Windows 7 support ends. So where to now?

Microsoft suggests upgrading to windows 10. That would be fine... if it worked. They offered free windows 10 upgrades. I tried that, and it was disastrous. It seemed to work well at first, but as time went on, updates would cause different parts or functions of the the computer (like SOUND) to stop working. Turns out, that unless your computer hardware -all of it- has been "Windows 10 certified", Microsoft does not guarantee that it will work on YOUR computer. Wish I knew that before I installed it. By the time I discovered this, it was too late to roll it back from Windows 10 to Windows 7.

So if you want to "upgrade" to Windows 10, you are probably better off getting a computer with it already installed and certified for that hardware. Then, the Windows 10 fun can begin. It has some good features. Yet, some things never change:

But... what should you then DO with your old Windows 7 machine? You can keep using it for a while longer of course, but as time goes on, without security updates, it will become riskier and riskier to use.

Personally, I found a solution with my aborted Windows 10 computer, that couldn't be rolled back to Windows 7. I'm using it with all my Windows 7 machines now. The solution is a Linux operating system called Linux Mint. It's a complete, free opensource operating system that you can download and install, free of charge.

There are several versions you can choose from. I prefer the Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE), because it's a "rolling" distribution; you only have to install it once, then it updates itself continuously after that. Other versions use Ubuntu as a base, and major upgrades require a complete reinstall every three to five years.

It's probably the easiest Linux system for a novice to download and use, and easy to learn and use too. A perfect way to extend the life and usefulness of older computers that cannot be successfully upgraded to Windows 10. Highly recommended.
   

Windows 8 continues to suck

Windows 7 outpacing Windows 8 adoption

Latest NetMarketshare figures suggest Windows 7 is outpacing Windows 8's adoption, despite a rapid reduction in Windows XP usage over the past quarter.

Over the past month, Windows 8's share has increased by 0.61 percentage points, rising to 8.02 percent of the total share. Whereas, on the other hand, Windows 7's share increased by 0.8 percentage points, rising to 46.3 percent of the market.

To put this into context, Apple's latest desktop operating system OS X 10.8 operating system grew by 0.27 percentage points to a mere 3.7 percent of the overall share. But this figure accounts for just shy of half of Windows 8's overall growth for August.

Meanwhile, Windows XP, which is set to lose Microsoft support for patches and updates in April 2014, lost a hearty chunk of share, dipping 2.25 percentage points to 31.4 percent of the overall market.

It comes at a time when Intel, as the dominant chipmaker in the PC market, may struggle in its second-half earnings, according to Sterne Agee analyst Vijay Rakesh. He warned in a note to analysts on Monday that "back to school PC demand has been virtually absent," which typically drums up mid-year sales of PCs and other devices ahead of the lucrative December holiday sales period. A drop in PC sales for the quarter will no doubt have a negative impact on the software platform market. [...]

Windows 8 is optimized for computers and tablets with touch-screens. Without a touch-screen, you have to rely on scroll-bars, which makes it slow and clunky to use. I believe this is one of the main reasons why people are sticking with windows 7; it works better for computers without touch screens. There are lots of other reasons too I'm sure, but I think that is the biggest one presently.

Some very good points are made in this article:

Five reasons why Windows 8 has failed

The article has a chart that shows how windows 8 is doing much worse than windows Vista did. Gosh, that's REALLY bad. But the five reasons given make perfect sense, to anyone who's been paying attention.
     

Don't want windows 8? Go with "refurbished"

If you aren't ready to deal with Windows 8, but you need a new Windows Machine, you can still get Windows 7 if you buy "refurbished". Here are a few of my favorite places to buy from:

http://www.staples.com/Refurbished-Laptops/cat_CL168249

http://3btech.net/laptops.html

I used laptops as an example in the links, but they both have very good deals on desktop models too.
     

Windows 8 aims for tablets and more

The next version of Windows is preparing to make the leap from being an operating system for PCs only:

Microsoft aims for post-PC ubiquity with Windows 8

[...] Whether called "Windows 8" or "Windows Next", analysts this week said they believe a beta version would be available as early as September 15.

It will also feature some changes allowing it to go beyond just personal computers but into the world of Tablets -- currently dominated by Apple's iOS and the iPad.

"As we look forward to the next generation of Windows systems, which will come out next year, there's a whole lot more coming," Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer told developers in Tokyo recently. "As we progress through the year, you ought to expect to hear a lot about Windows 8. Windows 8 slates, tablets, PCs, a variety of different form factors."

Indeed, Microsoft also gave clues through out the year of its intentions to target tablets, nothing that the new software "will support a new kind of hardware, system-on-a-Chip (SoC) architectures, that will power the next generation of devices."

The notable SoC leaders now are UK based ARM holdings which provide the blue-prints for processors used in most cell phones, tablets, and other low-powered devices. [...]

