Windows: It’s over, tech site declares

[Johnny]

Published April 16, 2013

"Calling the latest operating system a “failure” and Microsoft’s leaders
“idiots,” a top tech website has proclaimed the PC era over. Windows is
coming to a dead end, they say."

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/04/16/windows-its-over-tech-site-declares/?intcmp=features


I don't believe the PC era is over, but I do believe the statement that
Microsoft's leaders are idiots. They had the opportunity to please all
users, and chose not to.

 

[webster72n]

Published April 16, 2013

"Calling the latest operating system a “failure” and Microsoft’s leaders
“idiots,” a top tech website has proclaimed the PC era over. Windows is
coming to a dead end, they say."

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/04/16/windows-its-over-tech-site-declares/?intcmp=features



I don't believe the PC era is over, but I do believe the statement that
Microsoft's leaders are idiots. They had the opportunity to please all
users, and chose not to.

It's only a matter of time.
We might as well get used to it.

Harry.

 

[Mellowed]

Published April 16, 2013

"Calling the latest operating system a “failure” and Microsoft’s leaders
“idiots,” a top tech website has proclaimed the PC era over. Windows is
coming to a dead end, they say."

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/04/16/windows-its-over-tech-site-declares/?intcmp=features



I don't believe the PC era is over, but I do believe the statement that
Microsoft's leaders are idiots. They had the opportunity to please all
users, and chose not to.

If the time comes that the Windows Desktop is no longer functional, I
will just go to a Linux OS. Libre Office works as well as MS Office and
most of my applications, or equivalent, are already available in Linux.
So, I don't foresee a future problem regardless what MS does. We are
not dependent on the whims of Microsoft. I'm just not inclined to learn
another OS until absolutely necessary. I doubt that time will come in
my functional lifetime.

 

[Ken Springer]

It's only a matter of time.
We might as well get used to it.

The proverbial defeatist attitude. It will only happen if sufficient
numbers of customers blindly buy whatever MS offers, rather that
actually looking for, and maybe actually learning, something different.


--
Ken

Mac OS X 10.8.3
Firefox 20.0
Thunderbird 17.0.5
LibreOffice 4.0.1.2

 

[Steve Hayes]

They want to get you into their App Store. They want to cut you
off from you legacy applications. That's why, what they're doing,
seems so strange to you. They want you on a Subscription.

And that's why I stick with "legacy" versions of Windows.

I want a computer that does useful things that make my life easier for me, not
an expensive toy that makes meaningless patterns on screen.

 

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

In message <[email protected]>, Mellowed <[email protected]>
writes:
[]

If the time comes that the Windows Desktop is no longer functional, I
will just go to a Linux OS. Libre Office works as well as MS Office
and most of my applications, or equivalent, are already available in
Linux. So, I don't foresee a future problem regardless what MS does.
We are not dependent on the whims of Microsoft. I'm just not inclined
to learn another OS until absolutely necessary. I doubt that time will
come in my functional lifetime.

Provided the hardware manufacturers continue to make hardware (I'm
thinking of the new kind of BIOS - I forget the acronym) that will
_allow_ you to install anything other than Microsoft, or at least
doesn't make it hard work to do so.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

.... unlike other legal systems the common law is permissive. We can do what we
like, unless it is specifically prohibited by law. We are not as rule-bound
and codified as other legal systems. - Helena Kennedy QC (Radio Times 14-20
July 2012).

 

[Paul]

If the time comes that the Windows Desktop is no longer functional, I
will just go to a Linux OS. Libre Office works as well as MS Office
and most of my applications, or equivalent, are already available in
Linux. So, I don't foresee a future problem regardless what MS does.
We are not dependent on the whims of Microsoft. I'm just not inclined
to learn another OS until absolutely necessary. I doubt that time
will come in my functional lifetime.

Provided the hardware manufacturers continue to make hardware (I'm
thinking of the new kind of BIOS - I forget the acronym) that will
_allow_ you to install anything other than Microsoft, or at least
doesn't make it hard work to do so.[/QUOTE]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardware_restrictions#Verified.2Ftrusted.2Fsecure_boot

"See also: Unified Extensible Firmware Interface#Secure boot

Some devices implement a feature called "verified boot",
"trusted boot" or "secure boot", which will only allow
signed software to run on the device, usually from the
device manufacturer. This is considered a restriction if the
users do not have the ability to disable it.
"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_Extensible_Firmware_Interface#Secure_boot

"When secure boot is enabled, it is initially placed in
"setup" mode, which allows a public key known as the
"Platform key" (PK) to be written to the firmware.
Once the key is written, secure boot enters "User" mode,
where only drivers and loaders signed with the platform
key can be loaded by the firmware."

