Window 7

BillScarab

mr_fishbulb wrote: »

Quote:
Originally Posted by BillScarab
Because people want to install software that only runs on Windows?

I use spotify on my ubuntu laptop through WINE - http://www.spotify.com/en/help/faq/wine/

Lots of other windows apps will work that way too.

Yes, I know all about wine I just don't see the point in loading Linux then using wine to run Windows programs when you can just run Windows in the first place.

Robin_T_Cox

BillScarab wrote: »

Yes, I know all about wine I just don't see the point in loading Linux then using wine to run Windows programs when you can just run Windows in the first place.

These forums are about how you save money: that's the point.

Windows is expensive, and Linux is free: so it's a money-saving nobrainer to use Linux instead, because in most if not all cases you can also find a freeware alternative to Windows programs, thus saving yourself money yet again.

If you use Linux, you also don't need to buy anti-virus or anti-spyware programs that will make up for the lack of inbuilt security with Windows. So you save yet again.

Marty_J

Robin_T_Cox wrote: »

These forums are about how you save money: that's the point.

Windows is expensive, and Linux is free: so it's a money-saving nobrainer to use Linux instead, because in most if not all cases you can also find a freeware alternative to Windows programs, thus saving yourself money yet again.

These forums are about getting what you want cheaply, not getting something you don't want for free.

If you use Linux, you also don't need to buy anti-virus or anti-spyware programs that will make up for the lack of inbuilt security with Windows. So you save yet again.

You don't need to buy anti-virus or anti-malware programs for Windows either. There are plenty of free ones that do a fine job. Windows 7 is also a lot more secure than its predecessors.

Quasar

Well both my XP lappies (had them for 5 and 6 years respectively) have developed some faults and since I can't afford to be without a reliable computer due to my work, I have to go and get a new lappy asap. Window 7 it will be, although I'll try to keep one of the XP for as long as I can as back up.

I do hope that W7 is good, as I held out on Vista on account of so many unimpressive reports.

Bongedone

choccyface wrote: »

how do you find your password for graphic card driver? i only bought my laptop on saturday and have sent off for the upgrade disc from vista premium to w7 premium. I thought it would be a simple upgrade for me - ie shove disc in, press go a few times!! the laptop didnt come with any recovery discs so am really nervous doing it!

Not a password for the graphics card driver.

Dell comes with a disk of drivers though I just downloaded the latest from the web. It was working fine without the driver but the performance score was only 1. Scoring 5.8 with it.

I have used the 64bit version of W7 which appears to be fine, so far, touch wood.

kwikbreaks

movilogo wrote: »

Why bother with Windows 7? Better try Linux (Ubuntu, Fedora, SuSE etc.) they totally FREE, no virus/spyware free, free support via online communities and fun to use. You can even load whole OS in your pocket [ie USB drive]

IMO Linux is fine for computer hobbyists - ie those who are happy to spend most of their lives fiddling around with their computers to make something work. For those not sporting a beard and wearing sandals who just want to use their wretched computers to do something relatively useful the two main commercial alternatives fit the bill - OS/X and Windows. I've tried Ubuntu Linux as dual boot several times and invariably I'll eventually come across some show stopper or other and just fall back on using the devil I know.

elfen

Windows 7 is good, although I am having a lot of trouble finding a Realtek driver that will install and work without the red page coming up. Even though I know the drivers are safe it still comes up...

I much prefer 7 to Vista, easier to install, easier to use, much easier as I usually have lotsof applications running (researching uni work is a LOT easier now when going between FF, Adobe and Word)

d123

kwikbreaks wrote: »

IMO Linux is fine for computer hobbyists - ie those who are happy to spend most of their lives fiddling around with their computers to make something work. For those not sporting a beard and wearing sandals who just want to use their wretched computers to do something relatively useful the two main commercial alternatives fit the bill - OS/X and Windows. I've tried Ubuntu Linux as dual boot several times and invariably I'll eventually come across some show stopper or other and just fall back on using the devil I know.

I agree totally, I set up a dual boot on my laptop to try Linux (so running XP and ubuntu 9.10 on the same hardware) and I was not impressed, ubuntu ran slower, invariably ran into problems with peripherals and seemed to want to update every second day.

It really is more for people who view their computer as a hobby, and probably brew their own beer in the shed and proclaim it's better than anything commercially available.

Sometimes I wish the Linutics would realise that just because it's free doesn't mean it's good.

I mean, walking is free, but if I have a journey of 100 miles to make, I'd rather pay and use my car or the train, you could drink water free from the nearest rain puddle, but I prefer to pay for clean piped water or even a bottle of fruit juice.....

Robin_T_Cox

d123 wrote: »

I agree totally, I set up a dual boot on my laptop to try Linux (so running XP and ubuntu 9.10 on the same hardware) and I was not impressed, ubuntu ran slower, invariably ran into problems with peripherals and seemed to want to update every second day.

It really is more for people who view their computer as a hobby, and probably brew their own beer in the shed and proclaim it's better than anything commercially available.

Sometimes I wish the Linutics would realise that just because it's free doesn't mean it's good.

I mean, walking is free, but if I have a journey of 100 miles to make, I'd rather pay and use my car or the train, you could drink water free from the nearest rain puddle, but I prefer to pay for clean piped water or even a bottle of fruit juice.....

Unfortunately, there are plenty of published benchmarks that show the above assertions to be doubtful. See, for example:

http://www.tuxradar.com/content/benchmarked-ubuntu-vs-vista-vs-windows-7

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/10/21/windows_7_reader_reviews/

Microsoft run a very slick marketing operation, and make many claims which have proved highly questionable in the past. Following the failure of Vista, another expensive version of Windows, prudent money-savers will surely wish to delay joining in the rush to have the latest version.

libra10

I installed Windows 7 on my Sony laptop yesterday. The installation went well and Windows 7 rocks along - a complete contrast to Vista.

However, have a couple of issues have not been able to resolve yet which, I believe, are down to driver issues. I can't enable Aero which I want to use in order to use the taskbar the way I want. Also, the Fn keys refuse to work so I can't adjust the brightness. My volume button isn't working at present either.

I need to update the drivers but can only find updates for XP and Vista at Sony support. Have sent a support email but heard nothing back yet. I did read somewhere that the Vista updates would be OK but don't want to risk it.

The new OP itself is great but just need a few things sorting.