I is now officially, a fuddy-duddy with my computer.
How did this happen?
Well, it was pretty gosh darn easy.
I have Windows XP on my computer, which I am completely besotted with. So much so, that when I did buy my computer 4 years ago, I had to pay extra to have it installed instead of that crappy Vista.
But now, enough upgrades have gone by and even though I have the 2nd latest IE browser (8), some of the blogs I read don't accept XP any more because they use Disqus for their comments.
So I am, for the moment, a fuddy-duddy. But not for long.
Because most of my programs/writing is under the XP banner, I don't want to go through the aggravation of having to run two operating systems at the same time. So what I plan to do next year, is buy a stripped down laptop with Windows 7 that I can install the student version of Office (and make sure that version of Word is compatible with Word 2003) and that it has at least one USB port that I can add my flash drive and my floppy drive (yeah, I am a serious fuddy-duddy) and use just that to surf the 'net.
'Course, this would require some major reconfiguration of my den (might even get me motivated enough to clean the rest of it out) so that I can have two computers running side by side, so to speak.
Not sure if it's money well spent, but this seems to be the most sensible alternative to spending approx $300 for an upgrade to Windows 7 (yeech) that may not be compatible with the XP programs.
So my question to you is this: do you have a multi-computer setup like this, in which you have a dependable computer with an out-of-date operating system that you use for non-internet stuff and an up-to-date computer that you surf the 'net with?
Thursday, November 15, 2012
16 comments:
Go on, give me your best shot. I can take it. If I couldn't, I wouldn't have created this wonderful little blog that you decided to grace with your presence today.
About that comment moderation thingy: While yes, it does say up above I can take it, I only use it to prevent the occasional miscreant from leaving thoughtless and/or clueless comments.
So remember, all of your comments are greatly appreciated and all answers will be given that personal touch that you come to expect and enjoy.
G. B. Miller
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I just recently got a new work laptop with Windows 7 on it, because I've been running into it almost exclusively when I go to customer sites. But I still have two old laptops (work) that run XP. One I use exclusively for a phone, and the other I still have because I haven't completely updated the new one. I've found all of my old programs to run just fine on Windows 7.
ReplyDeleteMy personal computer is a Mac that got a year ago. So when I am in my home office, I typically have 3 computers running, each with a different OS.
I use macs so it's a whole different ball game. I don't use Windows at all.
ReplyDeleteI have to say I hate Disqus. Every blogger that has it makes me want to sigh, because I find you have to log in with your name and email etc. just to leave a comment.
I used to have a computer that was so old I didn't even bother getting an internet connection for it. Just used it as a word processor. Now I have a Mac which is in its 4th year so is probably considered outdated now. But it works well for what I need it to do.
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm not a fuddy duddy. I just updated to Google chrome and am very pleased!
ReplyDeleteChris: They're slowing intergrating Windows 7 at work (the guv'ment always does things slow), so now I'm using XP at my office and 7 when I go offsite. I'm slowly warming up to 7, but considering a lot of things are blocked (again, guv'ment) I haven't been able to get the full experience.
ReplyDeleteThey did add a new phone system that is wired through our computers, and so far, it seems to work okay.
Joe: We have a family friend that has a Mac, and he seems to be happy with it.
I don't mind Disqus, it's just a pain in the butt to use, and because my OS is now considered obselete, it's virtually impossible to use.
Debra: That's pretty cool. I know with Macs, you can kind of beat the crap out of them and they'll still keep on working.
I'll still keep the Internet connection on this one, only so that McAfee can still do the occasional scan and updates on it.
Charles: My mother has Chrome on her home computer and she seems to like it.
I'll probably download Chrome once I get my new computer. I figure at this point, after using IE in various forms since the early 2000's (and Netscape before that), it's time to switch up.
If anything, it will stop those dopey messages in my Gmail about using an outdated browser.
Vista sucked, so we used XP, and then with some amazing deal from Mr. RK's company we got Windows 2010 or whatever the new one is for like $10.
ReplyDeleteM: The latest is Windows 8, which launched a couple of weeks ago.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, Vista sucks major moose testicles.
No but I have one computer for drawing and one for editing videos.
ReplyDeleteYes. My husband uses the older XP system and I have Window's 7. Often I must go to the older one to perform tasks that cannot be configured for Window's 7.
ReplyDeleteBearman: Sounds like a good set up. Makes it easy enough not to have either function bleed into another and probably saves on memory as well.
ReplyDeleteG.A.: That was my concern in regards to buying an upgrade to my computer. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to run some of my XP programs on 7 and the only viable alternative that a techie gave me was to have both systems running at the same time.
My husband is pretty keen on keeping our two computers (one desktop and one laptop) all up to date, and I don't try to stand in his way.
ReplyDeleteS.R.: That seems to the be the norm with some families, having two (or more) computers for everyone to use.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you got a super smart guy. :D
sort of. I have a laptop that is probably 5 or 6 years old. It has never been hooked up to the internet. I use it exclusively for working on my books. Nothing else. I take it on every vacation. I transfer my work using a flash drive as you mentioned.
ReplyDeleteDarth: That's cool.
ReplyDeleteI plan on doing that with this one next year. It still gets the job done, and in the end, that's really all you can hope for.
I have another, reconditioned computer, not online yet, that has XP just like my 11 year old one. I also hate Disqus. My plan is to eventually get a Notebook for online, n keep my expensive art programs far away from net problems.
ReplyDeleteI'm also using chrome almost all the time online now. The more you use it, the better cashe memory builds up n it is faster n loads better.
Still have ie n Mozilla Firefox browsers as back-ups. This machine has 2 harddrives. Don't have two monitors to run both machines at once-
Snaggle: Once I get new computer, this one will pretty much stay offline. I'll keep the 'net connection, so that I can keep getting XP updates until Microsoft stops supporting it in 2014 and that McAfee can keep sending updates as well.
ReplyDelete