attn: computer geeks windows vista??

**mimitabby** · 10-08-2007, 07:43 PM

hi. just got a new computer. it has windows vista. i am seriously thinking of flattening it and putting XP on it; my sons are trying to talk me into Linux with an XP emulator.

comments, suggestions?

i have had the thing plugged in for 15 minutes and windows is still checking my system.. grrr
thanks

**KnottedYet** · 10-08-2007, 08:04 PM

Linux.

(just cuz SKnot talks about it. I know nothing, actually.)

**kelownagirl** · 10-08-2007, 08:07 PM

Trade it in for a Mac?

**KnottedYet** · 10-08-2007, 08:14 PM

Originally Posted by kelownagirl

Trade it in for a Mac?

Yeah, there's the idea!

Knot-liiiiiikes-her-Mac

**Zen** · 10-08-2007, 08:21 PM

Linux/XP

**salsabike** · 10-08-2007, 08:22 PM

Chris has XP with a Linux emulator called Cygwin.

I agree with dumping Vista for XP, until ALLLLLL the Vista bugs are gone. Chris says that Linux is more secure/less likely to be hacked, but requires more geek-y type work than Windows, though.

**Eden** · 10-08-2007, 08:49 PM

Macs really run on a Linux platform these days

**Mr. Bloom** · 10-09-2007, 02:05 AM

Originally Posted by salsabike

Linux is more secure/less likely to be hacked, but requires more geek-y type work than Windows, though.

MAC isn't an option for me and I don't have the ability to do geek-y type work...

I do have an unstalled upgrade to Vista sitting on my dresser. I'm not afraid of bugs, but whether or not it will impact the operation of my existing programs (like Word, Excel, etc)

So, for me the question is XP or Vista upgrade...what do you think?

**Torrilin** · 10-09-2007, 05:24 AM

Originally Posted by mimitabby

hi. just got a new computer. it has windows vista. i am seriously thinking of flattening it and putting XP on it; my sons are trying to talk me into Linux with an XP emulator.

comments, suggestions?

i have had the thing plugged in for 15 minutes and windows is still checking my system.. grrr
thanks

The right answer depends on what you want to do with your computer. Linux does not play well with most computer games. Many Linux distributions will feel awkward to someone used to Windows or a Mac if you need anything beyond a word processor, spreadsheet, email, web browsing, computer programming and image editing. In other programs things won't be laid out the way you expect, and the documentation can be confusing. In (rare) cases, you might not be able to do what you need at all.

For me, Linux is not a good choice right now for my primary box. I do lots of computer gaming, and my games of choice do not have good Linux support. Wouldn't work well for my mom either... she'd be mad because *her* games wouldn't work. My dad mostly does computer aided drafting and spreadsheets on his computer, so he might be able to make the switch. He'd probably need to run his CAD programs in emulation, but it wouldn't be a major hassle the way games are.

Going to Vista makes sense (eventually) for most people. If you've got a machine that came with Vista installed, it's probably not worth switching back unless you've found a program that you need to have that Vista can't run.

**Triskeliongirl** · 10-09-2007, 05:49 AM

I tried Linux with a win2000 emulator some time ago, and found it very frustrating, as not all windows apps that I use at work would run. Linux is great for Linux apps, but not if you need to use a lot of windows apps, in my opinion (we have a lot of instruments with software written for windows).

I have no personal experience with vista, but recently bought both my kids vista boxes and they love them, very stable, but I did get them high end configs in terms of lots of memory, fast dual processors, etc (from IBM/lenovo). Also, they have the current office2007 vs the earlier versions which may be important (but data can be saved in office2003 to send to colleagues running earlier versions). They use theirs on the MIT and Wellesley networks, and have not experienced any problems. Maybe you just need to get used to it, or upgrade some memory and/or softward.

**BleeckerSt_Girl** · 10-09-2007, 06:28 AM

Aside from the Mac jokes (lots of possibly work-necessary programs don't work with Mac either!)....

Lots of important programs don't work with Vista yet. Even HP has not updated drivers to Vista. Vista's release was way too premature, despite its many delays.
Windows XP is way more stable and useful right now.
I would suggest getting Vista disabled or uninstalled, and putting good old reliable XP on your new computer. The people you bought it from might be willing to give you an option to switch. Many people are angry with Vista's lameness and demanding XP instead, and sellers are listening.

**Tater** · 10-09-2007, 06:37 AM

I got a new laptop for work applications (can't do Mac, unfortunately) and it came installed with Vista. I haven't had any problems with it yet. It has some interesting quirks, asks for permission for a lot of things, but has ran smooth since I got it in July. It worked with both printers at the office and both here at home. I haven't had it not work with anything yet. Oh, and my laptop is an HP.

**mimitabby** · 10-09-2007, 06:43 AM

okay you Mac freaks. getting a mac is NOT an option, i just bought a windows machine!
not to mention the cost of buying a mac, i'd also have to buy all new software which i really DO NOT want to do.. but thanks for thinking of me.

I think i'm going to XP.

I have unix at work, so i am already used to working with it; but i'm not sure an XP emulator is going to be as nice as what i have at work and that isn't so great either.
thank you all; you have convinced me. My new computer has 1 Gig of memory and it is BARELY enough for vista. Maybe new apps are going to need vista, but i don't need new apps. I have microsoft office, paintshop pro and firefox.
I have a few small app's like the gizmo that downloads pictures from my cellphone, but I don't do games at all. thanks very much, you helped me make a decision.

**smilingcat** · 10-09-2007, 08:11 AM

At office:
Linux Redhat enterprise
instead of WORD and other MS OFFICE junk I run Open Office (freebie) and can inmport export WORD docs and almost all other MS documents. It can also generate pdf files.

also have XP emulator by VMware. Occasional glitches but minor.

If you want a freebie try Fedora 8 release with Open Office. Or other freebie Linux. Only thing you have to watch out for is hardware support.

At home:
Windows XP wih Open Office (yes it can run on Linux, Windows, MAC, Solaris...) and the files are portable to other platforms. My printer, Wireless G+ MIMO and other peripheral all support Linux and MAC. We do this because when we switch over to MAC/Linux box we don't have to send it to the garaveyard.

My next machine WILL BE A MAC LAPTOP. NO MORE DESKTOPS.
It has things I need and it comes pre-installed.
Objective-C, Ruby, TCL/TK, just need to load Open Office. etc.

Can't run my dreamweaver on MAC or Linux but Ruby on Rails should be able to handle what I need.

Almost all my software are open source freebie or very cheap. Its very reliable more so than windows or other stuff from MS. And I save ungodly amount of money.

The bad thing with Vista is once you upgrade, you can't go back. (that is what I was told) So we have zelch intention of upgrading to Vista. Besides, you have to decide which flavor you want. And you can't switch from one to other.

smilingcat

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