WARNING FOR WINDOWS XP USERS!

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Algenon5
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WARNING FOR WINDOWS XP USERS!

Post by Algenon5 »

On April 8, 2014 Microsoft will stop supporting the XP operating system. This means from that date onward Microsoft will no longer supply vital security updates for XP, leaving it vulnerable to a wide variety of damaging security threats.

This also means you will have to switch you OS to Windows 7 or 8. But for God's sake do not switch to Windows 8! Even with the recent release of Windows 8.1 it still is a dog of an operation system designed for tablets that sucks for PCs.

For more info go here:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2417534,00.asp
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505143_162-57599073/

Al
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Re: WARNING FOR WINDOWS XP USERS!

Post by Nyghtfall »

Algenon5 wrote:Even with the recent release of Windows 8.1 it still is a dog of an operation system designed for tablets that sucks for PCs.
First, anyone still using XP is only doing themselves an extreme disservice by not having upgraded to at least Windows 7 by now.

Second, your statement is laughably inaccurate.

Windows 8 is a hybrid OS, designed to create a foothold in the rapidly increasing popularity of mobile devices while remaining compatible with legacy apps for PC users. Though it's certainly not without its quirks, it is by far the most stable, secure version of Windows yet. And, I might add, the most aesthetically pleasing.

The only thing that kept me from sticking with 8 when I upgraded on release day last October was the unfortunate discovery that my video capture software and DVD player didn't work together. Otherwise, I was fully prepared to switch and adapt to the changes.

Windows 8.1 is Microsoft's answer to mobile users who want to steer clear of the desktop, and PC users like you and me who have no use for the Metro-style Start screen. Here are just a few improvements for us PC users:

- The Start button is back for people who want a visual clue where to find their programs.
- We can now boot straight to the desktop, and disable Charms.
- Functions like Shut Down and Restart are now just a right-click away from the Start button.
- Use desktop wallpaper on the Start screen and All Apps view.
- The All Apps view has been greatly enhanced, adding new sorting and search capabilities. Additionally, we can almost completely replace the Start screen with All Apps, and configure it so that desktop apps are listed first.

For more info on those features and a lot more, click here.

I finally upgraded the other day and could not be happier.
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Algenon5
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Re: WARNING FOR WINDOWS XP USERS!

Post by Algenon5 »

Sorry, Nyghtfall. I tried 8 for more than a month and found it cumbersome to use for ordinary tasks, and all but impossible for multitasking. The image file viewer was a joke. Opening content on external HDs required reformatting the folder views and sorting every time the ext-HDs were opened. Etc,. etc.. As for 8.1 (which I haven't tried) the reviews say the start button has NOT been fully restored. Yes some compatibilities issues have been fixed. However the 8.1 reviews I've seen aren't exactly glowing. So much for my laughable ignorance.

Nevertheless I'm happy you're happy with 8.

Al
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Re: WARNING FOR WINDOWS XP USERS!

Post by Nyghtfall »

You generalization about Win 8 is what I was responding to. Your specific complaints I can understand. Thank you for clarifying.

As for the old Start Menu, you've read right, it was not fully restored, just the Start button. The only question you have to ask yourself though is, "Is a full-screen Apps view really a big deal?"
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Re: WARNING FOR WINDOWS XP USERS!

Post by Nightposter »

The biggest problem for me, is when I went to the evil empire's website, my laptops do not meet the requirements for upgrade. They are not fast enough, not enough memory, and most of my programs will not work with 8... However, they work just fine with XP. They are both older Panasonic toughbooks, paced with software for my hobbies while mobile in my truck, or in the car. I guess I will just stop upgrading them.
Even my desktop just barely meets the requirements, but I can still upgrade that.
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Re: WARNING FOR WINDOWS XP USERS!

Post by Algenon5 »

Nightposter, chances are your PCs can be upgraded to win 7 professional which will run most of your XP programs. It's also likely you would be more comfortable using 7.

Al
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Re: WARNING FOR WINDOWS XP USERS!

Post by Nyghtfall »

Looks like it's time to eat my own words.

I've already encountered a few non-customizable aesthetic issues that are sending me back to 7 again, the most significant of which is the inability to customize window titles. I prefer dark window borders, and 8's black window titles make personalizing it impossible. There's also no way to customize the arrangement of categories in the All Apps view. I was hoping 8.1 would offer more customization options to resolve those two issues, and am very disappointed to learn that it doesn't.
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Re: WARNING FOR WINDOWS XP USERS!

Post by Algenon5 »

Nyghtfall, if your experience is anything like mine, the deeper you'll get into 8, the more problems you'll encounter. Here are two more examples:

The image file viewer displayed black and white images as yellow and white. And full-color jpgs displayed with a yellow cast. When I asked Dell about this, the answer was: "Yeah well, that's the way it is."
The only way to display a full-screen image was to run it as part of a slide show, or set it as a desktop background. Then the yellow cast disappeared.

