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?

On 5/26/2017 11:30 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?


I had Vista on my old computer and son, who is computer type guy, could
not fix it when it slowed to a crawl so wiped it and installed Linux.

Worked fine when he did it in his home on ethernet but when I got it
home I could not get it to work on wifi. Son had no fix and I figured
computer was maxed out and bought new Win 8 now Win 10. Win 10 can be a
PITA but you can tone down a lot of intrusiveness and easier for someone
like me that is not a computer guru.

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 the "Mint" distribution. When you say "free", you mean you won't
pay any money--and you are correct about that, but learning to use Linux
will hardly be "free". Give it as try, you have your Chromebook as back
up. What do you have to lose?

wrote in message
...
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?


Some people prefer Linux Mint over Ubuntu.

On Fri, 26 May 2017 12:46:46 -0400, Bill
wrote:

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 the "Mint" distribution. When you say "free", you mean you won't
pay any money--and you are correct about that, but learning to use Linux
will hardly be "free". Give it as try, you have your Chromebook as back
up. What do you have to lose?
Other than a lot of time and the rest of your hair???

wrote:
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 the "Mint" distribution. When you say "free", you mean you won't
pay any money--and you are correct about that, but learning to use Linux
will hardly be "free". Give it as try, you have your Chromebook as back
up. What do you have to lose?

alt.os.linux.mint
Good advice from good people.

wrote:
On Fri, 26 May 2017 12:46:46 -0400, Bill
wrote:

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 the "Mint" distribution. When you say "free", you mean you won't
pay any money--and you are correct about that, but learning to use Linux
will hardly be "free". Give it as try, you have your Chromebook as back
up. What do you have to lose?
Other than a lot of time and the rest of your hair???

He has been warned! : ) If he downloads Mint, then based upon my
experience, he should then head over to Oracle to download and install
their implementation of Java, the JVM. Let the learning begin... : )

Bill wrote:
wrote:
On Fri, 26 May 2017 12:46:46 -0400, Bill
wrote:

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 the "Mint" distribution. When you say "free", you mean you
won't
pay any money--and you are correct about that, but learning to use
Linux
will hardly be "free". Give it as try, you have your Chromebook as back
up. What do you have to lose?
Other than a lot of time and the rest of your hair???

He has been warned! : ) If he downloads Mint, then based upon my
experience, he should then head over to Oracle to download and install
their implementation of Java, the JVM.
I should add that doing this is free (the associated documentation
contains all of the details that you will need).

writes:

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?

Thumbs up.

Fedora user here.
Compared to Windows, lots of things work better.
There are thousands of free applications you can easily install.

It's free to try and easier to understand which is another
kind of freedom.

Most new Linux users start with Ubuntu.

--
Dan Espen

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

On 05/26/2017 10:49 AM, catalpa wrote:
wrote in message
...
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?


Some people prefer Linux Mint over Ubuntu.



I run Kubuntu at work and OpenSUSE at home. Unless you're a geek, the
desktop is what matters. I prefer KDE, hence Kubuntu. Ubuntu went down
the Unity rabbit hole following Microsoft. It went over so well they're
dropping it.

Mint is based on Ubuntu but uses the Cinnamon desktop by default.
Cinnamon is a child of GNOME and built with Gtk+. You can use other
desktops but in my experience with various distros, trying to graft on
another desktop can result in sort of an unstable mess.

The other thing to take into consideration is the degree of ideological
purity. not using proprietary drivers is pure and so forth but can also
result in stuff not working. I ain't pure. I don't lose sleep if NVidia
releases a driver that isn't Stallman Pure Open Source GPL as long as it
works. After a fwe go arounds with reverse engineered LexMark drivers
because LexMark doesn't do Linux and your purity slips. Along with your
desire to ever buy a LexMark printer.

As the OP probably has gathered the problem with Linux is sort of like
if someone says "I don't like GM cars. Are there any other cars out
there?" and the answer is "Ford." There are big Fords, little Fords,
trucky Fords, fast Fords....

On Sat, 27 May 2017 04:01:49 GMT, 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 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.

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.

Some of us have more than one OS on the same hardware running
concurrently--offering a few more choices than you have above.



I know that all you opponents will not agree. :-)

On 5/26/2017 10:10 PM, Wayne Boatwright wrote:
On Fri 26 May 2017 09:37:02p, Bill told us...

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.

Some of us have more than one OS on the same hardware running
concurrently--offering a few more choices than you have above.

I'm sure many of you are running more than one OS. I wasn't
suggesting that everyone should only run Windows. However, I have no
need for those additional choices that you seem to need. I have
exactly what I need.

The most important property for new users is ease of conversion.
I found Zorin OS 9 to be VERY easy to operate from a windows perspective.
It integrated into my network without itervention and just worked.

I played with Zorin 12 and judged it to be a step backward from 9.

Give MacPup linux V5.50 a try. It's very user friendly and
gives you a lot of help in the few cases it requires user input.
Runs very well off a DVD.

Wayne Boatwright wrote:
However, I have no need for those additional choices that you seem to
need. I have
exactly what I need.


How do you know what you are missing?

On 05/26/2017 11:30 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?


