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Come Inside... => The Computer Room => Topic started by: Barman on June 14, 2007, 03:13:55 PM

Title: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Barman on June 14, 2007, 03:13:55 PM
Don?t know what it is but I?ve just had enough of Micro$oft Windows.

I?m currently installing linux on one of my laptops!

I?ve been a long-term ?fan? of Micro$soft products starting with MS-DOS, working up through Windows 386, Windows 3.1, 3.11, 95, 98, NT, 2000 and XP. But, and it is a big but my satisfaction with XP is rapidly diminishing.

Recently, it just seems that the number of updates, virus updates and general shite that I have to download just to keep the things running (I have five PC?s) is increasing. as a result, the speed of all my PC?s is rapidly decreasing.

I?m damned if I?m going to upgrade all my hardware to run Micro$oft Fista (along with my Micro$oft Office) and I?m damned if I?m going to throw it all away in order to upgrade to a Mac solution.

So, I?m going to have a go at running linux which is completely free and should operate without stress on my existing hardware.

Watch this space?
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Darwins Selection on June 14, 2007, 03:30:47 PM
Isn't Linux one of the Snoopy characters?


(Cue resident expert).
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Uncle Mort on June 14, 2007, 03:43:47 PM
Linus (van Pelt)

(https://www.virtual-pub.com/SMF/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fen%2F7%2F74%2FGreatPumpkin.jpg&hash=57a992c5e930ce58f4533459c09ade4c3296e21f)

Ha Ha I beat that pesky dog
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Snoopy on June 14, 2007, 03:47:14 PM
Linus Benedict Torvalds pronunciation (help?info); born December 28, 1969 in Helsinki, Finland) is a Finnish software engineer best known for initiating the development of the Linux kernel. He now acts as the project's coordinator.

(https://www.virtual-pub.com/SMF/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2Fthumb%2F6%2F69%2FLinus_Torvalds.jpeg%2F220px-Linus_Torvalds.jpeg&hash=03f267e207179a66d3597636aa495de23425f67e)

The Beagle is not so silly!
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Darwins Selection on June 14, 2007, 04:33:22 PM
Linus Benedict Torvalds pronunciation (help?info); born December 28, 1969 in Helsinki, Finland) is a Finnish software engineer best known for initiating the development of the Linux kernel. He now acts as the project's coordinator.

Does he still do the cartoons, or is he too rich and famous now?
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Snoopy on June 14, 2007, 04:40:56 PM
You know the cartoons are by Charles Schultz
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Darwins Selection on June 14, 2007, 04:47:23 PM
You know the cartoons are by Charles Schultz

I refer the honorable member to my earlier reply on the subject of retail medication. ;)
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Snoopy on June 14, 2007, 04:51:01 PM
I refer the honourable member to the reply I gave on that occasion. I can't help it ~ it's almost time for my next dose.
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Darwins Selection on June 14, 2007, 06:02:51 PM
I refer the honourable member to the reply I gave on that occasion. I can't help it ~ it's almost time for my next dose.
lol: lol:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Barman on June 15, 2007, 07:58:27 AM
Ahem?

Back on topic for a minute if I may?

I found an old copy of Mandrake Linux (9.2) in the back of a cupboard which I installed on one of my work laptops. It all worked perfectly although installing Firefox and Quick Time was a bit of a geeky nightmare.

Anyway, flushed with my success I downloaded the latest version of Mandrake (Mandriva Linux Spring 2007) from the tinterweb.

I?ve just installed it and I have to say it is bloody marvellous. Looks fantastic, fully configured itself (I had to tell it the type of keyboard and that I was in Nicosia to sort the time out) and it all works perfectly (so far).

It comes with just about every application you could need including Firefox, Open Office, web builder, etc. and it as completely free!
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Darwins Selection on June 15, 2007, 08:27:46 AM
Mandrake Linux
Now he was definitely in the first Harry Potter film.
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Barman on June 15, 2007, 10:06:02 AM
Here I am, logged-in on my new linux laptop!  cloud9:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Darwins Selection on June 15, 2007, 10:52:14 AM
Here I am, logged-in on my new linux laptop!  cloud9:
pcwhack:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Barman on June 15, 2007, 10:56:33 AM
Here I am, logged-in on my new linux laptop!  cloud9:
pcwhack:
Not yet...  whistle:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Uncle Mort on June 15, 2007, 02:41:47 PM
Surely:

 crash:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Darwins Selection on June 15, 2007, 03:20:56 PM
Surely:

 crash:
Tomorrow for that one. ;)
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Snoopy on June 15, 2007, 04:39:18 PM
If this works I may not need a new PC  noooo:

On the other hand I may be gone some while.
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Barman on June 15, 2007, 04:48:30 PM
If this works I may not need a new PC  noooo:

