Posted on 04/15/2007 10:03:54 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
> I contacted Microsoft, but they refused to permit
> me to activate Office. So I ditched Office, and
> switched to OpenOffice.
This is worth doing even without Activation issues.
Get your legacy files converted to open formats, so
you won’t be facing “pay-to-open” of YOUR OWN
DOCUMENTS at some time in the future.
Reportedly, OpenOffice can open some legacy Word
.docs that the current version of Word can’t.
Proprietary file formats are hazardous to your
future and your wallet.
If OpenOffice does what you need, use it.
I just converted some Corel QuattroPro spreadsheets
to .ods. I had some problems re-installing QP
after a recent PC rebuild, and decided to take steps.
MS wants to migrate to subscription-based licensing.
If they do, everything saved in their proprietary
formats (including their not-really-open XML),
will be effectively timed-bombed -
license isn’t renewed? you can’t open your own files.
Speaking of wasting money, let’s talk about wasting time.
Since I bought my MacBook Pro in August, my productivity working on my computer has skyrocketed. I don’t spend time trouble shooting, I spend time creating and getting things done. At least I’ve suspected as much.
Last night I had an experience that confirmed my theory.
A former friend (I call him Psycho Bob) invited me to join him at my neighborhood bar. The bar is eqipped with free WiFi.
When he saw my Mac, he became very interested. He lives across the street and popped over to his house, bringing back his laptop.
He spent the next half-hour trying to get his PC to detect the free WiFi and get on the Internet. All he wanted to do was check his Yahoo mail. I’ve never had to configure my Mac to detect a WiFi signal or use it. Never. I just walk in, it detects it automatically, and I’m up and running.
While he was futzing, I was sending out emails, showing him my portfolio, adding him and another guy to my address book, viewing a movie, and downloading a new background picture.
I teased him about it, which he was not happy about. Just to stick the knife in a little deeper and make my message crystal clear, I brought up a Mac ad with the two guys (”I’m a Mac,” “and “I’m a PC”) pointed to the screen, and said:
Bob, you’re the guy on the left. I’m the guy on the right. Since you’ve been sitting here fussing, look how much I’ve done. You’ve haven’t done a thing except try to make error messages go away and and get on the Internet.
He admitted he wants his next computer to be a Mac.
Windows Vista - How Secure is the New OS?
Published by Vijay Anand on Thursday, 11th January, 2007
**************************EXCERPT******************************
Security and Family Safety in Microsoft's New OS
When you buy a product (be it hardware or software), it is natural to assume that it will work perfectly out of the box. On the contrary, this isn't always true, especially for the software industry, where most companies release patches/updates to resolve problems discovered during the product's effective life cycle. Microsoft is no stranger to this concept and has been practicing this ever since the company existed. Security issues are particularly problematic to both personal and company's productivity and in the bigger picture, a corporation's well operand Microsoft is always on their toes to provide solutions for their customers so that they would be less prone to malware attacks and the likes. One such instance that we vividly recall was the annoying malware issue plaguing the early days of Windows XP with Service Pack 1 (SP1) which caused system slowdowns and forced shutdowns. The malware problems then were so chaotic that Microsoft followed up with SP2 to put an end to those security flaws.
Like it or not, security problems can't be wished away with a magic wand. Even till today, Microsoft along with other third parties like Trend Micro and McAfee are constantly tracking malware activities and providing solutions to their customers on a weekly basis. Statistics show that up to one billion people in the world are using computers and have networking capabilities. Out of which 30 percent are potential cyber-victims to security threats. In today's context, cyber-victims are not just victims of malware attacks that mess up their computer systems. A large portion of the online attacks happening today are in the area of online identity theft and fraud transactions resulting from visiting phishing sites. With so many security concerns hanging over our heads, Microsoft isn't taking things lightly with their upcoming operating system (OS). In fact, security is a major focus in the development of Windows Vista to ensure its users can work and play on the new OS confidently and securely. You can expect a lot of new changes in Windows Visa that stands out from the current Windows XP operating system.
On that note, you might ask us what differences exist between Windows XP and Windows Vista with regards to security. That's what this article is all about and we'll show you some of the security benefits that Windows Vista users will gain when they migrate from Windows XP.
Good to hear about a positive experience....thanks!
My extra G of RAM is on the way - so I can upgrade Fedora 6 to Fedora 7 more comfortably.
Microsoft 66I-00715 Operating Systems
Price: $111.99
Wow, you’re successfully running an anti-virus software, and enjoying the experience? You need to get out of the house, mate.
My Mac has a built-in firewall, and I have no virus issues. I just get work done and don’t worry about viruses. Ever.
