Beware of Upgrading Your Computer

[Frank]

ray wrote:

I beg to differ. Installed Linux on the public access internet computers
at the local library two years ago. Since then we've added five more Linux
seats. The patrons adapted easily without instruction, and we've had no
complaints. The director previously was called to the floor several times
per day to help patrons with internet difficulties - since Linux, no
calls. It just works and everyone is quite happy. The machines are usually
very busy from opening to closing every day. Installed OpenOffice.org,
AbiWord and Gnumeric and most frequently used browser plugins and all is
cool. Count now is: 9 Linux seats, 1 MS.

Get real! If you think running 9 seats of linux for Internet users in a
small library is statistical proof one could use to extrapolate any kind
of marketing evidence that linux is for the masses, you’re only fooling
yourself.
Frank

 

[DanS]

Frank is a business man, not a researcher;-)

r c

Not relevant.

Many of the people here that have Vista running clean & smoothly on their
PC blame people here having problems for 'not doing the proper research
and making sure you have all the proper Vista drivers available for your
hardware BEFORE upgrading a PC to Vista.' (And NOT saying that Frank had
told this to people looking for help.)

I am just making an observation that this is another point that Vista and
any Linux distribution in common.

And pointing out that it was his fault Ubuntu didn't work.

 

[Justin]

Based simply on a lack of drivers for your video card.

Next time, do the proper research FIRST before trying to install an OS on
hardware that doesn't have the proper drivers.

I know this is hard for you to understand but in some cases INSTALLING is
the research. The difference here is that Frank isn't making bold claims of
linux based on that one experience. He simply gave his findings.

I understand what you MEANT to imply with that comment but it was unfounded.

 

[Justin]

Many of the people here that have Vista running clean & smoothly on their
PC blame people here having problems for 'not doing the proper research

WRONG! 99% of the time people are blamed for not doing research when they
come to this NG and "RIP VISTA A NEW ONE" when the plain simple fact of the
mater is they clearly had poor drivers.

Frank id not RIP LINUX A NEW ONE.

Apples and oranges buddy.

 

[Dave]

Frank wrote:
...

The majority of the business world stay with WinXP SP2 - at least, as long
SP1 for Vista is not out. So could you;-)

Roy

I agree, before I retired last Dec. we were still using XP SP1 at work. They
were just beginning to switch to SP2.

The usual approach is to set up a few trial PCs running the new OS/software,
and try out all of the business software apps that need to run. Get all the
bugs worked out offline, before rolling out the updated OS platform to all
users for business use.

 

[Justin]

No I'm not rich. I have a small business and Vista is a part of my
business expense. I must be able to interface with the rest of the
business world otherwise I'm dead in the water, so to speak. I can't
efficiently or effectively do that with any distro of linux.
Frank

Hi Frank,

Curious by your comments. What did Vista do to "interface with the rest
of the business world" that XP or W2K can't do?[/QUOTE]

When did XP and W2K come into the discussion? They where talking about
linux and windows in general. No one said Vista performs where XP and W2K
can't.

 

[Frank]

Frank wrote:
...



The majority of the business world stay with WinXP SP2 - at least, as
long SP1 for Vista is not out. So could you;-)

Roy

We only run six total computers and only bought 3 Vista seats. Two of
the Vistas are dual/triple booting XP Pro, (2 x32, 1 x64), 4 XP Pro
seats (3x32, 1x64) and are running WHS beta 3 which is basically a SBS.
We also run Win98SE on VirtualPC 2007 for some older stuff that a few
clients still have.
So far so good.
Frank

 

[Justin]

ray wrote:


Get real! If you think running 9 seats of linux for Internet users in a
small library is statistical proof one could use to extrapolate any kind
of marketing evidence that linux is for the masses, you’re only fooling
yourself.
Frank

Although he brought up a valid point. Linux desktop is pretty much for
internet use and 99% of the time that's all people report using it for

 

[Justin]

The "guy" was someone in sales

Don’t ever believe sales guys

and he said that I have to buy a separate copy
for each machine I have.

While that's true, that has nothing to do with your upgrade. After you
upgraded did you have two different machines of which you wanted to run
Windows twice?

He said that this is not a new policy but Microsoft
has always had this policy. Since I already had put it on my old machine I
could not put it on another machine.

Another machine would be a whole second computer. Not an upgraded one.

 

[Justin]

Thanks. I do have the full version and I guess I just need to find the
right
person at Microsoft. I was really disappointed to get my new machine
built
(AMD Dual Core 4400, Geforce 7300GT, 3 gigs of ram, 160 gig HD) install
Vista
try to authenticate and it wouldnt let me. So if what you say is true its
just a case of finding the right person at Microsoft. I'll try again.

I'm guess there was a miscommunication with the first guy you spoke to.

If I understand you correctly, you upgraded your old machine? So you are
left with only ONE computer? Not TWO computers right?

