I've had it with Windows

Alan · Postby **Alan** » December 7th, 2007, 6:06 pm

My laptop has had some strange problems for a couple of months now. I couldn't install some programs on it. Everything I could find pointed to to a problem with permissions in the registry. I made the mistake of trying to restore the permissions the other day and instead of restoring permissions to my main user account it wiped out the permissions for everyone (including the Administrator account). Luckily I was able to pull all my important files off to a couple of USB hard drives with a linux live cd. So now I'm posting from my laptop running KUbuntu (Ubuntu with the KDE Desktop) 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon. So far it's been fairly easy to get everything working, even easier than it was with Ubuntu 7.04 on my desktop.

RamboPreacher · Postby **RamboPreacher** » December 7th, 2007, 7:14 pm

kewl. hope it works for you. I have tried many times to get a Unix variant (several linuxes as well) working for me instead of MS. but the applications I use preclude me from the swap. I like my apps more than not having them work.

MacUser · Postby **MacUser** » December 7th, 2007, 7:22 pm

*cough, cough* mac's rule *cough*

Alan · Postby **Alan** » December 7th, 2007, 7:24 pm

I take it you couldn't get it to run with WinE or just run Windows in a virtual machine with the apps you need? One of my friends uses VMWare Server to run windows for Dreamweaver and Flash.

RamboPreacher · Postby **RamboPreacher** » December 8th, 2007, 6:05 pm

MacUser wrote:*cough, cough* mac's rule *cough*

lac of apps there too, even worse, since some of my appliation investments will work on Linux

Postby **Pastor Gary** » December 8th, 2007, 6:17 pm

RamboPreacher wrote:lac of apps there too, even worse, since some of my appliation investments will work on Linux

I always wonder, when I hear "Lack of apps on Mac" how many apps you use. I have 258 Applications in my Apps folder + more in my utilities folder. I don't regularly use 10% of those. The ONLY can't-run-on-Mac-and-can't-do-without app I own is my LOGOS Scholars Package (Gold Edition).

Alan · Postby **Alan** » December 8th, 2007, 7:16 pm

MacUser wrote:*cough, cough* mac's rule *cough*

too expensive... I can buy an extremely nice PC to run Linux on for the price of an entry level Mac. Then I've got all the added benefits of free software.

A2JGirl · Postby **A2JGirl** » December 8th, 2007, 8:14 pm

Alan wrote:
MacUser wrote:*cough, cough* mac's rule *cough*

too expensive... I can buy an extremely nice PC to run Linux on for the price of an entry level Mac. Then I've got all the added benefits of free software.

But how much would you end up losing in repairs on the PC eventually? We've had our Mac for 2 years and not a single glitch at all, and I don't expect any next year, either. How many folks can say that about their PC's, no matter how "extremely nice" it is?

But I think that Linux is DEFINITELY a better route than Windows. Yuck. But when it comes time to buy a new machine...

Alan · Postby **Alan** » December 8th, 2007, 8:54 pm

A2JGirl wrote:
Alan wrote:
MacUser wrote:*cough, cough* mac's rule *cough*

too expensive... I can buy an extremely nice PC to run Linux on for the price of an entry level Mac. Then I've got all the added benefits of free software.

But how much would you end up losing in repairs on the PC eventually? We've had our Mac for 2 years and not a single glitch at all, and I don't expect any next year, either. How many folks can say that about their PC's, no matter how "extremely nice" it is?

But I think that Linux is DEFINITELY a better route than Windows. Yuck. But when it comes time to buy a new machine...

Well let me see, I've had my desktop for about a year with no problems (hardware or software and yes it's running Windows), my wifes desktop for 2 years with no hardware or software problems (also running windows), my laptop for a little over 2 years, the only problems I've had with it are the windows problem (more than likely due to a bad spyware problem I had a few months ago) and the left button on my touch pad doesn't want to work right (it doesn't want to stay down when I try to drag), my wifes old desktop what we've had for about 4 years with no hardware or software problems (replaced it because I won her new PC as a door prize) it now sits in our living room running Fedora Core 6 Linux and MythTV to record all of our TV shows, and my old desktop which I had for 6 years with no problems when I finally decided to upgrade. You get what you pay for in a PC, don't expect an eMachine, HP, Compaq, or Dell to last, they make those things to break so you'll have to buy another one. All my desktops are custom built (my wifes is the only one that I didn't build). With the exception of her old desktop, I only use Intel cpu's and Intel motherboards (which is what you get in a Mac now). So you can see I don't buy the Mac's are made better than PC argument, even Apple doesn't try to argue that. The big selling point Apple gives is the "one throat to choke" when something goes wrong. I've spent a lot of time with Apple salesmen, we're trying to get a few Mac's in our school system, I could just about sell a Mac as well as they can, the problem is you can buy a good PC still come out a couple of hundred dollars cheaper than buying a basic Mac.

