Microsoft XP

turboswede wrote: If that fails, install virtualbox, build VM with the OS required for your application and then install the application and run it from within the VM session.

Did you miss the part where I asked for "idiot proof"?

While I won't say, "that's Greek to me" it's not too far from it.

I see a lot of things a lot more difficult than "just use the old computer"...

Ian F wrote:

turboswede wrote: If that fails, install virtualbox, build VM with the OS required for your application and then install the application and run it from within the VM session.

Did you miss the part where I asked for "idiot proof"? While I won't say, "that's Greek to me" it's not too far from it.

I and others here can walk you through this in more detail, it was just a brief overview of the basic steps and if you break it down, you'll see that each one isn't hard to do by itself.

Knurled wrote: I see a lot of things a lot more difficult than "just use the old computer"...

That's the easy option. Until your ISP shuts down your internet connection because your old computer has been hijacked as part of a botnet and is spamming the world. Not a random example, btw. It happened to my parents, who do not exactly take part in what you would call risky behavior online. That's why you patch your OS.

Knurled wrote: I see a lot of things a lot more difficult than "just use the old computer"...

I've tried that. Even went so far as to get our IT dept to dig up an old XP laptop for me. Doesn't help the program is pretty old (over 10 years) and even when I call the vendor that gave it to me, their tech staff just goes, "Uh... what?" so it's not supported anymore. Oh well... this subject hits me every time I need to do a quick lighting calc and can't because we refuse to spend money on a real program and all of the free ones are crap and/or a PITA to set up and use. With the old program, I could do a fairly accurate calc in about 10 min.

Keith Tanner wrote:

Knurled wrote: I see a lot of things a lot more difficult than "just use the old computer"...

That's the easy option. Until your ISP shuts down your internet connection because your old computer has been hijacked as part of a botnet and is spamming the world. Not a random example, btw. It happened to my parents, who do not exactly take part in what you would call risky behavior online. That's why you patch your OS.

And it is one of the things I deal with on a daily basis.

That and "why am I getting all this porn spam"...maybe stop going to porn sites and you won't get so much in your email or directly downloaded to the computer (those ones are real fun).

Just started transferring files to my new office PC, an Optiplex 3020 with Win7 Pro. I'm gonna get the RAM brought up to 8GB and put my old video card in it for dual-monitor capability.

FWIW, Best Buy is giving a minimum of $100 trade-in for XP machines right now. I just took my old Compaq laptop in and bought a new Asus Core-i3 Windows 8.1 laptop for under $300 net. The Compaq was probably $500 new in like 2005, so I got my use out of it. It's a present for my kids for getting all "A"s on their report cards.

Tom_Spangler wrote: FWIW, Best Buy is giving a minimum of $100 trade-in for XP machines right now. I just took my old Compaq laptop in and bought a new Asus Core-i3 Windows 8.1 laptop for under $300 net. The Compaq was probably $500 new in like 2005, so I got my use out of it. It's a present for my kids for getting all "A"s on their report cards.

Do they keep your hard drive?

spitfirebill wrote:

Tom_Spangler wrote: FWIW, Best Buy is giving a minimum of $100 trade-in for XP machines right now. I just took my old Compaq laptop in and bought a new Asus Core-i3 Windows 8.1 laptop for under $300 net. The Compaq was probably $500 new in like 2005, so I got my use out of it. It's a present for my kids for getting all "A"s on their report cards.

Do they keep your hard drive?

Yeah, I just gave them the whole thing. I cleaned all our stuff off of it (not that there was much of it). They actually booted it up to make sure it had XP on it. I asked the guy what they do with them, and he said that they just recycle them.

Here are the details: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/computing-promotions/windows-xp-trade-in-offer/pcmcat327400050019.c?id=pcmcat327400050019

I've got another old company computer I never hooked up I could take in. I would be paranoid about giving them the hard drive on the 'puter I've been using even if I clean it up.

Tom_Spangler wrote:

spitfirebill wrote:

Tom_Spangler wrote: FWIW, Best Buy is giving a minimum of $100 trade-in for XP machines right now. I just took my old Compaq laptop in and bought a new Asus Core-i3 Windows 8.1 laptop for under $300 net. The Compaq was probably $500 new in like 2005, so I got my use out of it. It's a present for my kids for getting all "A"s on their report cards.

Do they keep your hard drive?

Yeah, I just gave them the whole thing. I cleaned all our stuff off of it (not that there was much of it). They actually booted it up to make sure it had XP on it. I asked the guy what they do with them, and he said that they just recycle them.

so I couldn't get away with trying to trade in my old 95 OS computer ?

spitfirebill wrote: I've got another old company computer I never hooked up I could take in. I would be paranoid about giving them the hard drive on the 'puter I've been using even if I clean it up.