But the real kicker was my brand new Dell desktop with factory installed 8 changed the screen resolution on my Dell monitor every time I restarted or shut down the PC. And what it changed it to was wildly incorrect. Finally I had a Dell tech remotely take over the PC. It took him more that two hours to figure out a fix.

A month later I installed 7 pro, and all problems were instantly eliminated.

Al
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Re: WARNING FOR WINDOWS XP USERS!

Post by Nyghtfall »

I'm back on Windows 7 Pro 64-bit as of now.
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Re: WARNING FOR WINDOWS XP USERS!

Post by Algenon5 »

Welcome back from the Dark Side.
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Re: WARNING FOR WINDOWS XP USERS!

Post by Nyghtfall »

Thank you. :yes:
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Re: WARNING FOR WINDOWS XP USERS!

Post by Jerry »

I'm on XP as well... Started using XP just 4 years ago due to purchased hardware device that required the XP or newer kernel.

I have plenty of capacity on this machine to run a host OS and even many other VMs if so inclined, however I will remain with XP until I ultimately move to a linux workstation.

Windows 7 is a great OS. I especially love its memory handling, however several of my older programs do not work vista/7 & likely 8. I use these programs daily. Sure I can use gimp for almost all of it, but for the amount of time I'm actually in and out of these old programs I can do my task 6 times before gimp does its initial load, then playing with the menus, shortcut keys, select, etc, etc, etc. several of these handy little apps I use do not run correctly, (one has half functionality). Sure, I can upgrade one of them if I buy a whole IDE package for a few hundred, but for one utility from a whole package because I want to use Win7?

From the perspective from my workflow, what I have and use now works great with 95,98,2000 pro, server2003, & ubuntu. Win7 becomes a huge barrier in my overall workflow. Not to mention all the other utilities I had to seek out to configure my Win7 machine to keep it familiar to me such as multiple file associations (my file extensions are based on what the files contents are, not the file format) with their own specific icon. For instance, I have 12 different text based documents. Some are related to side work (.sw), rpg content (.2tx, .mag, .dist, etc), code samples, and encryted text documents and each have their own icons. Setting that up in Win7 requires a separate program... Never ran into 'virtual stores', because all of my programs are installed on a separate disk from windows. The nVidia multiple display overlay issue is no longer an issue with using an ATI card (it was a big issue for me at the time).

Like I said, overall windows 7 is a great OS, there are some features and functions I truly miss, but it does not fit my overall workflow, it hinders it. I've tried for 8 months to adjust to Windows 7. I spent more time trying to adjust to win7 than actually getting anything done with my projects. Windows 7 was not made for me (jab at the old win7 commercials) :p.

Anyway, I've only goofed off on Win8 using someone else's machine. Seems like it would be good for a touch device or a device with a stylus where you can consume media, and general tasks but I wouldn't want to try to create anything using it.

Most of the “Security issues” revolving any OS really boils down to PEBKAC. I don’t run a security suite, I haven’t for the last 8 years. The only “malware” I have on my computer is in my repository and the items safe on most desktop environments. However, I do monthly scans using a host of other services, which flags my ‘vault’ as containing malware... Stay away from porn sites many deliver malware through their advertising partners (usually through fault of the advertiser), software piracy, rogue attachments (do people still really open executable attachments?). I’ve only ever gotten 2 viruses on any of my computers… both of them were “let me see what this does, and how can it be fixed?” Of course its on an isolated machine which doesn’t contain valuable data and its been disk imaged anyway. The only time I’ve been “hacked” was me purposely disabling all kinds of other stuff and enabling those features in my router and setting a “honeypot” to see what the current skiddies do... I wear a white hat.

edit I hope this makes sense.. I was interrupted while typing it...
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Algenon5
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Re: WARNING FOR WINDOWS XP USERS!

Post by Algenon5 »

Stay away from porn sites?!? Are you nuts!?! (Okay, I'm kidding.) Trend Micro (and I think McAfee) have automatic site blockers which block you from opening sites with known security issues. You can override these blocks, but of course at your own risk. Also remember these blockers are not 100% infallible..

I agree Win 8 is a good OS for tablets. Or if all you wanna do with a PC is buy stuff from Amazon, surf the web and fry your few remaining brain cells on antisocial media. (The only reason I would consider joining Facebook would be to unfriend people.) As for email, your free, pop3, ISP-provided email (which usually is much more spam-resistant than web-based email) will not work with Win 8. If your need is multitasking, or running a small business, or doing anything creative -- RUN AWAY FROM WIN 8!!!

Oh yeah, Win 7 is a great OS. So is the almost late lamented XP.

Al

P.S. This post was not written for the previous posters who already know all this junk, but for any FF members looking for answers.
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Algenon5
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Re: WARNING FOR WINDOWS XP USERS!

Post by Algenon5 »

http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/worst ... 2D11691753

And the beat goes on, and on, and on...

Al
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Algenon5
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Re: WARNING FOR WINDOWS XP USERS!

Post by Algenon5 »

HP installs Win 7 on new PCs by "popular demand."

http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/hp-br ... 2D11961317

Al
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