On the other hand I may be gone some while.
So far I?m impressed? I?m going to try it on my desktop tomorrow.  scared2:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Darwins Selection on June 15, 2007, 05:51:02 PM
If this works I may not need a new PC  noooo:

On the other hand I may be gone some while.
So far I?m impressed? I?m going to try it on my desktop tomorrow.  scared2:

Let us know how it went on Monday when you get back from PC World. ::)
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Snoopy on June 15, 2007, 06:00:38 PM
It's not the fear of cocking it up that bothers me ~ it's the knowledge that I shall have to explain what I have done to the sniggering youth at the PC repair shop ~  shrugs: and I'll have to keep saying I dunno in answer to all his geeky questions.
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Barman on June 16, 2007, 09:34:44 AM
Is it working?  eeek:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Snoopy on June 16, 2007, 12:51:03 PM
We'll know later. Like you I'm going for the lap top first but have yet to find the free time. Maybe this afternoon if my child minding duties permit. Meanwhile I am taking them to MacDonalds for some lunch and picking up a DVD on the way back. That may buy me a couple of hours.
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Barman on June 16, 2007, 01:27:40 PM
We'll know later. Like you I'm going for the lap top first but have yet to find the free time. Maybe this afternoon if my child minding duties permit. Meanwhile I am taking them to MacDonalds for some lunch and picking up a DVD on the way back. That may buy me a couple of hours.
I'm now up-and-running on my desktop ? dual-boot configured.

I can get files from my Windows XP file server and Open Office handles them with no problems. However, I haven't managed to 'map' a drive on the remote server yet or get the word processor to default to the share. Obviously it would be a lot simpler if i 'upgraded' the file server to linux too...

The other tiny problem i have is the printer ? I use a HP Business Inket thingy on a LAN interface and I haven't got my head around that yet (although there is probably a linux disc that came with it somewhere).

Overall, after 20 odd years using Micro$site and two days on this stuff it all appears to be going quite well...
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Misunderstood on June 17, 2007, 06:41:24 AM
I have had Linux (Dapper Drake) running on a secondary computer on my desktop for about six months and since I was impressed by it's own complete installation and complete interoperability with all the others I am irritated by my inability to decompress zip files.

I am not particularly thick in computer matters and the fact that I have yet to get AVG working is annoying me.

I guess I am too conditioned my Windows to think outside the usual box but I'll get there and save a fortune.

Meanwhile I still soldier on with XP Pro on the main machine.

But I use Virtual Machines which gives me an extra network to play with, so I am using at present:

Windows 3.11
Windows 95
Windows 98 SE
Windows 2000
Windows XP Pro
Windows 2003 Server
Windows Vista Ultimate
Linux Dapper Drake
IBM PS2
DOS 6,0
Unix
BBC B
MAC OS X

on just three machines. and nine hard drives  eeek:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Barman on June 17, 2007, 08:16:13 AM
I have had Linux (Dapper Drake) running on a secondary computer on my desktop for about six months and since I was impressed by it's own complete installation and complete interoperability with all the others I am irritated by my inability to decompress zip files.

I am not particularly thick in computer matters and the fact that I have yet to get AVG working is annoying me.

I guess I am too conditioned my Windows to think outside the usual box but I'll get there and save a fortune.

Meanwhile I still soldier on with XP Pro on the main machine.

But I use Virtual Machines which gives me an extra network to play with, so I am using at present:

Windows 3.11
Windows 95
Windows 98 SE
Windows 2000
Windows XP Pro
Windows 2003 Server
Windows Vista Ultimate
Linux Dapper Drake
IBM PS2
DOS 6,0
Unix
BBC B
MAC OS X

on just three machines. and nine hard drives  eeek:
eeek:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Snoopy on June 17, 2007, 02:51:03 PM
I am in awe ~ In fact Shock and Awe  eeek: worthy:

But perhaps this one should be Shock and Awe (https://www.virtual-pub.com/SMF/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi19.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb153%2Fjustaclassicmgfan%2Fblowup.gif&hash=8df3cf489a1c31507f289db1e021a696820d506f)
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Darwins Selection on June 17, 2007, 03:42:21 PM
I am using at present:

Windows 3.11
Windows 95
Windows 98 SE
Windows 2000
Windows XP Pro
Windows 2003 Server
Windows Vista Ultimate
Linux Dapper Drake
IBM PS2
DOS 6,0
Unix
BBC B
MAC OS X

on just three machines. and nine hard drives 

Why?
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Snoopy on June 17, 2007, 04:24:41 PM
I am using at present:

Windows 3.11
Windows 95
Windows 98 SE
Windows 2000
Windows XP Pro
Windows 2003 Server
Windows Vista Ultimate
Linux Dapper Drake
IBM PS2
DOS 6,0
Unix
BBC B
MAC OS X

on just three machines. and nine hard drives

Why?


