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Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
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 Posted -
17/12/2010
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10:26
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Over the years I've not done so bad when it comes to working with computers, and most times I can eventually fix things up when it all goes pear-shaped.
Yesterday my Mac went not just pear-shaped but a complete fruit pudding with meringue and custard. Over the past few weeks it had been getting slower and slower until it said: "You know what? I can't be bothered anymore. I quit." And it did.
Fortunately there's a thing called Time Machine which regularly backs up the OS and all files to an external drive, so I wasn't too nonplussed.
Unfortunately my Mac refused even to start up. Missing its core thingies or something.
No probs - just re-install the OS from the original discs. Almost there - the discs were a bit out of date but I could easily update the version from the internet.
Went to restore all my settings, files, programmes, etc from Time Machine. Unfortunately my finely tuned and slimmed down original system had bloated by about 20GB when reinstalled - and my drive didn't have enough space on it to complete the job.
Grrr.
My backup drive (1TB capacity) is also getting full so it looks like I'm going to have to buy another to dump my data into, then give it all a good clean out.
On top of that, once you start messing with reinstallations, I find much of my work software needs reactivating from the software companies - it's going to take me absolutely ages to get back to where I was a few, happy and organised days ago.
I hate computers.
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Bradders
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Posted - 24/05/2011 : 17:33
I recently had a big problem with a laptop that my Mum had bought from Tesco of all places...(made by Gateway ...Mmmmm)
..So I went to Truro and bought a refurbished HP Compacq nx6110.
It's running Windows XP . and I've stuck a Netgear Wirelessthingy in the side slot , and it's talking to you now .
The quality of build is much superior to the Gateway , and I prefer XP to Vista ( which would not support my oldish scanner's photo head)
The HP is not fast but adequate and cheap (£ 130 )
I have had a bad experience with a Dell Inspiron in the past , too ...It had some sort of joystick arrangement in the middle of the key board which kept jamming .....making the cursor try to get out of the screen...
The only way to free it was to twist the whole damn thing !
It's a known design fault and can be cured by dismantling the machine and inserting a strip of cooking foil between two components...Didn't bother (still got the body !)...Don't buy one.
I still miss the (2009) Macbook Pro , but had to leave it in Derby when my domestic arrangements changed....Ah well !
BRADDERS BLUESINGER  |
gamer
New Member
47 Posts
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Posted - 24/05/2011 : 18:33
Depends on what OS you like or want they have some good and bad in all brands,
The Compaq that i use is ok not sure the cost, it has to many bells and whistles i dint use,
i have had 3 of the same models Dell's and 2 of the 3 are good, but the 3rd one is ,,,, well its my parts one, LOL
So it depends on what you are looking fore, i even had Linux on one of the Dell laptops.
quote:
Callunna wrote:
What brand? Micky Mouse, I think. LOL
Edited by - gamer on 24/05/2011 13:36:03
 I seem to be just spinnin my wheels sometimes.
PoJ-IYD.com's World |
Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
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Posted - 24/05/2011 : 20:46
quote:
Bradders wrote:
I still miss the (2009) Macbook Pro , but had to leave it in Derby when my domestic arrangements changed....Ah well ! I'm a Mac woman through and through but E is used to Windows. A Windows machine would also give us a bit more versatility with the various specialist software programs available.
Gamer: I would want Windows 7. Although I'm experienced personally with the Mac OS, one of my regular clients does a monthly newsletter on Windows and all its problems, and Windows 7 seems to be the least worst of the lot.
I'd also want Microsoft Word - or a compatible equivalent. Open Office would be fine, with spreadsheet, etc. And we would download either Firefox or Safari to replace IE.
I'm not familiar with alternatives such as Linux (as opposed to the Mac version of it) or this Ubuntu thing, although I'm willing to learn if they are superior to Windows.
After typing 'Windows' and 'Microsoft' several times in the last few posts, I'm now off to give my keyboard a thorough spring clean... 
=================== www.sheldrickrose.co.ukwww.bernulf.co.ukwww.bernulfsplace.co.uk |
Bradders
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Posted - 24/05/2011 : 23:04
If you could get a s/h late model Macbook , they will run Windows...(2008/9 onwards) I think ...
Ask Pluggy !
