[ale] OT if you must use windows, upgrade to windows 7, not 8, within a year

Sat Oct 13 09:14:47 EDT 2012

We've been testing Windows 8 and Server 8 at work for the past couple  
of months.    Yes, Windows 8 has the Metro (touch) GUI - which by the  
way is dreadful; but it still has what is a (more-or-less) traditional  
desktop.  Lots of stuff has been moved around but much (that I've  
seen) is look and feel.  A lot of the modules are the same as ever  
before.  Well known keyboard shortcuts are still the same.

Overall 8 looks about as appealing as Unity or Gnome3 on first  
release.  Dreadful.  (But then again I'm not a MS fanboy and I'm still  
driving Gnome2 so who am I?)

<rant>

I for one have no plans of deploying it or admin of it; let alone  
using it myself.  I own one (1) license of Windows 7 and that's ONLY  
because of the hardware required to do a specific job in audio  
production.  Digigram PCX924 card (PCI-based) and no Linux driver.   
Sigh...oh yeah, that system runs Protools as well.  More  
closed-source; pay-to-play and proprietary crap.  (It's the wife's  
studio stuff - what can I say?)

My stuff is 100% Linux and is going to stay that way.  Whatever MS is  
doing in the future is nice.  Whatever.  (Sorry to sound cynical but  
my tools are based around FLOSS these days).  My only wish is that  
CorelDraw was available for Linux.  (It used to be back in the days of  
Corel Linux; but that was another story - not to be revisited).

</rant>

I can tell you this though:  In dealing with global customers (most of  
them in defense); many want support for XP (and I'm not talking about  
X64 here!) or they want 7 (if for MS product).  Few are running 2003  
or 2008.  I've had only one come to me inquiring on how to get Server  
8 running on our latest h/w.  Basically ALL of our major (domestic)  
server clients are running RHEL of one flavor or another.  Workstation  
clients trend toward 7.  Middle Eastern clients still want a lot of XP  
and I still find those who want Windows 98SE with some 2000 thrown in  
for good measure!  (And yes, I do have to support SCSI w/98SE!)

Given that Northrop-Grumman is dumping Windows on some of their prime  
UAV projects for Linux; I wonder how much longer it will be before  
more of them do the same.  I'm finding many of the likes of Boeing are  
trying to milk their old h/w for all that it's worth and do NOT want  
to pay the big bucks to rewrite old code for new platforms.  Thus the  
legacy OSes look like they will still be in demand for a while to come  
from an industrial and military standpoint.

(Not to mention medical - which once cast; is set in stone so it  
seems.  We see a fair amount of that too...)

Rich in Lilburn

Quoting "Ron Frazier (ALE)" <atllinuxenthinfo at techstarship.com>:

> Hi guys,
>
> Forgive me for mentioning the "W" word.  I'm posting this for the
> benefit of those of you who must use windows for whatever reason.  You
> want to think about upgrading to windows 7, not 8, within a year.  I use
> both windows and linux for different purposes and at different times.  I
> don't think I've posted this here before.
>
> According to what I've read,. Microsoft has totally gutted the user
> interface of Windows with the introduction of Windows 8 and what used to
> be called the metro interface.  They're trying to make one interface for
> tablets, phones, and pc's with large screens, which has a whole bunch of
> large pretty icons designed to be touched with your finger, and which
> don't work well with a keyboard and mouse, which seems like an
> incredibly stupid idea to me.  (What does that remind me of, oh yes,
> Unity.)  I have read a number of accounts relating to the lack of
> usability of the new interface, and many people hate it with a passion,
> saying it is essentially unusable on a PC, or it's much harder to be
> productive on it.  I personally don't intend to even try it.  I think
> it's a tremendous step backwards.  If you have PC's that you personally
> own or maintain and are not company maintained, you may wish to consider
> upgrading to Windows 7 in the near future.
>
> Even though Vista will continue to be supported with security patches
> for some time, Windows 7 will stop being sold 1 year after Windows 8
> goes on sale.  Windows 8 is about to be released, so it will probably be
> impossible to buy Windows 7 after about October 2013.  At that point,
> your only alternative to upgrade a Windows Vista or XP machine will be
> to install Windows 8, which the users will probably hate, or Windows 9
> or whatever they're up to at the time.  I believe Windows XP support
> ends in 2013.  I have a chart somewhere on the lifecycle dates for each
> Windows system, but I don't have it handy at the moment.
>
> As you know, it is critical to have an OS on the PC which is getting
> routine security updates.  It is preferable to have one that is familiar
> and easy to use.  Therefore, if you must use Windows, I recommend
> acquiring a copy of Windows 7 OEM from NewEgg or Tiger Direct or Frys
> within the next year and installing it on any non company PC's.  These
> run about $ 100 each.  I would recommend making a full backup of the
> hard drive first.  You want the full Windows install disc, not the
> upgrade disc.  This makes it much easier to reinstall if there is a
> system crash.
>
> I haven't totally decided what to do yet, or when, but will probably
> upgrade most or all of my PC's.
>
> Here are some links to look at regarding the "new" Windows interface.
>
> https://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&site=&source=hp&q=hate+windows+8&btnG=Search
>
>
> http://www.pcworld.com/article/261567/windows_8_hate_it_already_why_waiting_for_windows_9_wont_help.html
>
>
> http://www.pcworld.com/article/251282/windows_8s_metro_ui_7_things_you_may_just_hate.html
>
>
> etc.  etc.
>
> I hope this info is helpful to you.  I haven't totally figured out what
> I'll do yet.  I may just have to break down and buy several copies of
> Windows 7 OEM --- or just switch to Linux.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Ron
>
>
> --
>
> (To whom it may concern.  My email address has changed.  Replying to former
> messages prior to 03/31/12 with my personal address will go to the wrong
> address.  Please send all personal correspondence to the new address.)
>
> (PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might want to
> call on the phone.  I get about 300 emails per day from alternate energy
> mailing lists and such.  I don't always see new email messages very quickly.)
>
> Ron Frazier
> 770-205-9422 (O)   Leave a message.
> linuxdude AT techstarship.com
>
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