I stand to be corrected by M'Learned Friend but I suspect the answer is "Because"  shrugs:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Grumpmeister on June 17, 2007, 06:34:12 PM
I have had Linux (Dapper Drake) running on a secondary computer on my desktop for about six months and since I was impressed by it's own complete installation and complete interoperability with all the others I am irritated by my inability to decompress zip files.

I am not particularly thick in computer matters and the fact that I have yet to get AVG working is annoying me.

I guess I am too conditioned my Windows to think outside the usual box but I'll get there and save a fortune.

Meanwhile I still soldier on with XP Pro on the main machine.

But I use Virtual Machines which gives me an extra network to play with, so I am using at present:

Windows 3.11
Windows 95
Windows 98 SE
Windows 2000
Windows XP Pro
Windows 2003 Server
Windows Vista Ultimate
Linux Dapper Drake
IBM PS2
DOS 6,0
Unix
BBC B
MAC OS X

on just three machines. and nine hard drives  eeek:

Bloody hell I remember those from my college days, didnt think anyone used them anymore.
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Snoopy on June 17, 2007, 07:15:13 PM
I have had Linux (Dapper Drake) running on a secondary computer on my desktop for about six months and since I was impressed by it's own complete installation and complete interoperability with all the others I am irritated by my inability to decompress zip files.

I am not particularly thick in computer matters and the fact that I have yet to get AVG working is annoying me.

I guess I am too conditioned my Windows to think outside the usual box but I'll get there and save a fortune.

Meanwhile I still soldier on with XP Pro on the main machine.

But I use Virtual Machines which gives me an extra network to play with, so I am using at present:

Windows 3.11
Windows 95
Windows 98 SE
Windows 2000
Windows XP Pro
Windows 2003 Server
Windows Vista Ultimate
Linux Dapper Drake
IBM PS2
DOS 6,0
Unix
BBC B
MAC OS X

on just three machines. and nine hard drives  eeek:

Bloody hell I remember those from my college days, didnt think anyone used them anymore.

COLLEGE!!!!

That's the last time I buy you a pint and listen to your "Ah remember when I furst went down t'pit" stories rubschin:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Grumpmeister on June 17, 2007, 07:32:36 PM
Never had any of those stories, in case you hadnt noticed by the time I was old enough the pits had long been closed  point:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Snoopy on June 17, 2007, 07:52:16 PM
Bloody Kids .... Go sit in the garden and I'll fetch a bottle of lemonade and a packet of crisps out to you in a minute. ::)



Listen Lad t'first computer I used was in the RAF and the bloody thing had those huge reels of tapes spinning and racks of punched cards to feed into it. The mainframe occupied a hanger. SO DON'T COME ROUND HERE WITH YOUR WHEN I WAS AT COLLEGE WE STUDIED YOU IN HISTORY MALARKEY ~ I GET ENOUGH OF THAT AT HOME  evil: evil:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Grumpmeister on June 17, 2007, 07:56:33 PM
What can I say, as far as I can tell I'm Wenchy's generation old boy   point:

I will admit to blowing up my first computer at 7 though well how was I supposed to know about different computers needing specific power packs  redface:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Snoopy on June 17, 2007, 08:00:03 PM
What can I say, as far as I can tell I'm Wenchy's generation old boy   point:

I will admit to blowing up my first computer at 7 though well how was I supposed to know about different computers needing specific power packs  redface:

That's as may be but I'm betting she'd much prefer the more mature man.

(https://www.virtual-pub.com/SMF/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.runawaystage.com%2Fimages%2Fshows%2Fsnoopy-nl.jpg&hash=fc1e56d74715d300b4c241defae777de3a232745)
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Darwins Selection on June 17, 2007, 08:00:59 PM
I will admit to blowing up my first computer at 7 though
What, this evening?
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: tel on June 18, 2007, 10:35:27 AM
Bloody Kids .... Go sit in the garden and I'll fetch a bottle of lemonade and a packet of crisps out to you in a minute. ::)



Listen Lad t'first computer I used was in the RAF and the bloody thing had those huge reels of tapes spinning and racks of punched cards to feed into it. The mainframe occupied a hanger. SO DON'T COME ROUND HERE WITH YOUR WHEN I WAS AT COLLEGE WE STUDIED YOU IN HISTORY MALARKEY ~ I GET ENOUGH OF THAT AT HOME  evil: evil:

Ah, the good old days when you could actually climb into a mainframe. cloud9:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Darwins Selection on June 18, 2007, 11:11:51 AM
Bloody Kids .... Go sit in the garden and I'll fetch a bottle of lemonade and a packet of crisps out to you in a minute. ::)

Listen Lad t'first computer I used was in the RAF and the bloody thing had those huge reels of tapes spinning and racks of punched cards to feed into it. The mainframe occupied a hanger. SO DON'T COME ROUND HERE WITH YOUR WHEN I WAS AT COLLEGE WE STUDIED YOU IN HISTORY MALARKEY ~ I GET ENOUGH OF THAT AT HOME  evil: evil:

Ah, the good old days when you could actually climb into a mainframe. cloud9:

Warmer than a Zimmer. ;)
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: tel on June 18, 2007, 11:19:22 AM
Found an engineer asleep in a tape drive, head resting on the power supply unit. ;D
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Grumpmeister on June 18, 2007, 12:11:49 PM
I will admit to blowing up my first computer at 7 though
What, this evening?