I prefer Linux Mint but still have to use Windows to do certain tasks
like updating my Garmin Nuvi maps.

On Sat, 27 May 2017 05:12:54 GMT, Wayne Boatwright
wrote:

On Fri 26 May 2017 09:25:38p, told us...

On Sat, 27 May 2017 04:01:49 GMT, 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 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.

Clare, I have a similar and lengthy work background. You're right
that Windows is not perfect and probably never will be, but for me
it's best option and I doubt I'll ever change my mind.

Thanks!
Iworkes with Unix and Vines decades ago - and I can truthfully say I
do NOT miss it!!!

On Sat, 27 May 2017 03:53:24 -0400, Bill
wrote:

Wayne Boatwright wrote:
However, I have no need for those additional choices that you seem to
need. I have
exactly what I need.


How do you know what you are missing?
Whatever it is, I haven't found myself needing it ---

On 5/26/2017 4:13 PM, Bill wrote:
wrote:
On Fri, 26 May 2017 12:46:46 -0400, Bill
wrote:

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 the "Mint" distribution. When you say "free", you mean you won't
pay any money--and you are correct about that, but learning to use Linux
will hardly be "free". Give it as try, you have your Chromebook as back
up. What do you have to lose?
Other than a lot of time and the rest of your hair???

He has been warned! : ) If he downloads Mint, then based upon my
experience, he should then head over to Oracle to download and install
their implementation of Java, the JVM. Let the learning begin... : )

You are correct according to what I've read. I just googled up
doeslinux mint work with programs I use like MS Office or free like
mozilla stuff and each had some comment on how to get these programs to
work on that OS. I would also like to be free of Microsoft but programs
are all set to use there.

On 05/26/2017 08:10 PM, Dan Espen wrote:

[snip]

Most new Linux users start with Ubuntu.


I did, in 2010. Then, when they introduced Unity I really didn't like
that GUI and switched to Lubuntu, which is the same but a different GUI.

For most problems, I found solutions on the web.

--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.us/

"It was well known how profitable this fable of Christ has been to us."
- Pope Leo X (as reported by Rev. Tavlor in the Diegesis)

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.

Wayne Boatwright writes:

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. :-)

Well, since you don't even indicate you have tried, I'm inclined
to completely ignore your opinion.

You state your Windows 10 system is completely trouble free.
I'm finding that hard to accept.

My experience with Windows is that things go wrong and
it's very difficult to understand why. I've had to re-install
the entire Windows OS more than once. I once had a failing drive
on a laptop. All I got from windows was various hangs and strange
behavior. Booted up Linux on the same machine and it showed me
disk errors.

--
Dan Espen

On 05/27/2017 09:42 AM, wrote:
On Sat, 27 May 2017 05:12:54 GMT, Wayne Boatwright
wrote:

On Fri 26 May 2017 09:25:38p, told us...

On Sat, 27 May 2017 04:01:49 GMT, 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 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.

Clare, I have a similar and lengthy work background. You're right
that Windows is not perfect and probably never will be, but for me
it's best option and I doubt I'll ever change my mind.

Thanks!
Iworkes with Unix and Vines decades ago - and I can truthfully say I
do NOT miss it!!!


Why don't you two get a room? I suppose you've never touched Android or
Chrome OS? You've never visited a web site running on Linux or on a
Windows VM spun up by the root Linux OS? You are hanging onto your
Windows phones and Windows RT tablets for dear life?

Remember Window 3.1 where you had to load a third party stack created by
Trumpet Software from a floppy if you expected to connect to anything
other than a dialup board?

I'll agree Windows may be the best choice for the average consumer just
like a Honda Civic is the choice Consumer Reports always comes up with.
I cut my teeth on FORTRAN IV in 1965 and have developed software for
most OS's except Apple. Nothing against Apple but nobody ever wanted to
pay me to work on Apple devices. Like cars, they are all pretty much the
same.

Wayne Boatwright writes:

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.

So fortunate for you that no one told you what to do.

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.

Of course, don't count Android.

--
Dan Espen

On Sat, 27 May 2017 12:50:42 -0400, Dan Espen
wrote:

Wayne Boatwright writes:

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. :-)

Well, since you don't even indicate you have tried, I'm inclined
to completely ignore your opinion.

You state your Windows 10 system is completely trouble free.
I'm finding that hard to accept.

My experience with Windows is that things go wrong and
it's very difficult to understand why. I've had to re-install
the entire Windows OS more than once. I once had a failing drive
on a laptop. All I got from windows was various hangs and strange
behavior. Booted up Linux on the same machine and it showed me
disk errors.
I have to re-install windows to solve a problem in well over 8
years. It's been a coon's age since I've had windows lock up on a
machine that meets the compatability requirements for the version of
windows being run. I've got Win10Pro running on an itty-bitty Acer
Asipre One - the low powered atom verion. It hangs occaisionally, but
it barely ran XP, and I'm sure it would be pretty limited on Linux as
well.

Playing with 10 on it is as far as I want to go with "playing"

If I want to "play" with "alternative OS" I can pull out my old
Rat-Shack CoCo and plat with the old OS9 6809 multi-tasking OS.

