Happy birthday, Windows XP!

[Skybird]

11 years, and counting!

http://www.networkworld.com/news/201...ll-263688.html

Win8 may or may not take the tablet world. For tablets, it actually may be good. Question is do I need a tablet? And the answer is: no, not at all. But the claim by MS that all desktop computing will move to mobile, just makes me hysterically giggling. I just say: companies, offices. Gamers, powergamers. State offices and services, and their networks, tending to be very conservative. Microsoft made such a prediction error several times in the past, last was when it claimed that all gaming would move from PC to consoles. But although games adapt more and more to console design and menus, gaming on PC, especially of course simulation content, remains to be strong on the PC. It is in no way dying.

I think Windows 7 will remain to be around for a very very long time to come. And that is good, since I believe it is a very good OS. Using it myself, x64 and Pro.

[Onkel Neal]

Yay, and it's still running fine...oh, wait, let me reboot real quick...

[Dowly]

Neal, if you can get one cheap, upgrade to Win7. I was a fan of XP for a long time,
especially when Vista came out and I heard the crap about it, I was sceptical
about Win7. Then, I upgraded my system with more RAM and a better CPU.

Switched to Win7 64bit and wow, I could never go back to XP now. I fiddle around
a lot with 3D stuff and video effects and Win7 programs being able to use that
full 12GB of RAM I got is just fantastic.

Of course, if you're not a big gamer/3D artist/Video thingamaling, then XP is good, for now, but when the time is to go up, go with Win7.

(unless Win9 is out by then, which by following the WinXP-Win8 windows' is probably better than Win7 )

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Dowly

Of course, if you're not a big gamer/3D artist/Video thingamaling, then XP is good, for now, but when the time is to go up, go with Win7.

Nah, there is one argument, one statistic, where Win7 beats XP hands down: safety. It was recently reported that XP systems in use today are plagued by around twice as many infections and attacks, than Windows7 systems. Some of the safety features they introduced after XP, obviously seem to make sense.

[Gerald]

Win7 is the best option.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Nah, there is one argument, one statistic, where Win7 beats XP hands down: safety. It was recently reported that XP systems in use today are plagued by around twice as many infections and attacks, than Windows7 systems. Some of the safety features they introduced after XP, obviously seem to make sense.

Agreed....I've had very few problems with W7 compared to XP but I still liked XP and have a few OS discs in the computer cabinet.

[Rhodes]

Still use XP!

[Hottentot]

I was using XP until very recently when my old computer blew up and I had to get a new one. It came with Windows 7 installed on it, and I still want to strangle the moron who decided to install it in Finnish instead of English.

Windows 7 is a little too flashy for my liking and it's trying to hold my hand a little too much. Uh, dude, this is my computer, ergo this is my C:\ -drive and yes, that means that I can install stuff in there without asking permission from an administrator that doesn't freaking exist!

Also, building DirectX in the system was just genius. Why oh why would I ever want DirectX 9 on my computer when it already comes with DX 11? Uh, because some of my favorite games require it and refuse to launch without some necessary .dll files it came with? Nah. Impossible. Why would you want to play some stupid old games? You don't want old. You want new! New, flashy, bling-bling! And what's a "classic" anyway? Sounds like some stupid novel. Who reads books when you can have new, flashy, bling-bling?

Otherwise it's OK. I even like many of its simple improvements to some basic programs like Paint and Movie maker. And after I got used to its interface, it wasn't that bad. I suppose I can live with this.

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

Originally Posted by Hottentot

I was using XP until very recently when my old computer blew up and I had to get a new one. It came with Windows 7 installed on it, and I still want to strangle the moron who decided to install it in Finnish instead of English.

In my honest opinion buying pre-assembled and installed computer is dumb move.

Originally Posted by Hottentot

Windows 7 is a little too flashy for my liking and it's trying to hold my hand a little too much. Uh, dude, this is my computer, ergo this is my C:\ -drive and yes, that means that I can install stuff in there without asking permission from an administrator that doesn't freaking exist!

