Vista Activation

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

As you already know Ubuntu has nothing to do with your problem.
And of course is is not a viable solution for those needing or
desiring Windows.
Unfortunately there are a few in these Microsoft newsgroups that feel
the solution to any Microsoft problem is Ubuntu or another form of
Linux.
Obviously this is not usually true, but some incorrectly feel their
solution of Linux is a silver bullet for all problems.

 

[Doris Day - MFB]

I too have been pondering the thoughts of some Linux distribution.

And that is the question...what about my software. And the I think about
what I do with my PC. Do I do a lot of things that I can't find a Linux
equivalent of. For the past year, not really.

The most Windows specific thing I do is some hobbyist programming stuff.
Other than that, maybe a sprinkle of work at home, which would most
likely be schematic capture or PCB design, of which, the s/w I use I know
does not come in a *nix flavor.

Either of those, would run adequately in a VM. Parallels seems to be
becoming popular for the Linux crowd. So if the 2 to $300's 'thrown
away' for was only $50 for Parallels instead and your existing XP
license, assuming it's retail, that's not a bad deal.

http://www.parallels.com/en/products/workstation/

To further that, there is the Wine project, a Windows compatible API for
Linux that allows you to run many Windows applications natively.

http://www.winehq.org

Wine can also use the Windows DLL's when available. Of course, every
Windows program will not work, probably the older the app the better. So
many of those apps that were acquired 'over the years' would work.....an
assumption.

There's also WinLIb, which can take Windows source code and compile it
for Linux. My guess is it would be used mainly for open-source Windows
apps. Again, not fool proof.

But I agree, for the average user, Linux is not the answer, right now,
and maybe not for years to come, or ever, but it is a viable alternative
for some people.

Unfortunately, *usually* not for the average user that comes here looking
for help.

As a tech person myself, it seems interesting, and doable. I just haven't
taken the plunge yet.

Well Dan, how about trying it out and then you can come back here and talk
with some authority as to whether or not Linux is suitable for the
computing needs of the average user? I use Ubuntu exclusively on all my
computers, as do a number of my friends and clients. None have said that
they miss using Windows and state that they'll never go back to Windows.
They can do everything they need with Linux and the thousands of free apps
available for that platform. One only has to check out the Ubuntu forums to
see thousands of people who used Windows and now are making the effort to
use Ubuntu instead. Sure some have problems, but they are persisting in
trying to master Linux for a reason. They know enough now to know that it
is their o/s of choice. Rough edges and all, it is superior to Windows in
many many ways.

When I finally do, I'm HOPING it can be the whole
deal or nothing. What's the sense of HAVING to dual-boot Linux and
Windows.

I agree that dual booting is not the best solution if there is still
something that will only run on Windows. A better alternative is simply
installing the free VMPlayer in Linux, installing XP or W2K in a vm, and
then running Windows apps from there on the Linux desktop. And you're
correct, older Windows apps like Photoshop 7 run just fine under Wine.


Love and Kisses,
Doris

 

[Alias]

I too have been pondering the thoughts of some Linux distribution.

And that is the question...what about my software. And the I think about
what I do with my PC. Do I do a lot of things that I can't find a Linux
equivalent of. For the past year, not really.

The most Windows specific thing I do is some hobbyist programming stuff.
Other than that, maybe a sprinkle of work at home, which would most
likely be schematic capture or PCB design, of which, the s/w I use I know
does not come in a *nix flavor.

Either of those, would run adequately in a VM. Parallels seems to be
becoming popular for the Linux crowd. So if the 2 to $300's 'thrown
away' for was only $50 for Parallels instead and your existing XP
license, assuming it's retail, that's not a bad deal.

http://www.parallels.com/en/products/workstation/

To further that, there is the Wine project, a Windows compatible API for
Linux that allows you to run many Windows applications natively.

http://www.winehq.org

Wine can also use the Windows DLL's when available. Of course, every
Windows program will not work, probably the older the app the better. So
many of those apps that were acquired 'over the years' would work.....an
assumption.

There's also WinLIb, which can take Windows source code and compile it
for Linux. My guess is it would be used mainly for open-source Windows
apps. Again, not fool proof.

But I agree, for the average user, Linux is not the answer, right now,
and maybe not for years to come, or ever, but it is a viable alternative
for some people.

Unfortunately, *usually* not for the average user that comes here looking
for help.

As a tech person myself, it seems interesting, and doable. I just haven't
taken the plunge yet. When I finally do, I'm HOPING it can be the whole
deal or nothing. What's the sense of HAVING to dual-boot Linux and
Windows.


And while it's true that MS dominates the OS market, we all know that was
because of the early OEM deals that force Windows upon everyone, not
necessarily that it is the best.

Now what if big OEM deals were cut with IBM instead of MS ? We could have
all been here slamming IBM instead of MS. Things may have turned out
totally different. The big difference there was IBM had a stake in the
hardware side too, not just the s/w side. If OS2 was THE desktop OS now,
it might have been more like apple, and be much more of a closed
architecture (If it wasn't to late after the IBM clone deals made back in
the day.)

OS2 Warp was in many ways better than Windows95, but Windows won out.
(And yes I know OS2 Warp originally came from a MS/IBM joint venture that
went sour.) It just didn't take off.

VHS vs BetaMax, as we all know the only reason VHS won was because you
had twice the recording time on a standard tape. BetaMax was superior in
picture quality over VHS.

If Windows is for "everyone", then why is there such a large tech repair
industry for Windows? I would venture to say that all the techs here
either fix Windows computers for a living or do it for friends or
family. The average user doesn't know what to do when their computer
gets a virus, a root kit or malware.

Alias

 

[Alias]

As you already know Ubuntu has nothing to do with your problem.

His problem is activation, a Windows malady.

And of course is is not a viable solution for those needing or desiring
Windows.

If don't want to deal with activation, it's an excellent solution.

Unfortunately there are a few in these Microsoft newsgroups that feel
the solution to any Microsoft problem is Ubuntu or another form of Linux.
Obviously this is not usually true, but some incorrectly feel their
solution of Linux is a silver bullet for all problems.

It's a GOLDEN bullet to solve WPA, WGA, WGA/N and SPP problems.

Alias

 

[DanS]

If Windows is for "everyone", then why is there such a large tech
repair industry for Windows? I would venture to say that all the techs
here either fix Windows computers for a living or do it for friends or
family. The average user doesn't know what to do when their computer
gets a virus, a root kit or malware.

Alias

I didn't say Windows is for eveyone, I said Linux is NOT for everyone.

 

[DanS]

Well Dan, how about trying it out and then you can come back here and
talk with some authority as to whether or not Linux is suitable for
the computing needs of the average user?

Hmmmm. What is the average user ? That is the question. 10+ years ago, the
average usage was computer literate and had to be.

Now, I'm not so sure. Possibly now the average user is someone just doing
Internet stuff, of which man of those apps are directly available for
Linux, like FF. If that's all you do, then maybe Linux is the perfect fit.

I did try one distribution, maybe 7 years ago, I purchased a distribution
and could not install, as there were no drivers available for my video card
at the time. It was a VooDoo3 2000 card. Sounds familiar. The distro went
back in the box and I haven't seen it yet.

On the other hand, I booted Ubuntu live form the CD on a 5 year old Toshiba
laptop several months back, and everything worked, even down to the
CableTron Roam-About 802.11b card and modem.

 

[Julian]

Hmmmm. What is the average user ? That is the question. 10+ years ago, the
average usage was computer literate and had to be.

Now, I'm not so sure. Possibly now the average user is someone just doing
Internet stuff, of which man of those apps are directly available for
Linux, like FF. If that's all you do, then maybe Linux is the perfect fit.

I did try one distribution, maybe 7 years ago, I purchased a distribution
and could not install, as there were no drivers available for my video
card
at the time. It was a VooDoo3 2000 card. Sounds familiar. The distro went
back in the box and I haven't seen it yet.

On the other hand, I booted Ubuntu live form the CD on a 5 year old
Toshiba
laptop several months back, and everything worked, even down to the
CableTron Roam-About 802.11b card and modem.

Moral of the story.
Wait 5 years then try the latest Ubuntu on 2007 hardware.

 

[Alias]

I didn't say Windows is for eveyone, I said Linux is NOT for everyone.

And I said it is as much for everyone as Windows is and why.

Alias

 

[Richard Urban]

Waiting for a golden bullet to solve for you. (-:

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Alias]

Waiting for a golden bullet to solve for you. (-:

Can't debate the issues so you, once again, fall back on insults.

Tsk, tsk.

Alias

 

[Doris Day - MFB]

Can't debate the issues so you, once again, fall back on insults.

Tsk, tsk.

Alias

Don't let that get you down Alias. That's part of the prerequisites required
to be a MickeyMouse MVP.

Love and Kisses,
Doris

 

[Alias]

Don't let that get you down Alias.

Don't worry, it doesn't get me down.

That's part of the prerequisites required

to be a MickeyMouse MVP.

So I've noticed.

Alias

 

[Richard Urban]

There is no debating you Alias. You are right. You are always right. You
have the only answer to every single problem in the world. If my toilet will
not flush I will just place the Ubuntu bits in the water and push the lever.

Toilet fixed.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[DanS]

And I said it is as much for everyone as Windows is and why.

Alias

Good point actually, if someone is totally computer dumb and has to bring
in an 'outsider' to fix their Windows box, there's essentially no
difference bringing in someone else to fix their *Nix box.

True.

 

[Alias]

Good point actually, if someone is totally computer dumb and has to bring
in an 'outsider' to fix their Windows box, there's essentially no
difference bringing in someone else to fix their *Nix box.

True.

We agree. Isn't life wonderful?

LOL!

Alias

 

[Doris Day - MFB]

Good point actually, if someone is totally computer dumb and has to bring
in an 'outsider' to fix their Windows box, there's essentially no
difference bringing in someone else to fix their *Nix box.

True.

The difference is is that I can support a client's Linux box across the
world by ssh'ing into his box and fixing things. Can't so it with Windoze.

Love and Kisses,
Doris

 

[Alias]

The difference is is that I can support a client's Linux box across the
world by ssh'ing into his box and fixing things. Can't so it with Windoze.

Love and Kisses,
Doris

Interesting. Got a link for more information on how to do this?

Thanks,

Alias

 

[Frank]

DanS wrote:




The difference is is that I can support a client's Linux box across the
world by ssh'ing into his box and fixing things. Can't so it with Windoze.

Love and Kisses,
Doris

Oh Doris, the things you don't know! I'm not at all surprised. You never
were a "deep" person. Lesson #1...don't talk about things you know
nothing about.
Good advice!
Frank
Frank

 

[Doris Day - MFB]

Interesting. Got a link for more information on how to do this?

Thanks,

Alias

man ssh

Love and Kisses,
Doris

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

And yet insults continuer to flow freely from you:
"MickeyMouse MVP"
Your standards seem to be at least as low as those you criticize.
If you had the ability to communicate a point without the need to prop
it up with an insult, you would.
But as usual, apparently you can not.