I may be younger than you lot but I'm not that much younger  point:

I was 7 years old (or maybe 8, its around then anyway). I'd taken my spectrum over to a friends when I was staying over but forgot the power pack. Not knowing any better at the time we thought we could use his. It was a pure Nick moment, 9 volt ZX Spectrum, 19 volt Acorn power pack. Lots of interesting lights on the tv screen, a load of smoke coming out the back of the computer and an ominous crackling noise.. .  redface:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Snoopy on June 18, 2007, 12:53:24 PM
I was 7 in 1954! We had only just got our first B&W television. evil:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Grumpmeister on June 18, 2007, 02:06:39 PM
I was 7 in 1954! We had only just got our first B&W television. evil:

ooooooooooooooh Great Uncle Snoopy, can you tell us what it was like in the dark ages  lol:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Barman on June 18, 2007, 02:11:41 PM
I was 7 in 1954! We had only just got our first B&W television. evil:

ooooooooooooooh Great Uncle Snoopy, can you tell us what it was like in the dark ages  lol:
Dark I should think...  whistle:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Snoopy on June 18, 2007, 02:28:06 PM
I was 7 in 1954! We had only just got our first B&W television. evil:

ooooooooooooooh Great Uncle Snoopy, can you tell us what it was like in the dark ages  lol:

Well for a start the likes of you would have got a clip round the ear .... whippersnapper!
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Darwins Selection on June 18, 2007, 03:51:53 PM
ooooooooooooooh Great Uncle Snoopy, can you tell us what it was like in the dark ages  lol:

'It' was pretty much the same as today, just rather more regular if my memory serves me well. cry:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Snoopy on June 18, 2007, 03:55:13 PM
Since my memory tells me the same story I reckon you are right. IT was certainly available more frequently.

A case of doing all night what it now takes me all night to do. ::)
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Misunderstood on June 18, 2007, 05:08:40 PM
Why?

Well, seeing as you asked...

Mainly because I am tight. and proud.

I use DOS when I want to get basic work done and don't want to lose processing power to a graphic interface,

I had acquired a number of very specialist programs that run on 3.1 and to replace them would cost thousands and I don't want then THAT much!  Including a star map that runs like blazes on a 3GHz processor   eeek:

I actually wrote some programs for 3.1 and they worked. I can't be bothered to learn all over to do that again.

I have a wonderful collection of avionic simulator stuff that runs on 98SE  and a lot of games and stuff I don't want to lose.

And various bits 'n' bobs from 2k that won't run on XP and so on.

I have been running a evaluation copy of Vista for getting on a year and it should have collapsed on June 1st and it didn't  whistle:

Finally I have documents and programs I created on a BBC-B that I still refer to and one of the best collection of Arcade games ever seen. but I corrupted my ELITE   sad32: (5 1/4" Floppy disks are getting on a bit) and I cannot find a replacement, the PC versions weren't half as good  cry: I have a world standard score on "Swoop"  angel1.

The best of it all is that when I have finished with the virtual machines they just disappear they, don't collect dust or sink under other stuff, and are always available at a click.

OK?
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Snoopy on June 18, 2007, 05:49:19 PM
Of course you do dear, anything you say is OK with me >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Backs towards door, nervously. scared2:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Grumpmeister on June 18, 2007, 06:31:17 PM

I have been running a evaluation copy of Vista for getting on a year and it should have collapsed on June 1st and it didn't  whistle:
OK?

That wouldnt happen to be one of the ones on a high end laptop that Microsoft 'lent' to prolific bloggers and then gave up any hope of getting the machines back would it?
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Darwins Selection on June 18, 2007, 06:57:13 PM
Why?

Well, seeing as you asked...

Mainly because I am tight. and proud.

I use DOS when I want to get basic work done and don't want to lose processing power to a graphic interface,

I had acquired a number of very specialist programs that run on 3.1 and to replace them would cost thousands and I don't want then THAT much!  Including a star map that runs like blazes on a 3GHz processor   eeek:

I actually wrote some programs for 3.1 and they worked. I can't be bothered to learn all over to do that again.

I have a wonderful collection of avionic simulator stuff that runs on 98SE  and a lot of games and stuff I don't want to lose.

And various bits 'n' bobs from 2k that won't run on XP and so on.

I have been running a evaluation copy of Vista for getting on a year and it should have collapsed on June 1st and it didn't  whistle:

Finally I have documents and programs I created on a BBC-B that I still refer to and one of the best collection of Arcade games ever seen. but I corrupted my ELITE   sad32: (5 1/4" Floppy disks are getting on a bit) and I cannot find a replacement, the PC versions weren't half as good  cry: I have a world standard score on "Swoop"  angel1.

