Choosing an electronic ecosystem and bits Apple, Google, or Microsoft?

laurieshrimp

Hi
Wonder if anyone knows which way to go or what might be best. I have been running Windows 7 on my laptop but have now had to change and have been given a laptop running Windows 8.
I have an ipad 2 and I phone 4s but have never been a Mac user and they are expensive bits of kit.
I was really surprised how much windows 8 attempts to act like an Apple bit of kit with apps, touch and a lot more including their app store. I have only just started using Windows 8 and still working my way round. Needing to set up me options etc.
It seems to me that Apple, Google and Microsoft are all completing to get their operating system Web browsers and apps to be top dog.
I have used last pass to save passwords and the like which has been really good and works on all systems. Also have used X marks for saving favourites etc.Dropbox, skitch.Am looking at Ever note as well.There are so many variations and ways to save favs etc
My ISP Virgin media provides the TV, broadband and provides e mail service. Although they in turn use G mail. I have a number of G mail and virgin media e mail addresses.
Moving forward wonder if anyone else has had the same crossroads in life and how have they proceeded. Most apps update across I phone and I pad but is there any app or programme that might be the King Kong of all apps, coordinating everything in one place? Back up and updating essential as well as good on a mobile use basis.
Thanks
Shrimp

esuhl

Um... Linux...? (*Ducks quickly to avoid the rotten tomatoes*)

Seriously, though, I'm not sure what you're asking. Devices from various manufacturers work together don't they? I mean... if you create a document on a Windows PC, you can use a suitable file format so that you can access it from an Apple machine, can't you?

I use Linux on my main PC, and can update all applications and OS components by running one command. (Is that that kind of thing you're looking for on Windows devices... 'cos I don't think it's possible!)

I don't use it, but Firefox has a "sync" feature that will synchronise your bookmarks across multiple devices. As you probably know, Dropbox works on different platforms. For email, you can choose a free provider and access either via the web or using a platform-specific email client.

It's usually a good idea to keep personal data on a separate hard drive partition so it can be backed up easily. If you want to access the data from different devices on your network, you either need to ensure that the PC containing the data drive is turned on, or you could use an "always on" file server or NAS device. There's probably a way to set up VPN access if you want to access your data remotely by tunnelling across the Internet too.

For backups, I use multiple internal hard drives, but an external drive has the benefit of being easily removed (so, if the original PC is damaged, the external drive might escape, or if the PC is affected by a virus it won't be able to get on to the backup drive).

What is it that you're trying to achieve...?

bod1467

esuhl wrote: »

I don't use it, but Firefox has a "sync" feature that will synchronise your bookmarks across multiple devices.

Google Chrome browser has the same feature ... and I do use it.

thescouselander

Seems to me the only comprehensive, free to use cross-platform service is Google. The offerings from Apple and Microsoft seem to be constrained to their own operating systems while Google seems to work on pretty much anything.

Personally I use Chrome on all my devices and when I buy media (such as music) I make sure it arrives in a non-proprietary format like a straight forward MP3 from somewhere like Amazon. Google drive seems to be pretty good too and works across all my devices with no problems at all.

jaydeeuk1

If you want to be f*cked over on pricing and features, choose apple. If you want to be f*cked on privacy, choose google. If you want to be f*cked on both, choose Microsoft. I'm trying to give Blackberry a go, always love an underdog.

esuhl

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

If you want to be f*cked over on pricing and features, choose apple. If you want to be f*cked on privacy, choose google. If you want to be f*cked on both, choose Microsoft. I'm trying to give Blackberry a go, always love an underdog.

Ha ha ha! Well, I did mention Linux *ducks again*

It won't leave you f*cked on pricing, features or privacy... but it will leave you f*cked in the head as you try to wrestle it into submission! Good fun if you're a techno-masochist!

laurieshrimp

Well
What can I say except such comments really are helpful,thanks a bundle.
I will obviously have to look further at D Duck versions of the operating systems to do justice to the mass debate my post has started.
Thks
Shrimp

My doctor recently diagnosed me with Internet Addiction.
Luckily enough I've joined 46 online forums to help me overcome my problem.

Handsome90

You might find it useful if you use an Apple eco-system since you already have 2 apple devices. For example, Apple has desktop apps of Reminders, iMessages and notes, etc., so everything will stay in sync. Since, I've a mac, I can start typing a note in my iPhone and compose it further in the Mac. The mac also has a notification centre that will show the same thing as the notification centres in your apple devices. But then again, if you don't really use these features there isn't any point in buying a mac. After all, they are very expensive.

paddyrg

All of those ecosystems will be building up huge profiles of your behaviours etc., so with Google you're only marginally more screwed than either of the others.

I swallowed the Google pill having formerly been all-Microsoft - frankly they co-exist well unless you want to do anything really quite hardcore (eg their cloud storage solutions have some fundamental differences).

Apple's world is like a less technically impressive of Google's world to my eyes, and they actively try to ringfence you to stop you escaping whereas the Google way is to offer you better toys for free to entice you to stay. Microsoft lost their lead and frankly are playing catch-up now.

In Google's world, they have extra security features like 2-factor authentication (for free, using your phone), automatic (free) versioning on their web storage service so you can recover documents you messed up a fortnight ago, not just a snapshot backup, etc. If they have something that doesn't quite hit the mark yet (eg their office tools are a bit pony as they're playing catch-up in a web browser), you will find they integrate well with the alternatives (eg LO, MSO, etc).

If you're going to pick an ecosystem to take advantage of your phone automatically knowing all your contacts and apps when you first buy it and updating your calendars and tasks invisibly, frankly any of the three will do it, and any of the three will track you to profile you. Just a case of whether you want to pay them for the privilege or not ;-)

forgotmyname

Is it just me that hates all this integration and the fact they want to know all your personal details?

I have an android phone and an app on there was rubbish i went to leave feedback and they said i had to sign up to google+ 1st.
It rejected my name saying they thought it was fake.

Well DUH!!! Why would i need to give them my real name as well as my email address i registered with.

Why not only allow the password to be "password" as well?

I went to signup for a free trial the other day, If i wanted the trial i HAD to supply my full name, address and both a landline and a mobile.

Why be ex-directory and registered on the TPS if i give the numbers out willy nilly?

Keep your free trial. One potential customer walked away.