I've even noticed that various Linux OS desktops seem to be redesigning their graphical interfaces to be more tablet-friendly. I don't think PCs will disappear overnight, but it looks like various hand-held devices will displace many of the functions that PC laptops and desktops used to fill. Tablets and Smartphones is where much of the future of personal computing will be.

Here is a glimpse of what you might expect:

Windows 8 screenshots

Log into your PC with your face

     

Will Windows 7 be any good? Yes, BUT...

Review: New Windows OS Better Than Vista

After the somewhat disastrous launch of Windows Vista -- largely ignored by businesses as they stuck with the XP version of the operating system -- Microsoft Relevant Products/Services is preparing another debut.

Windows 7 is scheduled to be released Oct. 22, and some computer analysts who have been working with a beta version say that this time, Microsoft got it right.

"It's everything that Vista should have been," said Trevor Dierdorff, owner of Amnet, a Colorado Springs-based computer network company. "It's easy to use, has some nice upgrades. It will be good for businesses."

[...]

"I think there will be more fear than usual due to the fiasco around the prior Windows release," said Rick Treese, information technology specialist at TheMarkets.com. "I have never upgraded my offices in the first year, though."

And even Dierdorff, an admitted fan of the new system, said it will only run smoothly on new computers.

"If you have a computer that is more than a year old, stick with what you're running," he said. "Upgrade to Windows 7 when you upgrade your network." [...]

The article says that some people are saying that small and medium sized businesses shouldn't even bother to upgrade, as there is little benefit for them. Many businesses are looking into alternate OS's like Linux, that can still run on the older hardware that companies already have.

I've been reading some geek forums where some of the posters are people who are very technical and computer savvy, and have been using the Windows 7 beta that's available for testing. Most of them aren't great Microsoft fans, but the consensus seems to be that it's pretty good, a big improvement over Vista, and that it's going to do much better than Vista did.

Supposedly it easily runs programs that run on Windows XP, solving a major problem that Vista had. We'll see how it does when it comes out. I expect a lot of people are going to "wait-and-see" what happens to other people first. Not everyone wants to be a guinea pig.

Linux and BSD are also making impressive strides too, which is great. The more choices we have, the better I like it.

     

Linux to Microsoft: THANKS! And so long...

Is Microsoft making some huge mistakes? It's not hard to see why some people think so. From PCWorld.com:

Dear Microsoft: Thanks for the Help, Linux

You gotta love it. Microsoft has decided that it will go ahead and kill off easy access to XP on June 30th. On behalf of desktop Linux users everywhere, and our first cousins, the Mac fans, thanks. You've given us the best shot we'll ever have of taking the desktop.

But it gets even better! Microsoft has also announced that it will be releasing Windows 7 on January 2010. They'll blow that ship date. Microsoft has never set a shipping date it could meet. But, who in their right mind would now buy Vista?

I mean, come on, I don't think anyone with their wits about them would buy Vista anyway. Vista is to operating systems what the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers are to the National Football League, the worse of all time. Vista was trash; Vista is trash; and now Microsoft, as expected, is throwing Vista on the trash dump.

It also helps that Microsoft has decided to go ahead and dump XP, the operating system its customers want, no matter how loudly they say they want to keep buying XP. Now that's showing your customers how much you really care about what they want.

Desktop Linux is poised to make the most of this opportunity to convince Windows users that there is a better way. [...]

The article has lots of embeded links, and goes on to explain in detail why this is going to be so favorable to Linux. I won't cry for Microsoft, but it sure seems like they are shooting themselves in the foot... at best.

     

New Ubuntu 8.04 has WUBI installer

The most recent version of Linux Ubuntu, Hardy Heron 8.04, features a WUBI installer (Windows-based Ubuntu Installer) that allows you to install Ubuntu from windows onto your windows partition, allowing you to boot both operating systems without repartitioning your hard drive.

Linux Journal Gadget Guy, Shawn Powers, demonstrates installing Ubuntu on a machine running Windows with the Wubi installer in this 4 minute video:



Wubi makes it much easier for Windows users who want to try Linux without having to repartition their hard drive.

I've been using Ubuntu Hardy Heron 8.04 lately, and it's the most solid Ubuntu I've tried to date. I didn't use the WUBI installer, I installed it to it's own partition, but WUBI is a good option Windows users to start with.

I think some Windows users might prefer a more polished Ubuntu derivative, like Linux Mint, which has all the multimedia codecs already installed for you, providing a more immediate windows-like experience. But since Ubuntu 8.04 was only just released, it will be a bit of time before Linux Mint and others come out with their versions, but we should be seeing them appearing soon, hopefully with the WUBI installer included.

You can read more about WUBI here:

WUBI FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions, with screenshots)
     

New Windows Version coming "soon"?

If you can call the next year or so "soon", and if you can believe Bill Gates:

Gates: Microsoft Windows 7 Sometime Next Year

Gates' comments are in line with a development cycle that usually releases a test version of the software before its official introduction.

