[Outcast_Searcher]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('kublikhan', '
')Anyway, you might want to at least look at Windows Lite to see if it meets your needs Outcast_Searcher. Although it is not ready yet so it's mostly rumors at this point.

[Newfie]

And then there are a few rare folks who don’t have reliable or inexpensive internet connections, like me.

[kublikhan]

Newfie, did you try setting your network connection to metered? That seems to turn off automatic updates except for critical security updates. I just turned this on for my windows 10 machine.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '[')b]What Setting a Connection as Metered Does
Setting a connection as metered prevents Windows from automatically using bandwidth in many ways. Here’s exactly what it does:

* Disables automatic downloading of most Windows updates: Windows won’t automatically download most updates from Windows Update on metered Internet connections. You’ll get a “Download” button you can click whenever you want to install updates. On the Creators Update, Microsoft has now given Windows Update permission to download critical security updates even if your connection is marked as metered. Microsoft has promised not to abuse this.

* Disables automatic downloading of app updates: The Windows Store won’t automatically download updates for your installed “Store apps” on metered connections, either. Desktop apps like Chrome, Firefox, and others will continue updating themselves normally.

* Disables peer-to-peer uploading of updates: On a metered connection, Windows 10 won’t use your upload bandwidth to share updates with PCs over the Internet. Windows 10 does this by default, consuming your potentially limited upload allowance to reduce Microsoft’s bandwidth bills.

* Tiles may not update: Microsoft says that the live tiles on your Start menu or Start screen “may” stop updating on a metered connection.

* Other apps may behave differently: Apps—particularly apps from the Windows Store—could potentially read this setting and behave differently. For example, a “universal app” BitTorrent client could potentially stop downloading automatically when connected to a metered connection.

How to Set an Ethernet Connection as Metered
1. To set a wired Ethernet connection as metered, head to Settings > Network & Internet > Ethernet. Click the name of your Ethernet connection here.
2. Activate the “Set as metered connection” option for the network you’re connected to.

How to Set a Wi-Fi Connection as Metered
1. To set a Wi-Fi connection as metered, head to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi. Click the name of the Wi-Fi connection you’re connected to.
2. Activate the “Set as metered connection” option here.

[rockdoc123]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')'m sure not enthralled with the mainstream choices I took a quick look at today, like macOS.

[Newfie]

Thanks Kub,

It is my Wife’s PC and I haven’t gotten around to doing that. We got it shortly before leaving in this trip and things have been hectic to say the least.

I appreciate the advice.

[Outcast_Searcher]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('rockdoc123', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')'m sure not enthralled with the mainstream choices I took a quick look at today, like macOS.

[MD]

It's been sort of a moore's Law problem for many years now. Increasingly complex software and hardware computing/networking systems with millions of people updating and/or attacking it daily.

40 years ago I was one of the giants. Today I am an ant. lol.

Trying hard to avoid being stepped on.

[Newfie]

It this ant hill is all disorganized. Each one individually has some tiny fraction of the system. Back then you had far more control over the system. It’s not you, it’s the system.

There was a time I was running a DOS application called Feamework. It was pretty neat and ran blindingly fast. For practical applications I could do more on that with a x86 machine than I can do today. There is more complexity, but not more productivity for the average Joe who is really trying to compute, not just video gaming and the sort.

[Newfie]

Kub,

I set up the metering on my Wife’s computer this morning. Thanks.

Also turned off most the the apps running in the background.

Hope this helps.

With the iPhone it is constantly pestering me to update apps and update the IOS. But at least it’s transparent. Still a pain in the keester, and trying to find free WiFi to same my data is not always easy.

[Newfie]

MD,

Back in the early 80’s I had my ONE foray into practical programming. I wrote a dBase program to manage a small telephone cable plant. It had the infrastructure in one dB and the usage in a different one. I could use it to identify every wire used, it’s location, and pertinate facts about that location so that I could print out a “trouble ticket” for a circuit to give to one of my workers. It had other practical uses.

Working on my own time on my dining room table, late at night, I got it along far enough to prove it out and estimate data requirements and speed to print out a report. I had done about 10% of my territory, about 3% of all circuits in the company. It was a very interesting problem that required a specific insight which, a revelation, to make it work. There were commercial products costing hundreds of thousands, but none had my innovation, I could run rings around them all.

