but this endless mudslinging is so tiresome.


21 posted on 10/27/2009 4:42:17 AM PDT by Fresh Wind ("Prosperity is just around the corner." Herbert Hoover, 1932)
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To: thecabal

I’ve read a lot about Ubuntu 9.1 and it is supposed to one of the most modern Linux distributions out there. But whether it has the wide hardware support of Windows is something else, especially if you’re dealing with the newest hardware.


22 posted on 10/27/2009 4:50:21 AM PDT by RayChuang88 (FairTax: America's economic cure)
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To: The Cajun
I've tried it and I still think at bare minimum you want 512 MB of RAM installed for Windows XP to "wake up" and be decently fast. I still have my very old Celeron 466 MHz system with 768 MB of RAM and Windows XP works well, though of course not with the speed of my HP Pavilion a6400f with its 3 GB of RAM and Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2200 CPU running at 2.2 GHz.
23 posted on 10/27/2009 4:52:51 AM PDT by RayChuang88 (FairTax: America's economic cure)
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To: Swordmaker
Now that Windows 7 is officially out, the public at large can join that debate and determine if Windows 7 is the best version of Windows yet...

Probably.

...or even the greatest operating system of all time.

Probably not.

24 posted on 10/27/2009 4:52:57 AM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: Fresh Wind
Discuss facts and offer opinions, fine, but this endless mudslinging is so tiresome.

Right, fanbois stay home. Vista was a dog, I have stayed with XP. I was impressed with the Win7 betas however. If I can get Win7 at a decent price (student discounts), I'll probably start using it.

One thing I have noted about ALL popular OS's t(Win, Mac, Linux), is that they slow down with time, and as you install programs. Windows more so than the others. Hopefully they have addressed this.

25 posted on 10/27/2009 4:58:57 AM PDT by Paradox (ObamaCare = Logan's Run ; There is no Sanctuary!)
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To: djf

No idea what you are talking about. I’ve never heard of mouse problems in Ubuntu.


26 posted on 10/27/2009 5:00:54 AM PDT by thecabal (Destroy Progressivism)
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To: Fresh Wind

I have a rather large selection of computers including Macs, Linux and Windows boxes. I generally use the Windows machines for everyday and work tasks, but I’m addicted to Gnome Mahjong and the shiny 24” iMac looks nice.

I installed Win 7 yesterday. The install was reasonably simple. I managed to find the places I needed to get it onto my school’s domain and setup printer and disc sharing. My only serious complaint was the hard disc partitioning screens were a bit confusing. I think it was making some virtual partitions to backup the existing data that didn’t exist.

I’ll try to use that machine a few hours a day and see how I like it. So far, so good. It recognized and installed all of my peripherals including a Dell 1320C color laser printer (not too common) and an HP LJ2100 (old). It seemed to have gone to the Internet to find the drivers, but I can’t be sure. I can’t think of any other reason to take two minutes to do the install. I can’t recall it asking for permission or requiring any action on my part to make it happen.

I installed AVG anti-virus (free) without incident. I’m going to use the network to send over some of my old programs like Paintshop 5, Doom, Snood, Zelda (the original), Atomic Clock, Agent and E-mage to see if they run correctly today.

I installed it on a 2 year old Athlon with only 1 gig of RAM to see how it compares to XP in resource usage, speed and reliability.

The clock started running on it on 26 October, 2009. I’ll leave it on until it crashes. It is running Outlook through a corporate Exchange server with push email updates. That will guarantee that it is doing something on a regular basis.


27 posted on 10/27/2009 5:01:31 AM PDT by Poser (Enjoying Prime Rib for 58 Years!)
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To: RayChuang88

I’m not going to claim that the HW support comes near that of Windows, but the gap is closing pretty quickly. There are good drivers for most standard, off-the-shelf HW you will find out there currently being sold. Older stuff, not so much.


28 posted on 10/27/2009 5:02:56 AM PDT by thecabal (Destroy Progressivism)
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To: RayChuang88
The "Windows 7 Upgrade Wizard" tells me that:

My printer is not supported - and there are no factory Win7 drivers

My scanner is not supported - and there are no factory Win7 drivers

My TV tuner is not supported - and there are no factory Win7 drivers

and my video card (an 8800GTS/512, only eighteen months old, installed when I built this PC in spring '08) "does not support Windows 7 Aero features" even with the newest drivers.

