Do you still use Windows sometimes? And why?

Puppy related raves and general interest that doesn't fit anywhere else
Post Reply
Message
Author
User avatar
Pizzasgood
Posts: 6183
Joined: Wed 04 May 2005, 20:28
Location: Knoxville, TN, USA

#16 Post by Pizzasgood »

Well, I'd already heard that it can run in Linux, and my brother told me about servers, but that still doesn't solve the time issue. Maybe if we make a big enough stink on the mailing lists we could get the kernel developers to add eight more hours to the day in the next update?

And no, the accelerated pace servers are not an adequate solution to me :wink:
[size=75]Between depriving a man of one hour from his life and depriving him of his life there exists only a difference of degree. --Muad'Dib[/size]
[img]http://www.browserloadofcoolness.com/sig.png[/img]

GeoffS
Posts: 427
Joined: Fri 24 Feb 2006, 08:39
Location: Australia

#17 Post by GeoffS »

My main computer has Puppy and XP on it (along with a couple of other Linux distribs) - I can't remember when I last booted XP on it.
A second computer also has Puppy and XP (with XPLite) on it but defaults to XP, is rarely used and is locked out of the internet.
This laptop has Puppy (2.12).
I only have 4 reasons for booting XP now.
One particular function in Quickbooks which I just can't make work under Wine. Fortunately I only rarely use that function.
Video editing - Lives or Cinerella would probably do everything for me however they both involve a steep learning curve for something I don't do very frequently.
Maintaining a number of systems I wrote in MS Access some years ago. I wish somebody would develop an equivalent for Linux.
Maintaining and using a couple of programs writing in Visual Basic and some PicAxe programs.
Doesn't seem much and mainly fixable.
Cheers
Geoff

Jactek
Posts: 37
Joined: Mon 11 Dec 2006, 00:43
Location: Hport NY

#18 Post by Jactek »

My computer at work has XP. I have to use IE to access our state wide database, also i use Access quite a bit.

At home I have a partition with 98 that I use for the same reasons.
I mostly use lighthouse pup at home.

We are in the process of setting up Vista machines (not my idea) Acer T-180's Have already set up 30 they are used to surf the net and write resumes, cover letters etc and so far have been working, knock on wood

Jim
[url=http://www.puppyos.com][img]http://i17.tinypic.com/346vnyc.jpg[/img][/url]

User avatar
SirDuncan
Posts: 829
Joined: Sat 09 Dec 2006, 20:35
Location: Ohio, USA
Contact:

#19 Post by SirDuncan »

I use XP for playing games that don't run or don't run well in Linux, running the software for my TV tuner (might run under WINE, but I already have XP for other things), InDesign CS3 (for class), and for running boolean logic and circuit design programs (again, for class).

There are Linux alternatives for all of the programs I use for class; but as Pizza said, if you use it in class you need to use it at home (or in the dorm as the case may be). InDesign will not install under WINE, but might run if I copied the installed files to the WINE file structure. Too much work, though.

WoW does run in Linux through WINE, but it will get your account disabled because it does not let the Warden (the anti-hacking program used by WoW) run properly. They will assume that you are hacking and disable your account.

Like Lobster, I await a functional ReactOS. A free/open source OS that is binary compatible with XP and a fraction of the size? I'll take it.
Be brave that God may help thee, speak the truth even if it leads to death, and safeguard the helpless. - A knight's oath

User avatar
ttuuxxx
Posts: 11171
Joined: Sat 05 May 2007, 10:00
Location: Ontario Canada,Sydney Australia
Contact:

#20 Post by ttuuxxx »

SirDuncan wrote:
Like Lobster, I await a functional ReactOS. A free/open source OS that is binary compatible with XP and a fraction of the size? I'll take it.
Hey SirDuncan

I've also been a bit of a tester for ReactOS for a few years now, Whenever they release a newer version I usually test a few applications and report my findings to the online forum/chat
Also I still use windows for my CS3 Suite applications.
One day I hope we get better alternatives for the professional side of things when it comes to linux. But for most I use puppy.
ttuuxxx
http://audio.online-convert.com/ <-- excellent site
http://samples.mplayerhq.hu/A-codecs/ <-- Codec Test Files
http://html5games.com/ <-- excellent HTML5 games :)

User avatar
Aitch
Posts: 6518
Joined: Wed 04 Apr 2007, 15:57
Location: Chatham, Kent, UK

#21 Post by Aitch »

Hi Mark
I still use win2k regularly, though I had win98se running for years, updating/modifying it to suit, until after it wasn't supported anymore
I had several of the winME addins & used a program called erunt to keep it running. I'd played with many shell extensions through ShellExtensionCity
I still use both erunt & registryrepair pro to keep Win2k sp4 running [fully updated/firewalled/virus/spyware regclean defrag etc]
I've lost at least 5 full systems & files - unrecovered & annoyed

Specific software I like Scansoft Paperport
I like the fact that I can transfer various scans to one of many programs for changing format/layout etc easily & also saves me going through the torture of OCR which is just useless IMHO
I do a fair amount of legal paperwork, so layout is pretty much dictated by the court service here in uk, and timing is of the essence, as are clean repeatable copies. Lots of document/file management/copying/ scanning/printing
Another program I use regularly & haven't found anything like, is PrintArtist by Sierra, early version, which I can do very easy little graphics with, and make cards ready printed for folding
I also like Irfanview for quick viewing & resizing jpgs & pngs & foxitreader for pdfs
For video/audio editing adobe premiere/Audacity & some adobe CS3
I like 7zip's integration into 'right click' for speedy zipping/unzipping
In fact I use several integration links into 'right click' for document/file handling
I use firefox tabbed browser & fastmail & hotmail [though I'm trying to escape!!]

I'm still, despite many hours/days/weeks/months trying various puppy formats/struggling with linux, though Puppy is definitely my favourite for ease of transfer from 'doze' though I play with lots of really old hardware & many problems are just poor hardware, being asked to perform small miracles, by someone who just doesn't have the knowledge or experience [sometimes the patience!]
My aim is to have a working fileserver/printserver[webserver in the future?]
trixbox/phonesystem
low energy vehicle [camperbus] small theatre system with wifi plus boost aerial, for hotspots & hsdpa modem for mobile broadband & if possible touchscreen [If Puppy could do all that I'd be well pleased]
Home system networked/scsi/firewire jbods linking to mac G3s/winboxes/laptops for friends
try hp/compaq server boxes/sun hardware & thinclient networking,
microdrives/CF drives and anything else interesting/affordable to someone with virtually no income
Most that I need is not a failure of linux per se, but just habit & most of that bad, from using a dumbing down & pretty damn useless OS for 7/8 years or more, though I have to concede it did seem easier to learn, as many people I knew were in the same boat, so you didn't feel so awkward
Now I feel awkward just mentioning linux, because so many people don't get it/don't want it /can't be bothered
At least I've escaped that! :)
Most else that I do is to not let technology get away from me in retirement
Aitch
PS: hope you find this useful

User avatar
Flash
Official Dog Handler
Posts: 13071
Joined: Wed 04 May 2005, 16:04
Location: Arizona USA

#22 Post by Flash »

I still use Windows, mostly to watch DVDs, convert CDs to mp3 so I can listen to them at work on my mp3 player, and look at pdf files. Gxine plays DVDs not very well compared to the Windows-based DVD player I use (I can't think of its name at the moment.) RealPlayer 10 can convert a CD to mp3 in as little as 3 minutes in Windows. Puppy's PBcdripper takes nearly 15 minutes. The end result sounds the same so I use RealPlayer. The pdf reader in Puppy is very slow and causes problems if I try to look at large pdf files, so if I have a large one to look at I do it in Windows.
[url=http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=69321][color=blue]Puppy Help 101 - an interactive tutorial for Lupu 5.25[/color][/url]

User avatar
davids45
Posts: 1326
Joined: Sun 26 Nov 2006, 23:33
Location: Chatswood, NSW

#23 Post by davids45 »

