[radon1]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Outcast_Searcher', ' ')It often requires various fixes, etc. for various websites, for example.

[Outcast_Searcher]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('radon1', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Outcast_Searcher', ' ')It often requires various fixes, etc. for various websites, for example.

[radon1]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Outcast_Searcher', 'W')ho wanted to use specific websites

[radon1]

This gentleman gets it done well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOOkfGv58u0

Instructions for try-out are at the end of the video.

[Outcast_Searcher]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('radon1', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Outcast_Searcher', 'W')ho wanted to use specific websites

[radon1]

In some exotic situations, websites could have had problems with proprietary plugins in the past, such as the flashplayer. At some point, Adobe dropped linux support for it and you'd have to do some command line manipulations to set it up. But later, the support was resumed.

Still, proprietary software cannot be delivered within the default system configuration under an open source (linux) license. But all you need to do is to select the Software Center in the menu, and click on the flashplayer icon in there, and it will be set up for you. This is the same procedure as setting up a chrome app in the google store, but simpler.

In any event, the current trend is to move from flashplayer to html5 (from proprietary to open source), and this is no longer an issue.

[Outcast_Searcher]

I was looking at a thread the other day on Windows 7 going away, and various user opinions, plans, etc.

There were well over 10,000 entries. I read the first several pages.

My impression of the top plans and widespread opinions:

1). Windows 10 sucks and is spyware. Given the self-selective nature of the folks drawn to such a site, this isn't surprising. There were a handful of Windows 10 users saying it is faster than Windows 7 for gaming, and that's what matters to them.

2a). There is a LOT of ignoring the warnings, just using Windows XP, and figuring just going to "safe sites only" is an acceptable solution, because nothing "bad" has happened yet. Similar thoughts for plans for Windows 7.

2b). There is a LOT of assuming that as long as one uses a "good" antivirus / anti-malware program, that it doesn't matter about the OS holes, so there is no issue.

3). There are a lot of people who plan to suck it up and go to Linux. Some commentary on hoping there is going to be far better support / mainstream support for gamers.

4). There are people who don't like it, but plan to suck it up and go to Windows 10 and live with it. And no little to no mention that in another 5+ years, Windows 10 is going away re extended support, just like Windows 7 is Jan 2020, and THEN what?

5). I was surprised that there were very few mentions of Chrome. Maybe for people self-selected to visit such a site, Chrome is an obvious cop-out. Or Chrome is a non-solution because it doesn't offer enough apps. (But does Linux, unless you want to buy everything again, go though some sort of massive doc. conversion process, etc? I don't know, but I have trouble imagining the only issue there is learning Linux and dealing with real world problems / limitations).

6). There were some people touting Apple / IOS, etc, but not as many as I expected. The cost of Apple products, how Apple shuns common cheap interfaces and hardware, and that Apple isn't immune to malware were mentioned.

7). Finally, few people were talking about a hybrid solution of using BOTH an older version (or versions) of Windows COMPLETELY off the net -- AND something safe for browsing and videos, etc. on the net -- with a sneaker-net solution for transferring files. Again, maybe to people visiting such a forum, such a solution is too obvious to mention (?)

[Outcast_Searcher]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('radon1', 'T')his gentleman gets it done well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOOkfGv58u0

Instructions for try-out are at the end of the video.

[Outcast_Searcher]

Re Windows 10 issues.

I was doing some more looking around, and research on Windows 10 (in case worse comes to worst).

One thing that dawns on me, is how persistently STUPID / BAD, laptops have become re access to the hardware. I don't know if this is due to Windows 10, or just the cost of hardware and PC makers wanting to maximize profits.

So, in the good old days of a decade or even 5 years ago, it was common to be able to get laptops with easy access to disk drives, memory, etc. WITHOUT having to take the whole laptop apart, be a hardware geek, or live in fear of breaking things or not being able to properly reassemble the da*n thing. Oh, and batteries were often external and very easy to disconnect or replace with a simple physical switch/lever or two.

Not so much any more. Between the service manuals for Dell, HP, Asus, etc, it's normal to make getting to the hard drives, the battery (for crissakes), the memory, etc. require a major disassembly.

There are exceptions, but you really have to look for them, and even with them you generally have to worry about things like breaking a bunch of delicate plastic tabs in addition to removing the easy access screw(s). (Why the hell not just several easy access screws?)

