Thursday, May 21, 2009

Windows Vista

The two most dreaded words in computerdom. It has put me largely out of cyberaction for the past 6 weeks, might have to finally bite the bullet and go for the Mac. (sorry Maddox!)

37 comments:

jamiek8 said...

You won't be sorry going for a Mac. It'll take a couple of weeks to adjust but I guarantee after that you'll wonder why you waited so long.

Welcome from the Dark Side...

Teresa Palomar Lois said...

One more windows vista hater, wellcome to the club!

perugina said...

Bill Gates is the devil!
:)
pg
ps.. feel free to reject this comment!

Billie Crain said...

I wondered where you've been. So Windows Vista wasn't working out..huh? If they'd bring the price down on Macs I might even consider buying one myself. Too pricey for my pocketbook right now.

RH Carpenter said...

That explains the absence! So sorry - computer problems can be so frustrating. What would happen if we all switched to Macs? Do you think Microsoft would fix their systems?

Sandy Maudlin said...

Ugh! Can't live without the computer, but what a pain. Two weeks ago I opted to keep my system and get a new hard drive rather than jump to Vista. So glad I did. Good luck - hope it's all better soon.

Nick said...

Jamie - if only I'd listened to the stories, but once the XP machine started to blue screen...well, if I told the tale of what I've been through since, you'd go stark raving mad and throw yourself off a building. I'm only still here as a gift to science.

Lost - thanks, I assume you didn't sign up either?

PeruG - I thought it was Dick Cheney, but now I'm not so sure! He could at least have the decency to buy a painting from me, considering the hell I've been through.

Billie - wasn't working out, and isn't working out. Nothing I have works!

Rhonda - I am known by my friends as someone who will only take so much from crappy electronics and customer service, and then I mete out some old fashioned fine tuning via the Louisville slugger (not usually to the customer service "professionals"). Makes ya feel better, sleep sounder.

Sandy - you were like a wise seer into the future. XP machines are now hard to get, and apparently it can't be loaded onto this laptop. Windows 7??? I'd deserve to be locked up.

joel said...

Nick, the problem with Mac is that you have to like doing things Apple's way. You either do it Apple's way or you do not do it all all.

Windows 7 which is available on a rock-solid beta is very good i am told by very reliable sources.

there is also ubuntu (linux) - but that is really, really open and probably still requires some unix skills to work 100%.

going to vista is not a choice i have ever entertained. it never even entered the frame. why did you do it?

i am not a mac or windows fanboy. i like unix. i always have.

so i am not pushing any personal agenda.

:)

-- Joel.

Susan Liles said...

So sorry to hear about the computer problems. We've been there too, now it's the replacement of underground cables in the yard...the workers cut our internet line as they buried our new phone line even though spray paint showed where "not" to dig!

lupus said...

Hi, Nick, I wondered myself what happened with you, disapeared from my list of blogs I follow.... It's horrible, that things like this hapens today, I think it's the cibernetic war. My principal computer is a Windows XP, but the portable it's Windows vista...Now I'm afraid.
The only good thing now is that you are here again. I missed you very much.
Abrazos Nick, happy to "see" you.

Enrique.

Janet Belich said...

STOP SCARING ME ! I have Vista and fingers crossed ( which makes it hell to type ) no problems so far. But I'm so tech illiterate I wouldn't know in the first place. Still like my "mannual word processor with built in delete button "...pencil. :))

Nick said...

Joel - Vista was not a choice, it just happens to be what I'm stuck with on my laptop since the desktop with XP died. Printer won't work, scanner won't work, they won't do new drivers, lots of software won't work, can't update the website, Dreamweaver won't activate, and it won't import all the email stuff from Outlook Express into the new Windows Mail. About 1500 addresses I don't want to spend a weekend copying. Found I can't wipe Vista and install XP, and until Windows 7 comes out (or I get a Mac) and hope the Virtual PC will work for me. I won't get into all the other retarded stuff Vista does, let alone the gory details of repair and customer support - you don't have the stomach! I actually just sort of gave up. They won.

Susan - as far as I'm concerned, they may have done you a favor!

Enrique - nice to see you...about the only thing you can do is make sure you back up everything. I have two external hard drives because I learned they're all garbage and they all break, and I should get a third. I'm about to put everything in the "cloud" too.

Janet - it's 10 PM, do you know where your Product Key is???!!!

David Burge said...

I'm a Mac convert.
What they say is true, about not going back.
If your primary use is graphics or music, Macs are the ants pants.
I hate Windows with a passion.
The purchase of a Vista based laptop for the kids at christmas did nothing but reinforce my beliefs. After a few months it's tripping over itself and barely crawling. Destined for the bin.
Windows is a toy.

Janet Belich said...

I have a Product Key ?!

Cindi said...

nick.. i feel your pain, as i type on my vista and its slower than molasses and i fight with it daily!!.. but old puter crashed the week it came out and i was stuck.. hoping both me and it, will survive till windows 7 has a year under its belt... good luck!!

Teresa Palomar Lois said...

No Nick, I fell in the Vista trap when I purchased my laptop and the damn thing is incompatible with everything! I have some old periferics but others are not THAT old and nothing worked properly, windows 7 is my only hope now... or maybe it will make us miss vista?

Teresa

Nick said...

Dake - Once you go Mac.... I'm so disgusted with the whole thing I'm bowing out for awhile. You know ol'Bruce was giving me the Mac talk and I countered with Maddox's now-classic treatise (warning- not for the faint of heart!):
http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=macs_cant

I guess I'm eating those words, need to spike the hair and get the glasses! heheheh

Janet - if you've made it this far without a Product Key code, you're either Houdini or being watched by the FBI.

