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

[Ron Frazier (ALE)]

Hi Rich,

Try this instead of Correl

http://inkscape.org/download/?lang=en

Ron


Rich Faulkner <rfaulkner at tux86.org> wrote:

>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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>
>
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--

Sent from my Android Acer A500 tablet with bluetooth keyboard and K-9 Mail.
Please excuse my potential brevity.

(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