DARK SHADOWS FORUMS
General Discussions => Testing. 1, 2, 3... => Topic started by: Josette on May 16, 2003, 04:18:58 AM
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After talking about it for a year or two, I'm finally on the verge of getting a new computer and thought I'd get some hints. From the WordPerfect forum I use, it would seem that one should make sure to get Windows XP Professional and not Home - do you know anything about these?
I know you like Linux. It's always sounded interesting. Now that I'll have room, I could consider it. However, since the XP would also be on the computer and since they are both operating systems, I don't quite understand how that would work. At one point I think WordPerfect was developing a version to work with Linux, but I don't know if anything really came of that. If one uses Linux, will the regular programs work?
Any opinions on anti-virus programs? McAfee came with this computer and I've kept it up ever since. If I get Gateway again (which I think I will), it comes with 3 months of Norton. On the WordPerfect forum, again, someone recently indicated that he feels Norton is no good. However, some of them seem to feel the same way about McAfee!! They recommended a few other programs, and I think one of those is free. The names mentioned were: ViRobot, Panda, and AVG. I think AVG is the one I've noticed a few of them recommending and I think that's the one that's free. I've always been reluctant to switch to anything else. I assume I'll accept the 3 months of Norton and then decide whether to subscribe to them or go back to McAfee.
When I got my current one, it has a 4 GB hard drive (which sounded enormous at the time; I was going from 212 MB!!), at that time it had to be subdivided and came as C and D drives. The pre-installed programs and most others I've installed (Fax, Acrobat, WinZip and anything else that came along) are on C. I have WP and all of my own files on D.
I kind of liked that separation. However, it's C that's almost full, while there's still more room on D (by now that's getting pretty full, too, though). One salesman seemed surprised when he learned of the partition and I said it had to be that way back then. He advised to never partition.
With the large size of drives these days, since it would be a major undertaking to partition it once it's set up, I thought I'd solicit opinions as to whether it's better to have the one huge drive or partitions.
I think that's it for now!! :)
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Josette,
I'll go into more detail when I have a chance later today, but two quick points:
If you're going to go with Windows XP, definitely get the Professional vs. the Home version. The Home version has way too many horror stories to be practical.
And as for WordPerfect, yes they definitely have a version for Linux. I came across a download site just the other day while I was searching for some other Linux software.
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MB, thank you for your answers. I hated to throw so many questions at you with everything else you have to do. It's likely to be at least a week or two before I actually do anything, so don't feel pressed to answer quickly.
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Someone posted the following on the WordPerfect board. I thought you'd enjoy it:
If Operating Systems Ran The Airlines
UNIX Airways
Everyone brings one piece of the plane along when they come to the airport. They all go out on the runway and put the plane together piece by piece, arguing non-stop about what kind of plane they are supposed to be building.
Air DOS
Everybody pushes the airplane until it glides, then they jump on and let the plane coast until it hits the ground again. Then they push again, jump on again, and so on ...
Mac Airlines
All the stewards, captains, baggage handlers, and ticket agents look and act exactly the same. Every time you ask questions about details, you are gently but firmly told that you don't need to know, don't want to know, and everything will be done for you without your ever having to know, so just shut up.
Windows Air
The terminal is pretty and colorful, with friendly stewards, easy baggage check and boarding, and a smooth take-off. After about 10 minutes in the air, the plane explodes with no warning whatsoever.
Windows NT Air
Just like Windows Air, but costs more, uses much bigger planes, and takes out all the other aircraft within a 40-mile radius when it explodes.
Linux Air
Disgruntled employees of all the other OS airlines decide to start their own airline. They build the planes, ticket counters, and pave the runways themselves. They charge a small fee to cover the cost of printing the ticket, but you can also download and print the ticket yourself. When you board the plane, you are given a seat, four bolts, a wrench and a copy of the Seat-HOWTO.html. Once settled, the fully adjustable seat is very comfortable, the plane leaves and arrives on time without a single problem, the in-flight meal is wonderful. You try to tell customers of the other airlines about the great trip, but all they can say is, "You had to do what with the seat?"
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Well Josette...the heading (knowledgeable!!) shoulda scared me off...but
I too HAD to get a new 'puter.
I bought Dell...nice commercials..huh...too bad there's a BIG stamp on bottom, "Made in China" and when I called their tech #, I asked the woman where she was, India... so I guess Dell only has 1 need for Americans >:(
I didn't know the difference with the XP or home...I bought home...and ibid to what MB said about nightmare... for one thing...there's no Excel, it's just a spreadsheet form.
Patti
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Someone posted the following on the WordPerfect board. I thought you'd enjoy it
ROFL! I love it! And every word of it is dead on, too. :D
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Thank you, Patti! All of the WordPerfect people have been saying to make sure to get Professional, but the salespeople don't see why I should need it!!
