tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post4952593836778550307..comments2024-03-28T14:52:13.218-05:00Comments on Stonekettle Station: Upgrade DayJim Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-5337098597298697962012-03-13T21:49:18.241-05:002012-03-13T21:49:18.241-05:00[cue spooky music] Speaking from almost 4 years in...[cue spooky music] Speaking from almost 4 years in the future...<br /><br />Jim,<br />On #2, oh HELL YEAH. Windows 7 didn't fix that problem. In fact, I think it's worse. MS is trying to be TOO helpful in all the wrong ways. I know the boys and girls in Redmond think we're idiots, but it is not too hard to make a comprehensive list of what's running with a clear explanation of what it does and why.<br /><br />And furthermore, I want a STOP EVERYTHING button. Something that would say, "HEY! Quit doing everything else and pay attention to what I, your owner, the guy who paid for your sorry ass, is telling you to do. Come to think of it that would be great for my teenagers too.<br /><br />Anyway, another great post. I'm enjoying starting from the beginning. Please keep up the great work.<br /><br />Johnrevcrabhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00337274028906050769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-45136164901767597112008-04-25T15:05:00.000-05:002008-04-25T15:05:00.000-05:00I'm a linux fanboy. Been running it on my home com...I'm a linux fanboy. Been running it on my home computer for years, and being the network guy for the place I work I've been running linux servers (web, file share, dhcp, and email as well as a linux router or two) for years. It is exciting sometimes - and the progress on the free desktop applications is exciting to watch.<BR/><BR/>But being an autocad jockey and photoshop user (not good at it) those two apps have kept me with a windows (now XP) install. I used to dual boot, then got vmware-server working to run XP virtualized from linux. (I use Gentoo to really keep me on my toes). At work I have to use XP on my desktop just because of autocad, arcview, and a not wanting to take the time to set up linux and virtualization on their dime. But haven't used MS Office in a number of years - relying on openoffice even at work.<BR/><BR/>I've got network attached storage at home, a wacom tablet, card readers for cameras, USB drives, all that works just dandy. There's still a problem I bump into occasionally - I have a tabloid sized inkjet that is parallel port and my new computer doesn't have one. So I bought a usb to parallel port adapter cable but it isn't recognized. So I'll have to just purchase a printer port card.<BR/><BR/>Bought my wife a Mac and she likes it but I don't for the simple reason when something does go bad, support always wants money for things. I'm spoiled by all the free support for linux. But for every little thing they want to sell you some utility to fix it. Last issue was she was doing an update that broke her bluetooth keyboard and usb drive connectivity. They wanted to sell me a $100 "utility" to fix it, but finally figured out how to reinstall the operating system myself and avoid losing her data in the process - but it was a struggle finding that info.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, no point in this rant I guess but you said you like to encourage them. It is wonderful to be free of sending money to MS. Gentoo upgrades continuously so there are no new operating systems to buy or install ever - because it is all incremental. (there could be some advantages though every few years for clean new installs - but you don't have to). Always exciting to manually install your own kernel. cheers- JDJimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15278869900081036989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-76639901910887131412008-04-25T11:30:00.000-05:002008-04-25T11:30:00.000-05:00Tom said: "But it's not Brain Surgery! (always wan...<I>Tom said: "But it's not Brain Surgery! (always wanted to say that to a Neuro Doctor) :)"</I><BR/><BR/>But I don't do brain surgery -- I don't get my hands dirty. :-) I have a friend who is (actually was) a neurosurgeon. Her husband has always said that he should have been a rocket scientist, so their kid would have no excuse...<BR/><BR/><I>Tom also said: "I wondered a long time why the Radiologists were looking for CoWs inside people's heads."</I><BR/><BR/>You mean they don't? :-) (snarky radiology comment deleted, I am behaving nicely today)<BR/><BR/>I was a Mac-head until I met my husband, who is rooted firmly on the Dark Side. I had the choice of a more expensive computer without free repair or a cheaper (Dark Side) computer with free repair. My wallet voted on that one...