Posted on 03/19/2013 8:39:54 AM PDT by saminfl
I need some computer advice. I have 4 computers at home. Two laptops and two desktops. One laptop has Windows 7 and is used by my wife for genealogy research and net surfing. The others are mine and they have XP (desktop currently needs new MB) Windows 7 (desktop) and Vista (laptop used in my traveling and some of my work. I absolutely hate the Vista machine. It is slow and even slower when running multiple pages. I have run every correction and restoration program available on it and I still hate using it.
When I use it at work, I use Excel to analyze some telemetry data. I also play video from a weapon system. After XP, the media players sucked. With XP I could pause, copy a video frame and post it in my report. Can't do that with media player after XP.
I want to buy a new computer. I absolutely hate the look of Windows 8 and refuse to buy it. Windows 7 works on my desktop for surfing, email, etc, but I really don't like it.
I refuse to buy a MAC as I can afford 3 or 4 PCs for the price of one MAC. I am not fond of Apple as I think they are an arrogant company. You have to buy their 2 year warranty program to speak to them after 90 days from purchase. I have an IPAD and an IPhone and neither thrills me. My wife loves the IPAD. I have used computers since my TRS-80.
The advice I would like is: Can I use linux on a computer as my primary OS? Will it run Office? Will it play .avi videos? Would I buy a new laptop with Windows 8, remove that OS and use linux? How hard would that be? Is Linux hard to use?
I have two computers both run duel boot with linux mint and win 7. I hardly ever boot into windoze and my 10 yr old uses linux daily on the other computer. for office programs just use libre office it does anything ms office does. vlc media player will take care of video. And there are tons of free programs. don’t let people scare ya give it a try.
If you don’t want bloatware you can buy directly from Microsoft at a Microsoft Store. They have their own images (at least that’s what I’ve heard).
Or use one of the bloatware removal tools out there.
I’d like to revisit the Vista computer issue.
How much memory are you running on that laptop?
I have a Acer Aspire 5515 that came with Vista Home basic (which does suck, but, I only paid $50 for the computer). I upgraded it to Vista Home Premium and it works fine. I do have 2 gig of memory installed on it. You HAVE to have 2 gig for Vista.
I can also drop a Linux drive into it, but, cannot get some of my astronomy software to run on it...yet.
Or use one of the bloatware removal tools out there.
Seems like a lot of effort to go through just to get a Windows machine to work like it should...
You’re right. Windows 8 isn’t so bad, but neither is being covered in tar and set on fire.
It’s just a minor inconvenience.
I just (over the week end) bought a dell and it came with windows 8. At first it was very confusing but after using it for just 2 days, I wound never go back {I was using Vista}.
While the new computer is fast the OS is faster than a scalded dawg.
Windows 8 is very intuitive but since it is different, the reviews are spotty.
I like it and I'm not an Abbey Shuto.
I’ve had downloads that won’t play on anything BUT VLC, But I still like MPCSTAR. You just have to pay attention to what you click on as you install it.
They also have "refurbished" laptops & desktop PCs, with Win-7 Pro x64.
Stay away from "Home Premium" and those other, lesser O/S options; go only for Win-7 Pro x64.
If you were in PA, I could help. I have OEM CDs of Win-7 Pro x64 which we could reformat/install on our usuable units. I also have Win-XP Pro OEM CDs, if that's your cup 'o tea. XP & 7 are stable and full-featured; Win-8 is garbage.
Sorry, I can't offer any pros or cons about Linux or Apple.
Well,now that you have that out of your system...
I would hope that if you have been using computers since the TRS-80, you can probably figure out the answer to "Can I use linux on a computer as my primary OS?"
All joking aside, we tried running a windows only radiology PACS system on a Windows 8 platform, and it was damned fast, waay faster than XP (which is what it mostly is running on) and faster than Windows 7.
i programmed those in high school. those and apple 2e’s.
On the days I get to exclusively use my Linux/Kubuntu system for work the change feels analogous to taking off one’s hiking boots after a long hike and putting on one’s favorite, worn out loafers. ... Today is one such day! :)
Why not get rid of Vista and load XP on it?
Linux is difficult to install on some hardware, difficult to use MS based software on ( some is impossible,) and kernels come and go fast. Linux is great if as another poster put it _ you want a time consuming hobby. Imagine linux is learning a whole new language win8 just a new desktop. You could just put xp on vista machine.
Unbuntu Linux can be run off a DVD/CD or USB card, so you don’t actually have to replace the OS. You can try it out without installing it.
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It will not run Windows Office. It will run Open Office (or Libre Office). It does not run Windows programs, although using a program called WINE you can get it to do some of them although sometimes a bit wonky.
Linux won’t even play that online game “Hero Up” my 10-year old nephew likes, because it requires Windows or Mac O/S to run properly.
I have no idea about excel.
I think it will probably run avi files just fine. It seems to run video of all types just fine for me.
Is Linux hard to use?
Command line stuff stinks like poop. I still can’t figure out GIMP (the image manipulator or whatever)
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Having said all that, overall a free Linux O/S can surf the web just fine. I don’t know about all those professional things people might need, but they are apparently switching every police computer in France to Linux. (whether that is a bad idea or not, I have no idea)
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Like I said, you can run it off a disc or USB as a trial run and see if you like it. Set the BiOS to your Vista machine to read the DVD/CD drive (or USB drive if you do that) before the HDD on startup after you get your live disc burned.
because XP loses MS support within a year...
Roll the Vista machine back to XP if you can.
If you look at the history of Windows, every other version is the pits. Vista fits that pattern.
It is between XP snd 7.
It's been quite a ride but the command line truly gives you control that would take point and click all day to do. To me the learning curve was worth it. I would not buy a car with the hood welded shut and I don't want a computer where I can't tinker inside of it occasionally either.
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