Yeah, I can see that. Like I said, I cleaned this one up, and it frankly didn't have much on it anyhow, and nothing of any value to anyone. I know that just "deleting" something doesn't mean it's really gone. But I have some faith that a company the size and reputation of Best Buy has procedures in place to keep their people from poking around on tradein machines. If it was Crazy Bob's House of Discount Laptops, I might be a bit more careful.

I know just the word Linux scares a lot of people, but it has some benefits over Windows or Mac: 1. You can use it for free (but they do take donations) 2. There are great guides and great forums when you need help 3. It is fully customizable and can be run usefully on older/low powered hardware 4. Raspberry Pi 5. Most applications are also free

I do realize that its not for everyone and that there are a lot of people that its just not an option for, but for most home computers used for firing up a web browser it is fantastic.

You can also try it out with a bootable CD if you're just curious. There is a great guide here: http://www.howtoforge.com/the-perfect-desktop-linux-mint-15-olivia for linux mint. I would suggest mint for new users, and lubuntu for older hardware.

With all of that said, I run Lubuntu or Mint on all of my computers, but have dual boot with windows 7 on my main desktop for some work I do.

OK so why the hell does my computer want to do an automatic Windows update today??????

It's also running like E36 M3.

spitfirebill wrote: OK so why the hell does my computer want to do an automatic Windows update today?????? It's also running like E36 M3.

Um. Because windows?

Sorry. Couldn't resist!

signed,

Smug Ubuntu Linux User

Kind of interesting week of work as it pertains to "XP is done, what now?" I got a 21" iMac for a customer in the other day and have been playing with it a bit while getting it ready for him. I've been testing the new Ubuntu 14.04 at home on my laptop. I upgraded a Lenovo portable workstation to a solid state drive, resulting from a hard drive death and requiring a fresh windows 7 install. I did some pricing and ordering of hardcore work laptops (Windows/Linux vs Mac) And I built an office computer using some interesting parts.

So here's my take away from this:

1. Unless you have software that requires Windows, its a tough sell today unless you're buying a new PC anyhow. -The install takes FOREVER -The updates take FOREVER -Cost aside, licensing can be painful.

2. I have mixed feelings on the iMac and MacBook Pro. It is pretty fast; it is beautiful; the display is beautiful; the keyboard and mouse are fantastic; the price seems steep, but isn't really THAT bad (especially considering aesthetics). The downside: For under $500 I was able to build a significantly faster (desktop) PC, even with a Windows license. Its not pretty or quiet, but its a workhorse that could also be a mid level gaming rig.

3. Getting an Apple setup was really painless. My only negative thought on it is that it requires an AppleId and forces you into the Apple ecosystem. Macbook specific, I really dislike the lack of a network port.

4. Sometimes some people just need Windows. It could be something as obvious as running Visual Studio or something as dumb as a banking website requiring Internet explorer.

5. Most people at home do not need Windows, but Linux can be a little scary. To me, Apple is the middle ground. They have a decent software base similar to Windows, while also having a lot of compatibility with linux applications.

In reply to asoduk:

Thank you for summing things up like that. I really hate thinking about computers.

I am definitely trading in my ole XP machine. Too bad they won't give me the same deal on a Win7 trade in. I have an old mostly-broken-but-still-boots-sometimes lappy too.

The kids get a new cheapie Win 8 machine and I get their old desktop for the garage.

asoduk wrote: 4. Sometimes some people just need Windows. It could be something as obvious as running Visual Studio or something as dumb as a banking website requiring Internet explorer.

IMHO, if your banking website requires IE, you need a new bank.

When Dad went to replace his old XP machine, he figured the iMac was about $400 more by the time he picked up a new keyboard (his old one has an OS/2 plug, which dates the old box somewhat!) and monitor - and the Mac has a much beefier processor. He's not the "build your own" kind of guy when it comes to computers, so we were comparing retail prices at big box stores. I know there are counter-examples, this is what we found when we were shopping in Ottawa.

Given that I'm not around to do tech support, he'd have to pay someone else to deal with any problems. That $400 disappears pretty fast in that case. The Mac also came with decent word processing/mail/presentation software so there's no need to pay for Office. So as far as he's concerned, there wasn't a cost penalty in the Mac. He did have to buy an external DVD drive to read some of his old discs, and I bought him an external hard drive to run Time Machine, which should take care of any potential problems down the road. Backups have been critical for him in the past, and it's got to be invisible and painless.

I was never an Apple guy - despite working as a graphic designer for years, starting with work in a multimedia shop 18 years ago - until I went shopping for a new laptop and discovered the vast gulf in build quality and specification between the PCs and the Apples. I use a fairly powerful PC at work but spent my own money on a Macbook Pro. For Mom and Dad, I think it was the right choice. Not for a gamer or the sort of person who don't bother to screw the top of the case on their PC because they're always dinking around with the guts of their machine, but that's not my parents.