G'day,
Windows for:
1) printing - my cheaply bought re-badged Lexmark colour laser has no Linux support; wish I knew how to use this printer as a shared printer on the/an older computer running XP on our home network while using the newer computer with Puppy?
2) genealogy software - Windows has a big start with specialist hobby software - see also ham-radio, etc, etc; popular genealogy programs wont run under Wine. It's the hobby that's important, not the computer's OS to most people here.
3) Excel occasionally, when gnumeric and OO calc just dont quite handle the functions as I know them.
4) TV recording: avidemux seems to handle the editing pretty well but I've not found the capturing Linux software matches the OEM Windows programs that came with the cards (not surprisingly, of course).
David S.

User avatar
john biles
Posts: 1458
Joined: Sun 17 Sep 2006, 14:05
Location: Australia
Contact:

#24 Post by john biles »

Hello Everyone,
I want to be a fulltime Linux user. I want to prove that Linux can be used every day by the average PC User.
I created TEENpup to prove it can be done. This is what drives each release. I know TEENpup isn't there yet.
I hear complaints that TEENpup is getting too big and goes against what Puppy stands for, a light fast operating system.
After reading all these posts, a good amount of the requirements on what Puppy users are booting up Windows for can be done it TEENpup.
I'm in no way saying that you should use TEENpup. It is more an observation.
This only confirms that the average user needs more applications then those supplied in Puppy.

I use TEENpup 99.9% of the time. My wife uses TEENpup 95% of the time and she doesn't even like Linux. She only started using TEENpup because it booted faster than XP and now after getting use to gaim, seamonkey etc only goes to Windows to print Photo's. (TEENpup 2008 has made great improvements in Printing over TEENpup 2.14 but is not quite there yet on some printers.)
My nieces who laughed at Puppy and Linux in the beginning now when visiting ask to use TEENpup and at home run Pigeon on their Windows PC and have asked for if they can run other Linux Applications on their Window's PC as well.

Sadly I get the feel now that Puppy is only a part time system to alot of User's.
Last edited by john biles on Mon 17 Mar 2008, 03:13, edited 1 time in total.
Legacy OS 2017 has been released.

User avatar
ttuuxxx
Posts: 11171
Joined: Sat 05 May 2007, 10:00
Location: Ontario Canada,Sydney Australia
Contact:

#25 Post by ttuuxxx »

john biles wrote:Hello Everyone,
I want to be a fulltime Linux user. I want to prove that Linux can be used every day by the average PC User.
I created TEENpup to prove it can be done. This is what drives each release. I know TEENpup isn't there yet.
I hear complaints that TEENpup is getting too big and goes against what Puppy stands for, a light fast operating system.
After reading all these posts, a good amount of the requirements on what Puppy users are booting up Windows for can be done it TEENpup.
I'm in no way saying that you should use TEENpup. It is more an observation.
This only confirms that the average user needs more applications then those supplied in Puppy.

I use TEENpup 99.9% of the time. My wife uses TEENpup 95% of the time and she doesn't even like Linux. She only started using TEENpup because it booted faster than XP and now after getting use to gaim, seamonkey etc only goes to Windows to print Photo's. (TEENpup 2008 has made great improvements in Printing over TEENpup 2.14 but is not quite there yet on some printers.)
My nieces who laughed at Puppy and Linux in the beginning now when visiting ask to use TEENpup and at home run Pigeon on their Windows PC and have asked for if they can run other Linux Applications on their Window's PC as well.

Sadly I get the feel now that Puppy is only a part time system to alot of User's.
John

I wouldn't let it bug ya at all. Teen pup is just fine, sure you might have some issues, but basically has there ever been a perfect puppy release, Ummm no. Its not our fault either, I blame mostly the big corporations who truly don't support Linux with proper drivers.
Like printers, when you buy a printer most of the time the cd has drivers for windows and mac's. Not too often for Linux.