And there are consequences. Generally on Amazon now, Win 10 PC's are supplied by specialized shops. You pick a configuration and they modify the PC for you. This means the manufacturer warranty is violated right away, since they must be opening the case and replacing things like the drives and/or the memory. So what if there are problems? What if they caused them? Oh, and they tend to charge MULTIPLE times what the consumer can buy the components they're using AND no word on the specifics of the components they're using -- so no doubt many are using CHEAP, LOW QUALITY components like drives, SSD's, memory, etc. IMO, NO THANKS on all of that.

And clearly the main makers know this, re their pricing. They know people now want SSD's instead of HDD's, so they are charging a FORTUNE for even small SSD models, vs. large HDD models with exact specs otherwise -- even if the consumer cost of the HDD vs. SSD is negligable. Nice way to maintain profit margins, if you can get away with it.

And now we're clearly entering the world of throw-away loptops. Normal people can't confidently work on such beasts (just like I rarely get under the hood of my car except to check the battery, oil, and radiator, and maybe clean up debris). So laptops are becoming another commodity, throwaway item. Again -- good for profits, bad for the consumer.

I can easily clone any modern windows variant drive whether HDD or SSD, as long as it's a modern SATA variant, with a variety of FREE, reliable software. (They want to sell upgrades, but it's not required, generally). That's GREAT for protecting my data, but sad if I can't deal with a drive failure in the PC except to:

1). Take it to a shop, hope they don't screw up the PC, steal my data, etc. Oh, and get charged a FORTUNE. Oh, and invalidate any manufacturer warranty that might be left.

2). Risk destroying my laptop through mechanical incompetence. Might be preferable to the first option, but far from great.

3). Use older, cheap, hardware that's EASY to work on, and rely on redundancy. That strategy worked great for me with Windows XP, and I'm now playing with it for Windows 7 and Windows 10.

Might sound stupid, but if the hardware works, why not? I've had ONE problem with my six $100ish used Win XP Dell D830 PC's - the DVD/CD combo drive in one quit. But it's SUPER easy to replace. 0 or 1 screw and push a lever, that's it. And I can get TEN of them used on EBAY for $30 to $40 bucks, from sellers with thousands of PC HW sales and feedback ratings of 100%, top sellers, etc. Considering it costs roughly that for a highly rated, quality USB based DVD external drive -- the risk is negligable.

Once I exercise Win 7 and Win 10 on these, I'll report back. I expect Win 7 to be fine. My main concern re Win 10 is they only take 4 Gig memory max.

They're just fantastic for Win XP SP3 for 16 bit legacy gaming.

[Outcast_Searcher]

By the way, for anyone wanting to clone a SATA Windows based drive, I strongly recommend the Mini Tool Partition Wizard product.

It's free, easy to install and use, and reliable in my experience, for SATA based drives. It works for Windows XP, 7, 8 and 10. And it doesn't pester you about upgrading, etc. to where I notice it, once it's installed.

I've used it extensively with Win XP and 7 without any problems that weren't my fault (user error). I've used it a little for Windows 10, and it worked fine for me. I have no experience with Windows 8, so I haven't tested that claim at all.

I THINK it's the venerable Partition Magic product, taken over by some Asian outfit, and now maintained and supported. It does pretty much everything Partition Magic did, with the same style/look interface and ease of use. Symantec stopped supporting Partition Magic as of Win XP SP3, and I'd never found a product I liked that worked reliably AND conveniently to replace it, until about a year ago, when looking into drive cloning.

The main drawback, to me, is the support and doc is all pidgin English, which is a bit scary for your critical data and a plethora of supported Windows partition formats, rules, etc., but at least the support people are helpful and nice, in my experience.

I bought the "PRO" version to support them, since I liked the product and WANT them to continue to support it -- but that's completely unnecessary. To me, no longer feeling vulnerable (to a crash or Windows disaster) re my primary Windows drive on all my Windows machines is nearly priceless.

For people who can access their drives on their PC's, and who don't want to risk losing their entire Windows configurations if something bad happens to the drive or Windows, this is rather nice insurance. Or if you just want to upgrade an HDD to an SSD, etc. Or if you want to conveniently move a lot of data from Windows PC "A" to "B".

[yellowcanoe]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Outcast_Searcher', '
')2). There is a LOT of ignoring the warnings, just using Windows XP, and figuring just going to "safe sites only" is an acceptable solution, because nothing "bad" has happened yet. Similar thoughts for plans for Windows 7.

[Outcast_Searcher]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('yellowcanoe', '
')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Outcast_Searcher', '
')7). Finally, few people were talking about a hybrid solution of using BOTH an older version (or versions) of Windows COMPLETELY off the net -- AND something safe for browsing and videos, etc. on the net -- with a sneaker-net solution for transferring files. Again, maybe to people visiting such a forum, such a solution is too obvious to mention (?)

