Upgrading to Windows 7

[martint235]

+1

Unless you run Windows specific software then you should definitely give a Linux OS a try.

I installed it when I built my new computer a couple of years ago, as I couldn't afford Windows 7. I can't play games, but I don't want to anyway, and it does everything else I could need.

Every now and again I get stuck because a piece of software won't work, but there are lot's of people writing work a rounds or there's a Linux friendly free version.

We've been using Windows 7 in the office for a few months now, and all the "new" features that people have found, I was using long before on Ubuntu

I'm quite a fan of open source software generally and would switch to Linux anytime, unfortunately my SWMBO likes playing Age Of Empires which is an MS game and unlikely to ever be on Linux.

Having spent a while as a Unix systems manager I also agree with a previous poster about the power of the command line in Linux/Unix. Can't find a command to do what you want, just write a combination of existing commands to do what you want.

 

[Inertia]

I do like Linux and have tried it many times, but in the end I always go back to Windows as I like games too much

Plus its generaly easier to fix any problems I have

 

[Shaun]

Moving this to the Electric Cafe.

 

[Slim]

I had to move to windows 7 as my XP laptop was getting old, the first think I noticed that 7 "home" does not support infra-red but pro does, so both PDAs are US, the next was GPS I had to buy a new lead why I don't know, but after that it has been fine, but I'm really annoyed that I can't use my PDAs and later will have to buy a new one

What PDAs are you looking at?

There seem to be compatability issues between Windows 7 and my Palm Tungsten. The snippets I've found on the net suggesting workarounds don't work.

In the meantime, I much prefer Windows 7 over XP (but still using W2000 at work)

 

[MossCommuter]

If we could run Microsoft Office on Linux we'd be off like a shot.

You can run Office in Linux using WINE.

I have installed Windows apps on this Ubuntu box (not Office, but Spotify, as an example) and it works a treat.

 

[MossCommuter]

It doesn't play properly with Visual Basic unfortunately, so it's not feasible. We have masses of VB stuff for Excel and Word. That's the big problem.

Booooooo

I wasn't aware of that - thanks for the info'

 

[beanzontoast]

I use Linux (several flavours), Xp and Windows 7, partly through need and partly out of interest.

If you are a Windows software title devotee through and through (especially an MS Office user), upgrading to Windows 7 is fairly inevitable at some point. For one thing, MS support for Xp ends in 2014 (I think that's the current timeline) and if only for the security of having a supported OS, you will want to upgrade. For another, new versions of your existing Windows software will look at Windows 7 as their benchmark, not Xp. You could wait to see what MS comes up with as the sucessor to Windows 7, but personally I would rather keep up with how software is changing.

If you go for a new base unit or laptop, chances are Windows 7 will be pre-installed. You could go for a unit with no OS installed, and if you had a legit non-OEM Xp to hand, put that on it - but again, the benefits would be short lived.

Linux is brilliant. I use it for some tasks (complex video editing for one) that would be expensive to do to the same standard under Windows. But I do still rely on Xp and Windows 7 for many other tasks. It's not an 'either-or' situation; if you have the capacity and the willingness to learn (Linux apps are not automatically familiar) Linux can be great, and the combination of running different OS's can fulfil all your needs.

 

[numbnuts]

What PDAs are you looking at?

There seem to be compatability issues between Windows 7 and my Palm Tungsten. The snippets I've found on the net suggesting workarounds don't work.

In the meantime, I much prefer Windows 7 over XP (but still using W2000 at work)

I have an old HP and a newer palm 505 from palm website they state we are not going to have a fix for this as they think they are too old and it is all blue tooth now.....it's all about money and a throw away society

 

[martint235]

I have an old HP and a newer palm 505 from palm website they state we are not going to have a fix for this as they think they are too old and it is all blue tooth now.....it's all about money and a throw away society

Yep couldn't agree more. About 5 years ago I bought a state of the art Sony Ericsson P990i smartphone. There is no support for this in Windows7 and SE state that they have no plans to provide support. When I queried how their flagship phone could become unsupported so quickly, I didn't receive a response.

 

[beanzontoast]

Yep couldn't agree more. About 5 years ago I bought a state of the art Sony Ericsson P990i smartphone. There is no support for this in Windows7 and SE state that they have no plans to provide support. When I queried how their flagship phone could become unsupported so quickly, I didn't receive a response.

If people buy equipment and keep it for a good number of years, manufacturers lose out on selling them new models. Discouraging them from keeping hold of older equipment (by no longer supporting it, for example) has the effect of encouraging people to buy new. Simple enonomics. I'm not defending it, but that's how it is.

 

[ian turner]

You want compatability problems try printers. They can be only a year old and still on sale and a new OS release will result on the manufacturers stalling if they've released a new range in the mean time.

 

[martint235]

If people buy equipment and keep it for a good number of years, manufacturers lose out on selling them new models. Discouraging them from keeping hold of older equipment (by no longer supporting it, for example) has the effect of encouraging people to buy new. Simple enonomics. I'm not defending it, but that's how it is.

I see your point and agree to an extent although it can destroy brand loyalty. I bought SE phones for many years but I haven't bought one since the P990 and unless they manage to come out with something completely groundbreaking that no one else can match, I doubt I'll buy one again. Also I'm asked fairly often for my opinion on phones by colleagues and friends and always advise not to purchase SE. This could have been avoided by a simple update to the software.

The easiest way to persuade people to buy new phone is to stop making batteries for them. Rechargeable batteries have a finite life so you'd have to buy a new phone but without hating the manufacturer.

 

[beanzontoast]

You want compatability problems try printers. They can be only a year old and still on sale and a new OS release will result on the manufacturers stalling if they've released a new range in the mean time.

Same with scanners. In some cases, I think there's a better chance of finding a driver for an older printer or scanner under Linux than getting it working under Windows.

 

[Riverman]

You want compatability problems try printers. They can be only a year old and still on sale and a new OS release will result on the manufacturers stalling if they've released a new range in the mean time.

A print server may be a way around this?

 

[ian turner]

A bit OTT for a single printer plugged into a single PC. Or even one attached to a small
network (the works one is used by a couple of people in the same room as personally
I apply the paper free office approach) given that this involves an additional PC.
Aside from which the manufacturer should be providing drivers for all their models
still commonly available as new from retailers.