If you told them you had an old computer and you built a new one he might
have mistaken that as you now have TWO computers that you want to install
Windows on.

 

[XS11E]

Not very good troll, I give it about a 3 on the Troll-O-Meter.

TROLL-O-METER
..1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.0.
^

 

[Leythos]

Like a lot of people when I installed Vista on my computer I found that
it was underqualified for Vista. My CPU was too slow (Athlon 1.5gig)and
my hard drive was too small (25 gig). So I made the decision to build a
new system so I could take advantage of the cool features of Vista.
What a shock when I found Microsoft would not authenticate Vista on my
new computer - even though I had salvaged the old computer. It said I
could only install on one machine (my old one) and I needed to buy a new
copy of Vista for my new machine. The guy said they are really clamping
down on piracy.

Complete and utter BS.

--
Leythos
Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum.
Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented worker" is like calling
a drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist"
(e-mail address removed) (remove 999 for proper email address)

 

[Guest]

What I am doing is building a new box and am not using any of the compoenents
from the old computer that has Vista on it. I will wipe the hard drive of
the old box and donate it to Purple Heart. So I will only be using Vista on
one computer - the new one I just built. So where does that leave me.

 

[Leythos]

Get real! If you think running 9 seats of linux for Internet users in a
small library is statistical proof one could use to extrapolate any kind
of marketing evidence that linux is for the masses, you’re only fooling
yourself.

I agree, if anyone just needs email and browsing and they don't need
games or interfacing with MS Apps, then a linux station is a good plan,
but if you have to interact with others and MS documents, then linux is
not a good platform.

--
Leythos
Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum.
Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented worker" is like calling
a drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist"
(e-mail address removed) (remove 999 for proper email address)

 

[Guest]

I know, some are saying that I just talked to the wrong person at Micrsoft
and/or did not explain my situtation well enough. I think I will try
Microsoft again. Hey a phone call is a lot cheaper than an new copy of
Vista!

 

[ray]

I agree, if anyone just needs email and browsing and they don't need
games or interfacing with MS Apps, then a linux station is a good plan,
but if you have to interact with others and MS documents, then linux is
not a good platform.

No one NEEDS games - that's what they make game consoles for for God's
sake. What problem 'interfacing with MS Apps' do you refer to - I've been
doing that for five years without incident.

 

[ray]

ray wrote:


Get real! If you think running 9 seats of linux for Internet users in a
small library is statistical proof one could use to extrapolate any kind
of marketing evidence that linux is for the masses, you’re only fooling
yourself.
Frank

Methinks you're fooling yourself, and you've never really given Linux a
fair shot. What could be more revealing than dumping Linux on a couple of
hundred folks ranging from pretty much neophytes (who, by the way have
less trouble with Linux than those indoctrinated with MS) to high school
computer geeks all with NO training - having them work successfully for
two years with no compliants? I'm seeing LOTS of complaints here about
vista, for example. I don't claim that Linux is for everyone - there is a
certain segment who are so closed minded that they won't consider anything
that does not say MS on the box. There are a few specialized niches where
proprietary MS only software is needed for process critical functions. For
95% of home users and 60% or more of business uses, Linux would be
entirely appropriate if given half a chance.

 

[Leythos]

No one NEEDS games - that's what they make game consoles for for God's
sake. What problem 'interfacing with MS Apps' do you refer to - I've
been doing that for five years without incident.

LOL, and I run Fedora and CrossOver so that I can open MS Office
documents without the format being messed up and so that I can send them
back to people without them wondering what I typed.

OO does not import MS Office documents well, yes, it does import the text
parts, but they don't properly handle formatting and other MS specific
items.

Why would I buy a game console for $400 when I have a $3,000 PC that does
it better.

--
Leythos
Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum.
Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented worker" is like calling
a drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist"
(e-mail address removed) (remove 999 for proper email address)

 

[Frank]

Methinks you're fooling yourself, and you've never really given Linux a
fair shot. What could be more revealing than dumping Linux on a couple of
hundred folks ranging from pretty much neophytes (who, by the way have
less trouble with Linux than those indoctrinated with MS) to high school
computer geeks all with NO training - having them work successfully for
two years with no compliants? I'm seeing LOTS of complaints here about
vista, for example. I don't claim that Linux is for everyone - there is a
certain segment who are so closed minded that they won't consider anything
that does not say MS on the box. There are a few specialized niches where
proprietary MS only software is needed for process critical functions. For
95% of home users and 60% or more of business uses, Linux would be
entirely appropriate if given half a chance.

Oh please, using linux to access the Internet at a library is not by any
means a measure of the compatibility or competence of any OS.
If you actually believe that then meknows you're fooling yourself.
Frank

 

[Justin]

Methinks you're fooling yourself, and you've never really given Linux a
fair shot.

When linux is centrally manageable via active directory let me know and I'll
try it again.