[Coco] OT: MS shenanigans, XP, Win10...

[Wayne Campbell]

Getting a new(er) computer is my goal. At this time I have no funds for it,
but when I do I want at least a duo-core computer and I may even do away
with Windows. XP is the only version of Windows I have ever found
acceptable. Vista is a piece of junk, and 7 and 8 (from what I have seen)
are not much better. I imagine 10 is following along the same path. I am
thinking about Linux, but am so far removed from a command line that the
CoCo is all the command line I need, and I'm even going to set up Multi-Vue
when I get back to the CoCo. Until I have my financial situation remedied,
I am basically not doing anything computer-related other than keeping up
with this list and checking email. Everything else I do is related to
working at getting a suitable income coming in.

This laptop is a 2 GHz AMD Sempron and it runs as slow (on a good day) as
my 1.6 GHz Pentium 4 (the mini tower). Both are Dells. The mini-tower is a
OptiPlex 240. This laptop is a Vostro 1000. I am not saying that the AMD
has anything to do with the problems this laptop has, but it is the first
non-Intel Windows machine I have had, and the issues I deal with are enough
for me to never want anything but a genuine Intel processor ever again. The
only two new computers I ever had were my CoCo3 (bought new in 1989) and a
Mac Quadra 605 (bought new in 1994.) The Mac I was happy with, even though
it was not top of the line, and was obsolete when they made it because the
PowerMac was introduced at the same time. I have no experience with MacOSX
and very little with Linux, but feel that either of them are better than
Windows.


On Sat, Oct 3, 2015 at 6:50 AM, Francis Swygert <farna at att.net> wrote:

> Date: Fri, 2 Oct 2015 07:43:06 -0700
> From: Wayne Campbell <asa.rand at gmail.com>
> Subject was: Re: [Coco] VCC Color Computer 3 Emulator v2.0.1 - Public
>     Release(finally!)
>
>
> My XP Pro mini-tower is currently put away. It is SP3 and is as current as
> it could be when support ended. I have run the system after support ended
> with no problems. The difference for me was that I ignored MS' attempt to
> get me to uninstall Microsoft Security Essentials when they pulled that
> trick. They sent an update that "failed" and said the only fix was to
> uninstall MSE and reinstall from the site. In effect, this deletes all the
> definitions accumulated so far and leaves the machine vulnerable. After
> about 2 weeks, and for the very first time in all my Windows history, a
> update showed as being ready on the restart icon (instead of the usual shut
> down icon). When I restarted, the MSE update installed and I began to see
> the lack of support notices and the MSE icon remained red thereafter. All
> of my definitions were still intact. I have been using a Vista laptop for
> awhile now, also with MSE installed. I hate Vista! However, I cannot yet
> afford an upgrade, and now that Windows 10 is out I wonder how long till
> 8.1 is no longer sold as 7 is now not available. Oh well. At least my XP
> system is still functional when I need it.
> ==============================================
> With the cost of a Windows 8.1 or 10 upgrade ($99 or more, depending on
> version and media), you might want to consider a newer computer. Well, it
> might be newer. New Egg has a dual core 2.66 Ghz refurbished computer with
> 2 GB ram and 80 GB HD for $65 (plus shipping) with Windows 7. There is a
> free Win10 upgrade until about July 2016 (free upgrade was advertised as
> being free for one year). Move up to $100 and you get 4GB and twice the HD
> (160 GB), but about the same speed dual core processor. Depends on the
> manufacturer and form factor, but you can upgrade both OS and computer for
> the same price... assuming your current computer is a lesser machine.
>
> Best deal might be this one:
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA42K32K8852
>
> |   |
> |   |  |   |   |   |   |   |
> | HP Compaq 8000 Elite Small Form Factor Desktop PC (...Buy HP Compaq 8000
> Elite Small Form Factor Desktop PC (R2/Ready for Reuse) with Intel
> Core2Quad at 2.66GHz, 4GB RAM, 160GB HD and licensed Windows 7 Ho... |
> |  |
> | View on www.newegg.com | Preview by Yahoo |
> |  |
> |   |
>
>
> The last time I considered upgrading a computer I had I ended up buying a
> refurbished unit. After I totaled the price of a modest motherboard,
> processor (quad core) and memory (too many different types now!), I came
> out about the same price to get a refurbed HP with the same specs for
> processor and memory, and a bigger HD. Wasn't worth the time and effort to
> rebuild the old one. Plus I got Windows 7 at no extra cost -- this was a
> couple years ago and I was running XP. Still have XP on the old computer...
>  Frank Swygert
>  Fix-It-Frank Handyman Service
>  803-604-6548
>
> --
> Coco mailing list
> Coco at maltedmedia.com
> https://pairlist5.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/coco
>



-- 
Wayne

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