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Forum Index : Off topic archive. : Windows 7
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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5116 |
This weekend I installed a copy of the new offering from Microsoft, Windows 7. With all the hype about the new OS, I was keen to give it a try. I hate Windows Vista. I tried to like it, but it was too different from my faithful Windows XP. I have Vista running on my laptop, mainly so I can keep up with the times and learn my way around the OS. But after using 3.11, 95, 98, Win2k and XP, the very different Vista was a nightmare for me. I think if Vista was your first OS, then you would like it. But to me a OS is just that, the Operating System for my favorite bundle of software applications, so it had to run fast, and be easy to navigate. Vista didn't do that for me. I now have my Windows RC 7 CD, and wanted to install it on a virtual machine. I fired up Microsoft's Virtual PC, created a new virtual machine with 1 gig of ram and 30G HD, and started the Win7 install. It was painfully slow, took a couple of hours. When it did finally get up and running, the new OS was very slow, something was wrong here!? A bit of internet research revealed others were having the same problem with running Win7 under Microsoft's Virtual PC, but they reported Win7 under Suns Virtual Box worked OK. So I downloaded the version 3.0.4 of Virtual Box from Sun, a 67M file!. This time, the Win7 install was fast, about 30 minutes. Once installed, Win7 went like a rocket! It's "cleaner" than Vista, I didn't seam to be hunting around for basic stuff like I do in Vista, everything is just where you expect it to be. In no time I had installed a couple of programs, fired up the IIS and had a web site running. I like it! Will I upgrade my main PC to Vista. Dont know yet, its my workhorse and I need to navigate around it fast with a OS I'm very accustomed to. But my laptop? Definitely! Love them or hate them, fact is Microsoft are now listening. Vista was a big kick in their backside, and gave the Linux vendors a big leg up, especially in the Netbook arena. I like Linux, but I prefer Windows, and now I have a OS I'm not afraid to install on my next PC. Speaking of Microsoft listening, the latest security tests of IE versus FireFox and Opera and Chrome has been released. If you use Firefox because you think its more secure than IE, then you better read the results. If you use Chrome because you think its secure, then you should most definitely read the results! Link to test results While we are at it, a couple more security issues. "The biggest security hole on the Web?" "Bug exposes eight years of Linux kernel" I never liked Flash on web sites, its just eye candy. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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vasi Guru  Joined: 23/03/2007 Location: RomaniaPosts: 1697 |
Yep, Win7 will make the difference. I always run Firefox with NoScript plugin (exceptions are when is about a secure/friendly website). Very secure. In fact, is the only reason of using it because Firefox is a big memory consumption. [quote]The NoScript Firefox extension provides extra protection for Firefox, Flock, Seamonkey and other mozilla-based browsers: this free, open source add-on allows JavaScript, Java and Flash and other plugins to be executed only by trusted web sites of your choice (e.g. your online bank), and provides the most powerful Anti-XSS protection available in a browser. [/quote] Hobbit name: Togo Toadfoot of Frogmorton Elvish name: Mablung Miriel Beyound Arduino Lang |
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KarlJ Guru Joined: 19/05/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1178 |
i got a new laptop yesterday, plan is to cut down use of the main PC and save power, not working so far just have one more PC plugged in all the time!! It runs windows 7 and seems a very capable machine its a SAMSUNG R580. Although samsung is new to this market, the machine looks great, is slim, battery seems to last forever 500G HDD 4Gig RAM ALSO has kick ass graphics card (not that i need it) and came with a $330 22" screen too. all for the bargain price of $1250 at Jb HiFI. BTW dont come back and tell me i could have got better cheaper, because no matter how hard you try thats always the case. Luck favours the well prepared |
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| vasi Guru Joined: 23/03/2007 Location: RomaniaPosts: 1697 |
Always a PC will run nicely a OS for which it was designed. Many of my friends tried Vista on machines designed for XP and they were disappointed. Last year I received a gift from my aunt who knew my old PC died (lost a lot of projects then). It is a Toshiba Satellite L305-S5919, Intel Celeron 585, 2Gb SDRAM, 160Gb HDD, 15.4" TruBrite display, wireless and DVD SuperMulti. It is a medium PC these days but for me is the most powerful I ever had (I couldn't afford it). I'm sharing it with my wife and this mean I can't work all the time on my projects  but does not matter. It's here on my desk and don't go anywhere. It have Vista Home Basic and it works great: stable, fast, secure (together with Avira antivrus and Comodo firewall). Of course, in a head to head competition with XP is loosing at speed but with a PC designed for it it works the best. Of course, I have also SUSE Linux 11.2 (I can't use a PC without Linux - I'm addicted) and this one it works far better and best looking.