So just as with Vista and XP: nVidia, HP, Canon, and Hauppage would like me to replace all this perfectly serviceable hardware just so I can use the New OS.

No thanks. My XP/Ubuntu dual boot system does everything I need, including some fairly intense gaming and video editing.

29 posted on 10/27/2009 5:03:23 AM PDT by Notary Sojac (Dede is Arlen Specter in a dress)
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To: Notary Sojac

I just chatted with HP “live” support online yesterday and they told me HP plans a large-scale rollout of Windows 7-specific drivers late this year and early 2010. And this includes a very sophisticated driver for the Officejet “all-in-one” multifunction printers.


30 posted on 10/27/2009 5:16:37 AM PDT by RayChuang88 (FairTax: America's economic cure)
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To: thecabal

Have you been paying attention?

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=ubuntu+mouse+not+working&aq=0&aqi=g10&oq=ubuntu+mouse&fp=8ec9ea851cee2c5b


31 posted on 10/27/2009 5:16:57 AM PDT by djf (Grasshopper: The game is rigged. Patience takes forever to learn. You're so screwed!!)
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To: Notary Sojac
my video card (an 8800GTS/512, only eighteen months old, installed when I built this PC in spring '08) "does not support Windows 7 Aero features" even with the newest drivers.

The upgrade Wizard isn't accurate about the video requirements. The 8800GTS will support Aero just fine.

The other stuff, hard to say. I've installed W7 on a number of machines in the past 6 months and everything has worked so far.

32 posted on 10/27/2009 5:25:59 AM PDT by Malsua
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To: Swordmaker

Win 7 is probably the best OS, Microsoft has ever released. It installs fast and boots fast. It’s a huge improvement over Vista.

OS X is still MUCH better, IMO. Every thing works out of the box with minimal tweaking and OS X is 1000 times more pleasing to my eye to work with. If we could afford it, this would be a Mac only home.

I used Win7 for a couple of months (Enterprise Edition) and it never crashed but the networking was a PITA. I dumped windows from my wireless use laptop and am running Mint Linux now and it’s perfect for what I need this laptop to do.


33 posted on 10/27/2009 5:59:46 AM PDT by TheStickman
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To: Joe Boucher

Congratulations on the new rig!


34 posted on 10/27/2009 6:06:16 AM PDT by cabojoe
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To: thecabal

I am using Windows 7 now, and it is really great. A huge improvement over Vista.

I am not sure how much more Windows 7 adds to the cost of a brand new computer, but I am guessing MSFT doesn’t charge the manufacturer more than $40 for it.

I bought a legal discounted version on ebay for less than that.


35 posted on 10/27/2009 6:09:27 AM PDT by DavidAccord
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To: Swordmaker


Here's a shot of me running Windows 7
36 posted on 10/27/2009 6:12:18 AM PDT by Scythian
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To: Terpfen

Ballmer’s not a politician but he has not had a propensity for telling the truth often.

I like Xp, it finally became pretty stable. Have been using Vista and I am pleasantly surprised as it works quite well.

Few more years and the kids will be on their own and I too (like another here wrote) will move to Linux. Sticking currently only because it’s easier for the children and the ‘bill of goods’ the schools have been sold by Micro$oft.Which flavor I haven’t decided. Use Ubuntu on a laptop now and really do like it.


37 posted on 10/27/2009 6:14:14 AM PDT by K-oneTexas (I'm not a judge and there ain't enough of me to be a jury. (Zell Miller, A National Party No More))
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To: K-oneTexas

“According to netmarketshare.com, Windows XP has 71.51 percent of the operating system market, followed by Windows Vista at 18.62 percent. Lumping versions together, Windows has 92.77 percent, followed by Mac at 5.12 percent, with Linux coming in third at just under one percent. “

If Linux is so great how come it has a miniscule market share? Linux is supposed to be great for servers , not for pcs.


38 posted on 10/27/2009 6:18:00 AM PDT by DavidAccord
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To: Swordmaker
Is Windows 7 the Greatest OS Ever?

An OS that needs an ant-virus program does not belong in a conversation about "Greatest Operating Systems".
39 posted on 10/27/2009 6:37:21 AM PDT by Gomez (killer of threads)
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To: DavidAccord

One big drawback is that Linux is not bundled with PC’s when sold. Why? Microsoft has the $$$$$ to pay to keep them out and they do.

