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Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On 2017-05-28, T wrote:
Please note that GNU Cash DOES NOT do inventory or payroll. Like I know!? I'm retired. I don't do that silliness, anymore. Linux is NOT the end all/be all OS. It gives you a choice, which Microsoft/Apple do not. That's my primary point. ;) nb |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On 28 May 2017 00:38:03 GMT, notbob wrote:
On 2017-05-28, T wrote: Linux's downfall is the lack of applications. Nonsense. There is no Turbo Tax GNUCash No Quick Books If I don't know what it is, so why woudld I care? No M$ Office Open Office, Libre Office, etc So it depends, a crappy OS with five different apps to do everything and gets infected with the turn of the wind or a technically elegant OS with sparse amount of apps. Yes, Winblows has more sophisticated applications (a term replaced by "apps". cuz today's kids cannot express 4 syllables), but they are all proprietary. IOW, they cost $$$$. Yes, Winblows has more "accepted" applications/programs, but only cuz stupid ppl are willing to spend $$$$ to solve their problems. I find it hilarious that kids, today, can type faster with their thumbs than I can by touch-typing on a regular keyboard, yet they are terrified of the command line (CLI). WTF!? ;) nb There's just about as many "free" and "open source" stuff for Windoze as there is for Linux. |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
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Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
Shadow wrote:
The main thing is, DO NOT INSTALL anything other than what your package manager offers. Installation is automatic and all dependencies are taken care of by the manager. Anything downloaded separately (like Oracle Java) will be a massive security hazard, and unless you are proficient with fixing Linux code, avoid it like the plague. You don't trust Oracle, or is something else going on that I am unaware of? One of the reasons I installed Linux (on the side) was to have a "sandbox" to run Java applications that I don't have to trust. |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On 05/27/2017 05:57 PM, notbob wrote:
On 2017-05-28, T wrote: Please note that GNU Cash DOES NOT do inventory or payroll. Like I know!? I'm retired. I don't do that silliness, anymore. Linux is NOT the end all/be all OS. It gives you a choice, which Microsoft/Apple do not. That's my primary point. ;) nb That is what I love about Linux too. It is wide open and the innovation is constant. Apple is the worst when it comes to the vendor lock in straight jacket. After Frankenstein (w8) and Son-of-Frankenstein (W-Nein, oops, ten) I can't really say what M$ is thinking. I just wish they smoke a better brand of banana peal when they think this s*** up. |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On 05/27/2017 05:56 PM, wrote:
On 28 May 2017 00:11:13 GMT, notbob wrote: On 2017-05-28, wrote: Linux is a "religion" to some. Not I! I'm pretty much a Linux non-zealot. I jes got tired of having my Windows boxes hacked, so changed to Linux (I still have one XP netbook, which I rarely take online). Better? Of course. Never been hacked and I have a choice! With Windows, you have no choice. It's as simple as that. ;) nb Never been hacked and I've been using windows since Windows 2. It's as simple as THAT. I started usinf Windows on my own computer with Windows for Workgroups 3.1?. WFW 3.11 was sweet! I installed it to solve a zillion problems with Windows, even those not on a network. |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On 05/27/2017 06:12 PM, notbob wrote:
Obviously, you stick with more tame websites. The bad guys try to break into those sites with the most hit. They are usually social type web sites. "Bill Clinton got a new girl friend, what happened on the bachelor, etc.." Got an old guy with dementia who surfs pron sites to kill the boredom. He gets hit with everything! Fortunately, I don't think he remembers who I am. |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On 5/27/2017 5:38 PM, notbob wrote:
On 2017-05-28, T wrote: Linux's downfall is the lack of applications. Nonsense. There is no Turbo Tax GNUCash No Quick Books If I don't know what it is, so why woudld I care? No M$ Office Open Office, Libre Office, etc So it depends, a crappy OS with five different apps to do everything and gets infected with the turn of the wind or a technically elegant OS with sparse amount of apps. Yes, Winblows has more sophisticated applications (a term replaced by "apps". cuz today's kids cannot express 4 syllables), but they are all proprietary. IOW, they cost $$$$. Yes, Winblows has more "accepted" applications/programs, but only cuz stupid ppl are willing to spend $$$$ to solve their problems. I find it hilarious that kids, today, can type faster with their thumbs than I can by touch-typing on a regular keyboard, yet they are terrified of the command line (CLI). WTF!? ;) nb Try comparing apples to apples. Have one of your kids configure GRUB and see how fast they type. They don't like CLI because they have no idea WHAT to type and could care less. Copy a file with a complex file name from one directory to another six levels of directories away, using the CLI. I'll do it with a mouse and we'll see who gets it right first...there, I'm done. CLI has limited utility and even that's because nobody bothered to write a user interface for it. GUI encapsulates the entire set of command line options and source/targets right there on the screen. You don't have to remember some oddly-named parameter that works differently from the same parameter used with another command. You don't have to know or care whether you have grub1 or grub2 or legacy grub or...It's all right there on the GUI screen for the exact version you're calling. |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On 2017-05-27, wrote:
I agree 110% - after working in the computer support business for over 26 years. Is windows perfect? Far from it - but it's about as good as it gets, in the big picture. Well, you're still pretty new at this stuff so it's understandable you'd consider Windows to be "as good as it gets." (I find that attitude common with neophytes who really have not been exposed to anything else.) It really depends of course on the needs of the user what is going to work best. I have not used Windows for a very long time and do not miss it. -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Roger Blake (Posts from Google Groups killfiled due to excess spam.) NSA sedition and treason -- http://www.DeathToNSAthugs.com Don't talk to cops! -- http://www.DontTalkToCops.com Badges don't grant extra rights -- http://www.CopBlock.org ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
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Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On 05/26/2017 08:30 AM, wrote:
I can no longer activate Windows XP on my desktop computer, even using the various go-arounds offered on the net. I can afford Windows 10 and so on, but I have given too many hours over the years to its Regedit, restore yada features. I do not need bells and whistles. I need a decent word processor, spreadsheet, pdf viewer. I have a small Chromebook as my second computer. For anything serious, I can use my little Chromebook or go to the public library. I am ready to try a free alternative operating system, such as Linux's Ubuntu. If you use a free operating system, can you post your thumbs up or thumbs down for it compared to Windows? Here is a nice list of alternative software for Linux: http://alternativeto.net/platform/linux/ |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On Sun, 28 May 2017 02:49:39 -0000 (UTC), Roger Blake
wrote: On 2017-05-27, wrote: I agree 110% - after working in the computer support business for over 26 years. Is windows perfect? Far from it - but it's about as good as it gets, in the big picture. Well, you're still pretty new at this stuff so it's understandable you'd consider Windows to be "as good as it gets." (I find that attitude common with neophytes who really have not been exposed to anything else.) It really depends of course on the needs of the user what is going to work best. I have not used Windows for a very long time and do not miss it. n 26 years in the computer world is pretty well irrelevant. If you want to work with 30 year old computer programs and technology, be my guest. |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On Sat, 27 May 2017 19:49:56 -0700, mike wrote:
On 5/27/2017 5:58 PM, wrote: On 28 May 2017 00:38:03 GMT, notbob wrote: On 2017-05-28, T wrote: Linux's downfall is the lack of applications. Nonsense. There is no Turbo Tax GNUCash No Quick Books If I don't know what it is, so why woudld I care? No M$ Office Open Office, Libre Office, etc So it depends, a crappy OS with five different apps to do everything and gets infected with the turn of the wind or a technically elegant OS with sparse amount of apps. Yes, Winblows has more sophisticated applications (a term replaced by "apps". cuz today's kids cannot express 4 syllables), but they are all proprietary. IOW, they cost $$$$. Yes, Winblows has more "accepted" applications/programs, but only cuz stupid ppl are willing to spend $$$$ to solve their problems. I find it hilarious that kids, today, can type faster with their thumbs than I can by touch-typing on a regular keyboard, yet they are terrified of the command line (CLI). WTF!? ;) nb There's just about as many "free" and "open source" stuff for Windoze as there is for Linux. If you live in a vacuum and are willing to live with whatever you get with linux, you're good to go. But don't expect your peeps to change the way they do things so they can stay compatible with you. And I double dog dare you to run a large commercial insurance brokerage using linux on the desktop!!!! Even try running a decent sised manufacturing and distribution business running Linux on the desktop, in HR, Shipping and recieving, packing, and shop floor inventory and BOM apps, including EDI with all your customers across North America and world wide. |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On 2017-05-28, T wrote:
Got an old guy with dementia who surfs pron sites to kill the boredom. He gets hit with everything! Fortunately, I don't think he remembers who I am. Wait! ....you talkin'.....?? |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On 2017-05-28, mike wrote:
your peeps to change the way..... WTF are "your peeps"!? Damn kids...... ;) nb |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
wrote:
On Sat, 27 May 2017 19:49:56 -0700, mike wrote: On 5/27/2017 5:58 PM, wrote: On 28 May 2017 00:38:03 GMT, notbob wrote: On 2017-05-28, T wrote: Linux's downfall is the lack of applications. Nonsense. There is no Turbo Tax GNUCash No Quick Books If I don't know what it is, so why woudld I care? No M$ Office Open Office, Libre Office, etc So it depends, a crappy OS with five different apps to do everything and gets infected with the turn of the wind or a technically elegant OS with sparse amount of apps. Yes, Winblows has more sophisticated applications (a term replaced by "apps". cuz today's kids cannot express 4 syllables), but they are all proprietary. IOW, they cost $$$$. Yes, Winblows has more "accepted" applications/programs, but only cuz stupid ppl are willing to spend $$$$ to solve their problems. I find it hilarious that kids, today, can type faster with their thumbs than I can by touch-typing on a regular keyboard, yet they are terrified of the command line (CLI). WTF!? ;) nb There's just about as many "free" and "open source" stuff for Windoze as there is for Linux. If you live in a vacuum and are willing to live with whatever you get with linux, you're good to go. But don't expect your peeps to change the way they do things so they can stay compatible with you. And I double dog dare you to run a large commercial insurance brokerage using linux on the desktop!!!! Even try running a decent sised manufacturing and distribution business running Linux on the desktop, in HR, Shipping and recieving, packing, and shop floor inventory and BOM apps, including EDI with all your customers across North America and world wide. I would guess that many companies like Amazon use database software running on Linux in most cases (as it's "free"). I wouldn't really expect to run any large company from a single desktop... I have several desktops where I live and we are not running a business. |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On Friday, May 26, 2017 at 10:30:13 AM UTC-5, wrote:
I can no longer activate Windows XP on my desktop computer, even using the various go-arounds offered on the net. I can afford Windows 10 and so on, but I have given too many hours over the years to its Regedit, restore yada features. I do not need bells and whistles. I need a decent word processor, spreadsheet, pdf viewer. I have a small Chromebook as my second computer.. For anything serious, I can use my little Chromebook or go to the public library. I am ready to try a free alternative operating system, such as Linux's Ubuntu. If you use a free operating system, can you post your thumbs up or thumbs down for it compared to Windows? I have an old laptop that I'm going to try loading True OS formerly PC-BSD on. It has Ubuntu on it now but I want to play with something else. I had PC-BSD on a desktop some years back and I liked it. I'm interested in how the OS has matured. ヽ(ヅ)ノ https://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=trueos https://www.trueos.org/ [8~{} Uncle OS Monster |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On 2017-05-28, wrote:
n 26 years in the computer world is pretty well irrelevant. If you want to work with 30 year old computer programs and technology, be my guest. I work with what in my judgement is best for my own needs and for whatever project(s) I may be working on. What you consider to be "30 year old computer programs and technology" has taken the world by storm. In every area of computing except traditional desktop systems, some form of Linux/Unix is employed. For better or worse it is what a large part of the technological world runs on. I come from a non-Microsoft background, starting with systems that employed punch cards and paper tape. I've never had much use for that company or its software, and in fact my own business runs completely free of Microsoft products. (Of course if someone else wants or needs them that is their own decision to make.) -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Roger Blake (Posts from Google Groups killfiled due to excess spam.) NSA sedition and treason -- http://www.DeathToNSAthugs.com Don't talk to cops! -- http://www.DontTalkToCops.com Badges don't grant extra rights -- http://www.CopBlock.org ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On Sun, 28 May 2017 03:18:56 GMT, Wayne Boatwright
wrote: On Sat 27 May 2017 03:59:46p, Bill told us... Wayne Boatwright wrote: On Sat 27 May 2017 12:11:23p, Bill told us... Wayne Boatwright wrote: On Sat 27 May 2017 08:53:40a, Frank told us... On 5/27/2017 12:01 AM, Wayne Boatwright wrote: On Fri 26 May 2017 06:59:29p, songbird told us... wrote: ... I am ready to try a free alternative operating system, such as Linux's Ubuntu. If you use a free operating system, can you post your thumbs up or thumbs down for it compared to Windows? certainly give it a try. i've been running Debian for many years and Ubuntu is based upon Debian, but is supposedly easier to use. there will be a learning curve, but if you have time i consider it time well spent. i like puzzles instead of watching tv anyways... :) i can't even remember the last time i booted my other machine which has win98 on it, the battery has probably died by now (it also has Debian on it). songbird Certainly there are alternative operating systems other than Windows. Do I pesonally want to use them? A definite no. I don't want to spend (waste) my time "making" something work, whereas WINDows 10 will be 100% compatible with my hardware, other software, peripherals, all the drivers and firmware, etc. Windows 10 allows me to USE my system rather than playing with it. I know that all you opponents will not agree. :-) I agree with you but I applaud their efforts. Everybody wins when there is competition. Oh, I have no problem with what others do. I do have a problem when they tell me what I should. FWIW, between Microsoft and Apple, I don't see a snowball's chance in hell of any other others ever becoming conpetitive with those two behemoths, at least not in my lifetime. I think you are overlooking Google and its Android platform. AFAIK, neither are platforms used on desktop computers. Some of Google's software, yes, but not their OS. I use Android on my cell phone and find that it's appropriate there. What I think you were overlooking is the significance of the platform (when you compared it to MS's product and Apple's products). I heard someone say last week, "The phone is the new TV"; I think it's fair to say that the new "phones" go along way towards replacing a desktop too for a lot of people as well. I don't think I'm overlooking it at all. Granted, smart phones are definitely small computers but they will never replace a deskstop computer in my world. If smart phones are replacing desktops for a lot of people, then they probably don't know that much about desktop computer capabilities. Love to see someone run Autocad or SolidWorks on their phone!! Or set up a 300 column spreadsheet.They are pretty useless even as a serious web browser, and without a physical keyboard like a 'berry, pretty useless for serious email (or word processing) as well. Even with my 'berry I wouldn't want to write a manuscript. I can access the company network VPN from my phone, but running any of the applications would be virtually impossible - even using it to remote control my desktop. My phone will NEVER replace my desktop. Even a tablet, without an external keyboard, is only of limited usefullness. With the keyboard may as well have a laptop. |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On Sun, 28 May 2017 00:28:09 -0400, Bill
