Tech: No more WIN95 for me!

Subject: Tech: No more WIN95 for me!
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 09:15 PM

Just wanted to let all you techies, who have been so patient with me and my antiquated WIN95 system, know that we have moved up to the NEXTGEN!! We now have a new HP tower with WINXP and all the attendant bells and whistles! It's like night and day. Thanks for all of your help over the years. I know just what programs I want to install and a lot more about saving/not saving AND I can burn to CDs now! Whoo-hoo!

BillD, I have already loaded Mozilla in this one. I am sold on that program; all of the extras are fantastic. Thanks, again, for telling us about it. And, a special thanks to JohninKS and Justa Picker for all of your help, too!

luvyakat

Subject: RE: Tech: No more WIN95 for me!
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 09:34 PM

XP? Oh dear...hope it works out OK...have heard horror stories about XP.....and just where is Justa a Picker? I have not heard from him in ages....(not tried Mozilla)

Subject: RE: Tech: No more WIN95 for me!
From: GUEST,Sir Arthur Conan and Doyle
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 09:41 PM

Oh, I'm sure he's not too far away.

Subject: RE: Tech: No more WIN95 for me!
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 10:05 PM

F-ing Sh==!!!

Yours, was one of the last original MCer's machines I could hack on the old 2600/COW programs....

However, thanks for the info.....with the past two year improvments....Me and Mr. Rumsfield will be examining closely.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Tech: No more WIN95 for me!
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 10:09 PM

Perhaps, you may consider a Non-Gates....Non-Jobs....OS with this newest machine...it will save you money and virus.....

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Which cult non-profit....may I secure your HD from?

Subject: RE: Tech: No more WIN95 for me!
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Jan 04 - 11:38 PM

Thanks for the confession, Greg, too bad it's all delusional.

Sorcha, thanks, darlin'...I'll let ya know.:-)

Subject: RE: Tech: No more WIN95 for me!
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 31 Jan 04 - 12:56 AM

Step 1: Put ALL of those disks and manuals in ONE box and place it in a secure place where you'll be able to find it WHEN (not if) you want it.

Step 2: Enjoy the h... out of the new toy.

Congrats.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: No more WIN95 for me!
From: Jim McLean
Date: 31 Jan 04 - 08:08 AM

I've used all Windows operating systems and find Win XP Pro excellent. (I even used a Sinclair ZX80, a white box, and still have it!).
Jim

Subject: RE: Tech: No more WIN95 for me!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 31 Jan 04 - 11:22 AM

Welcome to the 20th century Kl...

,-)

Subject: RE: Tech: No more WIN95 for me!
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 Jan 04 - 11:54 AM

LOL, thanks, CH! Sure looks different and wow, the speed!

Duly noted, John, thanks.

SRS, yes, we do; have had cable for the past three years, so it is great!

Thanks for the info on XP - ours his the home version, I hope we don't regret it. I'm off to see what you all have said about it on other threads.:-)

kat

Subject: RE: Tech: No more WIN95 for me!
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 31 Jan 04 - 11:56 AM

Ug... from what I hear, XP Home blows...

Subject: RE: Tech: No more WIN95 for me!
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 Jan 04 - 12:04 PM

Yeah, sounds as though we might want to upgrade to XPPro, huh?

Subject: RE: Tech: No more WIN95 for me!
From: JennyO
Date: 31 Jan 04 - 12:17 PM

I have XP Home, and my son has XP Pro. I'm very happy with what i have, but i will ask him what he thinks the advantages are with his.

Jenny

Subject: RE: Tech: No more WIN95 for me!
From: Joe Offer
Date: 31 Jan 04 - 12:35 PM

I was very happy with he Home Edition of Wisnows XP - until I installed the latest edition of Norton System Works last week. I realize the need for a firewall and antivirus software, but what good is virus protection if your computer doesn't work? So, should I hate Bill Gates, or Peter Norton?

Actually, I don't think Peter Norton has been involved with Norton AntiVirus for a long time. Spreaking of Peter Norton, this (click) got me going for a minute. I think I'm going to have to spend more time exploring denounce.com.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Tech: No more WIN95 for me!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Jan 04 - 01:11 PM

When we bought the computer from Dell I ordered it online and it cost me $70 to upgrade to XP pro at that time. Doing it later costs more. But since you've had this computer for such a short time, see if the computer manufacturer will cut you a deal and keep the cost down.

Subject: RE: Tech: No more WIN95 for me!
From: Bill D
Date: 31 Jan 04 - 01:35 PM

well, I am glad to hear this, kat...sort of...*wry grin*...I would love to have the new 'stability', but dread the creeping intrusiveness that M$ is gradually introducing...I am grimly holding to Win982E so far, (partially from shortages of $$$)...I expect to get broadband this spring, (as soon as it is warm enough to climb in the attic and run cables for network)....What I would dearly love to do is get a good machine with dual-boot and have Linux for most online applications....we shall see.

glad to hear you like Mozilla! It will be continuously improved, but always wait to upgrade till you hear good things about the new release...(do investigate bookmarklets!)

Subject: RE: Tech: No more WIN95 for me!
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 31 Jan 04 - 06:17 PM

One of the "hidden" differences between WinXP Home and WinXP Pro is that the "Pro" version is much more tolerant of equipment and software additions without the need to go back to Microsoft for "permission" to turn the machine back on if "it" thinks you've moved it to a new machine.

That was a real concern for many users when XP came out; but aparently hasn't been much of real problem.

The more serious concern is that machines purchased with XP Home usually come with Office Home, rather than one of the (several) professional OFFICE versions. At least in older versions, Office Home had a word processor that wasn't really Word, a "spread sheet" that only vaguely resembled Excel, and a whole bunch of "tinker toy" accessories that only kid gamers could love.