On Sat, 27 May 2017 13:21:08 -0400, Dan Espen
wrote:

Wayne Boatwright writes:

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.

So fortunate for you that no one told you what to do.

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.

Of course, don't count Android.
Android has taken the phone and tablet market by storm. Not much
chance of it becoming a competitor on the desktop. Same with Chrome.

On Sat, 27 May 2017 17:38:49 GMT, Wayne Boatwright
wrote:

On Sat 27 May 2017 10:21:08a, Dan Espen told us...

Wayne Boatwright writes:

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.

So fortunate for you that no one told you what to do.

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.

Of course, don't count Android.


I was specifically addressing desktop computers. My cell phone hs an
Android OS. I wasn't aware that the Android OS was used on any PCs.
If so, I still wouldn't be interested.
I hate it on my tablet - still use BB10 on my phone.

On 05/27/2017 11:52 AM, Wayne Boatwright wrote:
I worked on computers and software, ncluding FORTRAN, back in the
1960s too. But we're not living in the 1960s, and I see no reason to
daredge up the past. I prefer living in the present and future and
use the technology that I prefer. I don't care to disuss this
further.

You are the one that said "Clare, I have a similar and lengthy work
background." You're right, we're done. Enjoy Windows 10, its ads, and
its spyware.

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.

On 5/26/2017 10:30 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?


Linux Mint on the TV computer... windows7 here, rasperian on a market
tracking Raspberry pi 2, Vista on a laptop that will soon be Linux Mint
or maybe duel boot to Mint. I've put Linux Mint on other computers for
friends and set it up so they can easily use it. Once you get it
down... you'll be glad you did. Google and Youtube is your friend... go
for it. You can put Linux on a USB and boot from that to try it out and
learn the ropes then install it if you think it will work for you.

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.

On 5/26/2017 10:30 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.

Try any Linux or BSD distrobution. You only know Windows cuz all yer
friends/associates can give you advice on that particular OS almost
instantly. You were NOT born with an inate knowledge of Windows. You
jes think you were. Immerse yerself into Linux. It's the only way.

nb

On Fri, 26 May 2017 16:13:10 -0400, Bill
wrote:

wrote:
On Fri, 26 May 2017 12:46:46 -0400, Bill
wrote:

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 the "Mint" distribution. When you say "free", you mean you won't
pay any money--and you are correct about that, but learning to use Linux
will hardly be "free". Give it as try, you have your Chromebook as back
up. What do you have to lose?
Other than a lot of time and the rest of your hair???

He has been warned! : ) If he downloads Mint, then based upon my
experience, he should then head over to Oracle to download and install
their implementation of Java, the JVM. Let the learning begin... : )

Java is not needed for ANY everyday utils like word processor,
browser, email client, music and video player, text editor. (Suggest
LibreOffice, Firefox, Thunderbird, Audacious , VLC and Leafpad
respectively, but you can find dozens of alternatives in the package
manager.

As to dists, Mint for absolute newbies (it's be something like
your ChromeBrick), or maybe PCLinuxOS

There are a lot of choices:

http://distrowatch.com/

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.
HTH
[]'s
--
Don't be evil - Google 2004
We have a new policy - Google 2012

On Sat, 27 May 2017 13:54:00 -0400, wrote:
gotta replace my keyboard or learn to type ---
I have
NOT HAD TO
re-install windows to solve a problem in well over 8
years. It's been a coon's age since I've had windows lock up on a
machine that meets the compatability requirements for the version of
windows being run. I've got Win10Pro running on an itty-bitty Acer
Asipre One - the low powered atom verion. It hangs occaisionally, but
it barely ran XP, and I'm sure it would be pretty limited on Linux as
well.

Playing with 10 on it is as far as I want to go with "playing"

If I want to "play" with "alternative OS" I can pull out my old
Rat-Shack CoCo and plat with the old OS9 6809 multi-tasking OS.

On 27 May 2017 23:05:46 GMT, notbob wrote:


On 5/26/2017 10:30 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.

Try any Linux or BSD distrobution. You only know Windows cuz all yer
friends/associates can give you advice on that particular OS almost
instantly. You were NOT born with an inate knowledge of Windows. You
jes think you were. Immerse yerself into Linux. It's the only way.

nb
Linux is a "religion" to some.

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

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?


Damn!! I missed this post!!! And everyone else had
a lot of constructive stuff to say too! Not fair,
not fair, not fair! What ???? I heard that! Life
is unfair ??

Linux is technically superior to Windows, and not by
a little, but by a lot. Now a days it is as easy
to use as is Windows too.

Check our the Live DVD's and see which one your like. KDE
was what Windows 7 was based on. Xfce is very sparse and
fast (my favorite), Gnome is weird for the sake of
weirdness (but some really love it).

Linux's downfall is the lack of applications. There is no
Turbo Tax, No Quick Books, No M$ Office (you can get it
to run under Wine), yada, yada, yada.

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.

Your choice.

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

On 05/27/2017 05:38 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



Wonderful list!

I adore Ink Scape and PDF Studio.

Please note that GNU Cash DOES NOT do inventory or payroll.

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?.