Why I no Longer Use Windows 7.

[Snit]

RonB stated in post [email protected] on 10/28/10
11:25 AM:

Annoying popups is just the beginning of the story. Constant updating and
scanning is another huge time waster in the Windows world.

Not a worry when running Linux.

Updating and scanning happen with almost no user intervention.

 

[Snit]

Alias stated in post [email protected] on 10/28/10 10:54 AM:

You're probably a part of a net bot and don't even know it. Adaware? LOL!

What makes you think the popups from those programs are part of some "net
bot"? Makes no sense.

 

[Boscoe]

Right, "excuses." The fact I don't use niche market applications means
that I'm in the mainstream, not the opposite. And I wonder how many
Windows users use the niche market applications mentioned? Not many,
otherwise they wouldn't be "niche" market products.

The only non-niche market product I saw listed was M$ Office, and there
are plenty of alternatives to that. I've *never* used M$ Office except at
work when I had no option.

Just the facts, ma'am.

More Linux excuses to follow...

Its been around for 20 years. Linux has about 1% of the market and
yet it's free. And yet with such a small user base, updates are needed
nearly every week to plug holes.

 

[Snit]

RonB stated in post [email protected] on 10/28/10
11:34 AM:

The nice thing about Linux is I don't have to worry about "properly"
configuring my computer.

One of the advantages of Linux, we are told, is all of configurations so you
can set it up "properly" for yourself. For example, I believe you
personally have whined about the lack of configuration on a Mac.

And that's a huge advantage for a home user.

But Linux programs tend to have more things to configure.

And, let's face it, you're the exception, not the rule. Most Windows users
actually believe that, if they keep their Windows OS up to date and update and
run anti-virus software, they won't get viruses and malware.

Generally they do not... AVG/Adaware work great. There are other good
options, too.

Obviously they do get infected anyhow, and it's worse than that -- they're
registry will often get corrupted because... well, no one really seems to know
exactly why. BSOD, KSOD, or just a general registry corruption? Backup (if you
can) and reinstall. How many times a year do people reinstall Windows because
of viruses or general malware, or even bitrot? A lot.

Most people go years without re-installing.

My nephews do it on a regular basis -- when Windows starts slowing down they
reinstall, so they can get that "new" performance.

So they do not know how to do general maintenance as they install software
that slows things down. Sure, this *is* a problem for Windows, but the fact
your relatives cannot run, say, Glary's one-click fixes is hardly reason to
assume all people waste time like they do.

And before this is twisted: yes, the fact the Windows environment requires
such anti-malware and anti-cruft BS is a problem... but you are exaggerating
it.

Do a Google search and see how many times "reinstall" is suggested as a
Windows "fix."

And how many times do people suggest a move to Linux? Based on your
wisdom-of-the-masses Google search, *your* logic will lead to the idea that
Linux is not a good option for most.

See the problem with your methodology yet?

I don't have time for the hassle.

But you do have time to go through all the "choice" on Linux, even though
you cannot really explain the benefits of one distro over another.

Interesting.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Alias stated in post [email protected] on 10/28/10 10:54 AM:


What makes you think the popups from those programs are part of some "net
bot"? Makes no sense.

Which is why that's not what he said...

 

[Snit]

Gene E. Bloch stated in post (e-mail address removed) on
10/28/10 12:05 PM:

Which is why that's not what he said...

Ah, so he was not even referencing what I said at all. Got it.

 

[Boscoe]

Gene E. Bloch stated in post (e-mail address removed) on
10/28/10 12:05 PM:



Ah, so he was not even referencing what I said at all. Got it.

When you're dealing with Linux trolls it's all smoke and mirrors. We
all know
what the "businessman" was trying to infer.

 

[RonB]

More Linux excuses to follow...

Its been around for 20 years. Linux has about 1% of the market and
yet it's free. And yet with such a small user base, updates are needed
nearly every week to plug holes.

What it always comes down, bogus usage figures. Who cares? I used my
Sinclair QL for years when its usage was undoubtedly less than the current
percentage of Linux users in the PC world (whatever that true figure is).
I don't particularly care how many others use Linux. I know it's a big
enough community to produce an excellent product.

