COMPUTERS, THE AGONY AND THE ECSTASY

[Tripps]

Canonical are very active with security updates of late.

It's out of character for me to do what everyone else does, but Windows does me fine. I get built in security (don't laugh Pluggy) and regular trouble free updates.

[Big Kev]

Windows 10 on a relatively fast machine has been trouble free for me too (famous last words)

[PanBiker]

Three machines all on Windows 10 upgraded when they were giving it away. Solid ever since excepting a hard disk failure in one machine which was not related to the OS.

[chinatyke]

I'm on Windows 10 and trouble-free too. I thought you guys were mainly using Ubuntu.

[Big Kev]

I need Windows to run Photoshop.

[Pluggy]

I'm on Windows 10 and trouble-free too. I thought you guys were mainly using Ubuntu.

Stanley, Tizer and myself use Ubuntu. The others haven't forsaken the true faith.

I do run Windows 10 on a VM for the odd times I need a Windoze box. Its fine on a reasonably quick machine, its torture on a slow one.

[Pluggy]

Three machines all on Windows 10 upgraded when they were giving it away. Solid ever since excepting a hard disk failure in one machine which was not related to the OS.

Don't tell everyone, but You can still update to Windows 10 from Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1. You can't actually upgrade it but Installing windows 10 from a clean install, it will accept Win 7/8 product keys either from the Bios on later machines or typed in on earlier machines. You can **cough** procure 'grey' windows 10 product keys on ebay for little money. Still needs a clean install though.

[Big Kev]

My 'new' machine must have been recognised from the bios as I didn't need a key.

[Stanley]

I use Ubuntu mainly because it gets me away from the Gates and Jobs hegemony based on profit. Ubuntu and associated Open Source software don't ask for money or keys, just a high security password. (Ubuntu won't let you be Idle, it won't accept simple short passwords like 1234!)
Each to his own.
One thing that you have to be aware of if you are using Open Office is that earlier versions of Windows don't recognise .odt files. I send all my articles overseas in .doc format for that reason.

[Tizer]

How often do security updates arrive on a Windows machine? The Ubuntu approach is to make them available immediately they're ready no matter how small, so you get them `hot of the press' and the PC is kept as secure as possible. It's a long time since i used Windows but I seem to recall they came less frequently and in big batches.

[PanBiker]

Most windows updates come on Tuesdays, since W10, never had any issues with deployment. Announced as happening when required and seamless in application in my experience.

[Stanley]

[Tizer]

We're still avoidng smart meters. No doubt Kev will give us his view on this story!
`Smart meters: Why they are driving some people mad' LINK

[Stanley]

I saw the news item. I must be lucky, mine seem to function OK .

[Big Kev]

The woman complaining that her 'smart meter keeps beeping so she has to take the batteries out' made me smile...

The roll out for all smart meters is underway but there are so many of them these things will take time. The number of people complaining about them is very low considering how many there actually are already fitted, around 23 million I believe

[Stanley]

I didn't even know they were capable of beeping......
Is that the meter or the monitor?

[Gloria]

Ours never makes a murmur.

[PanBiker]

My first generation worked fine until I changed to a better supplier. Back to reading my meters but I'm happy with Octopus as they are easier to deal with and my tariff is guaranteed and cheaper than BG.

[Big Kev]

I didn't even know they were capable of beeping......
Is that the meter or the monitor?

The moniitor (IHD - In Home Device). I wouldn't know if they beeped, mine has been in the bottom drawer since they fitted the meters.

[Tizer]

I know someone whose monitor often starts beeping. She says she can't stop it and just has to leave it until it stops of its own accord.

[PanBiker]

Unplug it, simples!

[Tizer]

My cousin's 10-year-old laptop has failed and she wants to buy a new one. It's used mainly for office-type work - documents, spreadsheets, presentations etc - because she runs First Aid courses for businesses. Can anyone recommend a modest-priced laptop?

[Pluggy]

Don't get a "modest" priced laptop with Windows 10, it will drive you nuts when it updates which is a frequent occurrence. Minimum i3 processor, 8GB Ram and an SSD if you want to keep your sanity. Think £450 ish.

[Stanley]

Modest often equates to El Cheapo.....

[PanBiker]

Not always, my Motorola smartphone is still going strong after 7 years. It was a fraction of the price of the most desirables at the time and still does exactly the same job. Cheap, but not El Cheapo in any way.