Windows
I just don't get why people would pay to have something on their computer that renders it almost useless.

When you turn the thing off, you should be able to walk away. Instead on my work machine (where I have to use the sodding crap), I have wait 20 minutes just to make sure it actually turns off.

Then sometimes, in the middle of using it, it badgers me to 'update' - I postpone for as long as it will let me, then it does it anyway. Then it makes me stop what I'm doing while it forces me to reboot the bloody thing.

...and the worst thing is, people pay money for this 'experience' and tie themselves into expensive 'upgrades' - upgrades that more-often-than-not will render half your hardware obsolete forcing you to spend even more money replacing it.

Nope. I just don't get why most of the world actually chooses to use it when there are so many alternatives that don't do the things I have mentioned and actually let you get on with working.
(dchurch bah, Fri 16 Oct 2009, 8:13, 6 replies)

Switch the automatic updates off?
Windows, unfortunatly, is built to cater for far to wide a variety of users. It has to work for both those who don't know what they're doing, and they have to cater for the professional, whilst sticking with a theme that is at least similar to previous versions so they don't alienate people. Linux is good - Ubuntu in particular - but it's still not completly there in terms of experiece for the novice. The choice is still Windows or MacOS for the person who doesn't want to get under the hood, and I know which I'd pick.
(stimpy, Fri 16 Oct 2009, 8:47, closed)

I
disagree that Ubuntu (or Mint, or Xubuntu etc...) are not ready for the novice.

Give a complete novice a machine with say, Vista or OSX and one with Ubuntu (for instance) and I'd lay money that they'll be doing the things they want to do on the latter machine before either of the first two.

At xmas a friend got a new PC - it came with that dreadful excuse for an OS on it - the very same day the twunt was phoning me up to 'fix' his machine. It wasn't broken. He can't read and couldn't read the several hundred messages popping up all over the place.

I installed Ubuntu on his machine - never heard another word from him about it.

If an illiterate (computer and reading) can use it, but can't use windows, then I think it's safe to say it's ready for novices.
(dchurch bah, Sat 17 Oct 2009, 12:02, closed)

Don't get me wrong - I'm not a Microsoft fanboy
but I've found Windows - particularly Windows XP - to be a brilliant, stable, portable and extendable operating system. The main reason for this is because I reinstall the damned thing about once a year and it's like having a new computer all over again. It's not as much hassle as you'd think and it makes a massive difference to performance. Yes, I shouldn't have to do it, but it's what I do to get by and it's fantastic.

If it won't shut down, it's a specific issue. Address the specific issue and it'll be resolved. PCs are like cars: if they're not running right, fix them. Simples.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Fri 16 Oct 2009, 9:16, closed)

this
entirely.
(bamboozled Can hear you getting fatter, Fri 16 Oct 2009, 10:18, closed)

When
I used to use it, I frequently re-installed. It made little difference.

As to the shutting down issue - it's not just my machine, there's about 6 of use within viewing distance of each other - the machines are of varying specs, and yet they ALL take about 20 minutes to shut down.

Luckily I don't have to worry about it at home any more - my machines now run smoothly, hardly ever need rebooting and they certainly won't badger me to 'update' them for 'security issues'.
(dchurch bah, Sat 17 Oct 2009, 11:58, closed)

Why
does your mate want a pc if he can't even read?! What can he possibly do with it?
(The Boy Monders I have ginger bits in my beard., Wed 21 Oct 2009, 16:53, closed)