MIAMI (Reuters)—Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates said on Friday he expected the new version of Windows operating software, code-named Windows 7, to be released "sometime in the next year or so."

The software giant has been aiming to issue more regular updates of the operating system software that powers the majority of the world's personal computers. Nevertheless, Gates' comments suggested that a successor to the Vista program might be released sooner than was generally expected.

Microsoft has said it expected to release a new version of Windows approximately 3 years after the introduction of Vista in January 2007. A company spokeswoman said Gates' comments are in line with a development cycle that usually releases a test version of the software before its official introduction. [...]

Some people are speculating that Windows Vista was really just a test release, and that the next version will be the real one. Comparisons are being made with WindowsME, which was released about a year or so prior to WindowsXP. ME was considered a flop. Some people saw it as a transitional release from Windows 98 to Windows XP.

It will be interesting to see if Microsoft actually has "Windows 7" ready for release in a year or two.


Related Link:

Win XP gets reprieve, while Linux advances
     

Open Source Software for Linux & Windows

From CNET:
Open-source software rated: Ten alternatives you need

Open source products comprise the work of many collaborators -- sometimes thousands of them, and often separated by oceans. Each person works on small portions of a project, and anyone is welcome to contribute. The finished product will be available freely for anyone to download and, in most cases, modify.

All very touchy-feely, carey-sharey, but why should you care about open source? You should care because the vast majority of common applications, even complex commercial stuff such as Adobe Photoshop, Windows Media Player and Microsoft Office, have free, open-source alternatives. And this point is worth reiterating: open-source software is free. No cost. Zero. Zilch. [...]

This Cnet site in the UK provides an overview of ten free open-source applications that are available for Linux and Windows. Follow the link to the intro, and you'll find they devote a page to each application. You can check them out and see what they do, and if any of them are right for you.
     

Linux Rescue CD's can also repair Windows

Repairing Windows PCs the Linux way

Do you want to know the basics of repairing Windows systems with Knoppix Linux?

You should. It's incredibly useful information to have, since with Knoppix, or other live CD-based Linuxes, you can do life-saving surgery on near-dead Windows systems.

I've done it several times myself and I've meant to get around to writing an introductory how-to on the subject. So much for that idea! Scott Granneman has beaten me to it with his excellent story, Fixing Windows with Knoppix, in our sister publication, Extreme Tech.

In this tale, Granneman goes over some of the repairs you're most likely to want to do on a Windows system with the Debian-based Knoppix Linux. These include: working on the Windows machine's hard drive partitions; repairing broken boot.ini files; editing the system registry file; and recovering data from dead systems to USB drives, writeable CD or DVD, network drives, or even an email account. [...]

Or how about SystemRescueCD, designed specifically as a rescue CD:

The best Linux system repair distribution gets better

[...] The new 0.4 version of SystemRescueCd was released on Oct. 4. This new edition focuses on disk partitioning, Vista support, and data rescue tasks. In the past, we've found SystemRescueCD to be the best of the best when it comes to repairing troubled systems. We see every reason to believe that this version will be even better.

[...]

If you're a Windows user, don't let the fact that this is a Linux-based repair tool keep you away. SystemRescueCD has long excelled at repairing Windows systems. With new support for the Vista “Offline NT Password & Registry Editor” and improved support for NTFS drives, SystemRescueCD is better than ever for what ails your Windows PCs. [...]

These can be downloaded for free. And if nothing else, a live Linux CD can easily help you rescue your data from an otherwise inaccessible hard drive. Every computer user should have a Linux live CD handy.

Picasa, Google's free photo manager & editor

I recently downloaded a copy of Picasa, and was very impressed. It scanned and found ALL of my photo and image files, on all of my hard drives, and made them all available on one long scrolling page. I've rediscovered pics that I forgot I had! If your photos have gotten so numerous that organizing them seems impossible, Picasa will be an excellent tool to help you get a handle on the situation.

It also offers some basic editing tools for improving photos. The program is available free of charge, and it's a cross-platform program; versions are available for Windows, Mac and Linux.

From Marziah Karch at About.com, a review of the software:

Take a Look at Picasa - Review of Google's Digital Photo Management Software

[...] Picasa will organize your photos by date and initially retains the same file structure as your hard drive. The main area shows thumbnails of the images, and along the right side is a scroll bar to navigate. Thumbnails in the library are grouped by folder, but they’re all displayed (with some scrolling.) This means that you don’t have to repeatedly click to navigate to a new folder, which is a nice touch.

You can move thumbnails from folder to folder directly from Picasa, and it will confirm and then move the corresponding file on your hard drive. This makes it much easier to organize albums. [...]

It's a short review, but it gives you a good summary of all the basic functions, I recommend reading the whole thing.



You can download Picasa from the main page of their website:

Picasa by Google