Winders

orlandimal wrote:
To get your question answered you would probably have better luck on a computer oriented website.

The best forums I've found for help and information. Lots of professionals are wiling to give their time to help.

Vista

Windows 7

Windows 8

MIcrosoft is ending support.. I do not know if Norton is ending support.

The major issue is that nearlly every day a new vunerability is found in windows so Microsoft issues bandaids every "patch tuesday" I got over 20 of 'em last time. However I do not rely on MS to provide my security, I have 3rd party Anti Mal-ware and 3rd party Firewalls. (And no I won't tell you which ones)

I will say this.. When the first malware (A virus as I recall but that recall may be faulty) hit the net two companies were johnny on the spot with anti-virus software.. Norton and McAffey, others came shortly after. I went with someone else at that time (And never regretted it) F-Prot, which alas I can no longer use. (It does not support my current OS).

I often wondered if the commercial companies were "Seeding the market" by hiring folks to write virus programs.

Turns out.. I am told by one of my instructors.... One of them did.

Now my instructor personally knows the founder of the OTHER company and says he'd never do such a thing...(I have no reason to doubt him) but it is interesting.

This is one of the reasons I choose to use FREE anti-virus programs.

down home wrote:

Anyone using something different than Windows?
Are the others much different in how to use?

Linux ubuntu is worth a try and I doubt that you will notice any difference between it and windows. Well except got being much faster and using less resources. The best way to try it is to go to the bookstore and buy a copy of format which will have a dvd with the operating system and lots of programs. By dropping the disk in the drive it will load and setup your internet, printer, etc and operate from memory so the more memory you have the better. If you like what you see you can choose to install frtom the icon. If you dont like it, just remove the disk and reboot as it makes no changes to your system. Good luck and enjoy.

down home wrote:
Installed new Norton. It says that next year Vista and all the others will be unsupported. Looks like being forced to buy new system each year again.
Vista on the laptop and I have forgotten the system on the 90 something Sony upstairs which works better than the rest of the lot.
Anyone using something different than Windows?
Are the others much different in how to use?

I still have a desktop and laptop running XP Pro and will continue to do so until the magic smoke escapes. also running a desktop and laptop on Win 7 and like it very much. support for WinXP will stop in, I believe, april 2014. I think vista is good until 2017. but lack of support doesn't mean you have to stop using the OS. it will continue to work for years to come. of course you may find fewer and fewer software packages that will support XP/Vista but your current software will run no sweat.

and buying a new PC every year is not necessary and MS typically supports their older OS for several years after release. for example, Windows 7 extended support is not scheduled to end until 1/14/20. during extended support patches and fixes continue to be available.

MS Product Lifecycle Fact Sheet