<BR/><BR/>And yes, Jim, the husband agrees with you about being in the same class. He has his class picture somewhere, but has yet to locate it.<BR/><BR/>Natalieneurondochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12155027993661209263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-31701909182997865222008-04-25T10:50:00.000-05:002008-04-25T10:50:00.000-05:00Sorry, what is this VISTA you speak of?I'm a Mac g...Sorry, what is this VISTA you speak of?<BR/>I'm a Mac girl myself, although did invest in a new system in January that will run both...if i ever find the need to do that sort of thing.kimbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18202011517037727838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-86402422020643369742008-04-25T09:27:00.000-05:002008-04-25T09:27:00.000-05:00Hah! Yep, Doc, I would suspect that your husband a...Hah! Yep, Doc, I would suspect that your husband and I received similar training and experience - at the same place, and same time no less. For what it's worth (not much) I also have a Masters in CompSci, though it's pretty badly outdated these days. But like Tom said, it's just jargon - <I>nobody</I> really understands this crap. <BR/><BR/>Michelle<BR/><I>No right click menu by default</I>. Yeah, that one button mouse is just weird. Weird, man, weird. Alien even.Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-1458469531383095202008-04-25T08:35:00.000-05:002008-04-25T08:35:00.000-05:00Natalie, my motto is "If you can't dazzle them wit...Natalie, my motto is "If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit!"<BR/><BR/>But seriously, it's just jargon. I wondered a long time why the Radiologists were looking for CoWs inside people's heads. We have a need to speak precisely about things others aren't interested in. But it's not Brain Surgery! (always wanted to say that to a Neuro Doctor) :)Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00273212686600552771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-50793473008346625742008-04-25T07:25:00.000-05:002008-04-25T07:25:00.000-05:00Holy crap, are you guys (specifically Jim and Tom)...Holy crap, are you guys (specifically Jim and Tom) speaking another language? It makes as much sense to me as Swahili would. Then again, my husband received his computer training under what I suspect were reasonably similar circumstances as yours (Jim's), so I don't have to understand. I may work in the medical devices field, but computers function as black boxes for me (sort of like the kidney...). <BR/><BR/>I have Vista and have been pretty pleased with it, but I am such a low-key type of user, that I don't strain it.<BR/><BR/>Natalieneurondochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12155027993661209263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-23941033536571091682008-04-25T06:16:00.000-05:002008-04-25T06:16:00.000-05:00Also? No right click menu by default.Also? No right click menu by default.Random Michelle Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13817444379694818074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-20908799820549762222008-04-24T22:16:00.000-05:002008-04-24T22:16:00.000-05:00Sheila, Macs just don't work for me, because they'...Sheila, Macs just don't work for me, because they're <I>boring</I>. Boring boring boring. There's no adventure, no excitement with a Mac. <BR/><BR/>Today? Today will I see the fabled blue screen of death? Sadly, with a Mac, no, no you will not.Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-90575420000284975872008-04-24T21:43:00.000-05:002008-04-24T21:43:00.000-05:00mac mac mac mac mac mac Some of us don't have prob...mac mac mac mac mac mac <BR/><BR/>Some of us don't have problems like this. Some of us have no problems at all!<BR/><BR/>Sorry to hear you're having problems. Perhaps it's time to upgrade again?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-45484524731054777612008-04-24T16:44:00.000-05:002008-04-24T16:44:00.000-05:00Tom, ranting is not only allowed at Stonekettle St...Tom, ranting is not only allowed at Stonekettle Station, it's <I>encouraged</I> :)<BR/><BR/>The quad core is considered a Dual Processor, hence the name Duo. The quad cores are sub processors of the main dual processing system, kind of like the old 80287 math coprocessor was to the 80286. So, no license violation - and Vista does check for that.<BR/><BR/>Microsoft would get into all kinds of legal trouble for deleting data and software - even if doing so was legal per se. One mistaken identification and deletion of critical data or software and they'd be liable - and they've got a enough legal troubles as it is. Plus that would be fairly high handed, even for MS. What they have done though is to detect illegal installations of their own software - which causes Vista to shift into brain damage mode (limited access). This is acceptable to me, since I only run licensed software.