BRADDERS BLUESINGER |
Sandy46
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Posted - 25/05/2011 : 01:27
Hi all, you seem to be an extremely knowlegeable lot on here, so I wondered if you could answer a few questions I have about Ubunto OS. I have looked at their web site, and read all the glowing comments on here about it and must admit I'm very impressed and tempted to give it a go. However, I guess I need some encouragement as I tend to err on the side of caution, hence my questions:- How, if at all, would Ubunto with its own virus protector, conflict with our Panda I.S.? Also would we have to renew Panda annually as usual, or do without it? Would we have to set up new e-mail accounts with Ubunto as we are with Windows Mail? Finally, although my laptop should be ok as I've no Microsoft software installed ( only what came with the OS) , hubby has various games, simulators like 'Flight' and 'Train' etc., on his PC, what happens in that situation? Sorry if I seem 'dense' , but we've never known anything other than Windows ( started off on '95, some years back, now I'm on Vista Basic and hubby's on Vista Premium) Just need reassurance I guess, although I was 'brave' enough to change our browser from I.E. to Firefox a couple of years ago. We also have another, older PC running on XP but it isn't online, but we've kept it 'cos the games on it aren't compatible with Vista.
Hope you can help, thankyou.
Kind regards, Sandy
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gamer
New Member
47 Posts
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Posted - 25/05/2011 : 04:47
The section in your post is what stops me from running Linux as a client, some games can be played with whats called Wine and some can be executed from Linux but not many,
I would stay with what you have and try to find a cheep or a good deal on a PC , or laptop to play with to learn a new OS,
Thats from first hand experience, or get a new hard drive and switch them for WHO ever is using the PC at the time if it is not to much trouble to change out the drive,
Also i run Mandrake and Mandriva Linux as servers only because they can run for years without needing a reboot, had one make it 364 days and a tornado came through and we lost power for over a week.
This is just my opinion, hope it helps you decide
quote:
Sandy46 wrote:
Hi all, you seem to be an extremely knowlegeable lot on here, so I wondered if you could answer a few questions I have about Ubunto OS. I have looked at their web site, and read all the glowing comments on here about it and must admit I'm very impressed and tempted to give it a go. However, I guess I need some encouragement as I tend to err on the side of caution, hence my questions:- How, if at all, would Ubunto with its own virus protector, conflict with our Panda I.S.? Also would we have to renew Panda annually as usual, or do without it? Would we have to set up new e-mail accounts with Ubunto as we are with Windows Mail? Finally, although my laptop should be ok as I've no Microsoft software installed ( only what came with the OS) , hubby has various games, simulators like 'Flight' and 'Train' etc., on his PC, what happens in that situation? Sorry if I seem 'dense' , but we've never known anything other than Windows ( started off on '95, some years back, now I'm on Vista Basic and hubby's on Vista Premium) Just need reassurance I guess, although I was 'brave' enough to change our browser from I.E. to Firefox a couple of years ago. We also have another, older PC running on XP but it isn't online, but we've kept it 'cos the games on it aren't compatible with Vista.
Hope you can help, thankyou.
Kind regards, Sandy
I seem to be just spinnin my wheels sometimes.
PoJ-IYD.com's World |
pluggy
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Posted - 25/05/2011 : 07:49
Ubuntu (Linux) doesn't need any anti virus, basically because there so few viruses on the platform, the chances of you coming across a threat is zero. A little like moving from a ghetto to a quiet area in the sticks. Linux isn't good for games. It comes with a few simple games and plays the majority of on-line games (I like crush the castle 2) but Flight simulators or 'Call of Duty - Black Ops' - forget it. Its very good at transforming old machines that are too slow to be usable on Windows. (I'm writing this on a 10 year old laptop that came my way because it was hopeless running XP). Many people these days just want an Internet terminal (Facebook...) It is great for that.
Any Mac this side of Mid 2006 will run Windows. Any Mac can run Linux. (Older ones want a 'Power PC' varient).
You can see if Ubuntu suits by downloading it, and burning it to a CD. It will run directly from there (albeit slowly) without affecting whatever is currently installed. Its also pretty easy to make a 'Dual Boot' system that gives you the option of starting Windows or Ubuntu when you switch it on. I used Linux for many years on servers before using it as a desktop, because its only in the last 4 years or so has it become a reasonable substitute, early Linux desktops had a lot of rough edges.
Need computer work ?
"http://www.stsr.co.uk" 
Pluggy's Household Monitor |
pluggy
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Posted - 25/05/2011 : 08:30
For what its worth, Windows 7 is a huge improvement on Vista, if only for the fact that its more 'old software' tolerant. Vista slugs it out with Windows ME as the worst M$ operating system ever.
Need computer work ?
"http://www.stsr.co.uk"
Pluggy's Household Monitor |
Big Kev
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Posted - 25/05/2011 : 10:03
quote:
pluggy wrote:
For what its worth, Windows 7 is a huge improvement on Vista, if only for the fact that its more 'old software' tolerant. Vista slugs it out with Windows ME as the worst M$ operating system ever.
I'd go along with that. I bought a cheap laptop, from PC World, with Vista Home Premium on it. I hated it. Updating it to 7 was a revelation.
