laptop caught a nasty virus today

[MICRider]

Computer threads are kind of like oil or tire threads... Everyone has a preference . I use whatever I can get my hands on, currently a cheapo Acer aspire running Vista and my homebuilt gaming rig dual boots XP and Ubuntu. I would like to someday try a Mac as well. I tend to use my hardware until it is totally obsolete and breaks, then I fix it and run it some more!

[frostbite]

Originally Posted by Reveeen

How would you know? Just the running of anti-virus software (in the background) can eat up 25-50% of your "performance".

This is a very true statement (no offense to Jim - he may be the exception rather than the rule) but I see this every day. I like to use the car analogy,

"If the only care you ever drove was a Lada, you would probably think it was a great ride."

In my experience most people have never used anything else. I would appreciate Windows proponents if in most cases they had _seriously_ tried anything else and switched back to Windows. In most cases this is not the case. People tend to avoid the unknown; they're comfortable with Windows and that's good enough for them.

I've worked with/used many operating systems (Solaris, SunOS, OS/2, PC and MS-DOS, Commodore, Linux (various distros), Windows 2-7 , Windows NT, Server 2003, etc...) I've easily had the most aggravation with the MS systems.

[katoranger]

I don't power use, so windows based is just fine for me.

I can understand the frustation for those really depending on their computers to get work done.

My 6-7 year old dell is enough for my needs. No gaming, programming, etc. I don't download music or movies either.

Just email, forums, ebay, craigslist.

And yes, I have never tried a linux system. I have used macs.

Allen

[Jim]

I have used various versions of linux, dos, win 3.1, 95, 98, 2000, nt, xp, and 7, as well as many different versions of macintosh / apple (for years).

Apple are fine products (*now*), but overpriced in my opinion. Linux is great for servers, and various other things.

For the average person though, if they don't want to spend extra money to pay for the social status associated with owning a mac, my opinion is that windows is the way to go.

Linux requires more technical knowledge, and many people just use their certain programs and don't want to learn any others.

[Reveeen]

don't want to spend extra money to pay for the social status

It's almost a necessity here, there is no TV here, so EVERYTHING "watched" is downloaded/streamed.

My Mac days are numbered though, at some point I will have to buy a mass produced garbage Intel powered Mac (or make one). So, yes, I will give you that the "new" Macs are overpriced, by about 70%, but it's hard to beat hand made.

[Jim]

Windows is capable of downloading and streaming TV shows, media center is included with windows 7 (maybe not the cheapest version?), and will stream to an xbox 360 console.

Even old macs here, on craigslist are over priced... People tend to expect more for used hardware then new it seems. Vancouver craigslist is a joke.

[frostbite]

If Apple dropped their prices into the Dell ballpark they'd take over.

The 'social status' thing is one of the factors I don't like about Mac's. I'm not cool enough to own an Apple I do own an Apple IIe so I suppose I should at least get some Apple-retro cred.

[BillR]

Originally Posted by MICRider

Computer threads are kind of like oil or tire threads... Everyone has a preference .

Double Amen to that. As "Mack Truck" (local radio character) says, "That's my opinion, ought to be yours..."

Originally Posted by MICRider

I use whatever I can get my hands on, currently a cheapo Acer aspire running Vista and my homebuilt gaming rig dual boots XP and Ubuntu. I would like to someday try a Mac as well. I tend to use my hardware until it is totally obsolete and breaks, then I fix it and run it some more!

I do the same. Check a couple of refurb/left-over dealers here and buy last year's "Latest greatest" at big discounts. All Windows based so far (it's what I'm used to)...Will eventually try one of the open-source OS.
Macs are just to expensive for my budget.

Originally Posted by frostbite

I've worked with/used many operating systems (Solaris, SunOS, OS/2, PC and MS-DOS, Commodore, Linux (various distros), Windows 2-7 , Windows NT, Server 2003, etc...) I've easily had the most aggravation with the MS systems.

My work-place is very IT intensive and I did a stint in documentation support. Very interesting to sit around a conference table and listen to each favored version hash out the problems getting them to share information.
My medical director in the ED is a Mac fan in a Windows based environment.
Called me all the time to "come and get this darned thing to run this application" (using a windows emulator). I kept telling him I don't do Macs, but could usually get it working...
He would not use the darned windows CPU they gave him...
Bill

[mizke]

i would love a mac book pro, but my inspiron 6000 running windows xp home is just fine for me.. dont do games, the only game i have is realflight g3.5 its a rc heli and airplace flight sim with a a real rc heli/airplace controller.. saves money for learning new tricks and what not vs real life trying them and then crashing and spending 200 to 600 for repairs to my heli's

[TurboT]

Man I love computer threads!!

You guys got going here and I missed out!

I had lots of virus trouble with XP in the past, but not so much with Vista. I actually think Vista works quite well, and my slim working knowledge of 7 is that it's okay too. (I have 1 laptop here with Windows 7 on it but I don't use it much)

My dad has an Apple Laptop, don't remember the model but it's not that old, but not new either. I think cosmetically and UI wise, Apple is awesome. If you've ever piloted an Apple laptop with the trackpad it's designed really well, while the Windows versions aren't so much.

With that said, my dad has had trouble with his apple keeping it connected to the wifi. it dropped all the time. He has installed the new operating system and now it stays connected, but it won't network with his home network worth a crap...while it did before.

I think whatever you have, you will have issues you don't have with the other. Mac's don't get hit with viruses because they haven't been in the crosshairs of the open source community like Bill Gates has.. (Attack the evil empire!) With Apple gaining more in popularity again, I expect they'll be getting hit soon, especially with their mass cost and over consumerism they promote. (New models, buy software etc)

I think some of the Linux stuff is a good option, if you have enough computer knowledge to mess with it.. but for the masses, they just don't have the patience to do so. Even with myself, I've never been pissed off at Windows enough to say, "yeah, I'm going to put Linux on this box" because it just seemed like a lot of effort and entering into the unknown with my one working machine.

Happy computing guys, whatever you're using!

P.S. Just a plug, but I recently installed a program for windows written in Java called "PS3 MEDIA SERVER" to stream media to my PS3. Best darn program for media serving to your Playstation out there. I watched "300" in 1080p, full 5.1 audio in a Mastroska vid file (mkv) streamed from my computer to my xbox with NO stuttering, and the file was 10gb in size. Impressive!

[mizke]

Originally Posted by TurboT

Man I love computer threads!!

P.S. Just a plug, but I recently installed a program for windows written in Java called "PS3 MEDIA SERVER" to stream media to my PS3. Best darn program for media serving to your Playstation out there. I watched "300" in 1080p, full 5.1 audio in a Mastroska vid file (mkv) streamed from my computer to my xbox with NO stuttering, and the file was 10gb in size. Impressive!

my xbox 360S the new style console as well as my older style 360.. did all of that with out any added programs..

[TurboT]

Originally Posted by mizke

my xbox 360S the new style console as well as my older style 360.. did all of that with out any added programs..

Well you're lucky, I had no media server programs running and my xbox would play .avi files but not .mp4, .m4v or .mkv. My PS3 would play some stuff but was bad for stuttering...although it was wireless and I've now wired it which helped it. The Xbox has an N adaptor so its got more streaming ability, but was an odd on.