wrote: wrote: On Sat, 27 May 2017 19:49:56 -0700, mike wrote: On 5/27/2017 5:58 PM, wrote: On 28 May 2017 00:38:03 GMT, notbob wrote: On 2017-05-28, T wrote: Linux's downfall is the lack of applications. Nonsense. There is no Turbo Tax GNUCash No Quick Books If I don't know what it is, so why woudld I care? No M$ Office Open Office, Libre Office, etc So it depends, a crappy OS with five different apps to do everything and gets infected with the turn of the wind or a technically elegant OS with sparse amount of apps. Yes, Winblows has more sophisticated applications (a term replaced by "apps". cuz today's kids cannot express 4 syllables), but they are all proprietary. IOW, they cost $$$$. Yes, Winblows has more "accepted" applications/programs, but only cuz stupid ppl are willing to spend $$$$ to solve their problems. I find it hilarious that kids, today, can type faster with their thumbs than I can by touch-typing on a regular keyboard, yet they are terrified of the command line (CLI). WTF!? ;) nb There's just about as many "free" and "open source" stuff for Windoze as there is for Linux. If you live in a vacuum and are willing to live with whatever you get with linux, you're good to go. But don't expect your peeps to change the way they do things so they can stay compatible with you. And I double dog dare you to run a large commercial insurance brokerage using linux on the desktop!!!! Even try running a decent sised manufacturing and distribution business running Linux on the desktop, in HR, Shipping and recieving, packing, and shop floor inventory and BOM apps, including EDI with all your customers across North America and world wide. I would guess that many companies like Amazon use database software running on Linux in most cases (as it's "free"). I wouldn't really expect to run any large company from a single desktop... I have several desktops where I live and we are not running a business. 57 and counting. The files are all on a NAS attached to a windows Server 2012 - we ditched the 'nix box about 6 years ago, when we upgraded the system from the old Basic 4 dumb terminals to Win-Boxes and moved to the client server model of the database software. A lot less trouble than the old system - Can't for the life of me remember the name of the development system used at the moment - - - - |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On Friday, May 26, 2017 at 10:30:13 AM UTC-5, wrote:
I can no longer activate Windows XP on my desktop computer, even using the various go-arounds offered on the net. I can afford Windows 10 and so on, but I have given too many hours over the years to its Regedit, restore yada features. I do not need bells and whistles. I need a decent word processor, spreadsheet, pdf viewer. I have a small Chromebook as my second computer.. For anything serious, I can use my little Chromebook or go to the public library. I am ready to try a free alternative operating system, such as Linux's Ubuntu. If you use a free operating system, can you post your thumbs up or thumbs down for it compared to Windows? I use Ubuntu Mate. Excellent O.S. Andy |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On Saturday, May 27, 2017 at 7:00:49 PM UTC-4, Bill wrote:
Wayne Boatwright wrote: On Sat 27 May 2017 12:11:23p, Bill told us... Wayne Boatwright wrote: On Sat 27 May 2017 08:53:40a, Frank told us... On 5/27/2017 12:01 AM, Wayne Boatwright wrote: On Fri 26 May 2017 06:59:29p, songbird told us... wrote: ... I am ready to try a free alternative operating system, such as Linux's Ubuntu. If you use a free operating system, can you post your thumbs up or thumbs down for it compared to Windows? certainly give it a try. i've been running Debian for many years and Ubuntu is based upon Debian, but is supposedly easier to use. there will be a learning curve, but if you have time i consider it time well spent. i like puzzles instead of watching tv anyways... :) i can't even remember the last time i booted my other machine which has win98 on it, the battery has probably died by now (it also has Debian on it). songbird Certainly there are alternative operating systems other than Windows. Do I pesonally want to use them? A definite no. I don't want to spend (waste) my time "making" something work, whereas WINDows 10 will be 100% compatible with my hardware, other software, peripherals, all the drivers and firmware, etc. Windows 10 allows me to USE my system rather than playing with it. I know that all you opponents will not agree. :-) I agree with you but I applaud their efforts. Everybody wins when there is competition. Oh, I have no problem with what others do. I do have a problem when they tell me what I should. FWIW, between Microsoft and Apple, I don't see a snowball's chance in hell of any other others ever becoming conpetitive with those two behemoths, at least not in my lifetime. I think you are overlooking Google and its Android platform. AFAIK, neither are platforms used on desktop computers. Some of Google's software, yes, but not their OS. I use Android on my cell phone and find that it's appropriate there. What I think you were overlooking is the significance of the platform (when you compared it to MS's product and Apple's products). I heard someone say last week, "The phone is the new TV"; I think it's fair to say that the new "phones" go along way towards replacing a desktop too for a lot of people as well. That's right. A decade ago many homes had more than one PC, some several. Now it's more common for there to be less PCs, the extra ones being replaced by phones and tablets, both of which offer what typical users were using those other PCs for. http://static1.businessinsider.com/i...0113_pc_bi.png PC sales have been dropping substantially for 4 consecutive years and are at 8 year lows. |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On 5/30/2017 6:55 AM, Bud Frede wrote:
