<p>XP is the global curse that won't die. If there was ever a reason to destroy backups and archives, XP is the prime target. Maybe if all source code is wiped it will no longer be supported.<br>
And yes, medical world treats software like a brick house. Never needs updating and should last forever. Ugh.</p>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Oct 13, 2012 9:17 AM, "Rich Faulkner" <<a href="mailto:rfaulkner@tux86.org">rfaulkner@tux86.org</a>> wrote:<br type="attribution"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
We've been testing Windows 8 and Server 8 at work for the past couple<br>
of months. Yes, Windows 8 has the Metro (touch) GUI - which by the<br>
way is dreadful; but it still has what is a (more-or-less) traditional<br>
desktop. Lots of stuff has been moved around but much (that I've<br>
seen) is look and feel. A lot of the modules are the same as ever<br>
before. Well known keyboard shortcuts are still the same.<br>
<br>
Overall 8 looks about as appealing as Unity or Gnome3 on first<br>
release. Dreadful. (But then again I'm not a MS fanboy and I'm still<br>
driving Gnome2 so who am I?)<br>
<br>
<rant><br>
<br>
I for one have no plans of deploying it or admin of it; let alone<br>
using it myself. I own one (1) license of Windows 7 and that's ONLY<br>
because of the hardware required to do a specific job in audio<br>
production. Digigram PCX924 card (PCI-based) and no Linux driver.<br>
Sigh...oh yeah, that system runs Protools as well. More<br>
closed-source; pay-to-play and proprietary crap. (It's the wife's<br>
studio stuff - what can I say?)<br>
<br>
My stuff is 100% Linux and is going to stay that way. Whatever MS is<br>
doing in the future is nice. Whatever. (Sorry to sound cynical but<br>
my tools are based around FLOSS these days). My only wish is that<br>
CorelDraw was available for Linux. (It used to be back in the days of<br>
Corel Linux; but that was another story - not to be revisited).<br>
<br>
</rant><br>
<br>
I can tell you this though: In dealing with global customers (most of<br>
them in defense); many want support for XP (and I'm not talking about<br>
X64 here!) or they want 7 (if for MS product). Few are running 2003<br>
or 2008. I've had only one come to me inquiring on how to get Server<br>
8 running on our latest h/w. Basically ALL of our major (domestic)<br>
server clients are running RHEL of one flavor or another. Workstation<br>
clients trend toward 7. Middle Eastern clients still want a lot of XP<br>
and I still find those who want Windows 98SE with some 2000 thrown in<br>
for good measure! (And yes, I do have to support SCSI w/98SE!)<br>
<br>
Given that Northrop-Grumman is dumping Windows on some of their prime<br>
UAV projects for Linux; I wonder how much longer it will be before<br>
more of them do the same. I'm finding many of the likes of Boeing are<br>
trying to milk their old h/w for all that it's worth and do NOT want<br>
to pay the big bucks to rewrite old code for new platforms. Thus the<br>
legacy OSes look like they will still be in demand for a while to come<br>
from an industrial and military standpoint.<br>
<br>
(Not to mention medical - which once cast; is set in stone so it<br>
seems. We see a fair amount of that too...)<br>
<br>
Rich in Lilburn<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Quoting "Ron Frazier (ALE)" <<a href="mailto:atllinuxenthinfo@techstarship.com">atllinuxenthinfo@techstarship.com</a>>:<br>
<br>
> Hi guys,<br>
><br>
> Forgive me for mentioning the "W" word. I'm posting this for the<br>
> benefit of those of you who must use windows for whatever reason. You<br>
> want to think about upgrading to windows 7, not 8, within a year. I use<br>
> both windows and linux for different purposes and at different times. I<br>
> don't think I've posted this here before.<br>
><br>
> According to what I've read,. Microsoft has totally gutted the user<br>
> interface of Windows with the introduction of Windows 8 and what used to<br>
> be called the metro interface. They're trying to make one interface for<br>
> tablets, phones, and pc's with large screens, which has a whole bunch of<br>
> large pretty icons designed to be touched with your finger, and which<br>
> don't work well with a keyboard and mouse, which seems like an<br>
> incredibly stupid idea to me. (What does that remind me of, oh yes,<br>
> Unity.) I have read a number of accounts relating to the lack of<br>
> usability of the new interface, and many people hate it with a passion,<br>
> saying it is essentially unusable on a PC, or it's much harder to be<br>
