My old computer is coughing up a lung after many years of yeoman service. A new desktop is on the way, perhaps just in the nick of time. This means another step in the progression from MS-DOS in all its variants to Windows 95, 98, ME, XP, Vista, 7 and now Windows 8. I've certainly done my share to fund Bill Gates' retirement. My first machine used an Intel 8086 processor, the XT, first of the personal computers. I got it fancy - it had an amber on black screen while the plebs were stuck with green on black. Nothing but class. I quickly had to have it upgraded with - gasp - a hard disk drive. 10 megabytes. Cost three thousand dollars and not in today's money either.
Anyway, enough of the saga. I've got this Windows 8 machine coming in a few days and I've heard a lot of criticism about this operating system. What I'd like to know is what those already using W-8 find is the best web browser, especially for blogging.
Any thoughts would be very welcome.
Thanks
14 comments:
Mound, I have gone through similar process starting with Macintosh and no internet in 80's. Now I use windows 7 and quite happy with it. A new version has always bugs in it and it takes a while to overcome them. And when that happens a new version is in the market. Go figure.
Forced by Work to use a Win8 laptop. Bought a "Dummies" book. Spent about 12 hours trying stuff. Turned OFF a bunch on "internet-live" programs (e.g., live updates from a weather site) and other add-on adverts. Forty-eight hours later, started using it at work and didn't hate it.
Blogging? I haven't tried, but I think it would/will be much like Win7 - most of it is.
I downloaded and ran/run Google Chrome for browsing (as I did with my Win7). With the Win7, I usually use Windows Live Writer (free download from MS) to write/post to blogger, and I'm pretty sure that would still work okay with Win8. (Heads up: if I write/post using Windows Live Writer and, later, edit the post through Blogger itself, I lose my paragraph spaces - weird, but not a crisis.)
Anyway, it's not as bad as I thought it would be - especially after I turned off and/or deleted a bunch "suggested" apps.
:)
I would suggest that you do not use Microsoft or Apple products, period.
But, of course, you and your kind continue to stoke the flames of repression. That is your choice.
If you were truly engaged with freedom of expression and freedom of choice, you would chose to use a free operating system.
@ Anon, yea but I am a Philistine, cursed to "stoke the flames of repression." I'm just nowhere near techie enough to stray from the mainstream.
@ Wendell. Thanks for the info. I never thought about the Dummies book but that makes sense.
@ LD - wish I could have stayed with Win 7 but the "best deal" only came in Win 8.
I don't mind Windows Live Writer, either, for blogging. It can partially integrate with Blogger, but I'd decline it trying to (integrate, as the results tend to lack). Also, Google Chrome works well with Blogger, since it's a bit integrated.
I use Firefox for everyday browsing, as it's fast than Internet Explorer, and more powerful than Google Chrome.
Moving to a new operating system is always a bit uncomfortable until you spend sufficient time to make it familiar. I liked Win8 more after I spent time adjusting file associations so that non-MS programs start automatically. (VLC Media Player, Foxit Reader, Picasa, etc.) I suppose I was forcing Win8 to look and feel more like Win7.
After years of using Chrome as primary browser, I've returned to Firefox, which I find more stable. Chrome has been freezing often and I just don't like Google's method of business that actively discourages dialogue between users and the company. If they mistakenly decide you've offended their TOS, you can never debate it with a human being.
I could purchase a laptop in my area, set it up with free software, and then have it shipped to you. You would only have to pay for the hardware and shipping. Labour costs would be free. Would include unlimited email support (as long as it didn't get too crazy).
Just an idea.
There is nothing overly wrong with Internet Explorer latest version.
Google Chrome is rather intrusive and will data-mine the crab out of you (some like that for a reason).
Opera is nice.
Firefox descent and now has a faster upgrade timeline.
Microsoft is losing ground rapidly and it appears that they've finally decided to listen to their users. Windows 7 worked out OK. 8 ricocheted back into hyoer weirdness but apparently they .1 update is returning to the semi-sanity of v.7.
Use the "Programs" Control Panel and un-install all of the "Live" stuff. Anything "Live" can do, is done better by someone in OpenSource.
Use the latest FireFox for online access.
Turn on the Firewall.
Avoid Chrome like the plague (especially if you have limited bandwidth, or a cap) unless you think Google has a gawd given right to track everything you do.
Turn off anything that is automatic.
Do your OS updates manually if you can stand it, so you know where your "roll-back" times will be.
Since the ship has already sailed no point in saying buy a Mac. I've been with Apple since my first II plus when I started grade nine. I should have been more grateful to the folks, with peripherals and software it cost almost as much as a compact car.
I've stayed with Apple though thick and thin and have always had a good user experience. Some us were made for the walled garden.
I use an iPhone, an iPad, and a MacBook Air. They all know each other well. I have increasing misgivings though about how well Apple knows me because to synch with each other so effortlessly the devices use Apple's network to talk, so Apple knows a good deal about me, and what is on my devices. I can't help but feel slightly nervous about that as we edge closer to dystopia.
Thanks Troy, Norm and... Anon (singular or multiple). Somehow I knew I should have stuck with pushrod motorcycles.
Elliot, you're right. The ship has sailed. It's Dell and Windows 8 for me - c'est la vie!
Thanks everyone for your advice. Maybe I should have asked before I did this. Forget the "maybe".
Mound, maybe you can have virtual Windows 7. I like Windows XP and I have installed virtual XP on my computer because some of my programs work on XP only.
You will have to search for Virtual Windows 7 on Microsoft site and look under Downloads.
I hate to do it, but I will flog this poor dead horse one more time.
I find it strange that the people who decry global fossil fuel corporations, and their contribution to climate change, but don't blink an eye when they personally use the services and products of global corporations such as Microsoft, Google, Apple, Facebook and Twitter.
It seems strange, very strange.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li01v95phiE
I like chrome but not the built in tracking. There is a stripped down version called Iron by srWare of Germany which has all the bad stuff removed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SRWare_Iron
http://www.srware.net/en/software_srware_iron_download.php
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