The best of it all is that when I have finished with the virtual machines they just disappear they, don't collect dust or sink under other stuff, and are always available at a click.

OK?

OK surrender:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Grumpmeister on June 18, 2007, 07:01:02 PM
Finally I have documents and programs I created on a BBC-B that I still refer to and one of the best collection of Arcade games ever seen. but I corrupted my ELITE   sad32: (5 1/4"

Far be it from me not to help a furball in distress  eyes:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Elite-for-BBC-Micro-5-25-Acornsoft-Disk-Version_W0QQitemZ300121025433QQihZ020QQcategoryZ50218QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Elite-for-BBC-Micro-5-25-Acornsoft-Disk-Version_W0QQitemZ300121025433QQihZ020QQcategoryZ50218QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Barman on June 19, 2007, 07:30:33 AM
The first personal computer I sold was a Hewlett-Packard HP85 it had 16K of memory, 5? screen and a tape drive for storage. You could buy a storage system upgrade that supported either 8? or 5?? floppies. If you had loadsamoney you could have a 5Mbyte Winchester disk drive although it was formatted as four 1.2Mbyte volumes to emulate the 8? floppy.

Then came CP/M ? I liked CP/M it ran on one or two Z80 processors and was quite fast ? lots of software available too. If you had loadsamoney and plenty of time you could configure a word processor using Wordstar (I liked Wordstar a lot) and a Diablo 630 daisywheel printer. When I took a system home to do a ?mail merge? one weekend the whole floor moved and the neighbours in the flat below complained.

The first ?real? PC that I sold was an NEC advanced PC. Unlike the IBM system that it was attempting to emulate it had two 8? floppy drives making software impossible to obtain?

Not one to miss a trick, HP?s first ?PC Compatible? was the lovely HP150. It had a touch-screen that software didn?t support and innovative 3?? floppies so software wasn?t available anyway?

I don?t know why I bothered typing that lot as you will take the piss I?m sure (assuming you bother to read it) but they were very happy days and I feel privileged to have been involved?  sad24:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Snoopy on June 19, 2007, 01:09:53 PM
I still have my first which was/is an Amstrad complete with Daisy Wheel Printer!
Yes Alan Sugar I helped put you where you are today  evil:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Grumpmeister on June 19, 2007, 03:21:15 PM
Slightly off topic but does anyone know what happened to DR DOS, I remember using it during my college days (waits for another snoopy rant about going down t'pit)  whistle:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Barman on June 19, 2007, 03:32:06 PM
Slightly off topic but does anyone know what happened to DR DOS, I remember using it during my college days (waits for another snoopy rant about going down t'pit)  whistle:
It was shite ? good riddance to bad rubbish. Compatible with MS-DOS my arse.

I used to sell a product that ran on DOS ? had a support nightmare with a very important customer, tried everything FAXED (no e-mail then of course) back and forth, telephone calls, blah, blah, blah? It was only when my hair had been fully removed that he admitted he was using DR-DOS.

Upgraded to MS-DOS and it worked first time.
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Misunderstood on June 19, 2007, 03:50:09 PM
The first personal computer I sold was a Hewlett-Packard HP85 it had 16K of memory, 5? screen and a tape drive for storage. You could buy a storage system upgrade that supported either 8? or 5?? floppies. If you had loadsamoney you could have a 5Mbyte Winchester disk drive although it was formatted as four 1.2Mbyte volumes to emulate the 8? floppy.

Then came CP/M ? I liked CP/M it ran on one or two Z80 processors and was quite fast ? lots of software available too. If you had loadsamoney and plenty of time you could configure a word processor using Wordstar (I liked Wordstar a lot) and a Diablo 630 daisywheel printer. When I took a system home to do a ?mail merge? one weekend the whole floor moved and the neighbours in the flat below complained.

The first ?real? PC that I sold was an NEC advanced PC. Unlike the IBM system that it was attempting to emulate it had two 8? floppy drives making software impossible to obtain?

Not one to miss a trick, HP?s first ?PC Compatible? was the lovely HP150. It had a touch-screen that software didn?t support and innovative 3?? floppies so software wasn?t available anyway?

I don?t know why I bothered typing that lot as you will take the piss I?m sure (assuming you bother to read it) but they were very happy days and I feel privileged to have been involved?  sad24:

Actually, I liked 'Wordstar' a lot too.  I remember doing wedding invitations, list and menus and things on a 9pin dot matrix that caused the neighbours to set the RSPCA on me as they were convinced I was torturing something.

In those days if you mentioned computer to anybody their faces usually set grim as they called you a technophobe and said it couldn't possibly be of any use to anyone on earth, so don't waste any time playing with it.