AFAIK, Secure Boot is mandatory on ARM devices for Windows RT (8 for ARM).
On the Intel version of Windows 8, Secure Boot might be used by an OEM
(like Dell), with the option to have a "disable" function in the BIOS
screen.

http://commweb-ps3.us.dell.com/support-forums/desktop/f/3514/t/19477669.aspx

"When you disable Secure Boot, the Boot Mode switches to Legacy.
Hit the pulldown on Legacy and set the Boot Mode to UEFI and leave
Secure Boot Disabled. If you leave it in Legacy, you'll have to
reinstall Windows.

You can run either:

1. in legacy mode (which doesn't have a Secure Boot option);
2. in UEFI mode with Secure Boot; or
3. in UEFI mode w/o Secure Boot

Legacy mode uses the older MBR disk partitions.

UEFI Mode uses the newer GPT disk partitions. Dell installed Windows
in UEFI mode, when you boot in Legacy mode, Windows can't read the
data in the GPT partitions.

It would be nice if when you switched the Secure Boot from Enabled
to Disabled, the Boot Mode stayed in UEFI and didn't switch to Legacy.
But that's not the way the BIOS Setup is currently working.
"

So on the 8500 at least, they've done (close to) the right thing.

Paul

 

[Laszlo Lebrun]

And that's why I stick with "legacy" versions of Windows.

I want a computer that does useful things that make my life easier for me, not
an expensive toy that makes meaningless patterns on screen.

I DON'T WANT TO BE DEAD WITHOUT AN INTERNET CONNECTION!

Be free, live with your own local resources!

B.t.w: Windows8 + classic shell is a good system. Yet.

 

[Laszlo Lebrun]

If the time comes that the Windows Desktop is no longer functional, I
will just go to a Linux OS. Libre Office works as well as MS Office and
most of my applications, or equivalent, are already available in Linux.

The only thing is that e.g. Canonical got that crappy all-tablet, all
online way as well.
I stay with a much better 10.04 LTS.
I stay with a good old Windows mobile (hidden behind a Sense shell)
diong all things offline.
I have adopted Windows 8, but quasi exclusively on the desktop with
Classic Shell.

 

[Laszlo Lebrun]

In message <[email protected]>, Mellowed <[email protected]>
writes:
[]

If the time comes that the Windows Desktop is no longer functional, I
will just go to a Linux OS. Libre Office works as well as MS Office
and most of my applications, or equivalent, are already available in
Linux. So, I don't foresee a future problem regardless what MS does.
We are not dependent on the whims of Microsoft. I'm just not inclined
to learn another OS until absolutely necessary. I doubt that time
will come in my functional lifetime.

Provided the hardware manufacturers continue to make hardware (I'm
thinking of the new kind of BIOS - I forget the acronym) that will
_allow_ you to install anything other than Microsoft, or at least
doesn't make it hard work to do so.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardware_restrictions#Verified.2Ftrusted.2Fsecure_boot


"See also: Unified Extensible Firmware Interface#Secure boot

Some devices implement a feature called "verified boot",
"trusted boot" or "secure boot", which will only allow
signed software to run on the device, usually from the
device manufacturer. This is considered a restriction if the
users do not have the ability to disable it.
"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_Extensible_Firmware_Interface#Secure_boot


"When secure boot is enabled, it is initially placed in
"setup" mode, which allows a public key known as the
"Platform key" (PK) to be written to the firmware.
Once the key is written, secure boot enters "User" mode,
where only drivers and loaders signed with the platform
key can be loaded by the firmware."

AFAIK, Secure Boot is mandatory on ARM devices for Windows RT (8 for ARM).
On the Intel version of Windows 8, Secure Boot might be used by an OEM
(like Dell), with the option to have a "disable" function in the BIOS
screen.

http://commweb-ps3.us.dell.com/support-forums/desktop/f/3514/t/19477669.aspx


"When you disable Secure Boot, the Boot Mode switches to Legacy.
Hit the pulldown on Legacy and set the Boot Mode to UEFI and leave
Secure Boot Disabled. If you leave it in Legacy, you'll have to
reinstall Windows.

You can run either:

1. in legacy mode (which doesn't have a Secure Boot option);
2. in UEFI mode with Secure Boot; or
3. in UEFI mode w/o Secure Boot

Legacy mode uses the older MBR disk partitions.

UEFI Mode uses the newer GPT disk partitions. Dell installed Windows
in UEFI mode, when you boot in Legacy mode, Windows can't read the
data in the GPT partitions.

It would be nice if when you switched the Secure Boot from Enabled
to Disabled, the Boot Mode stayed in UEFI and didn't switch to Legacy.
But that's not the way the BIOS Setup is currently working.
"

So on the 8500 at least, they've done (close to) the right thing.

