What Operating System do you use ?

What Operating System do you use ?


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Hatched69

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transformer_99 said:
The beta I have is the last one they intend to put out before it goes mainstream and according to MS, will expire 6/1/2007. I was able to get it thru where I work so I didn't have to download a dvd sized iso. The computer I put it on connects wirelessly and has no dvd drive, so I basically shared the dvd drive on my other/main system and installed it wirelessly. I did this because I'm too lazy to swap drives just for this install and Ubuntu is already set up on the main computer as the primary OS. It took forever, but I kicked off the installation during the middle of the night, fell asleep and awoke to it installed.

The first thing I checked, how much memory resources it used, 400+ MB of ram. That's just insane. I can see why the minimum configuration has 512 MB of memory. My Ubuntu system runs with 1.5 GB and Linux fully loaded uses around 120 MB. Anyway, I wouldn't run Vista with any less than 1 GB and would really be tempted to run it with closer to 2 GB. I have a feeling this new 3d desktop stuff is just going to use memory like mad. In Linux the equivalent is xGL & Compiz, as I recall it uses around 300 MB itself, but that's still far short of what Vista uses.

Yes, Vista is a resource-hog for certain. The motherboard I've been looking at for my new computer will support some of the quick-boot/instant-on features Vista has to offer by utilizing 384MB RAM strictly for program execution purposes in non-volatile power-down state. I am planning on a minimum of 3GB of memory to run Vista properly and efficiently. My fastest XP Pro PC has 1GB right now with a terabyte of HD space, so it kicks along fine. However, it's a slug with Vista.
 

dong20

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Hatched69 said:
Yes, Vista is a resource-hog for certain. The motherboard I've been looking at for my new computer will support some of the quick-boot/instant-on features Vista has to offer by utilizing 384MB RAM strictly for program execution purposes in non-volatile power-down state. I am planning on a minimum of 3GB of memory to run Vista properly and efficiently. My fastest XP Pro PC has 1GB right now with a terabyte of HD space, so it kicks along fine. However, it's a slug with Vista.

I agree, RC1 is better but you really need to throw some serious resources at it for it to run well, more resources than most home PCs will have. The initial release will be for business users but for those with 2GHz P4 512 MB boxes! I will be advising my clients to wait until their next rolling refresh unless the shrink wrapped product is significantly improved, or they have a pressing need.

Sure, it has some 'neat' features and is pretty crash resistant but to me at present that does not outwiegh the risk/cost/performance issues it presents.:rolleyes:
 

Mumzi

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My first puter was a datel, it had DOS. I remember when someone told me about windows and I was amazed that I would be able to see a program and delete it, all without searching or the dir command.
I remember playing a game called kings quest by sierra, and a few months ago I downloaded some of those old games. They had to be played from DOS and just the thought of it stopped me cold.


I'm not at all used to the mac- the OS is easy enough to figure out, but it took me forever to find out how to R-click.
 

DC_DEEP

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Mumzi said:
I'm not at all used to the mac- the OS is easy enough to figure out, but it took me forever to find out how to R-click.
That's funny, Mumzi! Some years ago, a PC-using friend was showing me his brand new pride and joy - a 5-button, 2-wheel mouse. I was bewildered. My single-button, no-wheel mouse could do everything his did with either single click, double click, triple click, click and hold, click and drag, or command-click.

I started out using computers on a Zenith DataSystems machine, using mostly WordStar and dBaseIII. I'm amazed, now, at how fast I could do word processing by typing the text with control codes. Back then, everything was in DOS (I don't remember the release number, but it was pretty low), 5.25" floppies ruled, only drives A: and B: existed, a 10-Meg hard drive was something only a major corporation or federal government agency had even heard of, and a machine with 256 K memory was really tricked out. I remember having to be so careful when writing programs or routines: watch program line numbers carefully, be extremely cautious where you placed your "if - endif" or "while" or "for x=1 to 50" loops. Every modification - extra memory, peripherals, etc. - had to have the appropriate dip switches configured.

Then the first Macs hit the scene. The GUI and the mouse and the intuitive OS hooked me early on. Since then, my personal machine of choice has been Mac, at least until OS X came on the scene. I still liked it better than Windows, but OS 9.x is still the best, IMHO. I have used Windows on PC, Mac, and both Unix and SoftWindows on a Sun system. Really, it all depends on the task at hand as to which I like better. I really don't care much for XP, Windows 2000 has been my favorite Microsoft release. Over the years, I've had a Mac Plus (Motorola 68000), a Mac Performa 6116 (PowerPC 601), and a Mac G4 Gigabit. I'm due for a new computer, so I've been watching the Apple migration to Intel processors. I'm thinking I may have to bite the bullet and get a PC instead.
 

transformer_99

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Dong20 & Hatched69, I never looked at it that way that hardware still isn't at that level with theoretical intentions of Vista's capabilities too (that may or may not be offered in the initial relaeses of Vista or it's service packs). I just figured that the software actually would be introduced with it's own drivers that work with acpi and reasonably modern hardware to allow these features to be realized. In that case not only is the software on hold for an upgrade, the hardware will be too. Maybe sometime between 2008 and 2010 for a new computer ?

Looks like the consumer is still in between what is real and tangible vs ideal and imaginable.
 