As for Linux updates, unlike Windows, most are not to fix security holes.
Most updates in Linux are to add more features, or streamline the ones
that already exist. Since developers are constantly improving the Linux
kernel, or the many applications that come with a Linux distribution,
there are many updates. And that's another point you seem to miss. A Linux
update, updates the OS *and* the installed applications all at once. Much
more than just fixing security holes in the Malware Magnet Swiss Cheese of
OS that is Windows.

And you speak of fewer updates with Windows -- yeah, when you arbitrarily
hold up important security fixes until "update Tuesday" or even delay
coming up with security fixes, there will be less updates. But what it
means is Windows users are stuck with an insecure OS while they wait for
the new patches to be released. And you somehow find this situation
"superior" to the Linux model?

Okay, whatever.

 

[Snit]

Boscoe stated in post F%[email protected] on 10/28/10 12:18
PM:

When you're dealing with Linux trolls it's all smoke and mirrors. We
all know
what the "businessman" was trying to infer.

In re-reading, maybe he things Adaware is the same thing as adware? His
comments were clearly not well stated.

 

[Boscoe]

What it always comes down, bogus usage figures. Who cares? I used my
Sinclair QL for years when its usage was undoubtedly less than the current
percentage of Linux users in the PC world (whatever that true figure is).
I don't particularly care how many others use Linux. I know it's a big
enough community to produce an excellent product.

As for Linux updates, unlike Windows, most are not to fix security holes.
Most updates in Linux are to add more features, or streamline the ones
that already exist. Since developers are constantly improving the Linux
kernel, or the many applications that come with a Linux distribution,
there are many updates. And that's another point you seem to miss. A Linux
update, updates the OS *and* the installed applications all at once. Much
more than just fixing security holes in the Malware Magnet Swiss Cheese of
OS that is Windows.

And you speak of fewer updates with Windows -- yeah, when you arbitrarily
hold up important security fixes until "update Tuesday" or even delay
coming up with security fixes, there will be less updates. But what it
means is Windows users are stuck with an insecure OS while they wait for
the new patches to be released. And you somehow find this situation
"superior" to the Linux model?

Okay, whatever.

Why are you cross posting, you moron?

There's no whatever about it. There are millions of specially written
virus targeting Windows by idiot script kiddies. It's a cottage
industry.

I myself have used windows since Win 3.1 and have never had a
compromised machine. Then I don't visit dodgy sites. So, all this FUD
is meaningless.

And if you think an eastern European whiz kid can't compromise a Linux
machine on the internet, well... Aren't you after one of our's who
compromised your so-called US defence website?

 

[Leythos]

I'm not surprised you're having those problems with your "nix boxes".
Perhaps this can help:

http://www.amazon.com/Linux-Dummies-6th-Dee-Ann-LeBlanc/dp/0764579371

Ah, troll, I don't have issues with MY nix boxes, never had one
compromised yet and I've been running nix systems since the early 80's.

 

[Leythos]

The nice thing about Linux is I don't have to worry about "properly"
configuring my computer. And that's a huge advantage for a home user. And,
let's face it, you're the exception, not the rule. Most Windows users
actually believe that, if they keep their Windows OS up to date and update
and run anti-virus software, they won't get viruses and malware. Obviously
they do get infected anyhow, and it's worse than that -- they're registry
will often get corrupted because... well, no one really seems to know
exactly why. BSOD, KSOD, or just a general registry corruption? Backup (if
you can) and reinstall. How many times a year do people reinstall Windows
because of viruses or general malware, or even bitrot? A lot. My nephews
do it on a regular basis -- when Windows starts slowing down they
reinstall, so they can get that "new" performance. Do a Google search and
see how many times "reinstall" is suggested as a Windows "fix."

I don't have time for the hassle.

In the last 5 years of working with everything new on the market,
including most flavors of nix, I can honestly say that I've had exactly
1 computer that would not start after OS updates were auto-installed -
it was a Ubunto box and it was quicker to reinstall than to try and fix
it.

I may be the "Exception", but I'm the person following the same set of
rules for security that we've had around for decades, and I'm not having
any of the issues that the masses of ignorant people are - maybe it's
because I don't run as root/administrator on my computers.