Wayne Boatwright writes: Oh, I have no problem with what others do. I do have a problem when they tell me what I should. FWIW, between Microsoft and Apple, I don't see a snowball's chance in hell of any other others ever becoming conpetitive with those two behemoths, at least not in my lifetime. Mobile devices are taking over for most users, and Microsoft doesn't really have anything to offer for mobile devices. I'd also note that Free Software doesn't have to be "conpetitive" (sic) in terms of unit sales to the mass market. As long as there are people who like developing it and people who like to use it, it's automatically a success. Define the criteria carefully and everything is a success. Desktop linux is extremely successful among those who use it. I choose installed base as the metric. It's hard to call it a success if you can't give it away. I've installed desktop linux dozens of times over the years. Do I count as two dozen users? I've probably got 5 disks I could plug in and run it instantly. I could do 90% of what I do without incident. Problem is that it takes about five minutes to miss something that I can do easily with windows (and gave up after several serious efforts to implement in linux) and swap out the disk. You mentioned in another post that you prefer to use your computer rather than fiddle with it. That's exactly why I use Linux. :) Years ago I grew tired of all the problems that Windows has and decided to see if I could do without it. I tried Apple's alternatives, but found them to be much more expensive and rather restrictive. You're free to use whatever software you want, but I'd suggest that an investment in learning Linux could pay dividends in the long run. I find that my hardware lasts longer with Linux because it consumes less resources and I don't have to continually upgrade when my computer gets slow. I also don't have to switch to whatever Microsoft decides is their UI flavor of the month. The desktop environment I use has been around for many years and while it has evolved, it hasn't radically changed like Windows has over and over. I'd agree with the premise. Somewhere around windows 95 I decided to use as little MS software as possible. I use a lot of software originally designed for linux then ported to windows. Icons on the desktop for virtually everything make the OS version mostly irrelevant. One of my desktop linux gripes is that each version seems to arbitrarily change the way users create shortcuts. Did the concept of drag and drop get lost in the linux vortex? It's not about the details of the user interface. You can learn to use any interface. Problem is that it's not stable or self consistent. And it's not worth the change if it provides no tangible benefit. Windows users and linux users have very different views of tangible benefits. I tried to switch to open office back in the day. It worked all the time in isolation. But there were issues with MSOffice compatibility. And the user interface was so different that I spent most of my time looking for the right menu. After a few weeks, I threw in the towel and reinstalled an ancient version of MSOffice. Having MSOffice on one machine and Open office on another was an operational disaster. That's a big problem with people who have linux at home and windows at work. It's an operational nightmare prone to error. Underneath the GUI is a very capable command line environment that has a long and rich history. I've been using it and learning more about it for over 20 years, and will continue to do so. You do so because you like doing so. Nothing wrong with having a hobby. Go ahead, brag about your superiority. Your peeps will respect you. Your television probably has a remote. But, there's a rich set of buttons on the machine. How often do you walk over to the TV to change the volume? There's likely a test mode that lets you do additional things to bend the machine to your will. How often do you use that? Cars have automatic transmissions because people like them. Many people couldn't drive a technically superior 'stick' and could care less. I have a thermostat that keeps my house at whatever temperature I like. I have a fireplace in case I want to do it the hard way. I'll let you know if I ever do that...don't hold your breath. I buy food at the store instead of growing it because it frees me to do other things I want. If I actually wanted to cook something from scratch, I'd have to find the manual, decide on which of the dozen alternative recipes to try, go to the repository to get ingredients, futz with the tools and techniques, clean up the mess and keep trying different recipes until I got something that met my desires. Great plan for a chef. For me, not so much. I don't wanna be a chef. I'd rather eat it than mess with cooking it. Toilets flush so we don't have to carry a bucket out to the street. Sure, we could do that, but technology permits us to do better. The things I've learned about Linux (and Unix) can also carry over to other OSs like FreeBSD or even Mac OS X if I decide to use those. You're saying that learning about Linux carries over to other linuxes. Sure it does. Your learning prepares you to ferret out the differences and conditions you to be OK with having to figure out the seemingly random changes in each version/release. One of the big reasons that desktop linux is not more popular is the high barrier to entry. If linux developers wanted