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I didn't know the difference with the XP or home...I bought home...and ibid to what MB said about nightmare... for one thing...there's no Excel, it's just a spreadsheet form.
huh???? i thought XP was an operating system. i think you mean the difference between XP version of professional and standard versions of word office. it should be the same programs but the professional version would include access (data base program).
we even have the student/teacher edition (husband is teacher) and it's the full version of excel so maybe you actually mean microsoft works which doesn't have the full version of anything.
and i think MB is right to get the XP professional version of the operating system. it's based on microsoft office NT which is one of the best MS operating systems.
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we even have the student/teacher edition (husband is teacher) and it's the full version of excel
Oh yeah, MB is going to slap me for praising a Microsoft product lol, but Excel rocks for teaching. I keep my student grades on it, and then I can convert the file to a CSV and upload it to the university's online grade reporting system so my students can see their grades.
Meanwhile, some of my colleagues pull their hair out during finals week using pencil, paper, and calculator. Luddites! [crazy]
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I got another one from the WordPerfect forum that I just had to share with you:
This reminds me of a winning entry in a recent Bullwer-Lytton ("It was a dark and stormy night...") contest:
"Kirk's mind raced as he quickly assessed his situation: the shields were down, the warp drive and impulse engines were dead, life support was failing fast, and the Enterprise was plummeting out of control toward the surface of Epsilon VI and, as Scotty and Spock searched frantically through the manuals trying to find a way to save them all, Kirk vowed, as he stared at the solid blue image filling the main view screen, that never again would he allow a Microsoft operating system to control his ship. - Mike Rottmann, Reno, Nev."
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Josette,
I'll go into more detail when I have a chance later today, but two quick points:
Hi MB!
As you see, you originally intended to reply later the same day! I told you not to worry, that it was likely to be a week or two before I did anything. However, it's almost 2 weeks at this point, and I'm assuming you've forgotten about this by now.
Also, some more questions . . .
I thought I'd have to get Windows XP, but found out at Gateway, for the same price as the upgrade to Professional, I could get Win 2000. There are a number of people on the WP forum who have indicated that it's better than XP.
However, if I get 2000, I won't get whatever Word office programs they provide with XP, unless I pay for one of the more expensive versions than they provide with XP. As I have no intention of buying Word, I figure I should get what they give me so I'll have it available when getting things from others or converting files to send to them. I think they offer a WP version, but since that wouldn't be the full version and would still leave me "Word-less," I think I'm better off the other way.
P.S. - Do you also sometimes post under another name besides being MB? A couple of things you've said recently have given me a hint as to who you might be. (I promise I won't post even a guess here!!! - However, I might send you an IM or ask Midnite, assuming she's allowed to answer yes or no to a guess!)
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Josette,
Just noticed your mood. I hope what's got you down improves.
Luv, M.
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Hi Midnite,
Those faces are hard to make out. I thought I had chosen a smile!! I'll check into that. Thank you for your concern! :)
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Whew.
I see you're smiling. :)
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and I'm assuming you've forgotten about this by now.
Haven't forgotten - just been busily trying to get several different things done so we can reopen guest access/registrations as soon as it's feasible. :)
But I'll try to get to all your questions soon...
P.S. - Do you also sometimes post under another name besides being MB? A couple of things you've said recently have given me a hint as to who you might be.
Well, I've been dropping subtle (and a few not so subtle) hints since day one as to who I really am. It's just that recently I've become reckless about it. :D
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Well, I've been dropping subtle (and a few not so subtle) hints since day one as to who I really am. It's just that recently I've become reckless about it. :D
Who you really are? Jeez, that sounds ominous. Are you in the Witness Protection Program? :-X
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Are you in the Witness Protection Program? :-X
Actually, it's the Webmaster Anonymity Protection Program. [wink2]
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Well, I've been dropping subtle (and a few not so subtle) hints since day one as to who I really am. It's just that recently I've become reckless about it. :D
Heh. I've noticed :)
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However, if I get 2000, I won't get whatever Word office programs they provide with XP, unless I pay for one of the more expensive versions than they provide with XP.
As far as I understand it, you can get older version of Word Perfect Suite from Corel. I don't believe that Word or Microsoft Office comes with anything unless it's being bundled by someone. But frankly, I would think this against the settlement agreement with the Feds.
Further, you can use your old version of Word Perfect with Win 2000 or XP.
I use Win 2000 NT at the law office where I consult and it's pretty good. Very stable in comparison to Win 98 or 95. XP is interesting and is certainly better then Win 98 or 95.
But no matter how you slice the bread, it's still a Microsoft product. (*sigh*)
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As far as I understand it, you can get older version of Word Perfect Suite from Corel. I don't believe that Word or Microsoft Office comes with anything unless it's being bundled by someone. But frankly, I would think this against the settlement agreement with the Feds.
Further, you can use your old version of Word Perfect with Win 2000 or XP.