The Size of teen pup, well "Inferno" was bigger then your first release and now you've surpassed it in size. I did also have a few minor complaints about the size, But I also had other smaller Variants that filled the gaps and basically told them to try one of the others:)
But Inferno and TeenPup have 2 things in common
- trying to please people who want almost everything all in 1 distro
- SIze

But if you look at main stream linux where the average starting point is around 700mb TeenPup is still a Pup and not a dog.

My best advice is basically keep up the excellent work, don't let people get you down, Make a list of fixes and maybe make a patch or release a update iso with fixes. But really we do this for nothing, Just for other people to enjoy and I feel people should respect people who spend 100's of hours building something for nothing. The Best part of it is when I get a 1.5 page email loaded with complements, One person really loved ttuuxxxTV and said it was the most innovative application of the year. Thats what its all about.
ttuuxxx
http://audio.online-convert.com/ <-- excellent site
http://samples.mplayerhq.hu/A-codecs/ <-- Codec Test Files
http://html5games.com/ <-- excellent HTML5 games :)

User avatar
sunburnt
Posts: 5090
Joined: Wed 08 Jun 2005, 23:11
Location: Arizona, U.S.A.

#26 Post by sunburnt »

That's MU, always ready with help & a quick answer.

Thanks Mark, I'll check it out...

User avatar
HairyWill
Posts: 2928
Joined: Fri 26 May 2006, 23:29
Location: Southampton, UK

#27 Post by HairyWill »

My laptop runs puppy 95% of the time
Debian Lenny 4%, (for testing and using gpsd which I can't make work properly with my gps on puppy)
Windows 1% (Homeworld2)

My household shares run off an XP box, why don't I have a samba server? Mainly personal inertia. I haven't done enough research to know how easy it is to set up. The risk of changing something vs doing nothing, its not what interests me and I'm guessing it was cost some time in getting working properly. The box is up a lot of the time already running various kids games that don't stay in fashion for long enough for me to bother trying to run under wine. I occasionally use the musicbrainz picard tagger on it, I believe this also works on debian.

At work I have two machines that I use at my desk and also remote into. One runs puppy 3.01 the other XP. Rdesktop into the XP box is a smoother experience than vnc into the puppy one. Remote desktop can change the screen resolution to match the client automatically. With VNC either I have to start a new session at the correct resolution or have a virtual desktop that is bigger than the screen size. It is also possible with vnc to scale the image but reducing 1280x1024 - 1024-768 leaves many things illegible. The program that mainly keeps me using XP is Visual Studio because I teach basic programming in Visual Basic. I have considered teaching in a different language. One of the factors stopping me is the aggravation involved getting a new language installed on our public workstations.

If could have a expert help me with migration the thing I would ask them to do is to get me an experience as good as windows remote desktop (without the irritating rdpclip.exe clipboard bug)
Will
contribute: [url=http://www.puppylinux.org]community website[/url], [url=http://tinyurl.com/6c3nm6]screenshots[/url], [url=http://tinyurl.com/6j2gbz]puplets[/url], [url=http://tinyurl.com/57gykn]wiki[/url], [url=http://tinyurl.com/5dgr83]rss[/url]

User avatar
Billwho?
Posts: 559
Joined: Tue 06 Dec 2005, 09:28
Location: still "In The Dog House" East Coast Oz
Trialing 4.20

#28 Post by Billwho? »

Unfortunately I still need window$ for a few things.

Printing homework for my daughters, when neither Abiword or OO Writer can do all of the formatting that they put in using Word.

Excel for setting up conditional formatting (this can be done in OO Calc but is much easier in Excel) and whenever I need functions that won't work in Gnumeric or OO Calc eg. running personally created macros.

Defragging my fat32 partition used to transfer files between window$ and Linux

Sending faxes. At the moment I get the error message that the modem is not responding when in Puppy.

I have not been able to get M$ Office to run in Wine yet.

When I start using the computer at work again it will be Window$ NT 2000
Last edited by Billwho? on Mon 17 Mar 2008, 13:57, edited 1 time in total.
Linux = Learning through doing :shock: :? :D
The learning curve may be steep but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
You just have to pass the occasional oncoming train to get there.