<BR/><BR/>So far the installation is proceeding without a hitch. But it's a monster download, nearly 500mb, and even with my stellar, (stellar, Jeri, stellar really) GCI broadband connection, that's taking a while.Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-20739790937471352612008-04-24T14:19:00.000-05:002008-04-24T14:19:00.000-05:00Jim, I was off base on the "delete your data" thin...Jim, I was off base on the "delete your data" thing. That came from an old Windows Media Player Security Patch that contained a new EULA that gave Microsoft the right to do just that. I figured it was inherited by Vista, but I can't find that anywhere in the Vista EULA.<BR/><BR/>However, you mentioned a Quad Core Duo, and I did find the following in the Vista Ultimate EULA from Microsoft's own web site:<BR/><BR/>"You may install one copy of the software on the licensed device. You may use the software on up to two processors on that device at one time."<BR/><BR/>I wonder if your machine could be considered to violate that? :)<BR/><BR/>I also wonder why Microsoft felt they had to include that specific restriction.<BR/><BR/>Sorry about being a bit too ranty. :)Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00273212686600552771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-27525667272933965552008-04-24T13:59:00.000-05:002008-04-24T13:59:00.000-05:00Tom, I run custom firewall software in my router, ...Tom, I run custom firewall software in my router, ain't nobody, including Bill Youbetcha Gates getting in to delete nothing, and I don't let any software report back to it's makers. I'm very leery of that MS "Customer Improvement Program - let Windows sends data (non-personal) back to HQ." Uh, sure. But, yeah, I do have off-line backups and complete disk images - because, it <I>is</I> my data :)<BR/><BR/>Michelle, yeah, I don't know what they were thinking with the networking part of Vista. It's a major step backward and a huge pain in the ass.<BR/><BR/>I will say this - I sort of understand where they're coming from. They get sued for everything. Their software gets hacked a million times a day (and saying MS should make their OS bullet proof is the same as saying Boeing should make their planes hijack proof. It's the shithead hackers and spamware idiots who are responsible, not MS. And don't start with the Mac or Unix bit, both of those OS's would be hacked just as much, if they were in as wide of use). Their software gets pirated, hell, even before release. So I understand their position on trying to make Vista more resistant, but sometimes that results in major backward asstardary. <BR/><BR/>But nothing, nothing, explains MS Bob. Nothing.Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-9285430392420938862008-04-24T13:01:00.000-05:002008-04-24T13:01:00.000-05:00You're doing better than me; I still HATE working ...You're doing better than me; I still HATE working with Vista.<BR/><BR/>It's not quite as bad on my personal laptop, but on my computer here at work? GAH!<BR/><BR/>Logging into any of the local networks is enough to make me want to throw the machine across the room--instead of a dialog box providing all available networks, I have to type in the network and then my user name--which means I have to remember which freaking network is which. Then I have to remember which freaking slash to use, and if I mess up any of that process it tells me "no network available"<BR/><BR/>In fact, I hate dealing with anything having to do with the Network on Vista. We have a complicated network, and it's hard to find your way around as it is. Adding Vista to the mix makes me want to hurt something.<BR/><BR/>And.... I gotta go. :)Random Michelle Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13817444379694818074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-78613949137790564442008-04-24T12:59:00.000-05:002008-04-24T12:59:00.000-05:00Microsoft know best...Even though it might be your...Microsoft know best...<BR/><BR/>Even though it might be your hardware, it's not your Operating System. You just licensed it from it's real owner. Said owner can screw you anytime it wants.<BR/><BR/>Oh, and by the way, it's not your data, either. You have given them the right to remotely check and delete any file that they think is "illegal." You don't believe that? Read your End User License Agreement. It's explicitly spelled out there.<BR/><BR/>I'd keep lots of backups, if I were you. But, that shouldn't be a problem, because you indicated that you do. I'd just make sure some of them were off-line at all times.<BR/><BR/>But I love Microsoft! Really, I do!Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00273212686600552771noreply@blogger.com