I had the original 'Office' suite that came on six 5 1/4" disks which called for endless disk swapping every time I actually did anything with it, and I had an advanced two drive system. 

I further remember buying my first modem, a 1200bps card that took me two months to get going and all I could find was bulletin boards, but it was a good fax.

I worked with an IBM 1500 mainframe that had no visual interface only pages upon pages of printout to pour over. and when I identified a mistake (often) I had to re enter everything all over again verbatim in a negative format to erase it.  That was very, very hard to do as any further typing error quadrupled the error task.

I could - after a while - calculate the data rate faster than the computer could and nearly got sacked for 'cheating' as my boss could not believe it.  But I was very well paid for my efforts so it wasn't so bad.  It all started to go downhill when I bought a new fangled Texas LED calculator and they finally figured out that with the calculator we didn't actually need the computer any more.  But it cost a fortune in batteries to keep the LED's going.... So for the next few years I think it was cheaper to keep the mainframe going until we finally sold it and made ourselves redundant...

You can't beat government establishments for logical joined-up thinking....   cloud9:

Ahhh The good old days...
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Barman on June 20, 2007, 06:18:54 AM
I like Linux a lot!

Its definitely replaced Window$ on one of my laptops ? I use it in the field to set up satellite systems and it does everything I need. It integrated with all the laptop components and actually uses the power management features a little better than Window$. It also recognises a USB mouse when I plug it in so if I am somewhere with more room I can use that instead of the mouse pad (ok, that?s not exactly rocket science but I didn?t expect it to do so).

Also, it was my oldest laptop and it now has a new lease of life ? it is much faster to boot up and doesn?t take forever to load its word processor?

File server next.  scared2:

Actually, one of the things that encouraged me to try this was the file server which sits in a little black room in my basement. I was thinking about Window$ Fista and realised that it would never be able to run it.

However, I remembered that it used to be my desktop PC ? it is an HP Vectra with a 600MHz Pentium III and 500Mbytes RAM. It was delivered with Window$ NT 4 which I upgraded to Window$ 2000 (shite) and finally to Window$ XP Pro.

I remember thinking at the time what a slick and impressive combination it was running Office, etc. Yet now, having done a clean install of XP and having it run nothing at all apart from anti-virus software it runs like a pig.   rubschin:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Misunderstood on June 21, 2007, 12:11:25 AM
I like Linux a lot!

Its definitely replaced Window$ on one of my laptops ? I use it in the field to set up satellite systems and it does everything I need. It integrated with all the laptop components and actually uses the power management features a little better than Window$. It also recognises a USB mouse when I plug it in so if I am somewhere with more room I can use that instead of the mouse pad (ok, that?s not exactly rocket science but I didn?t expect it to do so).

Also, it was my oldest laptop and it now has a new lease of life ? it is much faster to boot up and doesn?t take forever to load its word processor?

File server next.  scared2:

Actually, one of the things that encouraged me to try this was the file server which sits in a little black room in my basement. I was thinking about Window$ Fista and realised that it would never be able to run it.

However, I remembered that it used to be my desktop PC ? it is an HP Vectra with a 600MHz Pentium III and 500Mbytes RAM. It was delivered with Window$ NT 4 which I upgraded to Window$ 2000 (shite) and finally to Window$ XP Pro.

I remember thinking at the time what a slick and impressive combination it was running Office, etc. Yet now, having done a clean install of XP and having it run nothing at all apart from anti-virus software it runs like a pig.   rubschin:

Why exactly, is your little basement server room, BLACK?  confused:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Barman on June 21, 2007, 03:55:02 AM
I like Linux a lot!

Its definitely replaced Window$ on one of my laptops ? I use it in the field to set up satellite systems and it does everything I need. It integrated with all the laptop components and actually uses the power management features a little better than Window$. It also recognises a USB mouse when I plug it in so if I am somewhere with more room I can use that instead of the mouse pad (ok, that?s not exactly rocket science but I didn?t expect it to do so).

Also, it was my oldest laptop and it now has a new lease of life ? it is much faster to boot up and doesn?t take forever to load its word processor?

File server next.  scared2:

Actually, one of the things that encouraged me to try this was the file server which sits in a little black room in my basement. I was thinking about Window$ Fista and realised that it would never be able to run it.

However, I remembered that it used to be my desktop PC ? it is an HP Vectra with a 600MHz Pentium III and 500Mbytes RAM. It was delivered with Window$ NT 4 which I upgraded to Window$ 2000 (shite) and finally to Window$ XP Pro.

