I have another computer problem...

[jaycee]

Originally Posted by Zombie

There goes Jaycee, preachin' the gospel of Linux.

Gotta agree with carrie, though - AND I already use Linux on one of my machines.

Oh don't worry, I'll be preaching away for a long time to come!

[Zombie]

Originally Posted by jaycee

Oh don't worry, I'll be preaching away for a long time to come!

Well, preach on, my friend. Preach on.

I just don't think Linux distros are for everyone. My EeePC runs Xandros, and while I enjoy it, a friend that had the same model & same distro just couldn't handle it and had to switch over to XP.

For me, it was a fun challenge trying to make crap work on it. For her, it was frustrating and annoying.

I think that, for now, the majority of computer users just don't have the time to put into something like Linux.

Also, let's face it - and if you've worked in an IT-related field like I have, you know of which I speak - many of those folks are just flat-out not bright enough. They can barely handle Windows most of the time. Or, y'know...breathing.

[jaycee]

Originally Posted by Zombie

I just don't think Linux distros are for everyone.

And nor would I make that claim - gamers would be exasperated by the lack of choice (I can only think of one MMORPG, called Vendetta) coming from a Windows background, and I'll conjecture that video editing etc. is best handled by OS X (or so I've heard anyway). But beyond that, Linux will give you what you want, if you can find it - the problem is too much choice. But if you're from an XP background, that narrows it down to pretty much two - Mandriva and Linux Mint (and if OS X then probably just Ubuntu), at least in terms of interface.
Then there's the online forums for your distro, which usually already have a post related to any problem you have. If not, simply post it, and the solution should be up within a day.
Also, consider for a moment the XP start layout - Programs, Documents, Settings etc. (you'll probably remember better than me). Now consider the standard Linux layout - Accessories, Games, Graphics, Internet, Office, Sound & Video, and Other. Which, offhand, do you think is more complicated?
Lastly, I think it's fair to say that anyone going from XP to W7 (and especially MO 2003 to MO 2010) will feel like they're relearning the book in trying to use it. Having briefly used W7 on my new laptop, I felt initially more confident using Mandriva 2010 than W7 (let alone Open Office 3.2 compared to MO 2010 beta - Open Office 3.2 based its interface off MO 2003).
No doubt this looks like a rant - that's because it is, I guess! But before dismissing Linux as too hard to learn, just consider that trying Linux on a 50c CD could lead you to saving about $80 a year! (I mean, let's face it - freeware antivirus is generally pretty crappy...) Isn't that enough to make you want to try it, just once at least?!

[estranged4life]

I had a major PC problem with my 2 month old HP (Vista Premium). A very serious problem...

One of my cats, while I was distracted doing the dishes, decided to use the keyboard as a scratch post....TORE a great majority of the keys to pieces, so I called HP and gave 'em a 'white lie' so I could have my PC repaired since it was under warranty.

Bought myself a new HP (Windows 7) in the meantime, so now I have two PC's and a new lesson learned...NEVER LET YOUR CATS NEAR A PC SO THEY CAN LOOK AT "KITTIE" PORN!!!!!!!!!!

[Lee]

Just so you all know, my home computer is now working. I had to take it to the computer shop. They didn't have to wipe the hard drive clean, but the guy there said that if it acts up within two weeks, they will use the amount I paid now ($100, yeah I know a lot, but what could I do ), as a credit for wiping the hard drive clean & then re-installing Windows XP. The guy said that there is a lot of bad stuff going around right now. They use AVG there, but he said he has had some people say that it hasn't helped either. So what do you do? I'm really afraid now to google anything. I guess I need something with good spyware, too. McAfee doesn't have any spyware. Maybe once McAfee is up, I'll get a good antivirus/spyware software package. This computer guy took off my Malwarebytes & Ad-Aware. I don't know why. I think I need to put spyware software back on. Oh, & he did put on Service Pack 3. He said maybe that had something to do with my problem.

Lee

[HomerMcvie]

Originally Posted by Lee

Just so you all know, my home computer is now working. I had to take it to the computer shop. They didn't have to wipe the hard drive clean, but the guy there said that if it acts up within two weeks, they will use the amount I paid now ($100, yeah I know a lot, but what could I do ), as a credit for wiping the hard drive clean & then re-installing Windows XP. The guy said that there is a lot of bad stuff going around right now. They use AVG there, but he said he has had some people say that it hasn't helped either. So what do you do? I'm really afraid now to google anything. I guess I need something with good spyware, too. McAfee doesn't have any spyware. Maybe once McAfee is up, I'll get a good antivirus/spyware software package. This computer guy took off my Malwarebytes & Ad-Aware. I don't know why. I think I need to put spyware software back on. Oh, & he did put on Service Pack 3. He said maybe that had something to do with my problem.

Lee

Firstly, you need more nerd friends! One of mine will fix mine for free, but he lives 45 minutes away. The other one(who I think does a better job), fixes mine, every time, for ONE CASE OF COORS(regular Coors). About $18.

Oh, and if I were you, I'd reinstall Ad-Aware. I love AA(did I just say that? ), and I swear it gets rid of more bugs than my antivirus program. I run it at least every couple of days, and it always removes 10-15 objects.

[Lee]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

Firstly, you need more nerd friends! One of mine will fix mine for free, but he lives 45 minutes away. The other one(who I think does a better job), fixes mine, every time, for ONE CASE OF COORS(regular Coors). About $18.

Oh, and if I were you, I'd reinstall Ad-Aware. I love AA(did I just say that? ), and I swear it gets rid of more bugs than my antivirus program. I run it at least every couple of days, and it always removes 10-15 objects.

Yeah, I did re-install Ad-Aware. My brother swears by it. It says that it has anti-rootkit, so maybe if I keep using it, I'll work for any future problems.

Yes, I wish I knew some computer people, but I don't. I tried to get some of the techs from work to help me, but alas, they never even heard of a Rootkit.

Lee

[jaycee]

Do you use Mozilla Firefox as your web browser? Because using IE is begging for trouble... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compari...ulnerabilities. Not that using Windows is ever completely safe, but Firefox helps with security. And there are add-ons for Firefox like Adblock Plus and NoScript that allow for even greater protection.
And charging $100 for an OS installation? I install a different OS on my laptop at least twice a week (I'm a Linux distro-hopper, so I rarely stay with one OS for more than a week), and it's not exactly a difficult process (unless you want complete control over every aspect of your system). That's just wrong!