The majority of people buy a PC with the OS already installed on it. When your choice (by the retailer) is basically only windows (Linux at an additional cost) ... guess what people go with. That’s right, Windows.

Linux is a great product, in my estimation. True, I am no expert. Nor am I someone who would move masses of people to buy it. I do know that if they gave it a try ... they’d like it.


40 posted on 10/27/2009 6:37:44 AM PDT by K-oneTexas (I'm not a judge and there ain't enough of me to be a jury. (Zell Miller, A National Party No More))
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To: Malsua; Notary Sojac

your video card is better than my 9800gt and mine runs it just fine.


41 posted on 10/27/2009 6:54:42 AM PDT by Big Giant Head (Running my computer bare naked for over a year with no infections at all.)
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To: djf

The one problem I had with Ubuntu that scared me off on my laptop is that it didn’t do cooling very well. I found this out the hard way one day when I closed the laptop, put it in my bag, only to open it a few hours later and it was hot as can be. With Windows, it hibernates properly. My laptop was much hotter with Ubuntu than with Windows.


42 posted on 10/27/2009 7:00:39 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Big Giant Head
your video card is better than my 9800gt and mine runs it just fine

The machine I'm posting this from is using a 9500gt(512mb) and it runs Aero without any issues. A 9500gt is much inferior to an 8800gts.

43 posted on 10/27/2009 7:30:16 AM PDT by Malsua
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To: Swordmaker

Well, if could ever get the dumb thing installed on my (very lightly used) Vista notebook, I could offer up an opinion. On the rare occasions I need a Windows app, I still prefer the XP install on my Mac Mini using Boot Camp - best Windows “PC” I have ever owned. :)


44 posted on 10/27/2009 7:41:25 AM PDT by Mr. Jeeves ("If you cannot pick it up and run with it, you don't really own it." -- Robert Heinlein)
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To: Scythian

Wow so this is the life of the Scythian grunge and strung out on various voices!
45 posted on 10/27/2009 8:29:00 AM PDT by restornu (A humble people of the Lord is stronger than the all wicked warriors of the World)
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To: Joe Boucher
Sunday we replaced our nearly 10 year old XP machine with a new PC along with a laptop for the heck of it, both with Win 7.

I know that a lot of the sluggishness was due to the age, but man.....we are lightning fast now.

So far, so good.

46 posted on 10/27/2009 8:32:26 AM PDT by ErnBatavia (Mmm mmm mmm - Barack Hussein Obama (repeat endlessly))
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To: John Valentine; Swordmaker

I note that you two felt compelled to respond, did that little chuckle about ‘iSnobs’ hit a raw nerve?

BWHAHAA!!

Well it’s not even noontime, and flushed out two of ya. :)

Have yourselves a wonderful iDay, lol


47 posted on 10/27/2009 8:35:10 AM PDT by mkjessup
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To: mkjessup
I note that you two felt compelled to respond, did that little chuckle about ‘iSnobs’ hit a raw nerve?

No, your repeated invasions of threads that mention Macs with insults, slurs and slander needs to be called for what it is... rude, obnoxious, and juvenile. That makes you rude and obnoxious and juvenile. Grow up.

48 posted on 10/27/2009 8:38:31 AM PDT by Swordmaker (Remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is "AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE!)
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To: stratboy
But you have to pollute the tread with insults
Of course he/she does, I have worked with Window advocates who are gonzo like that. It is best to ignore them. They have been assimilated and can't be reasoned with.


a.) If you're going to talk about somebody, *ping* them.

I have no idea why someone would express so much passion over an operating system.

b.) An actual good question, why Apple fanatics are so gung ho about an operating system remains to be explained.
49 posted on 10/27/2009 8:39:24 AM PDT by mkjessup
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To: tacticalogic; Swordmaker
Excuse me? Has anyone on here insulted a Windows user? Nope. But you have to pollute the thread with insults.
Well, we started out of the gate with apparently unsubstantiated accusations of the the author "misrepresenting the facts".


Now, now, we have to cut Swordmaker some slack, making unsubstantiated accusations is just standard iSnob behavior, they can't help themselves.

Good catch.
50 posted on 10/27/2009 8:41:41 AM PDT by mkjessup
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