Reports are that the "current" version of Office Home does include "real" Word; but I haven't seen it yet, and don't have enough info on it to tell whether a given "ver no" would be the new or the old.

It will take some time for you to discover all the settings and preferences you need to make to make it "fit" you, and to find out just what you really have. Enjoy it now, and consider whether it works for you before you worry too much about all the generalities you'll see in people's commentary.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: No more WIN95 for me!
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 Jan 04 - 11:27 PM

Thanks, John. I am going to be very careful about what I put on this one. Thankfully, through Mudcat and trial and error, I've a few favourites I want to transfer from the old one, but do not plan to really go nuts with it for sometime. OF course, I don't even realise what it means to go from 8gb to 160gb!:-)

I'll check out Word and see if it's at all like what I am used to.

Bill, I wanted to get one with Linux and build it up, or have it built, but Rog says you've really got to know your way around a computer to do that. Maybe someday I'll be able to have side-by-side drives as you mentioned, AND understand it enough not to muck it up!

Thanks, everyone,

kat

Subject: RE: Tech: No more WIN95 for me!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Jan 04 - 11:51 PM

You can do a dual platform. It takes patience but it isn't difficult. First you get a copy of Partition Magic, and read the book carefully. Where you go from there depends on what you want the computer to do.

I'd also like to build on from scratch. Just haven't had the time to do it. The folks at work do it all the time in the basement of the library. I need to go hang out with them for a while. We'll call it "cross training!"

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: No more WIN95 for me!
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 12:56 AM

There may be hope. "Insider" reports have begun to mention that quite a few offices at IBM are using a new "Linux In A Box" - a very closely guarded secret weapon to replace Windows for "ordinary users." It's reportedly in "eat your own cat food stage" testing. IBM doesn't admit to it, but a couple of leaks say it's real Linux and installs/looks/runs like Windows [You decide which is good/bad there, but we're probably supposed to assume "like the good part of Windows."]

It's a little tough to announce a release schedule for something you don't admit you're working on, but the guesses put it still "at least 2 years out."

"Some Insiders" are guessing, though, that if they don't get it on the street soon big Mickey will figure out a way to make it "incompatible" with the rest of the(ir) world before it gets here. On the other hand, the guesses would put it pretty much head-to-head with the next major Windows release(?) which was originally announced for last year, but is now probably a 2005 (or later) product.

There will be a "Windows XP SR2" release sometime within the next few months. Reviews on the 2d-beta copies that have been in circulation are somewhat mixed, but you can expect to be urged to get it when it comes.

New Windows OEM kits will begin shipping soon (if not already) that will make some rather substantial (and not necessarily "good for the user") changes in browser features - mainly due to uncertainty about some lawsuits that are still unsettled. This is a case where I'm not impressed with the reviews enough to say wait for the new one. I'd personally be tempted to get one now before it gets changed, although I'd study it a little more if I really had to make that decision. Theoretically, you will not be able to buy a new machine with "old XP" installed once this change hits the supply stream.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: No more WIN95 for me!
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 08:37 AM

John, you may be interested in this article I have just read.

Subject: RE: Tech: No more WIN95 for me!
From: Bill D
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 11:32 AM

well, the first signs of "Linux in a Box" are already showing up as "Linux on a CD".

There are several "demos" of Linux that you can order, OR download yourself and put on a CD that will run without complex installation.

The best known of these is "Knoppix", but there are 2-3 others being tried. You get a complete operating system and many programs, including a Word Processor and image editor. I read amazing reports about how stable and easy this is to run, and I intend to try it myself soon.. There are reports of minor problems getting it to recognize certain modems and sound cards, but the good reports far outnumber the problem reports.

(I can point you to relevant discussions if anyone is interested)

Subject: RE: Tech: No more WIN95 for me!
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 01 Feb 04 - 02:55 PM

Maybe I'm being dim, but haven't Red Hat, Mandrake etc ofered such things for years?

Subject: RE: Tech: No more WIN95 for me!
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 02:34 AM

Joe O -   "Recognized around the world as the best source for completely fictional news and information." ... (?)

Frankly, I recognized the pose, and immediately thought of Mr. Norton.

The new IBM venture is presumed to be an attempt at "consumer packaging" a new OS for the "using rabble." Those who use the currently available Linux seem to forget that they're a lot smarter than the rest of us, and "we" can't quite get warm and fuzzy with those versions.

The rumor is that they even let IBM managers use this new one, so it's obviously targeted at a true mass market.

The semi-official name for the project is actually reported to be Blue Linux.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: No more WIN95 for me!
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 02 Feb 04 - 04:40 AM

Ed, yes the likes of Mandrake and Ret Hat will usually install as easily as Windows does and they do come with some applications, eg. my Mandrake 8.1 has several web browers, word processors, spread sheets, a graphics program, etc. So I too am a bit confused by some of the above.

I do think that in some ways that Linux can be its own worst enemy, eg. most potential users do not want to be concerned about what kernel they have, sort out which RPM file they need for thier system or alternatively to have to run gcc to compile source code to install program. My own opinion of Linux is that the Unix like core and utilities are good but there seems to be little in the way of sense of direction from there on - at least not if producing a user friendly sytem is a goal.

Perhaps some of this is a danger of open source software and open standards. I have similar frustrations in a sense with the potentially excellent abc.

One can only hope that a company like IBM may have the clout to set more of a standard and the ability to turn Linux into a system whereby the average user will never need to go "behind the scenes" to achieve anything.

I'd speculate that with 1 good co-ordinated plan, Linux could knock MS at least hard enough to force them to revise thier policies. I think they and others realise this though... Read the first big section in the link BillD gave for example - it seems people could even claim patents/copyrights on things like scrollbars!