Then tell it to STFU and do what I want. Being held from hand is not mandatory. You can do so unless moron who installed your operating system opted to lock you out somehow.

Originally Posted by Hottentot

Also, building DirectX in the system was just genius. Why oh why would I ever want DirectX 9 on my computer when it already comes with DX 11? Uh, because some of my favorite games require it and refuse to launch without some necessary .dll files it came with? Nah. Impossible. Why would you want to play some stupid old games? You don't want old. You want new! New, flashy, bling-bling! And what's a "classic" anyway? Sounds like some stupid novel. Who reads books when you can have new, flashy, bling-bling?

I don't see problem here as I can install whatever version of DirectX into it if I want. So far Win7 has been wonderful if you wan't to run some older games.

Originally Posted by Hottentot

Otherwise it's OK. I even like many of its simple improvements to some basic programs like Paint and Movie maker. And after I got used to its interface, it wasn't that bad. I suppose I can live with this.

[Skybird]

UAC in Win7 can be switched off completely if desired. But I would not recommend so, since it makes it much easier for malware that managed to bypass your security shields.


It is also recommended to not browse or run usual operations from the administrator account, but from a user account with limited rights.

Note: be default you get released into the admin account once you have installed Win7. However, Microsoft does not tell you that this Admin-Account already is a limited rights admin account, if you really think you need full Administrator rights indeed, you have to manually unlock them by functions that lay somewhat hidden and are not self-advertising.

Use the default Admin account to install and arrange your system. Then have a user account and manually limit its right for all programs as much as is possible for your needs and purposes. Have both accounts protected by solid codes. Do all your everyday stuff from that limited user account only, especially browsing.

Use payware Virus Scanner and Firewall suites. Use an additional Malwared Scanner specialised to run alongside a Virus Scanner. Limit browser options. Do not install Java. Avoid Active Scripts as much as possible. Keep all your software up-to-date, Secunia PSI helps in that as far as non-games are concerned.

Switch on brain before going online.

All this is no guarantee that btrohble doe snot find you. But it helps to reduce the probability.

In case of infections: do not repair, but format and reinstall.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by kraznyi_oktjabr

I

I don't see problem here as I can install whatever version of DirectX into it if I want. So far Win7 has been wonderful if you wan't to run some older games.

Yes. Cannot remember to have had any problem with stuff wanting older DirX versions.

[Hottentot]

Originally Posted by kraznyi_oktjabr

In my honest opinion buying pre-assembled and installed computer is dumb move.

I was so sure someone was going to say that already when I was writing that post. To which I have but one answer: there are many things which I can do, am willing to learn and have time to spend. Assembling a computer that to me is primarily a functional work station is not one of them.

Then tell it to STFU and do what I want.

Which is exactly what I did, thank you very much. The point was that I never had to tell XP to STFU.

I don't see problem here as I can install whatever version of DirectX into it if I want.

So do I. So I did. The fact still is that I first had to find out what the problem was, then go download and install a separate package and then have it work. It didn't accept me installing the required DX along with the games' installer much like, I don't know, XP always did. This is how I found out about it being directly build in in the first place.

Seriously, I said it's OK and pointed out a few things I didn't like. That's no reason to chastise me.

[the_tyrant]

PSA: please PLEASE move off IE6, the web development world thanks you

You know, windows xp was hated early in its life, people said it hogged memory, and called Luna "fisher price UI". However, sp2 made HUGE improvements to the os. At the time, people even wondered why Microsoft didn't just call it windows 05 and sell you another copy lol.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Hottentot

Which is exactly what I did, thank you very much. The point was that I never had to tell XP to STFU.

Because XP did not have that security feature. Mind you, it is a security feature, like there are also some more security features that 7 has and XP not.

Seen that way, W8 is superior to W7 in certain internal memory handling security features as well, I read. I must admit it although I have no love for W8. But by feature descriptions on memory, it should be better equipped to battle some trojan and rootkit issues haunting XP and W7.

[Hottentot]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Because XP did not have that security feature

Or it expected me to have a brain.