"Is the PC Dead?" - CNN report

[kristoff]

We run lab instruments on XP, and much on XP -even some Abobe high-end products refuse to run on 7. -even coaxed with compatibility mode. We have tehrefore moved much over the last few years to Linux. someting of a learning curve at first, but it works and practically everything on it -even stuff we got for Red Hat 5 - still runs. (In fairness, while it can run, we have updated with newer and improved versions and apps too.) Linux plusses: extreme stability, commendable speed, fixable open-source code, easy networking. We like not so much: inability to run non-standards-complieant hardware made specifically for M$. File compatibility is very good, and there is much in common under the skin of a Mac.

-I suspect that EA's vBulletin system might well be hosted on Linux. Maybe not, but Paolo knows. Let's see if he reads this and lets us in on the secret.

Yes, it runs on Linux.

[daifu-orchid (imported)]

-And you have to admit, very well!



Not sure if I'd have forked over the extra $$ for vBulletin over phpBB3, but it is truly a fine "home" for our mixed bag of nuts. Ok, no nuts, no bag, then mixed whatever it is!

[coinflipper_21 (imported)]

My ten year old, SUSE Linux box is still the fastest computer I have although it has less than half the processor speed and memory that my latest Window boxes have. I may have to go over to Windows for my work because the developer of one of my key software applications sent a message that the current version is the last one that will support Windows. I programmed accounting software for 30 years and all of our servers were Unix or Linux. We didn't care what was on the desk top, because our apps worked in what is now called a browser, but we never trusted Windows with the critical processing. Our customers got spoiled because they hardly ever had problems. Now I do design work and comparing the way the software operates under Linux with the way it runs on Windows still makes me prefer Linux hands down. Progress??!!!

[Riverwind (imported)]

-And you have to admit, very well!



Not sure if I'd have forked over the extra $$ for vBulletin over phpBB3, but it is truly a fine "home" for our mixed bag of nuts. Ok, no nuts, no bag, then mixed whatever it is!

Talula will need to answer this question however I do believe if memory serves that VBulletin was a new product when we bought it, and got a great deal on it, I don't think there was a phpBB3 at that time, and to go out and buy it today would not be a good solution.

River

[Riverwind (imported)]

To those reading this thread, don't confuse the PC with the OS, (operating system).

River

[george2u2 (imported)]

PC? Remember TI99, Basic, and Prodigy?

Last year I got my second Windows smart phone (remember. HP Ipaq?) The Nokia 900.

I never wanted to throw such an expensive piece of plastic through walls so much before.

Internet access is the reason I don't use the lap top. The phone/camera/internet is always with me without looking for a WiFi hot spot.

Some smart phones use blue tooth keyboards and tether to the home entertainment displays.

So the IBM XT style PC is probably dead.

[fhunter]

To those reading this thread, don't confuse the PC with the OS, (operating system).

RiverI don't know. For me - PC is anything on which I can comfortably put Linux and have desktop or near-desktop experience.

For example - I have a Tegra based "smartbook" with android on it (Toshiba AC100, it was an impulse buy, I got it for less than 200$). Is it a PC in it's current state? No. Can I run windows on it? Again, no, different architecture, it is ARM, instead of x86. But I can put Linux on it, and it will run most of the opensource software without problems.

So, is that a PC?

[fhunter]

PC? Remember TI99, Basic, and Prodigy?

Last year I got my second Windows smart phone (remember. HP Ipaq?) The Nokia 900.

I never wanted to throw such an expensive piece of plastic through walls so much before.

Internet access is the reason I don't use the lap top. The phone/camera/internet is always with me without looking for a WiFi hot spot.

Some smart phones use blue tooth keyboards and tether to the home entertainment displays.

So the IBM XT style PC is probably dead.

I do remember Basic (on ZX spectrum) and old dialup internet.

As for internet access - I have cell modem in a usb-stick size. Cheap (total cost - about 5$/month), simple to use, can be used anywhere (and no need to use tiny phone screen). If needed, have internet access from my cellphone (bluetooth works ).

As for bluetooth keyboards - I tried it with Nokia n800. Either the keyboard was bad, or I was really unlucky, but that keyboard was the thing I REALLY wanted to throw out of the window. I returned it back to the shop on the second day. It was plain horrible. Small, unstable and, worst of all, losing key presses.

PS. Smartphone? No, thank you, I am tired of being slave of a charger. May be, when it will live for at least two days from single charge with normal use, I'll look into it. Now - I had a smartphone, it gathers dust on the shelf and I got a simple phone which lasts two weeks from single charge.

[pennyante (imported)]

It's hard for some of us who work in a professional office environment to understand why Micro$oft doesn't admit failure and form a unit within the corporation to continue to support LANs, PCs and interface devices that use XP and have used it successfully for years...and charge users a continuing fee to support the OS. And yes, there are still some legacy programs that are widely used that need to run on DOS, as ancient as it is. XP, with all its faults will allow DOS to run fairly easily. The new oprerating systems being rammed down the throats of the imbedded base of customers/users simply don't meet the mininum criteria of pro users operationally. Is the old stuff trendy? No. Is it cutting edge? No. Does it work? Yes. Do business customers/users understand and like it? Mostly. So why not continue to support it rather than kissing off a huge market share? I don't get it.

[Dave (imported)]

I think the most likely reason is that every operating system manufacturer thinks they have the worlds greatest operating system.

Another reason would be that the OS firms are not writing for businesses but for amateurs and households. They don't really care about businesses and open source and connectivity.

I know that when the place I worked for merged with another office 90 miles away, they bought five T1 lines and began to set up servers to handle 1500 accounts spread over two locations. What eventually happened is that if you wanted a computer, you took what the I.T. people set up for you and if you altered it, they blocked your access. I.T. gave us software to use and they gave us virus protection and automatic backups. Also, they provided remote access over phone and cable. But we had to live by I.T.'s rules or we didn't have an account. I was happy. I didn't have to play with my computer because they kept fixing any problem I had (I worked 20 a week from home). And yes, I signed a contract that set up the hours of work on a yearly basis.

When I used specialized software and they loaded it special onto my machine when they gave me a new machine (every two years).

I could be anywhere in the world and access my files at any time without fear of being compromised or hacked.