I remember thinking at the time what a slick and impressive combination it was running Office, etc. Yet now, having done a clean install of XP and having it run nothing at all apart from anti-virus software it runs like a pig.   rubschin:

Why exactly, is your little basement server room, BLACK?  confused:
Just because the light is turned off... unlike my cinema which really is black.  cloud9:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Barman on June 22, 2007, 07:14:52 AM
Well, I?ve managed to get the laptop, desktop and now the file server configured to dual-boot Windows and Linux? Now all I have to do is find time to get all the systems working together and sharing their files?  rubschin:

No disasters so far except that the bootloader offered two versions of Windows on the file server ? I configured it to default to ?Windows? like the desktop and laptop (the other option was ?Windows1? and it said ?No Operating System Found? when I restarted the PC.

This was after Linux had re-partitioned my hard drive so I nearly had a heart attack! Anyway, I?ve now changed it to ?Windows1? and it works perfectly?

Yes, I had taken a backup actually!

 cloud9:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Bar Wench on June 22, 2007, 07:38:41 AM
Geeky spod.
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Barman on June 22, 2007, 07:41:22 AM
Geeky spod.
I presume you mean clever geeky spod?  whistle:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Bar Wench on June 22, 2007, 07:51:12 AM
No.  point:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Barman on June 22, 2007, 09:30:23 AM
 :lalalala
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Grumpmeister on June 25, 2007, 02:25:57 PM
Is the geekette picking on you again Barman  whistle:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Bar Wench on June 25, 2007, 02:51:04 PM
Smote
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Barman on June 25, 2007, 02:56:39 PM
Smote  point:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Grumpmeister on June 25, 2007, 07:01:48 PM
Smote

Humph, and to think I gave you the clap earlier  evil:

Oh well, easy come easy go eh Wenchy  point:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Barman on December 08, 2007, 10:05:54 AM
IT WORKS!

I've finally got the linux thing to work!  cloud9:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Snoopy on December 08, 2007, 10:07:13 AM
Great! Well Done!  happ096
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Barman on December 08, 2007, 10:09:18 AM
Great! Well Done!  happ096
It has taken forever to get the server set-up...  cloud9:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Snoopy on December 08, 2007, 10:22:28 AM
I've had my geek back to triple the memory, secure the wireless connection against intruders and piggy backers etc and generally iron out a lot of bugs. I have a disc ready to go for Linux (Ubunto) but he suggested that I wait until the changes he has made have settled in before trying it ~ he also suggested a second (external) hard drive for the Linux "Just in case"
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Barman on December 08, 2007, 10:37:43 AM
I've had my geek back to triple the memory, secure the wireless connection against intruders and piggy backers etc and generally iron out a lot of bugs. I have a disc ready to go for Linux (Ubunto) but he suggested that I wait until the changes he has made have settled in before trying it ~ he also suggested a second (external) hard drive for the Linux "Just in case"
I tried ubanto but have returned to Mandriva - in the end I purchased Mandriva 2008 as there was a lot missing from the '1' disc and I had to download all the time... Ubanto was the same actuallt - it did a net install but then needed lots of extra stuff from the tintermong to get it working...

I have a 'clean' Windows PC now talking happily to the linux box which is file sharing and about to host my music server (slimserver)...

I too have piles of hard drives sitting around with various configurations on them...

Bottom line is the linux uses far, far less resources (memory, CPU) than Window$...

However... I must confess that I did buy a PC with Vi$ta on it and quite like it...  redface:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Darwins Selection on December 08, 2007, 10:40:27 AM
IT WORKS!

I've finally got the linux thing to work!  cloud9:


Is that all you have been doing since June?

No wonder the pipes need cleaning. noooo:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: TG on December 08, 2007, 10:44:08 AM
I've had my geek back to triple the memory, secure the wireless connection against intruders and piggy backers etc and generally iron out a lot of bugs. I have a disc ready to go for Linux (Ubunto) but he suggested that I wait until the changes he has made have settled in before trying it ~ he also suggested a second (external) hard drive for the Linux "Just in case"
I tried ubanto but have returned to Mandriva - in the end I purchased Mandriva 2008 as there was a lot missing from the '1' disc and I had to download all the time... Ubanto was the same actuallt - it did a net install but then needed lots of extra stuff from the tintermong to get it working...

I have a 'clean' Windows PC now talking happily to the linux box which is file sharing and about to host my music server (slimserver)...

I too have piles of hard drives sitting around with various configurations on them...

Bottom line is the linux uses far, far less resources (memory, CPU) than Window$...

However... I must confess that I did buy a PC with Vi$ta on it and quite like it...  redface:

I'm using a Vista PC at work on our network and have not had any problems, I really like it which seems to put BM and me in a minority. I have just ordered a Vista laptop for home and as Mrs TG is the main laptop user I expect some fun and games.  scared2:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Snoopy on December 08, 2007, 10:46:57 AM
Wot a brave pussy  eeek:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Barman on December 08, 2007, 10:47:27 AM
IT WORKS!

I've finally got the linux thing to work!  cloud9:


Is that all you have been doing since June?