User avatar
smokey01
Posts: 2813
Joined: Sat 30 Dec 2006, 23:15
Location: South Australia :-(
Contact:

#29 Post by smokey01 »

I think I have three or four licences for windows but I no longer use any of the versions.

The continual updates and disk activity use to drive me nuts.

Windows hasn't been used in my house for over a year and not likely to be reintroduced, on my main computer anyway. XP was on a recently purchased new Dell laptop, 64bit dual processor and still much slower than puppy on my AMD 3000+ 32 bit box.

Skype with video would draw me back to windows but not any more. It works great on my Eee PC. I still haven't manage to get it working on the main box yet but it's only a matter of time.

100% puppy at home unfortunately 100% XP at work.

whyme
Posts: 17
Joined: Fri 07 Mar 2008, 19:28
Location: Arizona USA

#30 Post by whyme »

We use yahoo msg with microphone and Webcam

Wife likes yahoo IM and I dont know how to compile source code or get an up to date Unix version of YahooIM to use with puppy with integrated webcam and phone chat..

and on occasion I play WoW and dont know enough about OpenGL to support my ATI radeon 9200 graphic card :wink:
Last edited by whyme on Tue 18 Mar 2008, 17:23, edited 1 time in total.

vanchutr
Posts: 438
Joined: Sat 05 Aug 2006, 12:04

#31 Post by vanchutr »

Continuing to use Win$ for:

1. Playing games (Hard to install in Puppy Linux)
2. Downloads some big packages with idm (slow in Puppy Linux)

User avatar
recycler
Posts: 120
Joined: Thu 26 Jul 2007, 02:19
Location: New Zealand

still using windows....

#32 Post by recycler »

Interesting posts and choice of topic. To add my bit....I edit video at home and so I installed windows xp professional and adobe premier elements 4. Very happy with that. I used to think windows was slow - I hate waiting for a computer to catch up with what I am asking it to do - until I ran it on a P4 1.8mhz cpu with 1gig of ram. Now it seems really fast and I like it lots. I should add that my way of doing windows is to ignore all the automatic updates - too much hassle. I want to be in control of the computer not waiting on it. So far I have not found this to be a problem. It's just a question of learning not to panic when told you have close to 1000 security issues!

I run a project to reuse old computers here in New Zealand and tried installing puppy on several machines. It usually runs fine but I found that if there is a power cut it doesn't come back. Today I wiped a copy of windows 98 - it's way too out of date now - and tried a stripped down version of Xubuntu. Seems to work well with 256mb of ram and a 500mhz processor.

I like the minimalist approach of puppy and enjoy using it. It means can use this laptop without a HD and go on the net without worrying about viruses etc. I love the speed, the way it looks and the selection of applications is excellent. I think Microsoft is an evolutionary dead end so I am eagerly following developments in the open source world.

ndujoe1
Posts: 851
Joined: Mon 05 Dec 2005, 01:06

windows use

#33 Post by ndujoe1 »

"The continual updates and disk activity use to drive me nuts."

As was quoted earlier.

I have helped with Windows based machines. And this update process even on broadband speeds takes forever. A waste of time.

User avatar
Aitch
Posts: 6518
Joined: Wed 04 Apr 2007, 15:57
Location: Chatham, Kent, UK

#34 Post by Aitch »

@recycler
Interesting posts and choice of topic
2nd that

@MU

yes, and what has surprised me most is the shattering of an illusion that
I didn't realise

I thought many of the regulars whose names I'd gotten used to seeing,
were total puppians, including your goodself!

just goes to show, you never know till you know, eh?

and if things didn't change, they'd stay the way they are

good, innit :wink: :D

and without your help and the others

well, this attachment about sums it up


Aitch
Attachments
computerSmokeAnim.gif
(9.71 KiB) Downloaded 1727 times

User avatar
d4p
Posts: 439
Joined: Tue 13 Mar 2007, 02:30

#35 Post by d4p »

It is true: "Why Linux will not displace Windows"(Read somewhere in this

forum). Just simple, Linux is not END-user friendly.
I miss too many good windows-applications in linux.

Post Reply