The Chosen One

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Currently:
  • Arch Linux
  • Debian Linux
  • FreeBSD
  • FreeDOS
  • Gentoo Linux
  • Lunar Linux
  • MS-DOS
  • openDarwin
  • openSolaris
  • openSuse Linux
  • O/S 2 Warp 4
  • PC-DOS 2000
  • Windows for Workgroups
  • Windows 98SE
  • Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Windows 2000 Pro
  • Windows NT 4 Workstation
  • Windows XP Pro
  • Windows 2003 Enterprise Server
Macs, like Windows, have always been highly overrated!
Not a single automation machine I have ever worked on has been a Mac, although some did have Motorola processors, they all ran on *nix.
 

Hatched69

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Dong20 & Hatched69, I never looked at it that way that hardware still isn't at that level with theoretical intentions of Vista's capabilities too (that may or may not be offered in the initial relaeses of Vista or it's service packs). I just figured that the software actually would be introduced with it's own drivers that work with acpi and reasonably modern hardware to allow these features to be realized. In that case not only is the software on hold for an upgrade, the hardware will be too. Maybe sometime between 2008 and 2010 for a new computer ?

Looks like the consumer is still in between what is real and tangible vs ideal and imaginable.

I don't think it will be THAT long for a new computer...... Most pre-packaged computer manufacturers (Dell, HP, Gateway, etc.) offer "high-end" models specifically designed for certain tasks, such as gaming, office, utility, etc. Those computers usually pack enough power to easily upgrade to Vista when it becomes readily available. The hesitation on my part is due in part by past experiences when MS released operating systems with known critical flaws which caused undue hardship. Now that society is even more dependent on computer technology, it's even more critical to have a solid operating system.
Just my humble opinion...
 

allied1987

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i Have 4 computers at my house but i currently have one here with me at college and that is my brand new Black Macbook, So i of course voted for mac os X. The other 2 i have run windoze xp home. With my now secondary system running vista rc 1 WHICH IS A RAM HOG I have 2 gigs or ram in it and it still manages to run out go figure. So i opted to join the light side and get a Mac.:smile:
 

eddyabs

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At home I use Windows XP on a standard Gateway PC...browser wise been using Firefox for a couple of years now....
In the Office I use a Macbook pro 17inch.....Been using the Mac for about a year now....have to say, so much more sexy than windows.....for sure.
 

transformer_99

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I don't think it will be THAT long for a new computer...... Most pre-packaged computer manufacturers (Dell, HP, Gateway, etc.) offer "high-end" models specifically designed for certain tasks, such as gaming, office, utility, etc. Those computers usually pack enough power to easily upgrade to Vista when it becomes readily available. The hesitation on my part is due in part by past experiences when MS released operating systems with known critical flaws which caused undue hardship. Now that society is even more dependent on computer technology, it's even more critical to have a solid operating system.
Just my humble opinion...

What I run Vista on scores a 3-4 and is an AMD Athlon XP 2000+ Palomino core with 512 MB's of PC 2100 on a SiS 735 chipset motherboard from late 2001 and a 128 MB SiS Xabre 400 video card. The way I figure it, if it scores that high, I figure the main system I have, an Athlon XP 3200+ Barton core K7 with 1.5 GB PC3200 and a 256 MB ATi 9600XT video card, should score significantly better. My assumption there, 10 is the best score in terms of the Vista performance evaluation ? In that case a 6-7 score would please me and keep me content as long as it continued to run like it does. Maybe I just haven't used dual cores to see how far behind this system has really fallen ?
 

dong20

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What I run Vista on scores a 3-4 and is an AMD Athlon XP 2000+ Palomino core with 512 MB's of PC 2100 on a SiS 735 chipset motherboard from late 2001 and a 128 MB SiS Xabre 400 video card. The way I figure it, if it scores that high, I figure the main system I have, an Athlon XP 3200+ Barton core K7 with 1.5 GB PC3200 and a 256 MB ATi 9600XT video card, should score significantly better. My assumption there, 10 is the best score in terms of the Vista performance evaluation ? In that case a 6-7 score would please me and keep me content as long as it continued to run like it does. Maybe I just haven't used dual cores to see how far behind this system has really fallen ?

They seem to have made some noticable speed improvements in RC1 over Beta3 phew! It will run on a machine that meets the min hardware spec but it will struggle, esp with Aero enabled. You really do need 1GB of RAM and a 2Ghz CPU to run it at all well, at least by my definition of well! The Barton with 1.5GB and a decent GPU should be pretty good.
 

feely

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I use windows xp, purely because i know it inside out pretty much, and due to the fact that pretty much every application available is for windows. i'd love to learn to use linux effectively though, for stability.
 

WessexEN

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With the ammount of PCs I own (5 full size computers, 7 handhelds), I use various.
So far, I have 4 Pcs, all running Windows XP home/pro (one laptop is about to have Linux on it though, gotta partition the disk first!), a mac (Aluminium powerbook 1.67ghz 15") running OSX 10.4.8 (my beta testing machine), the handhelds run either Windows CE 2.11 (3), Windows CE3 (2), Windows CE4.2(1) and Palm OS4.1(1).

So, at heart, I am a Microsoft geek! :) (and I didn't want to talk about my PCs here :( )
 

B_IanTheTall

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I knew that there were more smart people here, in this forum, than in the general population. We (gf, bf and I) have 10 Macs. However I have to say that only the Ti PowerBook, Al PowerBook, 2 MacBook Pros, 2 PowerMac G5 quads, and PowerMac G4 duel are actively being used. The others three are semi-retired and only get used for networking demonstrations. There are another six older machines, in the storage/supply closet, that still work, but don't get used, except for the 20-yearold Mac SE, that I still use a few times a year to play SimIsle.

I think I should be allowed to vote more than once.