No wonder the pipes need cleaning. noooo:
Yes...  redface:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Barman on December 08, 2007, 10:49:45 AM
I've had my geek back to triple the memory, secure the wireless connection against intruders and piggy backers etc and generally iron out a lot of bugs. I have a disc ready to go for Linux (Ubunto) but he suggested that I wait until the changes he has made have settled in before trying it ~ he also suggested a second (external) hard drive for the Linux "Just in case"
I tried ubanto but have returned to Mandriva - in the end I purchased Mandriva 2008 as there was a lot missing from the '1' disc and I had to download all the time... Ubanto was the same actuallt - it did a net install but then needed lots of extra stuff from the tintermong to get it working...

I have a 'clean' Windows PC now talking happily to the linux box which is file sharing and about to host my music server (slimserver)...

I too have piles of hard drives sitting around with various configurations on them...

Bottom line is the linux uses far, far less resources (memory, CPU) than Window$...

However... I must confess that I did buy a PC with Vi$ta on it and quite like it...  redface:

I'm using a Vista PC at work on our network and have not had any problems, I really like it which seems to put BM and me in a minority. I have just ordered a Vista laptop for home and as Mrs TG is the main laptop user I expect some fun and games.  scared2:
I do quite like it but then I have a PC with the power of a Cray supercomputer under my desk just to run it...

The reason for the linux interest is that I don't want to replace all the other hardware in the business just to run Vi$ta...

The box I have has Vi$ta Home Basic - to upgrade to the all-singing-all-dancing version is another £200!
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Snoopy on December 08, 2007, 11:11:23 AM
Sod that for a game ~ Linux is basically free which is what attracts me. Same as I use freeware in the form of AVG and Lavasoft to protect against virus, spyware etc.
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Barman on December 08, 2007, 11:24:43 AM
Sod that for a game ~ Linux is basically free which is what attracts me. Same as I use freeware in the form of AVG and Lavasoft to protect against virus, spyware etc.
Indeed...

I bought the all-singing-all-dancing version of Mandriva which is a DVD full of software and applications - cost me forty Euros...
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Snoopy on December 08, 2007, 11:31:58 AM
 rubschin: Wot's that in feet and inches?
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Barman on December 08, 2007, 11:37:50 AM
rubschin: Wot's that in feet and inches?
'bout eight feet six...
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Snoopy on December 08, 2007, 11:42:22 AM
Ah! ~ Fangs very much
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: TG on December 08, 2007, 12:09:29 PM
ooh1 Talk of the devil. Me new laptop just been delivered!  cloud9:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Barman on December 08, 2007, 12:18:13 PM
ooh1 Talk of the devil. Me new laptop just been delivered!  cloud9:
Cray Supercomputer?
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: TG on December 08, 2007, 12:32:40 PM
ooh1 Talk of the devil. Me new laptop just been delivered!  cloud9:
Cray Supercomputer?

Close. Bog standard Toshiba supercomputer.  happy088
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Snoopy on December 08, 2007, 12:44:01 PM
 cloud9: It's nice to have wealthy friends ~ even if there are NO BONIOS LEFT!  cussing:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Barman on December 08, 2007, 01:03:22 PM
ooh1 Talk of the devil. Me new laptop just been delivered!  cloud9:
Cray Supercomputer?

Close. Bog standard Toshiba supercomputer.  happy088
Ten terabytes of RAM?
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Darwins Selection on December 08, 2007, 03:52:49 PM
Mrs TG is the main laptop user I expect some fun and games.

 rubschin:

(https://www.virtual-pub.com/SMF/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.soulsports.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fslide_sheffield.jpg&hash=1c0b43ccca8b80071eeedf5d5dfd933c325100c2)
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: TG on December 08, 2007, 04:21:26 PM
Are you trying to get me killed?
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Snoopy on December 08, 2007, 05:42:41 PM
  rubschin:  eyes:  whistle:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: TG on December 08, 2007, 05:50:48 PM
  rubschin:  eyes:  whistle:

Cheers.  cry:
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Snoopy on December 08, 2007, 06:06:27 PM
  rubschin:  eyes:  whistle:

Cheers.  cry:

 happy100
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: Marley's Ghost (Imbiber of Spirits) on December 08, 2007, 07:06:28 PM
ooh1 Talk of the devil. Me new laptop just been delivered!  cloud9:
Cray Supercomputer?

Close. Bog standard Toshiba supercomputer.  happy088

That wouldn't be the Equium that was on special offer in Curry's recently by any chance would it?

I got one, cracking  bit of kit - except for the bloody Vista stuff!
Title: Re: Pissed off with Windows
Post by: TG on December 08, 2007, 07:52:41 PM
ooh1 Talk of the devil. Me new laptop just been delivered!  cloud9:
Cray Supercomputer?

Close. Bog standard Toshiba supercomputer.  happy088

That wouldn't be the Equium that was on special offer in Curry's recently by any chance would it?

I got one, cracking  bit of kit - except for the bloody Vista stuff!

Satellite. Ticking like a clock at present.