RE: Windows 8
My system boots in 1/3 the time as Windows 7 and wakeup from sleep mode is almost instant. I have no regrets.
That's due to the SSD, not because of Windows 8.
Put and configure any OS that way you get the same nimbleness, if not better.
RE: Can't sign in to Outlook or Hotmail?
I use Thunderbird to manage 3 email accounts
1 Gmail account set up as POP
1 Gmail account set up as IMAP
1 Hotmail account set up as POP3 (Hotmail won't allow POP).
The POP account is used for every day mails. I use filter to separate emails into folders for better control, the ones to keep are moved into the IMAP account. Hotmail is used very rarely, one of its functions is for Gmail password reset.
Yes, it's better to reset the Gmail password every now and then. Google will send a message to either your (other) email account or your cell phone. So it's very hard for hackers to hack into your account.
Also don't let your mails lingering on the servers, sooner or later you'll have problem with that.
RE: Firefox, Chrome, or Safari?
I use Chrome with somewhat 'armored' settings (including ScriptSafe) for everyday surfing, and Firefox for jobs that Chrome doesn't let me - like printing an online ticket for example. I find that using them that way is easier, rather than open the security settings then close them again in Chrome.
I favoured Chrome because it's very fast, but newer version 19 of Firefox is no slouch either.
As for IE, it's used once to install Chrome, that's about it. By the way I use mostly Linux now, and IE is not even and option.
RE: HP Inkjet printer ink rip-off
If you want to recycle your old printers, and just happen to be in an area where there is a Goodwill, they will take it whether it works or not. If working, they will resell it. If not, it will be recycled.
I live in Canada.:(
RE: HP Inkjet printer ink rip-off
I try to limit use of my inkjet printers, and shift most printing to my Brother lasers.
Don't you have problem with clogged up print head ?
Once I bought an Epson inkject for 60$, then when there was no more ink left, they asked for an 80$ replacement cartridge ! I put it in front of our house with a note attached 'still functioning'. At the end of the day there was no taker, and my stingy wife brought it back inside, returning from work. Somehow at a later date, I successfully dumped it without her awareness !
Laser only for me, because I don't print often.
RE: Firefox and Thunderbird
I create local folders then use filters to 'classify' emails into them depending contents of the 'from', 'to', 'subject'... fields.
RE: Laptop VS iPad VS iPhone
To me, having #1 AND #4 makes no sense. I would prefer 1 computer that can handle ALL tasks which is one reason why I have never really cared for Linux. I have several Linux distros installed in VMs on my Win 7 desktop so I can play with them but would never use Linux as my main OS because it can't do everything that Windows can do.
A few years ago, while going for a glass of water in the dead of the night, I saw my PC's green light going full blast - that scared the heck out of me - no, not the ghosts but that must be a virus of some kind.:) ... I later learn Linux and ban all Windows computers from the internet in my household.
By the way that XP PC is good for the recycling bin - and I got a Canon scanner for cheap:). For undemanding jobs I still scan with my Brother all-in-one using Mint. I also use VirtualBox, but Mint is host and Windows is guest.
RE: Laptop VS iPad VS iPhone
I use whatever is most cost effective/convenient/functional. I am not tied up to any 'cult', 'dictatorship'.
1- Linux Mint for my desktop, for all around jobs. It's fast, cheap (cost nothing beside the hardware) and safe.
2- iPad as news reader (it sounds contradictory because the iPad is expensive, but for me it's a one time cost, I use it to read free apps like BBC, Pulse...).
3- iPod for music, Skype
4- XP (on an old PC) for jobs that I can't do, or are hard to do with Linux Mint (scanning for example).
I travel with the iPad, iPod and sometimes with a laptop (dual boot XP and Mint). Due to weight it's either/or but not both the iPad and laptop together. The iPad sometimes has connection problem with certain hotspots, but the laptop rarely - but it's somewhat heavier.
I know, we can't have everything in life the way we want to.
RE: Laptop VS iPad VS iPhone
Hang onto your small digital camera they are doomed to a slow death with the latest camera phones gaining more popularity.
Not the good quality cameras.
The iPad taking pictures may look stupid to you, so what..
The iPad can hold a full image processing suite linked to the internet, more than what a little digital camera can accomplish.
Few days ago, it took me almost an hour to help my sister-in-law to extract 11.5G of pictures she took with her iPad. The darn thing was full.
Beside, free cloud storage is something like 5G, after that you pay up to the hilt.
RE: How do you wipe a hard drive ?
Parted Magic (free) has many tools for disk partitions including an 'Eraser'.
