Back up your files (friendly reminder)

Mac OS is Linux with a different shell so it is something that Apple did when they looked around and saw what was the best. Android is also based on a Linux type kernel so I don't see why windows is still ... well windows.

As for Linux not getting a virus, well that's true but malware and other problematic little bits of software do exist for linux.

 

i'm just saying, if people could operate linux. they'd be running macs. cuz it's a little easier to learn.

there's windows, (easiest). macs. then linux (hardest).

as for freezes up on windows. i've found that 4 times the recommended memory makes windows run smoother. computers have always been installed with the bare minimum requirements. not enough memory makes windows a freezer. specially with all the programs you all install and have those litle icons sitting next to the system clock in the lower right hand corner.

although, today computers have almost sufficient memory. 2 times the amount would be recommended.

minimum memory. windows. and a bunch of icons in the tray. not a good combination.

google instructions for MSCONFIG. turn off all those little icons. you'll free up your memory and windows also boots faster cuz it's not loading all those icons.

and i remember right. china gave linux a very nasty virus last year. it was on the local tv news.

 

i fried 2 new computers when i first came back out. not just the drivers but the boards also.

what i do now is NOT have it plugged in. unless it's turned off.

on and running off battery. off and it gets plugged recharged.

 

i never do the updates. those things are terrible on bootups. i'll wait till the service packs. they work much better.

for the average home user who just simply want to use there machine. the updates are pretty much meaningless anyways. unless your an IT specialist. you won't have a clue what the updates are and for anyways. all you care is that your machine works.

win7 works much better with 4 gigs of ram. a 2 gig stick is cheap.

but there's the overall picture. the majority programs out on the market are windows mainly. very few run on macs and even less run on linux. untill that changes. windows will always be the dominant system.

windows 7 doesn't take long to do. i always do the partition deletes and let it install from there. much faster and more thorough then formatting. 15 minutes and i'm up and running with a fresh windows.

 

1rst point - Do not rely on the Google Drive app ! The little drive you put on your desktop. The syncing doesn't work, I don't know what their problem is but I can just tell you myself and now two others have had nothing but problems with it. And I love Drive, but you just have to access it in a browser, you simply CANNOT drop files into it on your desktop and expect them to upload even if you tell it to sync.

2nd point, It is my opinion that Linux distro's such as Ubuntu and Mint are actually much easier to use than Windows. The reason someone such as Snowwy and others find it confusing is that you have been trained the Windows way your whole life. So when you find something on Linux that is a little different you go to your basis of comparison (Windows) and decide Linux is subpar. You forget all the times Windows has failed you, you've gotten used to it. I used to always dual boot Windows and Linux and I think I'll be setting up a new laptop that way soon and/or putting Windows in a VM on Linux. for general web-surfing, email, etc.... Linux is superior. If you have certain Windows apps you need to access then you need Windows, but that really isn't Linux's fault now is it ?

 

windows has problems. yes. but linux. and i'm pretty computer savy.

any of you remember when linux first came out??? you had to be an IT tech to install it.
dual boot. you had to be tricky to make that happen. cuz it's not as easy as 1, 2, 3.
linux over writes the windows master boot. which can screw one that doesn't know the proper sequence to load dual boots.

installing a program on a mac was as easy as windows. the reason i gave up on linux was cuz there was nothing i could use except for one program. and after spending a week trying to learn how to install said program. i gave up.

the last time i played with linux was 5 years ago. so i don't know if it's gotten any better. when i get home though. i may look into it again. if i have time. but the main reason i don't play with it anymore. is for the simple fact that i can't learn and run something when everyone else uses windows. cuz when they have a problem. i'm the go to guy. cuz i don't charge $500 like the repair shops do and still don't get things working right.

kind of hard to use one thing and have to remember how the other thing works.

as for a bootable usb stick. that's all fine and dandy if the motherboard is set to boot up from a usb stick. and you can't do that without going into the bios. to which not many know how to do.

i'm not saying linux is a bad thing. i'm just saying it's not user friendly. for most people that have a hard time with windows as it is. and THAT'S been out since early 90's.

kudos to all you that have it and like it. but not everyone is a smart. to most people. the computer is still a complicated toy that even to this day. they still don't know how to turn it on or properly turn it off.

linux isn't for everyone. is all i'm saying.

 

Another issue that is overlooked... Cleaning out the cookies, tempory internet files, and browsing history. On IE go to the upper right on a browser, click on the cog, internet options, general tab, then in the middle delete browsing history. Click on delete and it will give some options as what to delete.

Control panel, programs, uninstall, look for all those toolbars that get loaded when you install programs. Uninstall them unless you use it.

Start up - bottom left of your computer screen, in the search box (older machines look for "run"), type in msconfig, go to start up tab. Click off those programs you don't need for start up. Research them if you are not sure.

Use ISO uninstaller, ccleaner, or any other registry cleaners. Run it at least weekly.

You can get a lot of these off CNet (download.com) as they check programs there before posting. CNet is also PC magazine.

Mark

 

I agree with you, but if someone is thinking of reinstalling Windows or has a brand new machine, it's really not too tough to partition the hard drive first and install both and then you have the best of both worlds.