Mike Vande · Postby **Mike Vande** » December 9th, 2007, 3:10 am

Alan wrote:You get what you pay for in a PC, don't expect an eMachine, HP, Compaq, or Dell to last, they make those things to break so you'll have to buy another one.

So what do you buy? What brands are used in a custom-made PC and how much do you pay for them?

Alan · Postby **Alan** » December 9th, 2007, 10:01 am

Mike Vande wrote:
Alan wrote:You get what you pay for in a PC, don't expect an eMachine, HP, Compaq, or Dell to last, they make those things to break so you'll have to buy another one.

So what do you buy? What brands are used in a custom-made PC and how much do you pay for them?

I generally build my own, I worked for Seimitsu Computer Center in Savannah for a few years, and learned the advantage of using quality parts. The one computer (other than my Acer laptop) that I didn't build in my house is by Bytespeed http://www.bytespeed.com, they primarily do business in the education market. I'd look for a locally owned computer store who sells "white box" computers (thankfully they're not all white/beige anymore). I'd look for a company that prefers Intel CPU's and Intel motherboards. I've also used ASUS motherboards and they seem reliable. As far as laptops I like Acer (for entry level), Toshiba (for midrange), and Lenovo (for high end), but I wouldn't own desktops from any of these companies. More and more your local computer shops are building custom laptops, and those seem to be good quality machines (still a very limited market as far as parts go so they do cost a bit more).
I've been paying $845 for a Core2 processor (can't recall the speed right off), DVD+-R/RW, 1 GB RAM, Windows Vista Business License (shipped downgraded to XP Pro SP2), 19" widescreen LCD, and an 80 GB hard drive (I'd recommend upgrading that for most users). I've been paying about $1100 for laptops witha 15" screen, 80 GB hard drive, 2GB RAM, Intel T2300 CPU, DVD+-RW, Windows Vista Business (actually using Vista on them, so we doubled the RAM to 2GB instead of just 1GB).

The last system I built and sold, I had about $650 in and sold for about $900. Most of the parts in the system have a 3 year warranty, so I'll replace any part free of charge as long as it's under warranty. That system was very close to the systems I pay $845 for.

RamboPreacher · Postby **RamboPreacher** » December 9th, 2007, 11:16 am

Pastor Gary wrote:
RamboPreacher wrote:lac of apps there too, even worse, since some of my appliation investments will work on Linux

I always wonder, when I hear "Lack of apps on Mac" how many apps you use. I have 258 Applications in my Apps folder + more in my utilities folder. I don't regularly use 10% of those. The ONLY can't-run-on-Mac-and-can't-do-without app I own is my LOGOS Scholars Package (Gold Edition).

my comment is about lack of being able to use MY apps; especially including my Libronix (including scholars Gold and another 3000 resources). I ha an significant investment in Windows PC apps that many have equivelant on apple side, but would cost many thousands to replace.

the lack of apps in my view is that MY apps can't work on an apple and work great on a Wintel box.

Pastor Bill · Postby **Pastor Bill** » December 10th, 2007, 6:52 am

Alan wrote:
MacUser wrote:*cough, cough* mac's rule *cough*

too expensive... I can buy an extremely nice PC to run Linux on for the price of an entry level Mac. Then I've got all the added benefits of free software.

Not true, you can buy a low end Windows machine cheaper than a low end Mac, but once you get up to anything that I'd call "extremely nice" the price comparison is almost a level playing field if not cheaper on the Mac side. This is just the age-old rumor that Macs are always more expensive.

Don't get me wrong, they ain't cheap, but that's because they don't sell the older out of date stuff, they drop it from their product line.

Dr. Ron · Postby **Dr. Ron** » December 10th, 2007, 12:48 pm

I was very offended by this post until I realized that you were saying windows ........I read it "widows" :lol:

Please forgive but thanks for the laugh.

Paully_44 · Postby **Paully_44** » December 10th, 2007, 12:54 pm

Alan wrote:You get what you pay for in a PC, don't expect an eMachine, HP, Compaq, or Dell to last, they make those things to break so you'll have to buy another one.

4 years ago, I bought 5 Dell Desktops. one for my parents, in-laws, home & church. Nothing has gone wrong on any of them. Only thing I have done to mine is change out monitors for a flat screen.

I also have 3 dell laptops that are still plugging away. Dont use them much anymore except for church camps & retreat's.

Jude 2