Ultimate DeFrag! What a fun time that must be! Why doesn’t your computer just defrag itself quietly, in the background, without a special added software? Mine does. Did you buy a PC because you wanted to spend time defragging, or doing something else — say, something productive?
BlueCoat web protection. Hmmm... Never heard of it, but it sounds like a doozy.
Oh, and after you’ve exhausted yourself soaking up the pleasure of drivers, printers, betas, and demos (how do you like, contain your joy and stuff?), take a nap, then head over to an Apple Store. If you’re not near one, move out of the sticks, my friend.
Here is a link to a site I built in ONE SHORT EVENING. I then spent the next 1.5 days writing and editing content. I did the writing, photography, color matching, on my Mac, from a pub in midtown. While I sat at the bar, I purchased the domain name, pointed it to a blog, and set up the pages and menu.
THAT was a fun weekend. And I’ve had great feedback on the site from the people I’m marketing myself to. Plus, I already have five or so prospects who want to pay me to do the same for them, people in finance, entertainment, and education.
Take a little tour and tell me what you think:
The only problem with Macs is then you have to deal the frufru pony tail mac users. So if you don’t want vista that is only choice, frufru ponytail guy mac users or frufru ponytail guy linux users.
Neither group is friendly.
When I had trouble with Windows I just go to a message board and people help. They don’t say “man blank” and they don’t say, “buy a mac.” They help.
But given a choice between frufru ponytail guys, I choose the linux ones because there are some x-windows guys out there and they help. They aren’t frufru ponytail guys with big foreheads.
So probably the best answer is to find one of the three helpful linux guys out there who aren’t frufru instead of buying vista or mac.
Plus, I like more then one mouse button.
I am furious at MS over this. I’ll never go mac, but I may use XP forever.
“And for the people who can’t figure the new interfaces for the Office suite, they probably made it more Mac-like”
Actually, they went with a “new interface paradigm” and made it *less* Mac like.
1. What is it that you would want to swap out? Give me some examples.
2. Read my post 42, and tell me, how does something that inexpensive “look” overpriced? What, exactly, does it mean to “look overpriced”? How is that relevant?
3. The interface is quite wonderful, but if you think it looks like garbage, why is it that Vista merely tried to mimic it in so many ways?
It’s Office 2007.
Um... Macs ship with only one mouse button enabled because then idiot developers can’t go and hide commands under a nest of contextual menus and instead *have* to put it in the menus in the bar.
But you can turn the second button on through the Control Panel, and on top of that, the OS has supported up to 255 button mice (not that anyone will ever make one) since System 9. I’ve been using a 3 button or 2 button scroll mouse since about that time.
Duke, stop whining. They’re telling you to buy a Mac because Macs are far superior, and YOU WON’T BE SPENDING YOUR TIME ON MESSAGE BOARDS ASKING FOR HELP! YOU WILL GET GETTING THINGS DONE! They are trying to HELP YOU! “Buy a Mac” is about the last piece of computer advice you’ll ever need. Follow it and you’ll be rocking and rolling.
This frufru ponytail nonsense is, like, so gay. I have a theory: Guys with latent homosexual tendencies try to deliberately distance themselves from anything “artistic” because then people might suspect the truth, that, in fact, they’re really fags.
Real men use Macs.
Oh, and sorry about the fag comment. Did I hurt your feelings?
Spktyr, do you own a Mac? If so, who sez Mac users aren’t helpful!
I got one from ecost.com. It's a refurb, but you can get an extended warranty. Just gotta make sure you burn it in good. I wanted to get one more XP laptop that can last me a few years until Vista gets straightened our and all the apps I run are ported.
Read my post 30 on this thread if you’re contemplating a Mac purchase. I’m here to answer questions if you want.
I have five mouse buttons. I make one “enter” and two forward and back. It’s brilliant easy for browsing! ‘Cause the problem with the keyboard and mouse paradigm is I have to take a hand off of one to use the other. That’s why monkeys make better programmers then people except for making programs useful to humans.
The last Mac mouse I saw only had one button and it looked like a hockey puck. That was a few years ago before when I didn’t want to buy an XP which turned out to be not as bad as the press was saying.
Still not good, but what OS is?
But on the mouse, why should I have to pay for a mouse I’m not going to use?
It's very similar to the DAO/ADO scam they pulled a few years ago that forced businesses to upgrade Office and/or SQL Server: make small improvements to the code and then drastically alter the user interface/programmer module interface.....then declare the "new product" incompatible with most of the older software it's supposed to interface with, and require a host of paid-upgrades to make it "work".
They pull this sh!t all the time and it's gotten pretty old. Even here, in Seattle, people are fed up with it.
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