Cindi - we're on a crowded voyage, I barely got a berth in steerage. I'm expecting some rough seas ahead, but of course it's women and children first, so you'll probably be OK.

Teresa - I'm lost and wondering: periferics??

Lori Barton said...

Wondered where you had went to now I know...Purgatory...or should that be called Vistatory? I tried the Linux route and am just too illiterate in binary to comprehend how to make it work with my printers and such. I took Sandy's route when the laptop took a dive..I bought a new hard drive and loaded it with XP. I'm too funds deficient to own a mac..sigh

Nancy Standlee said...

So sorry, Nick. I had to take the plunge with a new desktop but hanging onto my xp laptop. The one thing I missed most with Vista is the little power tool (Microsoft) where you could right click and resize your images for the web without going through a photo software program. Now all the photos are taken by way of PElements. If you find a solution let us know. Photoshop won't work and I haven't had time to call technical. At times progress is not good.

Bruce said...

sorry to hear, nick! computers should work right first time every time, no matter who makes them.

windows users have all these excuses for not switching over. and then when they do ...

Janet Belich said...

hmmm...that WOULD explain a lot.

Nick said...

Lori - some of the true computer geeks have tried to sell me on Linux, but I have no desire to wear a pocket protector or play video games.:)

Nancy - nice to see you, I think you've done more workshops since Dallas than I have! I got Photoshop working, but Dreamweaver won't activate. 1-800-GIVE-UP-NOW

Bruce - can't say you didn't warn me!

Janet - I'd be looking over my shoulder!

Bruce said...

joel seems unaware that the mac os is based on the next os which is based on ... unix. yep. it's unix in there. must be why it *never* crashes.

underneath windows? there's still DOS down there. can you believe it?

if doing DOS is not *your* way, then i recommend -- do things the mac way.

Unknown said...

Hey Nick,

Glad to know you are PHYSICALLY fine... too bad about the mental anguish, though. Do you think you could be the 1st legal case to show the dangers of Vista for all used-to-be-sane people? I am a MAC and I LOVE it... won't be going back. Hope you like yours, and regain all the lost time quickly!

Nick said...

Bruce - two in one week! I'll be right over.

Joanne - class action suit, good idea. Got my expert witnesses right here.

Rob Stiphout said...

Hi Nick,
you could have known this VISTA stands for "Virus Inside Switch To Apple".......who said Bill Gates has no vision...!!

Nick said...

Rob - that's better than these:
http://www.geekoftheday.com/geek-jokes/funny-vista-acronyms.html

When I saw your name I thought you might have a blog - why not start one, with all of your interests and talents it could be really cool.

Rob said...

That Blog is still in the making......I'm not the fastest, I know.....maybe my personality is running on VISTA.....that would explain a lot!!!!

chris! said...

hey - i hated vista before - and with you down, now i really hate it.

man, i hope u get that fixed or else i'm gonna hafta give uncle bill (gates) a call...

chris!

masmoulin said...

This is the same in France.
Et Linux ?

Best regards

Mary Lou said...

Wondered where you were! Sorry to hear of the Vista woes. But, I'm still a PC (XP tho!). Have you considered having one custom built with XP?? My husband's business software (for payphones) is an old DOS program, that we can only use with, believe it or not, Win98 (no upgrades, ever)!! We had a rig custom built last year for it when the previous computer was on its last legs. Only hurdle I had recently was finding a new printer that works with it - but had success finding one with printer emulation. Before that, I was buying used printers on Craigslist. eeek! Finding the decimal codes was a bear, but it works!! (gonna buy a 2nd printer and keep IT on the shelf).
Anyway, good luck! 11hugs, ML

Nick said...

Rob - hope you're backing yourself up - at least two external hard drives!

Chris - I need an IT pro like you or Moore on call, maybe I'd be ok...the service "pros" I dealt with took 12 days to tell me it was broken. I have a message for Uncle Bill....

Pierre - yeah. BTW, check out the new watercolor magazine that is coming out in France at the end of June!!

Mary Lou - I've considered having one built, but there are down sides to that too...right now I'm trying to put it all out of my mind, except for this share-with-the-group experience. :)

Micah Neff said...

You have my sympathy....my son took my laptop from me day one and completely erased Vista and put in Windows XP....never looked back LOL Wondered what happened to you!

Anonymous said...

joel seems unaware that the mac os is based on the next os which is based on ... unix. yep. it's unix in there. must be why it *never* crashes.

What Joel said. I ever tell you that I was employed by the company that tested the protype NeXt system in a live environment. The company asked for specialty programs and I tested them, found many buggis, even met the Great Steve Jobs--I brought him a bottle of water. hahahaha

Anyway, I love a MAC, superior machine and as for doing it MAC's way...of course. Do it.

Nick said...

Micah - wish your son would drop by! but I was told that wouldn't work on my laptop, and also can't find a copy of XP.

Andy - well my friend Jamie (first poster) is working on me, and I'm heading that direction. The extra grand I'd pay I'd probably get back by saving on virus software...and trips to the PC "repair" shop.

jamiek8 said...

Haven't you bought that iMac yet, Nick?

Want to continue wallowing in the pain?

If you sell an extra demo at that workshop you're in, invest it in Steve Jobs.

You'll never look back and I'm here to hold your hand as you cross the Great Divide.

Jamie

Nick said...

Jamie - still on the north face, will radio base camp at summit...if no word, I'm with Mallory.