I needed a few thousand dollars (bigger hard drive, dedicated computer) and a few hundred hours of clerical time to expand it from my sample to full implementation for my territory. It had clear efficiency advantages as well as management improvements. Management had ZERO interest.

Later in my career I was able to reuse some of those same concepts to build a working project management application. I didn’t do the programming but directed development. It worked a charm, clear demonstratable results on multiple projects. Privet sector comapny. Absolutely zero management interest.

I did have some success at one company in cleaning up basic project management process but that success came from my peers. We implemented standards in various offices but only because middle managers saw the advantages and agreed to adopt common standards. Management? Zero interest!

I found working out problems and solutions interesting and challenging right up to my retirement. Part of the problem is I’m not a good salesman, schmoozer. But a bigger problem is management were noting but salesmen, schmoozers. F*** ‘em all, I’m floating in the Carribean and their all working to pay off loans.

[Outcast_Searcher]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MD', 'I')t's been sort of a moore's Law problem for many years now. Increasingly complex software and hardware computing/networking systems with millions of people updating and/or attacking it daily.

40 years ago I was one of the giants. Today I am an ant. lol.

[Newfie]

And if you don’t have a reliable and high speed connection? Or it goes dark? Or someone shuts it off?

[Outcast_Searcher]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Newfie', 'A')nd if you don’t have a reliable and high speed connection? Or it goes dark? Or someone shuts it off?

[Newfie]

My situation is that I’m traveling/living outside the USA. I’ve no single internet provider. I’m a vagabond. These last few weeks I’ve purchased data here in St Martin, but that’s a luxury. Often I only have sporadic WiFi in restaurants or bars.

Even when in Canada I’m limited to 500mb of data per 24 hours. I have to drive 40 miles to a Tims to do an update.

[Outcast_Searcher]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Newfie', 'M')y situation is that I’m traveling/living outside the USA. I’ve no single internet provider. I’m a vagabond. These last few weeks I’ve purchased data here in St Martin, but that’s a luxury. Often I only have sporadic WiFi in restaurants or bars.

Even when in Canada I’m limited to 500mb of data per 24 hours. I have to drive 40 miles to a Tims to do an update.

[Newfie]

I’m using PDF fill instead of Adobe. Only issue I’ve found is creating a signature, but I create the block in PDFILL then switch to reader to sign.

I do little on my computer anymore, but a WiFi requirement is a non starter.

Sooner or later I’ll go the way of they rest of the Dino’s.

[Outcast_Searcher]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Newfie', 'I')’m using PDF fill instead of Adobe. Only issue I’ve found is creating a signature, but I create the block in PDFILL then switch to reader to sign.

I do little on my computer anymore, but a WiFi requirement is a non starter.

Sooner or later I’ll go the way of they rest of the Dino’s.

[Newfie]

https://www.pdfill.com

No clue about encryption. Its signature feature requires an outside license or a workaround by creating the space in PDFILL and doing the signature in Reader.

It’s a learning curve. Not excessively initiative. It has worked for the simple tasks I’ve done.

[radon1]

Go Linux. As long as you are not a heavy game player, you will fly on it. Even if you are, steam has now a translation layer for most of the games.

Go Xubuntu if you are a starter. Don't be put off by the default look, they keep it ugly for some reason, it is easily customisable to almost any look you want (btw win 10 isn't). And it is very light. Do a double boot for starters in order to test before the transition.

If you are more advanced, go Debian.

Some report a shorter battery life on linux, however, in case you are travelling a lot.

[Outcast_Searcher]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('radon1', 'G')o Linux. As long as you are not a heavy game player, you will fly on it. Even if you are, steam has now a translation layer for most of the games.

Go Xubuntu if you are a starter. Don't be put off by the default look, they keep it ugly for some reason, it is easily customisable to almost any look you want (btw win 10 isn't). And it is very light. Do a double boot for starters in order to test before the transition.

If you are more advanced, go Debian.

Some report a shorter battery life on linux, however, in case you are travelling a lot.