 

[RonB]

In the last 5 years of working with everything new on the market,
including most flavors of nix, I can honestly say that I've had exactly
1 computer that would not start after OS updates were auto-installed -
it was a Ubunto box and it was quicker to reinstall than to try and fix
it.

I may be the "Exception", but I'm the person following the same set of
rules for security that we've had around for decades, and I'm not having
any of the issues that the masses of ignorant people are - maybe it's
because I don't run as root/administrator on my computers.

My recent experience with Windows is limited, but (unfortunately) I still
get called to fix friend's and relatives' computers. My wife's experience
with Vista lasted one and a half days. I then installed XP on her computer
(I made sure the Dell Optiplex we chose had XP drivers). I've had to
rebuild or fix *several* XP computers when they encountered "ransomware."
Just a month ago, my wife got attacked by it again but (fortunately) I had
found and installed RKill with an icon on the desktop -- and it stops the
malware from loading so you can delete it and clean it out.

The worst problem I've encountered with Windows in the last six months
(fortunately very little contact with it now) is that I had to rebuild a
Dell Vista box twice. This computer is owned by a lady (my godmother) in
her late 70s. She has Norton Anti-Virus installed and it automatically
updates itself and automatically scans the computer. The firewall is on.
Automatic Vista updating is turned on. And there is some kind of Windows
"security something or other" installed and automatically updated. She has
never installed a single program on this computer. She has a 260 Gig hard
drive and, besides the operating system and installed applications (it
came with a few programs like Microsoft Office) she has used less than one
Gig of hard drive space. She surfs the web, writes and responds to email,
and writes a few letters in Word. That's it. It runs behind a UVerse
router, which is also supposed to be firewalled. As far as I know she has
never gotten malware or a virus. Her computer has, however, completely
quit working -- twice in the last six months.

The first time it was a typical KSOD (Black screen of death). A black
screen with a white mouse cursor -- that was it. Since the version of
Vista is Dell OEM, and since she still had a support contract with Dell, I
asked them how to fix KSOD. They gave me instructions on how to use the
restore partition. I then tried about ten "fixes" I found on the Internet,
none of which worked. Finally I decided to backup (which required I get
into RegEdit so I could open a "hive" that allowed me to access the disks,
including my USB thumb drive) and reinstall.

A few months later I got called by godmother again. Her computer wasn't
working. Got there and, this time, it was going into a startup loop and
then into a restore screen. It kept coming back with a "registry
corrupted" error. The "fix?" Reinstall. Again, I did a "vista registry
corruption" search on Google, tried about five suggested "fixes" (none of
which worked) and then backed it up and rebuilt it again. Updates took
about six hours on high speed Internet. Fun.

Linux doesn't have this idiot registry file. (And do a Google search to
see how many times it gets corrupted.) The only times Linux has screwed on
me is when I've done something stupid. The Vista machine (mentioned above)
failed to boot the first after one of its own updates. The second time
there was a power failure and Windows shut down unexpectedly.

A Google search shows that these kinds of problems are more common on
Windows machines than are years of solid service. There are exceptions,
but they are *not* the rule.

 

[Chris Ahlstrom]

Boscoe pulled this Usenet face plant:

Its been around for 20 years. Linux has about 1% of the market and
yet it's free. And yet with such a small user base, updates are needed
nearly every week to plug holes.

Our beagle was named Boscoe. He was more intelligent than you.

 

[Chris Ahlstrom]

Snit pulled this Usenet face plant:

RonB stated in post [email protected] on 10/28/10


Updating and scanning happen with almost no user intervention.

And they slow your Windows box down significantly, especially when you try
to do file transfers at the same time.

The problem is even more evident when running Windows in a VM.
My Gawd!

 

[RonB]

Snit pulled this Usenet face plant:


And they slow your Windows box down significantly, especially when you
try to do file transfers at the same time.

The problem is even more evident when running Windows in a VM. My Gawd!

So that's what slows Windows transfers down so much? I was wondering about
that.

 

[Snit]

Chris Ahlstrom stated in post [email protected] on
10/28/10 2:36 PM:

Snit pulled this Usenet face plant:


And they slow your Windows box down significantly, especially when you try
to do file transfers at the same time.

The problem is even more evident when running Windows in a VM.
My Gawd!