I saved many old computers (even the ones with BSOD) by installing light Linux distros on them like Lubuntu or Puppy. PC's that are SD bootable are very saveable.
RE: Defective ink cartridge
I save web pages in PDF (using Print button in Chrome). I rarely print, and when I do, it's done on a Laser BW. For color photos, it's done at Walmart and the likes.
InkJet printer is one of the worst environment destroyers.
RE: Finally had it with Google Chrome.....
The reason that Chrome is faster is also the reason I quit using it: it's constantly uploading and downloading data from all the websites you visit so that when you finally want to visit a specific website it's already loaded for you. I had Chrome running for about 2 weeks and during that time I went over my 10GB limit on Verizon for the only time in my history. Switching back to Firefox brought my data usage back down below 10 GB.
I have the the opposite reason for using Chrome.
I switched ISP because the line was slow (around 1MB/s). I pay for a 5MB/s DSL, but it never goes anywhere near even 1.5 MB/s. I called my (new) ISP which blamed Bell. She said that's the way it was in my area and the only solution was to change to cable.
With Chrome (and Linux) it's acceptable, any other browsers will drive me crazy. I don't want to pay 10$ more per month for cable.
RE: What is holding Google back from taking it all?
If Ubuntu had a built in converter to change the terminology shown to that of Windows, which Windows users are used to then they might really pick up new customers. Like an French/English dictionary of sorts.
:?
You need translation for ... Firefox, Chrome, Thunderbird... ???!!!
or LibreOffice (some Windows users here in this forums already knew about that better than me - a Linux user).
As for that strange language (command line) you mentioned, how many Windows users use that - even Windows have one - that's used by the techies ?
RE: Anatomy of a Hack
Here is a very interesting article on how a website delivered malware to its viewers: Linky
* All you have to do to get infected is visit a site. It's as simple as falling down.
It's not true.
They have to try harder. All these exe, dll... in a Linux environment are as good as wet firecrackers.
RE: What is holding Google back from taking it all?
Linux users buy Windows computer then wipe it out, an expensive way to go but with Chromebook they now have an alternative. As per following article they can have a very powerful netbook running Ubuntu for a cheap price of around 250$.
Phoronix
RE: Switching to Linux
For me it boils down to this:
1- Economy: old - even damaged PC (virus) - can be made working again.
2- Eco friendly. People don't realize that e-waste is one of the worst waste produced by mankind.
I started learning Linux by buying an eeePC 4 years ago, without knowing what 'sudo' meant. Granted, I worked in IT, but on a kind of computer that doesn't resemble Windows/Unix/Linux/Mac at all.
For those who want to make the dive without too much Linux background, I have 3 suggestions:
1- Buy a laptop that is loaded with Linux (Google for "System76 laptop").
2- Take an old , even damaged PC and try - if it doesn't work out , what do you have to loose ?
3- Grab somebody you know who have knowledge of Linux.
You can save big in the long run.
RE: Switching to Linux
good luck with linux, if all you do is web browsing you *should be fine
otherwise its a horrible monster, that in my opinion has 0 advantage over windows
and makes everything 10 times harder, just like mac
fyi i haven't run antivirus software on my windows pc for 10 years.
still blows my mind the stuff people will click on
Defaitisme before defeat.
Linux now is not the same as 10 years ago. If you can install and use Windows, you can with Linux distros like Ubuntu, Mint.
Why not try when it costs you nothing ?
By the way my b.i.l, who is expert in Windows, has to wipe his PC clean twice, not from clicking on the naughty sites but by opening emails from his cousin. He talks the same way as you do.
RE: PC anti virus protection
You need a new operating system.
What does he have?
Windows.
In Linux we use different protections (Firewall, Selinux, Apparmor, Noscript...) but rarely Antivirus.
RE: Switching to Linux
Install VirtualBox alone is as complicated as install Linux (Ubuntu, Mint) alone.
My suggestion is: take a not too old, not frequently used PC,download and burn an ISO of (Ubuntu 12.04, Xubuntu 12.04, Lubuntu 12.04, Mint Maya 13 Mate, Mint Maya 13 XFCE) on DVD and give Linux a spin. During the installation, choose 'Erase and use the whole disk'.
After a trial period some like Linux, some don't. Remember not all Linux distros (OS) are created equal, some are extremely unfriendly and/or unstable (depending on your hardware).
Another advice: Google is your friend, just add the magic word 'Ubuntu' to your search phrase in case you have a problem. Ubuntuforums.org is another place to ask for rescue, they are very friendly simply because members are forbidden to be rude.:)
