[ale] OT if you must use windows, upgrade to windows 7, not 8, within a year

Sat Oct 13 14:16:34 EDT 2012

Actually' xp STILL performs better than vista in limited resources.  I can't speak to support issues other than routine patches.  I'm upgrading my vista stuff to 7.  When they stop patching xp, I may run ubuntu or mint only on that 2002 vintage machine.  That pc still does pretty good with its 2.4 ghz cpu and 1 gb ram.

Ron

Jim Kinney <jim.kinney at gmail.com> wrote:

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

Sent from my Android Acer A500 tablet with bluetooth keyboard and K-9 Mail.
Please excuse my potential brevity.

(To whom it may concern.  My email address has changed.  Replying to former
messages prior to 03/31/12 with my personal address will go to the wrong
address.  Please send all personal correspondence to the new address.)

(PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might want to
call on the phone.  I get about 300 emails per day from alternate energy
mailing lists and such.  I don't always see new email messages very quickly.)

Ron Frazier
770-205-9422 (O)   Leave a message.
linuxdude AT techstarship.com