[PEAKINT]

TEOT Computer WAWKI

i'm staying with windows 7 forever

https://archive.org/details/Windows7cus ... ons_201507

[yellowcanoe]

Well at least you aren't one of those people who wants to keep running Windows XP!

[fleance]

I might consider the upgrade though I'm satisfied in windows 8.1.

[MD]

DOS 6.22 forever!

I didn't stop running my last DOS application until 2010.

[davep]

I'm upgrading an 8.1 laptop, but will be keeping my Win7 desktop.

I heard that Win10 shares wifi passwords, which sounds rather bizarre. But apparently it can be disabled http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/209208-windows-10s-new-wifi-sense-shares-your-wifi-password-with-facebook-outlook-and-skype-contacts. It seems a weird thing to switch on by default.

[PEAKINT]

I'm upgrading an 8.1 laptop, but will be keeping my Win7 desktop.

I heard that Win10 shares wifi passwords, which sounds rather bizarre. But apparently it can be disabled http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/209208-windows-10s-new-wifi-sense-shares-your-wifi-password-with-facebook-outlook-and-skype-contacts. It seems a weird thing to switch on by default.

Want to remove the ads from Solitaire in Windows 10? That'll be $1.49 a month
http://www.zdnet.com/article/want-to-re ... 9-a-month/

[Withnail]

Do people still get excited about new operating systems?

Personally I avoid them until I'm forced to change.

[davep]

Do people still get excited about new operating systems?

Personally I avoid them until I'm forced to change.

It depends. XP and Win2003 Server are no longer being supported. They're going to be great for testing hacking skills on. I suggest you decide you're forced to change at the latest when your OS is no longer supported for bugs/vulnerabilities (unless you never go on the internet with it).

[sjn]

Never understood why everybody sticks with Windows. I can somewhat understand it from a corporate point of view, assuming they get a very good deal with Microsoft; which the biggest corporations can. "Hard-core PC gamers", I can understand. But, regular home users? What's the draw? I've been using Linux since '95, before that I used non-PC hardware since the early 80's, so I've never been drawn in, just used Windows at various employers on occasion, and in the process of fixing other people's PCs.

[Withnail]

Do people still get excited about new operating systems?

Personally I avoid them until I'm forced to change.

It depends. XP and Win2003 Server are no longer being supported. They're going to be great for testing hacking skills on. I suggest you decide you're forced to change at the latest when your OS is no longer supported for bugs/vulnerabilities (unless you never go on the internet with it).

I'm on Windows 7 and it seems really reliable and easy to use.

Hope I can keep it for a few more years.

[Pops]

I think we passed the point of utility years and years ago for most people.
I'm on Macs and run Adobe programs and only upgraded to a new laptop last year to get mobile. All my programs run fine on this old '07 iMac and I only upgraded to it because Adobe needed the (then) new OS — which needed the new hardware.

Best thing that ever happened to me was good PDFs. I can tell people I don't do Windows and mean it!

[Timo]

Windows 3.1 on my 386 still works fine for me.

[Outcast_Searcher]

Never understood why everybody sticks with Windows. I can somewhat understand it from a corporate point of view, assuming they get a very good deal with Microsoft; which the biggest corporations can. "Hard-core PC gamers", I can understand. But, regular home users? What's the draw? I've been using Linux since '95, before that I used non-PC hardware since the early 80's, so I've never been drawn in, just used Windows at various employers on occasion, and in the process of fixing other people's PCs.

In the real world, ordinary folks don't want to have to be OS experts, and they like their computers to (mostly) work.

Every serious non-computer expert user I've talked to which was advised to use some version of Linux has a tale to tell, but does NOT use Linux in anyform. When trying Linux they found that they couldn't do some major function they wanted (like online brokerage, banking, etc). THEN they found the upgrade/patch/driver/fix they supposedly needed to fix the problem wouldn't install due to some obscure detail that the non-Geeks were helpless to fix. (Then they went back to Windows and continued with their computing life).

It's easy to claim that "random OS blah-blah version magic-tek-9" will solve the world's compute problems. Real world results vary wildly however, and generally not in a good way.

[Outcast_Searcher]

To me, an active user of PC's since 1982, DOS and then Windows, things have gotten so bad that:

1). I always keep at least two completely viable PC's able to do the main things I want available. (This is so when one breaks or gets compromised, I have another reliable PC to use while I sort out the problem). Luckily, you can get a solid computer for all but high end gaming for $500 or less now.

