WOW! New Computer

[Pat-inCO]

I have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of my new laptop. Got one that is pre-loaded
with Linux to save the system build time and, with any luck, have some features I may
not have known about.

All I can say is WOW! It took five minutes to have a brand new computer up and
running, on the internet! I'M IMPRESSED! I also got one that is twice as fast as my
previous one (quad core, replacing a dual core) with twice the memory.

WOW! This thing is FAST!

If anyone cares, I'll add more as I get further into what it will do.

I was setting up bookmarks so I logged on to test it. I'M HAVING FUN!

 

[gramps]

What is so great about taking a computer out of the box and being on the internet in 5 minutes? I have had 4 laptops over the years. All but the first was brand new and on the net as soon as I could plug it in. What kind did you get?
gramps

 

[noquarter]

Who did you get it from?
I have been running Linux for 15 yr in dual mode and moved completely off windows 2yr ago when I did a motherboard upgrade and windows wouldn't load - kept telling me that it was an illegal copy. MS wanted $35 to tell me how to get around it - NOT! Linux recognized the new hardware and updated and configured itself in ~2 minutes - ready to go. Goodbye windows.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

Much as I'd like to wake up in the morning and find there was no Microsoft product of any kind in the house, it's not yet reality for me... nobody's written a good professional tax program for Linux I know of, and when I asked my company about running their program under Linux, which some reports have it actually works, their reply was a polite version of "Good luck, Kid!"

The love affair between workarounds and myself is long over. So for now, I'm glad some of you guys have broken the bond!

Rick C

 

[opos]

I'm an old guy with few computer skills...I had been running an old PC with XP until they stopped supporting it...I don't do much with the computer except pass the time and send some e mails, etc...I do have an extensive file of pictures dating back many decades..that I'd scanned in and really enjoy...I was a bit un nerved at the prospect of changing to something else but it's worked out great...I have a buddy that is an IT manager for a bigger company and they have a whole string of outlying satellite facilities with PC's...he manages all of them..

His company changed over to different equipment and the existing computers were surplused and scrapped so he snagged one for me...got it all up and running and dropped it off for me....I figured I'd be weeks getting to where things were usable but in about one evening and the next morning..it's all humming along great...got to say that older folks that are really concerned about the change from XP we have used for a long time....don't be afraid to move along and I hope they all have a friend that can help out like we did.

I got Grandkids and yes, even a Greatgrandson (he's 4) that are whizzes at the computers but the old folks just sort of hobble along...glad to have the change done and able to use it just fine...backed up everything twice (belt and suspenders type of guy) before doing the change over so now I have 2 little thumb drives with duplicate info and pictures in our gun safe.

 

[Bull Barrel]

Just because they don't support XP updates doesn't mean you need to stop using it.

And I prefer to buy my computers with the software LOADED.
If it's preloaded when do you load it?
(Preloaded being you loded it before you loaded it after it was loaded...all three tenses in one word!)

 

[6gun]

My computer is a custom desk top I had built, got tired of buying computers and running them till they get slow and die, I'm able to add newer faster hardware at anytime it comes out, so it's always fast, but it can't run any faster than the internet will let it, and my internet speeds vary all the time.

 

[opos]

Just because they don't support XP updates doesn't mean you need to stop using it.

And I prefer to buy my computers with the software LOADED.
If it's preloaded when do you load it?
(Preloaded being you loded it before you loaded it after it was loaded...all three tenses in one word!)

I had been starting to have issues..for example any time I went to You Tube the voice or noises were not synchronized with the picture....also there were a number of web sites that had links to other things (example is a car show listing in So. Cal that has links to the flyers for registration, etc)...when I would click on one of the links the screen would go blank and the little timing circle would just sit and run and run..

All of this stuff was taken care of when the new/used computer came to live here..don't know if it is XP or just because of the age of the old computer but all the problems bagan in early June and that is a month or two into the support thing....like I said...I'm a complete tyro about the computers.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

I blame all my computer problems on my twenty-something live-at-home son. With all the junk he puts on this machine it's a wonder it runs at all.

 

[Pat-inCO]

Who did you get it from?
I have been running Linux for 15 yr in dual mode and moved completely off windows 2yr ago when I did a motherboard upgrade and windows wouldn't load - kept telling me that it was an illegal copy.

I got it from System76. They are headquartered in Denver, but have
their manufacturing in SoCal. The quoted me six to ten days for the
build and three to four on shipment. Ordered it last Tuesday and it
arrived today. . . . . . They do laptops, desktops and servers; all in
Linux only.

After using Linux for six years, I've gotten used to several Linux-isms
that were not installed (terminal, Filezilla, synaptic, etc) but were easy
to download/install.

The only GOTCHA was one with my domain server. They are in Germany
and have the URLs in the german spelling ("und" in place of "and", and
that one letter cost me over an hour to find. Other than that and having
to transport E-mail addresses, Bookmarks, Bash scripts, etc. it's been
very easy.

I'm still seriously impressed with the speed the extra two cores provide.
But then again, the extra memory (8G from 4G) may help a bit.

New toys are most always FUN!

 

[Pat-inCO]

The love affair between workarounds and myself is long over. So for now, I'm glad some of you guys have broken the bond!

I hear that . . . . . If you have someone near you that runs Linux,
ask them to get a copy of WINE (WINdows Emulator). It's a free download
and with a copy of that, try the Tax Software you want to run. If it
works for you, then you to can make the conversion. If not, you have
only expended a bit of time. IMO, they will not tell you about WINE
but rather push other "work arounds" to keep you in Winderz. :roll:

 

[RugerHound]

I blame all my computer problems on my twenty-something live-at-home son. With all the junk he puts on this machine it's a wonder it runs at all.

When they're young, they bring home every disease you can think up. When they get older, they bring home all the virus's you can think up!

 

[Rick Courtright]

If you have someone near you that runs Linux,
ask them to get a copy of WINE (WINdows Emulator). It's a free download
and with a copy of that, try the Tax Software you want to run. If it
works for you, then you to can make the conversion.

Hi,

Pat, yes, WINE is the one some reported success with. Not all, though...

Dunno what it is about tax/accting/bookkeeping software, but it seems to give a lot of computers fits. A few years back we were discussing alternatives to the MS scourge, particularly for tax software. One of our members who was also a tax guy said they'd tried just about everything they could find in his office to get away from Win-whatever was the OS du jour, and between their tax and accounting packages had horrible luck. And guess what? When it comes to computers, that's the kind I have on a GOOD day!

Rick C

 

[w5lx]

I've been looking at new computers but after spending some time playing with the Windows 8 operating system and researching reviews on it I stopped looking. None of the new computer stores around here sells a new computer without Windows 8 on it. BestBuy told me that Microsoft forces Windows 8 on you by making it impossible to downgrade to Windows 7 from a Windows 8 machine. They won't sell a computer with Windows 7 on it.

 

[Pat-inCO]

They won't sell a computer with Windows 7 on it.

How do you think wee willy gates made so much money? :roll: