very simple computer (install, processor, 256mb, how to)

[Radek]

Originally Posted by jrice

I agree, I was working (subcontracted) for WaMu and thats why they switched

Same here for Boeing. And T-Mobile. And Cingular.

[Radek]

Originally Posted by Noahma

I found Sabayon to be a far better version of Linux than Ubuntu, there is little configuration (Linux speaking) than Ubuntu.

i personally have absolutely no problems with Vista, it is my OS of choice, you indeed have to have more machine to run it, but you also needed more machine at the time when XP was release, and I remember hearing similar things about XP (as we are hearing about vista)

Is Sabayon a lighter load? I like Ubuntu, but I need a good linux distro for a carPC, and I'm not sure Kubuntu? is going to be slim enough.

[Noahma]

Originally Posted by Radek

Is Sabayon a lighter load? I like Ubuntu, but I need a good linux distro for a carPC, and I'm not sure Kubuntu? is going to be slim enough.

Sabayon is well.. they do have a light version, but the full version (4gigs) is where its all at. Very easy to setup and use as far as Linux goes. I still did have to fight with a few things, but other than that, it is working very good.

[Nomander]

Originally Posted by Radek

(2 xs mean Mainstream and Extended)
(1 x means just mainstream)
3. What is the difference between Mainstream Support, Extended Support, and online self-help support?
Support providedMainstream Support phaseExtended Support phase
[center]Paid support (per-incident, per hour, and others)XX
Security update supportXX
Non-security hotfix supportXRequires extended hotfix agreement, purchased within 90 days of mainstream support ending.
No-charge incident supportX
Warranty claimsX

Design changes and feature requestsX

Product-specific information that is available by using the online Microsoft Knowledge Base XX
Product-specific information that is available by using the Support site at Microsoft Help and Support to find answers to technical questions XX




yeah, they support it. If you want to pay them $120/hr to fix anything that breaks. Not to mention, since Microsoft is already 2 OSes past 2k, there's little to no way they're actively looking for or actively fixing security holes as they appear, and that it'd take a paid support call for them to determine it needs a hotfix, and then at least a week if not more to code that hotfix, and then to roll it back out.

For all intents and purposes, Microsoft is not supporting 2000.

Edit: Table didn't come across properly.

Lol, you haven't worked with them on security issues before I take it? They aren't fast even when it is under normal support terms.

I once worked for a financial institution and we found a MAJOR security hole in their software (it required immediacy). We called them up, explained the issue, they said they were aware of it and would have it out with the next line of fixes. After asking when that was, the answer was 3 Months. Needless to say, those servers were swapped out first chance we could and were replaced by linux so we could fix our own problems.

So, I don't think It will change much.

That said, fixes will come out and you will be able to get a hold of them. From a home use, I don't think I ever called MS for anything. Wait, I take that back. I did when home edition locked out due to the lifetime activation limit. MS is not a big fan of mine as you can tell.

Personally, I will take any issues that come with XP aging over using Vista. I do more than just surf the net and watch movies on my machines and I would rather go back to punch cards than place that security vulnerability in a work environment. *chuckle*

[Radek]

Originally Posted by Nomander

Lol, you haven't worked with them on security issues before I take it? They aren't fast even when it is under normal support terms.

I once worked for a financial institution and we found a MAJOR security hole in their software (it required immediacy). We called them up, explained the issue, they said they were aware of it and would have it out with the next line of fixes. After asking when that was, the answer was 3 Months. Needless to say, those servers were swapped out first chance we could and were replaced by linux so we could fix our own problems.

So, I don't think It will change much.

That said, fixes will come out and you will be able to get a hold of them. From a home use, I don't think I ever called MS for anything. Wait, I take that back. I did when home edition locked out due to the lifetime activation limit. MS is not a big fan of mine as you can tell.

Personally, I will take any issues that come with XP aging over using Vista. I do more than just surf the net and watch movies on my machines and I would rather go back to punch cards than place that security vulnerability in a work environment. *chuckle*

I've had to call Microsoft for support with re-activating PCs that were having problems at work. They really dislike talking to someone about activation when you have an OEM copy. I had to, not so patiently, explain to them that my problem was with activation, and as such, I get free support. I guess next time I'll just give them my own key if I have a problem.

[fastninja500]

Originally Posted by nocoldiron

I am a computer illiterate,all I do online is get email and some research.My very old IBM 500 is developing problems with Windows 98(DDL error?) and Explorer is a frequent crasher.Should I just get my computer wiped and reinstalled or buy a new desktop? They all seem to have a lot of bells and whistles that I don't want or need and prefer not to pay for.Who sells a cheap,simple computer? The only thing I have ever replaced in this computer is a video card,makes the modem 8? years old.

My 2-cents: Try getting some of the "older" Pentium 4 PCs from your office when they upgrade to the newer models with dual-core. You'd be doing them a favor, since it costs money to get rid of these older PCs.

Up until last June, we had three PCs: an 8-year old Dell Pentium 2 (Win 98), a 5 year old Compaq Pentium 3 (Win 2000 Pro), and a 5 year old HP Athlon (like Pentium 3, Win 2000 Pro). None of them had more than 512 MB of RAM. I also have a Mac Powerbook, which is my preferred machine.

Then my wife's office upgraded the PCs in their office and junked all the Dell and HP Pentium 4 machines. I scooped up 3 of them: 2 Dells and 1 HP, all with 512 MB of RAM and 40 gig hard drives. Just the basic configuration. I also was able to get 3 install CDs of Dell Windows XP, and Microsoft Office.

I figured I'd try to upgrade our home PCs to Pentium 4s. I reformatted the first Dell Pentium 4 PC. Installed Windows XP and MS Office, registered with Microsoft, and got my first freebie PC! Did the exact same procedure with the second Dell Pentium 4 pc, and had my second freebie PC.

Did the exact procedure with the HP Pentium 4 pc, and while everything installed, I got hung up on the registration part. Couldn't resolve it, so I called Microsoft and spoke with a tech. Explained the situation with him (about scavenging the PCs from my wife's office) and after a few questions and answers, he gave me a long registration number and and presto: I had my third freebie PC!

Basically, a PC for myself, another for my wife and another for the kids. All free.

By the way, I scavenged what I could from the old Pentium 2 Dell (CDRW, hard drive, TV Tuner card, Nic card, etc...) and the old Compaq Pentium 3 (CRW, hard drive, etc...) and installed them into the newer Pentium 4s. I keep all three Pentium 4 PCs regularly updated through Microsoft Update. They all run good.

Now comes the really nice part: I read about Ubuntu (8.04 LTS Desktop Edition) and downloaded a copy of Ubuntu, KUbuntu and XUbuntu to try. Since I'm a regular Joe Blow PC user (not a techie), and being new to Ubuntu, I wasn't sure which version I liked, I searched for some Ubuntu Forums and read up on it. Then downloaded the software from ubuntu.com. After creating install CDs of each version and reading the OS descriptions, I decided to try installing Xubunutu on the old HP Athlon cause it supposedly needs less resources. I formatted the old drive and installed Xubuntu.

The installation was flawless and fast! Took only about 30 to 40 minutes. I was so surprised. I had more problems with the Windows XP installs. Everything worked in Xubuntu: the OS, the broadband connection, the dial-up modem, etc... the free software, Abiword, etc... Everything just worked! And it was freaking fast!

Since the first Xubuntu install was flawless, I decided to try installing Kubuntu as a dual boot in my Dell Pentium 4 with Windows XP. Again, easy installation. But I'm not sure I like the look-n-feel. It looked too much like Windows. It'll do for now.

There were some little quirks like the youtube video not playing, flash not working in some websites, etc... but were quickly resolved by going to the Ubuntu forums.

Since I'd been having so much luck with this Ubuntu deal, I decided to install Ubuntu (8.04 LTS Desktop Edition) on my son's HP Pentium 4 machine. Another flawless install, complete with the Open Office suite.

I'm starting to learn about all the other open-source (freebie) software to replace the Windows version (Open Office replaces Microsoft Office, Gimp, replaces Adobe Photoshop, etc...). Ubuntu's also got the Update Manager which works great.

It's been a couple of weeks now that we've been using our respective machines and more and more, I'm noticing my son using Ubuntu more than Windows for everything he does (homework, web surding, worksheets, presentation software, games from other websites, MP3 and movies, etc....

Me, I'm using Ubuntu full time now (as I write this note). I haven't fired up Windows XP since I installed Ubuntu. Haven't found a need for it, so far. I can get to the documents and worksheets that reside on the Windows XP partition.

My wife uses her Windows XP only when she has to log in remotely to her office applications, which are Windows specific.

We're basically 90% Microsoft-free. And did I mention that Ubuntu absolutely screams on these Penium 4s .... and that they were FREE !!!

I honestly don't even see us needing new PCs nor Macsfor at least a year. I simply can't justify the additional cost, when Ubuntu works great. Maybe by that time, my wife's office will replace their PCs again. We're so happy about this Ubuntu OS that we'll be donating and maybe even trying to help out to promote this open source deal.

Apologies for the long post.

[Brian.Pearson]

I had seen an article talking about what a snap it was to download and install, but I hadn't heard much from "real people."

[Noahma]

Personally, I think Sabayon is better served for new to Linux users. I still prefer my Vista installation to any other OS, but Sabayon was much much easier to get running than Ubuntu. I have CentOS right now running on a server box for my wife and my Machines.

[fastninja500]

Originally Posted by Noahma

Personally, I think Sabayon is better served for new to Linux users. I still prefer my Vista installation to any other OS, but Sabayon was much much easier to get running than Ubuntu. I have CentOS right now running on a server box for my wife and my Machines.

Sabayon, huh? I'll check it out. Maybe install it on another old PC. Thanks for the tip. I'll read up on it. I'm a believer in Linux now. I'm looking into small versions of Linux (Puppy Linux and Damn Small Linux) to try on an antique Dell Inspiron laptop (Pentium 2, maxed out at 128 MB of RAM and a 10 gig HD) just to see how good these versions of Linux are.

Or maybe get a life and stop getting sucked into these geeky pursuits?!

We've decided to get off the Microsoft treadmill and skip Vista altogether. Our next new computer will be a Macbook and an IMac for the family room. We just like OS-X much better now. We've had the old Powerbook since 2006 and have had no hiccups whatsoever. And the I-Life software suite that's included with every Mac - this software suite alone definitely justifies the higher purchase price of a Mac.

[njguy]

Originally Posted by fastninja500

Sabayon, huh? I'll check it out. Maybe install it on another old PC. Thanks for the tip. I'll read up on it. I'm a believer in Linux now. I'm looking into small versions of Linux (Puppy Linux and Damn Small Linux) to try on an antique Dell Inspiron laptop (Pentium 2, maxed out at 128 MB of RAM and a 10 gig HD) just to see how good these versions of Linux are.

Or maybe get a life and stop getting sucked into these geeky pursuits?!

We've decided to get off the Microsoft treadmill and skip Vista altogether. Our next new computer will be a Macbook and an IMac for the family room. We just like OS-X much better now. We've had the old Powerbook since 2006 and have had no hiccups whatsoever. And the I-Life software suite that's included with every Mac - this software suite alone definitely justifies the higher purchase price of a Mac.

It can take awhile to install additional software in Sabayon.

Otherwise it's a "beautiful looking" real eye-candy distro.

I don't know how well it would run on your Pentium 2 though.