2). I only buy a new OS with a new PC. I've been buying Win 7 since it came out, shunning the latest PC choices not to have to fool with Win 8.x, Metro, etc.

3). Since Win 10 appears to be a Win 7 / 8.x hybrid with a Start button and some features that recent Macs have, I'll try Win 10 the next time I want a PC. That way, if it's a disaster I'm only out some time.

As for the latest OS. Why? So I can waste a bunch of time figuring out what no longer works and how to navigate around and do stuff via the latest arbitrary interface and location changes they made. WHY would I WANT to do that?

Yeah, some day if they, say, drop support on Win 7 and Win 10 proves to be solid -- OK, I'll do that. I used to look forward to a new OS (DOS 5, Win 3.1, Win 95) for actual useful features. Now I just want them to leave me alone.

All the OS patching for security (and other) flaws reminds me of auto dealers. I do NOT like paying them $hundreds to download some patch via WIFI because their software was defective. This is no different to me than if they sold me a part that quit working on EVERY car, and refused to recall that.

[davep]

Every serious non-computer expert user I've talked to which was advised to use some version of Linux has a tale to tell, but does NOT use Linux in anyform. When trying Linux they found that they couldn't do some major function they wanted (like online brokerage, banking, etc). THEN they found the upgrade/patch/driver/fix they supposedly needed to fix the problem wouldn't install due to some obscure detail that the non-Geeks were helpless to fix.

With modern distros and HTML5, anyone using a computer mainly for browsing should be fine. The days of proprietary plugins such as Flash are limited, so any modern browser should suffice. It's when you get into more creative stuff that it gets harder to find decent open source alternatives.

[davep]

All the OS patching for security (and other) flaws reminds me of auto dealers. I do NOT like paying them $hundreds to download some patch via WIFI because their software was defective.

I've been around since the DOS days too, but that statement is frankly bizarre. Over the past decade or so, Microsoft have taken security very seriously to the point where we're recently finding far more vulnerabilities in the likes of OpenSSL than Windows variants. Why you wouldn't want to patch your system to keep it secure is beyond me. It sounds more like you've got a bad internet deal than anything else.

[Cog]

I always wait for a while before I upgrade an OS. Sometimes years. I avoid the major flaws and patches that the early adopters always encounter.

[Outcast_Searcher]

All the OS patching for security (and other) flaws reminds me of auto dealers. I do NOT like paying them $hundreds to download some patch via WIFI because their software was defective.

I've been around since the DOS days too, but that statement is frankly bizarre. Over the past decade or so, Microsoft have taken security very seriously to the point where we're recently finding far more vulnerabilities in the likes of OpenSSL than Windows variants. Why you wouldn't want to patch your system to keep it secure is beyond me. It sounds more like you've got a bad internet deal than anything else.

Well, first, I see I said WIFI instead of firewire. My bad on that (senile old man stuff).

Second, what I see as a Win 7 user is that periodically, without warning, Windows hijacks my PC for perhaps 30 minutes (between shutdown and bootup time) to add 20 to 30 Windows "fixes". And that when I look at the nature of the fixes, a LOT of them are security related.

Now, if it's Microsoft's practice to have employees say "we're recently finding" the problem is someone ELSE's fault -- fine. Welcome to politics. Just don't expect people who have spent 40ish years around hardware and software to be impressed.

[davep]

You're probably best off controlling when Windows installs them yourself (so tell Windows to let you know when stuff needs installing, you can then select the stuff you want and un-select the stuff you don't in your own time), so that they can be installed when you've finished with the computer for the day. But it'll still take a bit longer on the next boot. Obviously this depends if you have admin control or not (and it's not a work machine).

Now, if it's Microsoft's practice to have employees say "we're recently finding" the problem is someone ELSE's fault -- fine.

I was referring to Linux bugs as opposed to the old-school blue screen of death "third-party graphics bugs". We can blame MS for a lot of things, but not that.

[careinke]

I always wait for a while before I upgrade an OS. Sometimes years. I avoid the major flaws and patches that the early adopters always encounter.

Well, being retired, I can afford to be on the bleeding edge sometimes. I installed Win 10 last night. I like the new OS and Edge. Now if I can only get the sound to work............