85 replies to this topic

[jayesstee]

Oh FutureShock, now you've opened up a load of nostalgia!
I remember Win 3.1, using it with 'Norton Desktop'. Total control. Happy days.
If you are right, then power to the Gamers elbow!

[Claw]

Gee guys ,, now you're making me feel my age. Norton Desktop,,do you know how long it's been since I 've heard that?? Man !!!!

[FutureShock]

Me too guys. The programmers were lining up for the next gen of OS from MS in those days, but 95 totally squashed the momentum of the PC revolution.

The improvements in 95 and beyond have been great...trouble is they mask the overall problem inside MS' OSes...the architecture...that is at least since 3.1. That control we had with 3.1 was the direct offspring of the architecture jayesstee. Thank goodness for the efforts of alot of very determined freeware writers, or things would be alot worse (U-N-D-E-R-S-T-A-T-E-M-E-N-T of the century probably) all these gens of OSes later. If it weren't for them, we wouldn't even have ever had the features we love in Windows as we know it today. They wrote those programs in spite of the shortcomings of the OS. That makes me proud, and it's why I try to support freeware programmers. But I'd have been that way even if MS had been square with the successor to 3.1. Guess I've always been a freeware junkie...

As for nostalgia, I remember those days of program shopping. It was like the clouds parted and there wasn't anything that wasn't possible. DOS games LOL. And those PC flea markets everywhere. Used to think you could get a deal on a part, but nope. Wow, if I could just get that 14.4 modem. Boxes full of unidentifyable parts. "Wonder what this does?" Oh brother have things gotten better on those fronts...

jayyesstee you sound like one of the original ITers. If so I know you have been waiting for a long time for your OS. No disrespect to MS, but straight from the heart here it is. MS betrayed IT with 95. Thanks to MS for the improvements, and with the newer versions, too, but they don't have anything to do with where things should be.

It's a shame but these are such (pardon the language) damned old wounds. I think everybody knows MS will meet their match eventually if they keep going, but it is so wearying having to listen to the chaos they create with each new release. The new users don't know enough to know what's wrong with the OS on the one hand, and everyone who was around for 3.1 on the other hand keep trying to explain it to them. It's like trying to educate the millions all over again. Over and over with each realease. Ahhhhh...

MS you betrayed IT. I'm not an IT pro, but I hope you wake up before Linux (the final solution in terms of the MS problem with ITers I believe...along with LibreOffice) bursts out of its shell. Intel's partnership with LibreOffice is a big "in your face" slam to MS. They are saying, "you chose this way you chose, now we choose the way you should have chosen." Pretty big competition MS has with Intel now. They have ALWAYS had Intel on their side before. Nasty times at Redmond.

I am going to be paying attention to the developments with the Intel/LO alliance. I REALLY believe LibreOffice, a freeware no less (thankyou Marko), might be the first IT approvable office suite. Such a slap to MS. Unbelievable almost. As for 8, whether 8 flops or not, I believe it's a mistake to write off the desktop the way MS seems to be doing it. I guess we will see...Linux is moving fast imho...

Marko, sorry this has been coming for a long time for me. Can't say how much I appreciate what you are doing here. It's really making people's lives alot better. I think more than we even realize sometimes, but I am sure everyone appreciates it...

[Claw]

I second that motion,FS.
To use a quote we hear alot,,,"Cheers mate"

[FutureShock]

Yeah thanks Claw. That stuff has built up in me over the years, but that's only part of the reason I like this site so much. Mostly I just get a kick out of all the freewares and trying them out. As it is, though, me on XP, etc., I would have been totally lost without freeware. I guess I have 70 installed and many many others for which I keep a copy of the installer. That's been going on for years with me and all, but I went looking for this site hoping to find just what I found...some good discussion on freeware and good advice. Honestly I didn't realize it would be as good as it has been, thanks to everyone. But what I hear you saying is thanks Marko, and that's the main thing with me too...

One last thing. I remember when I first signed up here a couple of years ago and made my first post. I looked around and all I saw was that penguin. I was like, does this guy realize he's one of the few posting here. No surprise he answered my question whatever it was. Things have changed alot since then I guess. You guys started posting alot and that got me going just reading your posts in the e-mail.

Now who knows, Marko might make us millionaires with the lotto. We'll really be thanking you then amigo..

[Claw]

Hey ,,I think we make a pretty good team FS. Microsoft,,beware. LOL.

[FutureShock]

Yo Claw agreed...Yeah I think so too. Bring on the next MS OS!

[marko]

Well, this really has been a topic of some contention - and a particularly interesting one at that
A lot of points, very well made, and with the inevitable release of Windows 8 happening anytime soon, it's giving me yet another reason to give the distro's another dusting down. I made the move from XP to Windows 7 rather reluctantly, and resented the fact that MS are forcing me and others to do just that - of course, we can always stay with our current OS but eventually the move is inevitable - I'm not sure I want to keep having to move forward in the direction MS want me to .. I've nothing against progress, I love it in fact, but progress isn't progress when the future is being shaped for us, rather than with us or by us. I've also been involved in beta programs with MS in the past and it's a complete and utter waste of time - it just seems any feedback that MS don't agree with is tossed to the side. That normally happens when beta testers reject something which MS knows will make them money in the future!!!.

I'll be perfectly honest when I say the only reason I haven't made the move to Linux yet is quite simply because of time - I can fire up my Windows 7 laptop and just work away, whereas I know I'm going to have to fiddle around with Linux to get it the way I like, or need it. Not really a great excuse, I know, but I will get round to it very shortly.

Also, just to pick up on a comment by FutureShock, LOL, it did seem to me sometimes I was talking to myself on the site but thankfully things have became much busier and we've gained more and more friends on the site - all post's are appreciated and I've always had great support from the members. Our man Jim has also seen the site go through a few rough patches with me, and I'll never be able to thank him enough for the support he continues to give me!. I often refer to Jim as my sensible side ... I don't how many times Jim must have opened his PM box and thought "he's off on one again!" but alas he's the guy who can make things appear logical again, he put's things into perspective and can often make me see things differently!. Dare I say that without my mate Jim, the site most probably wouldn't have been able to ride a few storms, so again, thanks Jimbo and thanks to all you guys who keep topics and interest alive - you guys are the life-blood of the site, Jimbo and I merely provide the means for you to flow
There is also an update just around the corner from our site developers Invision, I'll post more on what to expect in this update before or over this weekend in the Site Blog

[FutureShock]

Hey, Marko thanks for that update on the site. Great news for the freeware masses!

Here's a round for JH. Preciate the help you have on these various freewares. Great insight. One for giving Marko a hand along the way too. Great work amigo...

[Claw]

Never a dull moment,,wouldn't you agree,,FS????
My thanks to you and Jim,,Marko. I couldn't be here without you,,and you know how valuable this site and "all" my buddies here are to me.