Paul

So we will end-up "jailbreaking" our PC's as if it were dumb Apple
products to install independent software?
That will be the end...
[rolleyes]

 

[Martin Edwards]

Published April 16, 2013

"Calling the latest operating system a “failure” and Microsoft’s leaders
“idiots,” a top tech website has proclaimed the PC era over. Windows is
coming to a dead end, they say."

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/04/16/windows-its-over-tech-site-declares/?intcmp=features



I don't believe the PC era is over, but I do believe the statement that
Microsoft's leaders are idiots. They had the opportunity to please all
users, and chose not to.

I sure hope not. I do not have a smartphone and do not use the Internet
on my phone. The charges are astronomical.

 

[Stephen Wolstenholme]

I sure hope not. I do not have a smartphone and do not use the Internet
on my phone. The charges are astronomical.

I don't have a mobile phone at all!

Steve

 

[John Williamson]

I pay £15 per month, roughly, and I get unlimited calls, unlimited
texts, and 750 Meg of data for that. As I don't stream much, that suits
me. For the same £15 quid, I can get, IIRC, 5 Gig of data, which
normally arrives a bit faster than the stuff through my landline..

I don't have a mobile phone at all!

If ever I have to choose, it's the landline that will go first.

 

[Ken Blake]

I pay £15 per month, roughly, and I get unlimited calls, unlimited
texts, and 750 Meg of data for that. As I don't stream much, that suits
me. For the same £15 quid, I can get, IIRC, 5 Gig of data, which
normally arrives a bit faster than the stuff through my landline..
If ever I have to choose, it's the landline that will go first.

If you are interested, you can have a land line for free these days
(at least in the US). I use Google Voice with an OBi100 device ($39.24
at Amazon.com). It's VoIP, works just fine, gives me local and long
distance coverage all over the USA, and costs zero dollars per month.

I switched to it from Vonage a couple of months ago, and I'm already
seeing savings. And the quality is at least as good as with Vonage.

The only downside is that I can't make 911 calls, but since I can do
that from either of our cell phones, that's no problem for us.

 

[mick]

I DON'T WANT TO BE DEAD WITHOUT AN INTERNET CONNECTION!

A bit like being marooned on a deserted island. Twenty years ago I
would just want a cold beer supply and a beautiful woman, now just a
cold beer supply and the internet would be fine

 

[Buffalo]

"Ken Blake" wrote in message

If you are interested, you can have a land line for free these days
(at least in the US). I use Google Voice with an OBi100 device ($39.24
at Amazon.com). It's VoIP, works just fine, gives me local and long
distance coverage all over the USA, and costs zero dollars per month.

I switched to it from Vonage a couple of months ago, and I'm already
seeing savings. And the quality is at least as good as with Vonage.

The only downside is that I can't make 911 calls, but since I can do
that from either of our cell phones, that's no problem for us.

Wow, that is interesting. I had my land line disconnected when I did the
triple play in Comcast.
I will have to research this.
By land line, are you still talking about using your internet connection or
the old phone land lines?
I imagine it is VOIP and needs an internet connection.
Thanks again for any future advice on the OBi100.
Buffalo

 

[Ken Blake]

"Ken Blake" wrote in message



Wow, that is interesting. I had my land line disconnected when I did the
triple play in Comcast.

This is much cheaper than Comcast's phone service.

I will have to research this.
By land line, are you still talking about using your internet connection or
the old phone land lines?
I imagine it is VOIP and needs an internet connection.

Yes. As I said above, it's VoIP.

Thanks again for any future advice on the OBi100.

Ask any questions you have and I'll be glad to help if I can.

Ken

 

[Char Jackson]

If you are interested, you can have a land line for free these days
(at least in the US). I use Google Voice with an OBi100 device ($39.24
at Amazon.com). It's VoIP, works just fine, gives me local and long
distance coverage all over the USA, and costs zero dollars per month.

I switched to it from Vonage a couple of months ago, and I'm already
seeing savings. And the quality is at least as good as with Vonage.

The only downside is that I can't make 911 calls, but since I can do
that from either of our cell phones, that's no problem for us.

I considered doing exactly the same thing, (going from Vonage to GV), but
then I realized that I don't need a VoIP phone or any kind of replacement
for Vonage at all. Cell phones are fine for me.

 

[Ken Blake]

I considered doing exactly the same thing, (going from Vonage to GV), but
then I realized that I don't need a VoIP phone or any kind of replacement
for Vonage at all. Cell phones are fine for me.

If I lived alone, I might consider doing much the same thing. But it's
not uncommon for my wife and I to be on the phone together, and
that's much easier with a land line.

Also, our cell phone service charge is prepaid, not monthly. And since
we use them very little, our total cost is $10 a year each.

 

[Larry__Weiss]

... But it's
not uncommon for my wife and I to be on the phone together, and
that's much easier with a land line.

I've never considered that with respect to the benefits of a land line.
We don't do it too often here, but don't give it a second thought when we want to do that sort of
conference call.