Vasi Hobbit name: Togo Toadfoot of Frogmorton Elvish name: Mablung Miriel Beyound Arduino Lang |
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| domwild Guru Joined: 16/12/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 873 |
Vasi, Thanks for the noscript Firefox add-on. My TD light keeps on flashing on the modem and this may indicate some sort of hijacking of my key clicks. Am I correct in my assumptions? Taxation as a means of achieving prosperity is like a man standing inside a bucket trying to lift himself up. Winston Churchill |
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| vasi Guru Joined: 23/03/2007 Location: RomaniaPosts: 1697 |
Hi domwild, Welcome! But noscript will protect you from any malware from pages you visit (you can disable it for pages you know are ok and also for your google account - any google services but no doubleclick scripts) and is only a part of a complete security solution. "My" solution is already tested over the years. This free solution (Avira antivirus + Comodo firewall) is best to be installed on a fresh computer (this is my first step after installing a windoze system) but any malware already inside will be blocked (not allowed to communicate on internet - but with your permission) and then discovered. Never trust Internet. If you have an internet connection, then you opened a gate. Some "friends" can be tempted to visit your computer. They invite you on their site to see your IP from some kind of tracking code then, using a tool software, can create a stealth account on your computer (linux is also exposed if you don't set a firewall as firehol - e.g.). Even your internet provider can be tempted to do this. If you install my suggested solution, don't trust Comodo antivirus, is still a young solution, disable it and give all the credits to Avira antivirus, even if is doing false alarms time to time. At Comodo firewall install, choose defaults (what he is recommend you) and then, will need a time to learn your existing applications on your computer (and also the new ones you install - be carefull what you answer) but all this deserve your effort. Still, I recommend you to do a fresh Windows install before. As a "black" example, if you installed a pirate version of your favorite software (say, Eagle? - time to time, they want to check on internet for updates and also sending your information on their server), you can tell Commodo to block internet access when Eagle is trying this and to remember your answer. This can be applied to unrecognized trojans which want to open a door to their server - they can be blocked on your computer for ever. They will be recognized when they will try to modify your files on your computer. Again, I recommend this free solution to all windoze users from "The Back Shed". I had a friend laughing on me about my "paranoia" but when he was hit (and he was hit very bad), he turned himself also into a "paranoia" user .
For "tips and tricks" about using Comodo, see on Comodo forums (but I think you will never need that, is really simple to use). Sorry for this long post. Vasi Hobbit name: Togo Toadfoot of Frogmorton Elvish name: Mablung Miriel Beyound Arduino Lang |
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| Redman Regular Member  Joined: 12/06/2010 Location: AustraliaPosts: 41 |
Or you could use Ubuntu... http://www.ubuntu.com/ I tried win 7, went back to a cut down version of XP with the media box theme applied. Much faster... |
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Bryan1 Guru Joined: 22/02/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1450 |
My first looks on winblows 7 on my I5-750 64 bit homemade puter ($1035) was great until I got that 64 bit BSOD to where the puter wouldn't boot at all. Winblows way of fixing things was deleting every software installation I had done. It did take only about a cup of caffeine to install winblows which amazed me. When the installation was new the puter would boot up in less than a minute but now after I log in the jug boils and I'm walking back drinking a caffeine. I suppose the best thing is the puter only uses around 60 watts... Cheers Bryan |
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MacGyver Guru Joined: 12/05/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 1329 |
Why do I like my MacBook? None of the above applies! 
