[Elbow12]

I haven't installed Linux yet, but I am really excited about it.

I think it's a terrible business move for Microsoft to be pushing their XP users out the door. Only the uneducated will even consider buying Vista (and that's pretty much because they buy their computer, bring it home and turn it on, and that's what they have). Disappointing that so many people don't even know what an OS is.

[techieMoe]

I have to agree with the sentiments of some that XP is actually one of the best operating systems Microsoft has put out (save Windows 2000, which was my darling in college). A reasonably knowledgeable user can keep XP going virus and spyware-free with minimal effort.

As long as you have one antivirus tool (I use ClamWin) and don't use Internet Exploiter at all (Firefox all the way), you're not in great danger. My XP partition on the laptop has never had any serious issues, aside from the time I accidentally hit the "MediaDirect" button...but that's more Dell's fault.

This might come as a surprise for you all, but I don't necessarily dislike XP; I just prefer Linux. I do occasionally boot into XP for the odd game.

Now, I also didn't pay full price for any of the 3 Windows XP licenses I have (they're all legal though). I also certainly won't be rushing out to buy Vista any time soon, or Windows 7 for that matter.

[carlosponti]

Even though XP was the best thing Microsoft ever put out one thing I didn't like was that registration scheme. They basically were treating their customers like criminals for installing the OS. Aside from that at work here its been stable and does everything I want it to.

[techieMoe]

Originally Posted by carlosponti

Even though XP was the best thing Microsoft ever put out one thing I didn't like was that registration scheme. They basically were treating their customers like criminals for installing the OS. Aside from that at work here its been stable and does everything I want it to.

True, Windows Product Activation is a serious pain for those who didn't get their OS with the computer. I ran into this a lot in my tinkering days when I had new parts going in and out of my desktop weekly.

[carlosponti]

Originally Posted by techieMoe

True, Windows Product Activation is a serious pain for those who didn't get their OS with the computer. I ran into this a lot in my tinkering days when I had new parts going in and out of my desktop weekly.

I was reinstalling mine every 3 months or so but I had a corporate copy that didn't require activation back in my gaming days.

[techieMoe]

Originally Posted by carlosponti

I was reinstalling mine every 3 months or so but I had a corporate copy that didn't require activation back in my gaming days.

That wouldn't happen to be the infamous FCKGW version would it?

Volume license key - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[carlosponti]

Originally Posted by techieMoe

That wouldn't happen to be the infamous FCKGW version would it?

FCKGW? hadnt seen that acronym before. I did take the work copy home and while I know this is piracy whats a guy to do when the 300 professional is too expensive and still requires the activation or the home version that requires activation and is aweful for a more technically affluent person like myself.

edit just now noticed your wiki entry. the copy i had didnt even require a product key. it really was a msdn copy.


ps windows xp home wouldnt let you setup shares without going to the command line to do so even if you were the administrator.

[dancingbear909]

Originally Posted by Manchunian

jayd512 - don't you ever get even a little bit tempted to advise your customers to burn a ubuntu live CD and give it a whirl? Just whisper it so your supervisers don't hear!

I also work in a call center, actually it's tech support/ RMA dept and I am always telling customer to drop MS and get with Linux. knock on wood, that I haven't been caught doing this yet, if I get fired (OOOOOO WELLL) I need a 6 month vacation LOL....

[techieMoe]

Originally Posted by carlosponti

FCKGW? hadnt seen that acronym before. I did take the work copy home and while I know this is piracy whats a guy to do when the 300 professional is too expensive and still requires the activation or the home version that requires activation and is aweful for a more technically affluent person like myself.

Oh, I don't disagree. $300USD for an operating system (plus $300 for an office suite and $1,000+ for Visual Studio development tools) is nuts. Particularly for a college student, which was my case. Of course, that's actually what got me interested in Linux in the first place: it had a built-in, free C/C++ compiler.

edit just now noticed your wiki entry. the copy i had didnt even require a product key. it really was a msde copy.

Interesting.

[carlosponti]

Originally Posted by techieMoe

Oh, I don't disagree. $300USD for an operating system (plus $300 for an office suite and $1,000+ for Visual Studio development tools) is nuts. Particularly for a college student, which was my case. Of course, that's actually what got me interested in Linux in the first place: it had a built-in, free C/C++ compiler.



Interesting.

same here when i was in college and working full time i was making enough to live off and couldnt afford to spend on software so I improvised and found copies of software i needed. When i was learning C I didnt know about the free compiler and our class was using Turbo C. I should have talked them into using the gnu once I found out about it

My interest in linux actually came about because of my need to face a challenge. someone told me if there is something better then use it in reference to my complaints about microsoft and its operating system being too restrictive expensive and their practices. So i took that as a challenge and started playing with linux. Enjoyed playing with it but it wasnt near where i needed it at the time to do what I wanted it to do. that has considerably changed.