Sure... there are downsides to the scanning. Never said otherwise. Then
again, on VMs which are not used the same, how often and when do you scan?

 

[Snit]

RonB stated in post [email protected] on 10/28/10 1:36
PM:

My recent experience with Windows is limited, but (unfortunately) I still
get called to fix friend's and relatives' computers.

They call you... when you clearly know little about Windows and do not like
it.

They are not that bright to do so.

My wife's experience with Vista lasted one and a half days. I then installed
XP on her computer (I made sure the Dell Optiplex we chose had XP drivers).
I've had to rebuild or fix *several* XP computers when they encountered
"ransomware."

You cannot keep a computer running. And, presumably, they know this. And
yet they call you. Why?

Just a month ago, my wife got attacked by it again but (fortunately) I had
found and installed RKill with an icon on the desktop -- and it stops the
malware from loading so you can delete it and clean it out.

You advocate Linux... but not even your wife listens. Why not?

The worst problem I've encountered with Windows in the last six months
(fortunately very little contact with it now) is that I had to rebuild a
Dell Vista box twice.

You could not keep a computer running for six months without having to
rebuilt it. Twice. And they call *you*! Why?

This computer is owned by a lady (my godmother) in her late 70s. She has
Norton Anti-Virus installed and it automatically updates itself and
automatically scans the computer.

Ok: she makes a common mistake - she uses Norton.

The firewall is on. Automatic Vista updating is turned on. And there is some
kind of Windows "security something or other" installed and automatically
updated. She has never installed a single program on this computer. She has a
260 Gig hard drive and, besides the operating system and installed
applications (it came with a few programs like Microsoft Office) she has used
less than one Gig of hard drive space. She surfs the web, writes and responds
to email, and writes a few letters in Word. That's it. It runs behind a UVerse
router, which is also supposed to be firewalled. As far as I know she has
never gotten malware or a virus. Her computer has, however, completely quit
working -- twice in the last six months.

And you are the one who takes care of it. Just making that clear. On the
other hand, other than hardware failures and my *own* silly mistake on a VM,
I have not had to reinstall Windows in the last six months. And that is
with taking care of dozens of machines.

The first time it was a typical KSOD (Black screen of death). A black
screen with a white mouse cursor -- that was it. Since the version of
Vista is Dell OEM, and since she still had a support contract with Dell, I
asked them how to fix KSOD. They gave me instructions on how to use the
restore partition. I then tried about ten "fixes" I found on the Internet,
none of which worked. Finally I decided to backup (which required I get
into RegEdit so I could open a "hive" that allowed me to access the disks,
including my USB thumb drive) and reinstall.

A few months later I got called by godmother again. Her computer wasn't
working. Got there and, this time, it was going into a startup loop and
then into a restore screen. It kept coming back with a "registry
corrupted" error. The "fix?" Reinstall. Again, I did a "vista registry
corruption" search on Google, tried about five suggested "fixes" (none of
which worked) and then backed it up and rebuilt it again. Updates took
about six hours on high speed Internet. Fun.

So why did you not set her up on Linux? Isn't it better and easier to use
in your view? You *purposely* set up your relatives with a tool you figured
would serve them less well. Interesting.

Linux doesn't have this idiot registry file. (And do a Google search to
see how many times it gets corrupted.) The only times Linux has screwed on
me is when I've done something stupid.

And the only time in the last six months when I had to re-install Windows on
*any* machine was when I did something somewhat stupid.

The Vista machine (mentioned above) failed to boot the first after one of its
own updates. The second time there was a power failure and Windows shut down
unexpectedly.

A Google search shows that these kinds of problems are more common on
Windows machines than are years of solid service. There are exceptions,
but they are *not* the rule.

People post Linux problems in COLA often. It is not like they are hard to
find... even with a fraction of the use.

 

[RonB]

With the scant amount of protection you have, you're probably infected
and a part of a net bot. Understand now?

You're trying to use logic with Snit again. Just thought I'd remind you
how futile that cab be.

Carry on.

 

[Snit]

RonB stated in post [email protected] on 10/28/10 4:10
PM:

You're trying to use logic with Snit again. Just thought I'd remind you
how futile that cab be.

Carry on.

If you have a *reasonable* argument share it.

But all you have is insults - which says a lot about you.