Big Kev
It doesn't matter who you vote for, you always end up with the government. |
Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
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Posted - 25/05/2011 : 10:07
I have been tempted to run Bootcamp on my Mac (which allows me to have Windows) but it takes up a lot of disc space and memory and to be honest my tired ole brain has enough to cope with, without learning a new OS.
So what's 'cheap' for a W7 laptop? Are there any brands I should avoid? Is PC World a good place to go for one?
A quick furtle on Google reveals the following - I've no idea whether the spec is reasonable for a Windows machine or not. I note that they don't have W7 - how much extra should I pay for it to be installed?
======================
From val-u-computers.co.uk£159 (reduced from £189)
The DELL Latitude D610 is built for versatility and has an impressive 14" colour screen. Ideal for students and home/office use. This professionaly used and refurbished DELL laptop is ideal for internet access, word processing and business applications. It makes a perfect present and includes a wireless card for accessing the internet anywhere in the house/office. These great laptops are ideal for emails, internet, Facebook, Twitter, MSN, word processing and engineering work. | Main specifications:
- INTEL Pentium M 1.73GHZ
- 1GB - 1024MB RAM
- 40GB hard drive
- Upgrade to 2GB RAM only £20
- 14" TFT. DVD drive (upgradeable)
- Windows XP
- Wireless, 6 month warranty
- PCMCIA, serial (RS232), 4xUSB |
Edited by - Callunna on 25/05/2011 10:15:50 AM
=================== www.sheldrickrose.co.ukwww.bernulf.co.ukwww.bernulfsplace.co.uk |
Cathy
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Posted - 25/05/2011 : 10:42
Thanks Big Kev, password is changed. I had to find my account in the a-z index. Hopefully it will work and stop those viagra msg's. 
All thru the fields and meadows gay .... Enjoy
Take Care...Cathy |
Big Kev
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Posted - 25/05/2011 : 10:46
quote:
Callunna wrote:
I have been tempted to run Bootcamp on my Mac (which allows me to have Windows) but it takes up a lot of disc space and memory and to be honest my tired ole brain has enough to cope with, without learning a new OS.
So what's 'cheap' for a W7 laptop? Are there any brands I should avoid? Is PC World a good place to go for one?
A quick furtle on Google reveals the following - I've no idea whether the spec is reasonable for a Windows machine or not. I note that they don't have W7 - how much extra should I pay for it to be installed?
======================
From val-u-computers.co.uk£159 (reduced from £189)
The DELL Latitude D610 is built for versatility and has an impressive 14" colour screen. Ideal for students and home/office use. This professionaly used and refurbished DELL laptop is ideal for internet access, word processing and business applications. It makes a perfect present and includes a wireless card for accessing the internet anywhere in the house/office. These great laptops are ideal for emails, internet, Facebook, Twitter, MSN, word processing and engineering work. | Main specifications:
- INTEL Pentium M 1.73GHZ
- 1GB - 1024MB RAM
- 40GB hard drive
- Upgrade to 2GB RAM only £20
- 14" TFT. DVD drive (upgradeable)
- Windows XP
- Wireless, 6 month warranty
- PCMCIA, serial (RS232), 4xUSB |
Edited by - Callunna on 25/05/2011 10:15:50 AMhttp://www.scan.co.uk/products/10-msi-u130-001uk-black-intel-atom-n450-166ghz-1gb-ddr2-667-160gb-hdd-windows-7-starter
10" MSI U130-001UK Black, Intel Atom N450 1.66GHz, 1GB DDR2 667, 160GB HDD, Windows 7 Starter
Big Kev
It doesn't matter who you vote for, you always end up with the government. |
Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
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Posted - 25/05/2011 : 11:03
Thanks BK.
E has decided netbooks are too small for our purposes after the experience with the freebie one, so we're looking for a 14" (minimum) screen laptop.
=================== www.sheldrickrose.co.ukwww.bernulf.co.ukwww.bernulfsplace.co.uk |
Bradders
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Posted - 25/05/2011 : 11:51
The Dell Machine that had the "joystick Problem " was the Latitude 610.....(Sorry I called it an Inspiron by mistake in my previous post)
I wouldn't touch another one with a bargepole !
BRADDERS BLUESINGER |
Callunna
Revolving Grey Blob
3044 Posts
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Posted - 25/05/2011 : 12:35
Now you see, that's the beauty of sharing information on forums like this 
Thanks Bradders. Invaluable.
Thanks also to BK and all the others - you PC lot have much more experience than me.
=================== www.sheldrickrose.co.ukwww.bernulf.co.ukwww.bernulfsplace.co.uk |
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Computers: the agony and the ecstasy