[Newfie]

I’m still trying to figure out what problem window 10 (or any other version) is trying to solve.

In practical terms I could do anything I wanted to do with window xp. I get not new useful functionality.

Maybe it’s great for gaming, but there is a certain percent of the population that doesn’t care about gaming. I care about spear sheet, data bases, CAD, email, word processing.

From what I see the newer versions of windows sort of hide the file tree structure, I guess it’s too complicated for too many folks. But if that’s true then the machines/software capabilities are waaay over the head of most users. And I think thats true. I know in my corporate life I had an extremely difficult time getting folks to adhere to any kind of standardized filing system. Untold wasted hours and production because they could not find or share stuff. And that’s not even really a computer thing, it’s just being able to think in a structured way and color inside the lines. And management just didn’t seem to get it or care. Leaves me totally baffled.

From my perspective the machines and operating systems capabilities and complexities far exceed those of the common user. There is a need for a solid capable core operating system that meets the realistic needs and is stable, that doesn’t keep screwing with the user interface.

I’m hoping some version of Linux will evolve into that, but it seems to be on the same time table as fusion energy.

[Outcast_Searcher]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Newfie', 'I')’m still trying to figure out what problem window 10 (or any other version) is trying to solve.

In practical terms I could do anything I wanted to do with window xp. I get not new useful functionality.

Maybe it’s great for gaming, but there is a certain percent of the population that doesn’t care about gaming. I care about spear sheet, data bases, CAD, email, word processing.

[radon1]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Newfie', ' ')

From my perspective the machines and operating systems capabilities and complexities far exceed those of the common user. There is a need for a solid capable core operating system that meets the realistic needs and is stable, that doesn’t keep screwing with the user interface.

I’m hoping some version of Linux will evolve into that, but it seems to be on the same time table as fusion energy.

[Newfie]

I would pretty much need to sit with someone far more knowledgeable and have them walk me through it. Not the kind of thing to do away from tech support hanging on a thin internet connection.

This is what I have:

http://navigatrix.net

But I also have OpenCPN which runs on windows.

https://opencpn.org

[Outcast_Searcher]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('radon1', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Newfie', ' ')

From my perspective the machines and operating systems capabilities and complexities far exceed those of the common user. There is a need for a solid capable core operating system that meets the realistic needs and is stable, that doesn’t keep screwing with the user interface.

I’m hoping some version of Linux will evolve into that, but it seems to be on the same time table as fusion energy.

[Outcast_Searcher]

By, the way, I'm ready to say that Windows 10 isn't as bad as I was thinking, after working with it and trying some things with different machines.

One of my main objections was the way most PC makers were playing games with the hardware to make it very hard for ordinary folks to have good CONTROL over their Windows 10 environment. (Hardware VERY inaccessible for maintenance without much hassle / risk for all but the hardware tech). I don't know if this was in collusion with Microsoft for Windows 10, or the timing was a coincidence, but it sure was a pain in the butt, IMO.

Now that I've proven to myself that I can use older hardware like the Dell 830 laptop (circa 2007ish, $100ish with a valid Windows license), or a Dell 6420 laptop (circa 2012ish), $200ish with a valid Windows license, plenty of memory, and a fast i7 Intel processor), much of that concern goes away. On such machines, I have proven I can easily and consistently clone and recover the entire drive, including physical replacement, by merely removing two screws and sliding out the drive. Also, they have external batteries, so no hassle there.

And yeah, such machines might fail, but at very low prices, hardware redundancy isn't hard to have.

So for just browsing, Windows 10 and the pesterware might not be too bad. Until 10/2025 when, UNLESS things change -- we're back to the same problem, re safe computing online. Oh, and speaking of safe computing, of course, normal OS's are still exposed to all sorts of malware -- it's just an ongoing war between the good guy and bad guys with your data as the prize.

[Newfie]

Bought a 4gb SIM card for €66 the other day. Wife turned on her computer and connected through my iPhone. That was the end of 4gb of data. And I’ve already gone through and done a bunch of stuff recommended to lower bandwidth requirements. This just sucks!!

[Outcast_Searcher]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Newfie', 'B')ought a 4gb SIM card for €66 the other day. Wife turned on her computer and connected through my iPhone. That was the end of 4gb of data. And I’ve already gone through and done a bunch of stuff recommended to lower bandwidth requirements. This just sucks!!