> productive on it. I personally don't intend to even try it. I think<br>
> it's a tremendous step backwards. If you have PC's that you personally<br>
> own or maintain and are not company maintained, you may wish to consider<br>
> upgrading to Windows 7 in the near future.<br>
><br>
> Even though Vista will continue to be supported with security patches<br>
> for some time, Windows 7 will stop being sold 1 year after Windows 8<br>
> goes on sale. Windows 8 is about to be released, so it will probably be<br>
> impossible to buy Windows 7 after about October 2013. At that point,<br>
> your only alternative to upgrade a Windows Vista or XP machine will be<br>
> to install Windows 8, which the users will probably hate, or Windows 9<br>
> or whatever they're up to at the time. I believe Windows XP support<br>
> ends in 2013. I have a chart somewhere on the lifecycle dates for each<br>
> Windows system, but I don't have it handy at the moment.<br>
><br>
> As you know, it is critical to have an OS on the PC which is getting<br>
> routine security updates. It is preferable to have one that is familiar<br>
> and easy to use. Therefore, if you must use Windows, I recommend<br>
> acquiring a copy of Windows 7 OEM from NewEgg or Tiger Direct or Frys<br>
> within the next year and installing it on any non company PC's. These<br>
> run about $ 100 each. I would recommend making a full backup of the<br>
> hard drive first. You want the full Windows install disc, not the<br>
> upgrade disc. This makes it much easier to reinstall if there is a<br>
> system crash.<br>
><br>
> I haven't totally decided what to do yet, or when, but will probably<br>
> upgrade most or all of my PC's.<br>
><br>
> Here are some links to look at regarding the "new" Windows interface.<br>
><br>
> <a href="https://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&site=&source=hp&q=hate+windows+8&btnG=Search" target="_blank">https://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&site=&source=hp&q=hate+windows+8&btnG=Search</a><br>
><br>
><br>
> <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/261567/windows_8_hate_it_already_why_waiting_for_windows_9_wont_help.html" target="_blank">http://www.pcworld.com/article/261567/windows_8_hate_it_already_why_waiting_for_windows_9_wont_help.html</a><br>
><br>
><br>
> <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/251282/windows_8s_metro_ui_7_things_you_may_just_hate.html" target="_blank">http://www.pcworld.com/article/251282/windows_8s_metro_ui_7_things_you_may_just_hate.html</a><br>
><br>
><br>
> etc. etc.<br>
><br>
> I hope this info is helpful to you. I haven't totally figured out what<br>
> I'll do yet. I may just have to break down and buy several copies of<br>
> Windows 7 OEM --- or just switch to Linux.<br>
><br>
> Sincerely,<br>
><br>
> Ron<br>
><br>
><br>
> --<br>
><br>
> (To whom it may concern. My email address has changed. Replying to former<br>
> messages prior to 03/31/12 with my personal address will go to the wrong<br>
> address. Please send all personal correspondence to the new address.)<br>
><br>
> (PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might want to<br>
> call on the phone. I get about 300 emails per day from alternate energy<br>
> mailing lists and such. I don't always see new email messages very quickly.)<br>
><br>
> Ron Frazier<br>
> <a href="tel:770-205-9422" value="+17702059422">770-205-9422</a> (O) Leave a message.<br>
> linuxdude AT <a href="http://techstarship.com" target="_blank">techstarship.com</a><br>
><br>
> _______________________________________________<br>
> Ale mailing list<br>
> <a href="mailto:Ale@ale.org">Ale@ale.org</a><br>
> <a href="http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale" target="_blank">http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale</a><br>
> See JOBS, ANNOUNCE and SCHOOLS lists at<br>
> <a href="http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo" target="_blank">http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo</a><br>
><br>
<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
Ale mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:Ale@ale.org">Ale@ale.org</a><br>
<a href="http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale" target="_blank">http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale</a><br>
See JOBS, ANNOUNCE and SCHOOLS lists at<br>
<a href="http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo" target="_blank">http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo</a><br>
</blockquote></div>