Edit: Not that I haven't had (some) problems too; Vasi can vouch for me there and he, by the way, pulled my bacon out of the fire. Thanks again, vasi! . . . . . Mac (no relation) Nothing difficult is ever easy! Perhaps better stated in the words of Morgan Freeman, "Where there is no struggle, there is no progress!" Copeville, Texas |
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| vasi Guru Joined: 23/03/2007 Location: RomaniaPosts: 1697 |
Those are little hardware problems, it happens at every computer house. But yes the software is very stable (UNIX kernel), though, a little slower than a Linux for Mac but only because of graphical interface made by Apple on top of that UNIX(BSD like). I tried OpenSolaris and is very nice (but I'm passionate about Operating Systems from the beginning - now I'm trying to get Haiku, a clone of BeOS, to start on my PC ). Well, Haiku is more appropiate for an old PC box than modern ones. Bryan, try Ubuntu for 64bit for a while, or dual-boot. Hobbit name: Togo Toadfoot of Frogmorton Elvish name: Mablung Miriel Beyound Arduino Lang |
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| Redman Regular Member Joined: 12/06/2010 Location: AustraliaPosts: 41 |
Just be aware Adobe flash may or may not work depending on its mood. I think you still have to force the architecture for this one. |
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| vasi Guru Joined: 23/03/2007 Location: RomaniaPosts: 1697 |
Which OS you refer to? On Linux for Mac PowerPC there is no executable (Apple does not compile for Linux PowerPC architecture, you depend entirely on Mac OS X). On Haiku, I don't know... here are open source versions but are able to play .flv files up to 5.0 flash version. Not enough for web browsing. Who cares about flash animations? Well, I said the same when I installed Ubuntu on Mac but many tutorials are now on youtube site... Vasi Hobbit name: Togo Toadfoot of Frogmorton Elvish name: Mablung Miriel Beyound Arduino Lang |
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| KarlJ Guru Joined: 19/05/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1178 |
win 7 is fine unless you are using outlook, then its terrible outlook crashes regularly and takes the lappie (most of the time) with it. makes for 4 -5 restarts a day. not exactly server material there!!! Luck favours the well prepared |
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| Redman Regular Member Joined: 12/06/2010 Location: AustraliaPosts: 41 |
Ubuntu 64 bit and flash. Ubuntu is fast, more people are using it at work and the fever is spreading 
For an older laptop try Cruchbang. If your laptop is under 4 years old grab a "fixed" version of Mac OSX. |
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| vasi Guru Joined: 23/03/2007 Location: RomaniaPosts: 1697 |
Didn't know about CrunchBang Linux... but he threatened users with occasional "crunchbang!". Hobbit name: Togo Toadfoot of Frogmorton Elvish name: Mablung Miriel Beyound Arduino Lang |
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| vasi Guru Joined: 23/03/2007 Location: RomaniaPosts: 1697 |
Try to see if you can use Mozilla Thunderbird... Hobbit name: Togo Toadfoot of Frogmorton Elvish name: Mablung Miriel Beyound Arduino Lang |
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| vasi Guru Joined: 23/03/2007 Location: RomaniaPosts: 1697 |
[quote] Ubuntu is fast, more people are using it at work and the fever is spreading
[/quote] I have two favorite Linux distributions: Ubuntu and SuSE (long time I was a RedHat and Fedora fan). Here are two things which I don't like at Ubuntu: 1. - When updates are delivered at a given distribution version (e.g.: 9.10 version), these are bug fixes only, not new versions for included applications. If you have a 3.5 version of Firefox, it will not be upgraded to a new version (3.6, -->), only bug fixes for actual version. 2. - Too fast development cycle (this is true for many important Linux distributions.). You can't stay too much with a given version because repositories are disappearing fast (too fast for app.developers). So, this is the reason for downloading mainly DVD distributions where also development tools are included - recommended also for an off-line location. Hobbit name: Togo Toadfoot of Frogmorton Elvish name: Mablung Miriel Beyound Arduino Lang |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5116 |
I use Eudora for email. One feature I like the most is the way it stores attachments, in a separate folder as individual files, and not as part of the messages database. What this means is I can browse the attachments folder. So if I'm say looking for a picture that was emailed to me, but cant remember when or from who, I can just browse the attachments folder in "thumbs" mode and see everything. It also means the messages database stays small, as its not storing the attachments. The other thing I like is Eudora is easy to transfer to a new PC. Just install Eudora on the new PC, then copy the old Eudora from the old PC over the top, and it works, no setup or anything. Handy when I was a IT manager. Unfortunately Eudora as we know it is no longer in development. I think they did team up with another company and are rewriting the software based on Firebird or something. A real shame. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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GWatPE Senior Member  Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127 |
I am running win7 starterpack, as supplied with my new laptop. Only apps that I have not been able to get working was Prolific win7 COMM driver and a B&R PLC application designed only for WinXP. I use MSOutlook for email, and it looks for WinWord to compose new messages. I just ignore this message, but no other errors. The COMM drivers seem to work, as the OS can see and allocate a COMM port, but other applications can't use or see the port, so I guess it does work with WIN7, but nothing else. In future I would recommend COMM devices made by FutureTech, as the one I have works with all modern Windows platforms, so they must have got things right. I believe that royalties paid to MS make the difference. Possibly those who try to do it alone only get part of the OS spec. I guess you get what you pay for. Maybe MS should provide full specs, but while there is still profit to be made we won't see it. Gordon. become more energy aware |
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| vasi Guru Joined: 23/03/2007 Location: RomaniaPosts: 1697 |
I don't know the last version of Eudora but the one I used and installed at workplace was very easy to setup and very user friendly. Yes, too bad is no longer available. But the combination gmail + mozilla thunderbird is great. Unlike Yahoo mail, you can read/get your emails directly on your desktop by imap or pop3 connection to gmail. Unfortunately, I can't use this feature without determining my internet provider to mark me as spamer (and report me on Internet)- I'm allowed by contract to use only web mail or the inbox provided by them, on their space. Vasi Hobbit name: Togo Toadfoot of Frogmorton Elvish name: Mablung Miriel Beyound Arduino Lang |
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