to, they'd take down the "you're too stupid to use linux" sign and pave a better path from the dominant OS to allow new users to come. Let their knowledge of windows carry over to operating desktop linux. I don't mean just adding an icon they can click to surf the web. I mean letting them do all the functions they now enjoy. Better program integration. Better integration with their peeps who have not yet made the transition. Desktop linux is antisocial. Operated in a vacuum, one might decide that it offers everything they need and a hobby to fill their solitude. Anyone who suggests that Desktop linux become more social with the way the world works is berated, with prejudice. That's not the way to win friends. The tail will not wag the dog. Millions of linux users will not change the attitude of Billions of windows users. Take something as simple as Firefox. Somebody decided to put the configuration function a different place in the menu structure. Little things like that make the transition more difficult/annoying. This knowledge also can apply to the popular mobile devices, and the wide array of devices that are making up the Internet of Things. The chances are very good that you own multiple devices that use Linux (or a Unix-like OS) and may not even know it. YES, YES, YES!!! That's exactly the point. You shouldn't have to know anything about the underlying OS to make it do what you want. If desktop linux operated that way, current windows users could jump ship with ease. Every other windows release has been a public relations nightmare. People stick with it because there is no viable alternative. Linux developers have ignored several opportunities to have a major increase in user acceptance of desktop linux. Linux, the OS, is plenty good. Apps are mostly tolerable. From my perspective, many apps are hobby projects presented as solutions. Somebody solved the 80% of the problem that they needed and moved on. So, we have dozens of apps solving different 80% of the problem. A commercial app would likely have better coverage in ONE app. Same thing is true of different distros. It's CHAOS. Like the song says, "ninety-nine and a half won't do." 80% is a non-starter. Glue it together into A stable Desktop Computing Platform. Round off the rough edges. Add more GUI, that operates consistently. QUIT FORKING IT INTO CHAOS! My fund of knowledge applies to those devices quite well. Does yours? YES! You're not the only smart person on the planet. |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On Sat, 27 May 2017 21:53:22 -0400, Bill
wrote: Shadow wrote: The main thing is, DO NOT INSTALL anything other than what your package manager offers. Installation is automatic and all dependencies are taken care of by the manager. Anything downloaded separately (like Oracle Java) will be a massive security hazard, and unless you are proficient with fixing Linux code, avoid it like the plague. You don't trust Oracle, or is something else going on that I am unaware of? One of the reasons I installed Linux (on the side) was to have a "sandbox" to run Java applications that I don't have to trust. Every Java runtime update "fixes" a number of "critical vulnerabilities" that can allow remote access or execution and are being exploited in the wild. The funny thing is the vulnerabilities are always introduced by previous updates. They weren't there before. So I don't trust them. Same with Win 10. "Security updates" disable anti-datamining fixes and open your PC for exploit. Which is why anti-telemetry software is updated every time an "official" patch comes out. []'s -- Don't be evil - Google 2004 We have a new policy - Google 2012 |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On Sat, 27 May 2017 19:46:57 -0700, mike wrote:
You don't have to remember some oddly-named parameter that works differently from the same parameter used with another command. That's what help and man pages are for, there are usually more options than you will ever find in a GUI program. Though the GUI is faster for normal users, the command line is far more powerful. For example, I would never use a GUI to encode video. It's too hard to get the end result I want. BTW What's the GUI for turning Win 10 telemetry (datamining) COMPLETELY off ? []'s -- Don't be evil - Google 2004 We have a new policy - Google 2012 |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
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Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On 28 May 2017 04:16:35 GMT, notbob wrote:
On 2017-05-28, mike wrote: your peeps to change the way..... WTF are "your peeps"!? I think he means people that use Linux. Like Amazon, Glugle, FaceKook etc Even Microsoft has a lot of its outsourced mirrors on Linux servers. No wonder they all went bust. []'s Damn kids...... ;) nb -- Don't be evil - Google 2004 We have a new policy - Google 2012 |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On Sat, 27 May 2017 21:43:46 -0700 (PDT), Uncle Monster
wrote: On Friday, May 26, 2017 at 10:30:13 AM UTC-5, wrote: I can no longer activate Windows XP on my desktop computer, even using the various go-arounds offered on the net. I can afford Windows 10 and so on, but I have given too many hours over the years to its Regedit, restore yada features. I do not need bells and whistles. I need a decent word processor, spreadsheet, pdf viewer. I have a small Chromebook as my second computer. For anything serious, I can use my little Chromebook or go to the public library. I am ready to try a free alternative operating system, such as Linux's Ubuntu. If you use a free operating system, can you post your thumbs up or thumbs down for it compared to Windows? I have an old laptop that I'm going to try loading True OS formerly PC-BSD on. It has Ubuntu on it now but I want to play with something else. I had PC-BSD on a desktop some years back and I liked it. I'm interested in how the OS has matured. ?(?)? https://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=trueos https://www.trueos.org/ Devuan has been finally released. It's basically Debian without the controversial systemd I'll wait to see how it fares, and replace my Debian with it if there are not too many glitches. https://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=devuan []'s -- Don't be evil - Google 2004 We have a new policy - Google 2012 |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On 5/30/2017 2:00 PM, Shadow wrote:
On Sat, 27 May 2017 21:43:46 -0700 (PDT), Uncle Monster wrote: On Friday, May 26, 2017 at 10:30:13 AM UTC-5, wrote: I can no longer activate Windows XP on my desktop computer, even using the various go-arounds offered on the net. I can afford Windows 10 and so on, but I have given too many hours over the years to its Regedit, restore yada features. I do not need bells and whistles. I need a decent word processor, spreadsheet, pdf viewer. I have a small Chromebook as my second computer. For anything serious, I can use my little Chromebook or go to the public library. I am ready to try a free alternative operating system, such as Linux's Ubuntu. If you use a free operating system, can you post your thumbs up or thumbs down for it compared to Windows? I have an old laptop that I'm going to try loading True OS formerly PC-BSD on. It has Ubuntu on it now but I want to play with something else. I had PC-BSD on a desktop some years back and I liked it. I'm interested in how the OS has matured. ?(?)? https://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=trueos https://www.trueos.org/ If you have an old laptop, determine whether it supports PAE and download the correct version of the OS. Devuan has been finally released. It's basically Debian without the controversial systemd I'll wait to see how it fares, and replace my Debian with it if there are not too many glitches. https://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=devuan []'s |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On Tue, 30 May 2017 17:46:11 -0300, Shadow wrote:
On Sat, 27 May 2017 23:14:20 -0400, wrote: And I double dog dare you to run a large commercial insurance brokerage using linux on the desktop!!!! Even try running a decent sised manufacturing and distribution business running Linux on the desktop, in HR, Shipping and recieving, packing, and shop floor inventory and BOM apps, including EDI with all your customers across North America and world wide. Right. Amazon does not use "a desktop" either. It runs on Linux, though. []'s It runs linux on the SERVER. Not every employee in the office uses Linux "on the desktop" - and darn right they use a "desktop" The desktop app running on WinDoze interfaces with the 'nix box at the database level and talks WinDoze compatible to the outside world. |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On 05/31/2017 03:07 AM, Wayne Boatwright wrote:
I have never had a problem with Windows. I have used Linix and Unix in the work environment and absolutel hated it. I wold never put on my own PC. If you are satisfied with Windows, fine. However saying you've never had a problem with Windows suggests your use has been quite casual. |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On Thu, 01 Jun 2017 03:11:11 GMT, Wayne Boatwright
wrote: On Wed 31 May 2017 07:07:47a, rbowman told us... On 05/31/2017 03:07 AM, Wayne Boatwright wrote: I have never had a problem with Windows. I have used Linix and Unix in the work environment and absolutel hated it. I wold never put on my own PC. If you are satisfied with Windows, fine. However saying you've never had a problem with Windows suggests your use has been quite casual. I'm a constant user. Before I retired I worked in many IT positions including a Windows network administrator and technician. I'm pretty fanatical about maintaining all the computers in our home. If you learn how to avoid problems, you don't generally have problems. There are MANY serious Windows users who have virtually no problems - and perhaps as many 'Nix users who have had a LOT of problems (and have given up on the OS) The current Apple OS is basically a 'Nix distro underneath. When my wife worked at Health Services at Laurier U, they used Mac Medical, while I administered a Windows network. The Mac system was down MANY times while the Windows system was virtually rock solid. Macintosh - Machine Always Crashes, If Not The Operating System Hangs |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On Thu, 01 Jun 2017 04:32:22 GMT, Wayne Boatwright
wrote: On Wed 31 May 2017 08:45:08p, told us... On Thu, 01 Jun 2017 03:11:11 GMT, Wayne Boatwright wrote: On Wed 31 May 2017 07:07:47a, rbowman told us... On 05/31/2017 03:07 AM, Wayne Boatwright wrote: I have never had a problem with Windows. I have used Linix and Unix in the work environment and absolutel hated it. I wold never put on my own PC. If you are satisfied with Windows, fine. However saying you've never had a problem with Windows suggests your use has been quite casual. I'm a constant user. Before I retired I worked in many IT positions including a Windows network administrator and technician. I'm pretty fanatical about maintaining all the computers in our home. If you learn how to avoid problems, you don't generally have problems. There are MANY serious Windows users who have virtually no problems - and perhaps as many 'Nix users who have had a LOT of problems (and have given up on the OS) The current Apple OS is basically a 'Nix distro underneath. When my wife worked at Health Services at Laurier U, they used Mac Medical, while I administered a Windows network. The Mac system was down MANY times while the Windows system was virtually rock solid. Macintosh - Machine Always Crashes, If Not The Operating System Hangs Thanks. You are clearly someone who has the knowledge and understandng. Over 26 years of working daily with the darn "confusers" including about 5 years in R&D |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On 2017-06-01, Wayne Boatwright wrote:
Beleve me, I well understand. I clocked in around 35 years if you count working with mainframe and mini computers at Bell Labs. Piddling around with desktop machines of any ilk was like child's play by comparison. The average person simply doesn't undersand and doesn't want to. They think they're so smart working with their little Linux and Unix boxes. Little do they know. They're welcome to it, IMHO. You newbies really are a hoot. I measure the uptime on my "little Linux and Unix" boxes in years. But whatever, if you want to stay in the Windows playpen you are welcome to it. -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Roger Blake (Posts from Google Groups killfiled due to excess spam.) NSA sedition and treason -- http://www.DeathToNSAthugs.com Don't talk to cops! -- http://www.DontTalkToCops.com Badges don't grant extra rights -- http://www.CopBlock.org ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On 06/01/2017 08:22 PM, Roger Blake wrote:
You newbies really are a hoot. I measure the uptime on my "little Linux and Unix" boxes in years. But whatever, if you want to stay in the Windows playpen you are welcome to it. Yeah, it ****ed me off 51 days ago when the power was out longer than the UPS could handle. Need to splice the pickup battery into the APC... People who say five nines and Windows in the same breath are optimists. We had one site that complained that our system crashed in the wee hours. Turned out Server 2008 was configured to apply updates by default. It did it's thing about 3AM on Patch Tuesday and rebooted like a good Windows box. People dispatching emergency responders get a little ****ed when that happens. If something bad is going down at the time, they get a lot ****ed. Twenty years ago they were running RS/6000's but IBM priced themselves out of the game. We shut our last RS/6000 box down about five years ago. I don't know if it would still boot up or if we could still do an AIX build. Probably, since we build most of the stuff on Linux. |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
Wayne Boatwright wrote:
On Thu 01 Jun 2017 07:22:55p, Roger Blake told us... On 2017-06-01, Wayne Boatwright wrote: Beleve me, I well understand. I clocked in around 35 years if you count working with mainframe and mini computers at Bell Labs. Piddling around with desktop machines of any ilk was like child's play by comparison. The average person simply doesn't undersand and doesn't want to. They think they're so smart working with their little Linux and Unix boxes. Little do they know. They're welcome to it, IMHO. You newbies really are a hoot. I measure the uptime on my "little Linux and Unix" boxes in years. But whatever, if you want to stay in the Windows playpen you are welcome to it. You're so full of crap it makes my eyes water. I was working with Unix on mini computers before you even knew what it was. I just prefer to not have it on a personal computer. You have to admit, in terms of "using/managing resources" Windows is a joke.. it hardly tries. I think that is embarrassing considering how long it has been out there. For an upgrade, MS changes the desktop, or invades your privacy more.. |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
Wayne Boatwright wrote:
On Thu 01 Jun 2017 11:09:54p, Bill told us... Wayne Boatwright wrote: On Thu 01 Jun 2017 07:22:55p, Roger Blake told us... On 2017-06-01, Wayne Boatwright wrote: Beleve me, I well understand. I clocked in around 35 years if you count working with mainframe and mini computers at Bell Labs. Piddling around with desktop machines of any ilk was like child's play by comparison. The average person simply doesn't undersand and doesn't want to. They think they're so smart working with their little Linux and Unix boxes. Little do they know. They're welcome to it, IMHO. You newbies really are a hoot. I measure the uptime on my "little Linux and Unix" boxes in years. But whatever, if you want to stay in the Windows playpen you are welcome to it. You're so full of crap it makes my eyes water. I was working with Unix on mini computers before you even knew what it was. I just prefer to not have it on a personal computer. You have to admit, in terms of "using/managing resources" Windows is a joke.. it hardly tries. I think that is embarrassing considering how long it has been out there. For an upgrade, MS changes the desktop, or invades your privacy more.. I really don't care what you think or what you believe. That's a sneaky way of avoiding my concerns! Why did you make this personal? |
Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
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Alternative Operating Systems to Windows
On Fri, 02 Jun 2017 05:20:14 GMT, Wayne Boatwright
wrote: On Thu 01 Jun 2017 07:22:55p, Roger Blake told us... On 2017-06-01, Wayne Boatwright wrote: Beleve me, I well understand. I clocked in around 35 years if you count working with mainframe and mini computers at Bell Labs. Piddling around with desktop machines of any ilk was like child's play by comparison. The average person simply doesn't undersand and doesn't want to. They think they're so smart working with their little Linux and Unix boxes. Little do they know. They're welcome to it, IMHO. You newbies really are a hoot. I measure the uptime on my "little Linux and Unix" boxes in years. But whatever, if you want to stay in the Windows playpen you are welcome to it. You're so full of crap it makes my eyes water. I was working with Unix on mini computers before you even knew what it was. I just prefer to not have it on a personal computer. The "up time" on my Windows boxes has regularly exceded 6 months - and then all I do is reboot - and it's not because it locked up. |
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