It would come with Microsoft Works Suite 2003, which I assume would be most of the regular MS Works. Since I don't intend to buy it, I figure this would be the best way to get the essential parts of the current program.
If I get the 2000, that wouldn't come with it and it would be necessary to buy one of the other versions, Professional or something. They do offer the WordPerfect with some systems. Right now I have WP 8, which I intend to continue using. WP 11 has recently come out and I've been seeing good things about it, so I may upgrade in the near future after I have the new computer.
The version that would come with the comptuer, I think, would be WP10 and the OEM versions aren't complete. So, I figure I'd rather get whatever Word I can get from them and do my own WordPerfect.
Thank you, victoriawinters, for your comments about the operating systems.
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It would come with Microsoft Works Suite 2003, which I assume would be most of the regular MS Works. Since I don't intend to buy it, I figure this would be the best way to get the essential parts of the current program.
I've heard really bad things about Works. Good thing it's bundled.
Right now I have WP 8, which I intend to continue using. WP 11 has recently come out and I've been seeing good things about it, so I may upgrade in the near future after I have the new computer.
WP8 is good. They have that at the client's office too. They won't upgrade for a good long while because you have to have all the macros rewritten. I usually upgrade every other version or every third version.
Thank you, victoriawinters, for your comments about the operating systems.
My pleasure. I'm an avid WordPerfect user from way back. When you have a formatting problem there is nothing better to find it. It just performs better IMHO. Wish I could use a different operating system. But alas the small business world is semi-stuck there for a good long while I'm afraid and thus I'm stuck as well. (*sigh*) [bnghd]
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I'm an avid WordPerfect user from way back. When you have a formatting problem there is nothing better to find it. It just performs better IMHO
Perhaps you'd be interested in the WP forum I've referred to. It's a wonderful group that provides excellent and friendly help. There's also the latest news about WP and related things going on with MS and other things that could affect it. In case you want to check it out, the main page is:
http://www.wpuniverse.com/ and then click on Forums. You can use it as a guest (although I think you have to register to post other than in the Chit Chat category). It works pretty much the same as this one, except we have some additional nice features that they can't do.
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Actually, it's the Webmaster Anonymity Protection Program. [wink2]
I'm a card carrying WAPP member. [peepwall]
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I'm a card carrying WAPP member. [peepwall]
So many of us are. But of course, that bag over your head was definitely a dead giveaway in your case. [b003]
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Thanks for posting this topic. I'm printing it out to study at home.
As I've been in the process of purchasing my own first computer (as commented on in the "librarians" thread in Announcements), so this was timely for me too ... interesting that I've given myself a crash course in the past few weeks, and also would have advised Josette to get Windows XP Professional vs. the "Home" edition, based on what I've heard and read. And to think I didn't even know what an "operating system" was a month ago!
;D
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i'm glad you will be getting a home computer Vlad, then we can see more of you around here.
(http://home.pacbell.net/cbsbiz/Victoriaquill.gif)
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i'm glad you will be getting a home computer Vlad, then we can see more of you around here.
Vlad...me too....
VW...cool 'moving thing'? (sorry to be soooooo technical!!)
Patti
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Thank you, VictoriaWinters and Patti ... But it remains to be seen just when I'll really have the computer.
I left a message with my previous "Returns" person at Dell saying that I would like to return the computer unless they would send out the product I paid $330 for in the next 24 hours.
I waited around the house all day for a return call (approx. 8 hrs ago), came to the computer lab at school now, checked the online status of the "order" that was promised me 10 days ago (which I should have gotten with the computer two weeks ago) ... and the order has been cancelled.
Nice of the them to let me know and call me back to assist in the return. You have to have an authorization number to return.
I was going to sweat it out but couldn't deal with the hassle, delays, misshipments, and lies any longer (as I said in my voicemail message).
According to the PC World mag I mentioned elsewhere, 1 in 4 Dell notebooks require repair within one year -- but nearly 1 in 2 Compaq's do ... so that's why I thought I'd stick with Dell as long as I could.
The bastards.
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I bought Dell...nice commercials..huh...too bad there's a BIG stamp on bottom, "Made in China" and when I called their tech #, I asked the woman where she was, India... so I guess Dell only has 1 need for Americans >:(
I had talked >:( about this alot with my boss (who at home is a 'business' user).
He mentioned to me the that the other week, he received a letter from Dell stating that due to business customer's requests, the help line would now be in the United States!!!!!
(D is for Dell and DUH!!!)
Patti, who will NOT buy another Dell
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Apparently almost everything is being sent overseas these days. CNN recently had a series of reports about the situation. I recently had a customer who brought me something to type that he needed for the next day. He had been at Kinko's and it was beyond the time they had promised it to him. They kept saying that they'd have it shortly - and told him the worker was in India!! He didn't believe it, but from what I've heard, I'm sure it's true.