Upgrade Or Not Upgrade That Is The Question...

Ghot · Dec 4, 2022

Then there's Microsoft, still reeling from the Windows phone debacle and determined to convince the world that it's "better" to run the same OS on a desktop and a smart phone.

Ofc this will be true once you can roll up a smart phone and stick it in your pocket.
Until then however, it just makes for an OS that doesn't work well on either.

There's a "reason" this isn't the only wrench we carry in our tool box...

NormanF · Jan 1, 2023

barman58 said:
Aside from the small charge that Microsoft get for copies of Windows from Large OEM suppliers, (Dell HP Acer Etc.), and the myriad of smaller system builders, they do not charge for Operating System into the individual user Market. They rely mostly on the business and industrial markets Who Pay for every copy.

They do not seem to be struggling for income with this marketing strategy so I do not expect many changes at least in the short / medium term

Microsoft also manufactures its Surface line of devices as well as peripherals. They're now a hardware as well as a software company.

NormanF · Jan 1, 2023

Berton said:
Just a note, the announced date for EOL of Win10 is Oct. 14, 2025.

I'm sure Microsoft will extend it once, to get work done to get Windows 12 ready. An EOL date doesn't mean anything and they did two extensions for XP.

NormanF · Jan 1, 2023

Haydon said:
OS stability for office computing means that the OS behavior does not change (much) from one release to the next.

It takes MS 3 years to stabilize a new OS that way, much like the 9 months it takes to make a baby

After the botched release of Windows 11 with the initial build, Microsoft switched to a once a year feature build schedule. If they're going to make a better Windows, they can't do that every six months.

Improved over what they were doing before.

NormanF · Jan 1, 2023

Lance1 said:
Here's a question... If you decide to upgrade to Windows 11 as I did. Should you leave everything default and learn to use it as is?? OR! Use third-party apps and bastardize Windows 11 to look like Windows 10 like you never left. I changed the right-click context menu to look like Windows 10 and also Task Manager. But that was actually a fix and not a change because MS messed up with its update. So suck it up and learn it as we all did with all the other Windows versions as they came along?? So! Keep Windows 11 Original? OR! Bastardize. That Is The Question...

I reverted back to Windows XP. Love the look and the way of doing things from which I've never moved on. Every one has their favorite version of Windows and Microsoft's improvements have been very questionable and people undo them after they've upgraded to Windows 11.

Winuser · Jan 1, 2023

NormanF said:
Microsoft also manufactures its Surface line of devices as well as peripherals. They're now a hardware as well as a software company.

Do they actually manufacture their hardware, or do they outsource it?

Lance1 · Jan 1, 2023

NormanF said:
I reverted back to Windows XP. Love the look and the way of doing things from which I've never moved on. Every one has their favorite version of Windows and Microsoft's improvements have been very questionable and people undo them after they've upgraded to Windows 11.

I don't think could revert back to XP as the main OS. I have it in my VM collection of older Windows versions going back as far as 95 but that's as far as it goes. There's a post on 10 forums on XP, it's in-depth. I'll see if I can find it.

Lance1 · Jan 1, 2023

Well, that didn't take very long... Windows XP 2021 - system build for the modern PC

barman58 · Jan 1, 2023

Windows XP was fine in it's day, As were horse drawn carts, I avoided XP, in that I managed at the company I was with at the time by installing Windows 2000 on servers, office systems and industrial hardware control systems. XP was basically just W2K with a disney inspired Skin on top :wink:

Winuser · Jan 1, 2023

NormanF said:
I reverted back to Windows XP. Love the look and the way of doing things from which I've never moved on. Every one has their favorite version of Windows and Microsoft's improvements have been very questionable and people undo them after they've upgraded to Windows 11.

I started my Windows adventure with Windows for Work Group 3.1. I hated Windows, ME, Windows Vista and Windows 8. With that said, with all of the faults I find in Windows 11, I haven't seen anything that would cause me to drop Windows 11. Windows Vista sent me to use Mandrake linux,. I later had the opportunity to test widows 7. I was so pleased that I decided to stay with Windows.

TechnoMage2021 · Jan 1, 2023

WOW, so many things to comment on!
First let me say, I may not be the oldest guy on this forum, but I HAVE been building and servicing PC's since 1980.
I've always wanted to get into the nuts and bolts of everything I ever worked on. PC's included.
My first OS was MS DOS 2.0. Or, maybe it was IBM DOS.....I forget. But eventually it became MS DOS 6.22 after many upgrades.
I think I hit 'almost' every MS operating system from then till now. For sure, everything since Windows 95.

Jump to the presence. Being retired, I don't work on other peoples PC's anymore, just mine. (and a friend, or two)
And my hobby today is trying out the latest versions of Windows from MS. But, not necessarily From MS.

So I got a copy of Win-11 and tried it out on several different PC's, and laptops. After about five installs, I felt like I had it beat down to a reasonable facsimile of "User Friendly". I can make it look and act much like Windows 7, with NO Microsoft account or interference.

So, when Windows 8.1 was giving me fits, here on my little #2 PC, I decided to just backup my data, and install Win-11/Pro/64.
In no time at all, (a few hours) I had it looking and running just like 8.1 did before, on the same PC. Although, it may even be running a little faster. (???) I did install the new Classic Shell, and upgraded versions of all my favorite software, and I've removed all the stuff in Windows that I don't want or will Never use.
I do find Win-11 to be more user friendly than Windows 10, and much easier to install. I used Rufus to condition the ISO while I was burning it to a Flash Drive. It even put my User Name into the resulting install. And eliminated all the stupid questions from Microsoft. I thought that was especially neat!
I've installed my own desktop theme and my own .wav files for my Startup and Got Mail sounds.
I love both the look and feel of this new OS, and so far I've had no problems. OH, and MS Updates are permanently shut OFF.
I don't want MS screwing up what I've worked so hard to create. Eh?

Y'all have a great 2023, Y'hear?

TM

Lance1 · Jan 1, 2023

TechnoMage2021 said:
WOW, so many things to comment on!
First let me say, I may not be the oldest guy on this forum, but I HAVE been building and servicing PC's since 1980.
I've always wanted to get into the nuts and bolts of everything I ever worked on. PC's included.
My first OS was MS DOS 2.0. Or, maybe it was IBM DOS.....I forget. But eventually it became MS DOS 6.22 after many upgrades.
I think I hit 'almost' every MS operating system from then till now. For sure, everything since Windows 95.

Jump to the presence. Being retired, I don't work on other peoples PC's anymore, just mine. (and a friend, or two)
And my hobby today is trying out the latest versions of Windows from MS. But, not necessarily From MS.
So I got a copy of Win-11 and tried it out on several different PC's, and laptops. After about five installs, I felt like I had it beat down to a reasonable facsimile of "User Friendly". I can make it look and act much like Windows 7, with NO Microsoft account or interference.

So, when Windows 8.1 was giving me fits, here on my little #2 PC, I decided to just backup my data, and install Win-11/Pro/64.
In no time at all, (a few hours) I had it looking and running just like 8.1 did before, on the same PC. Although, it may even be running a little faster. (???) I did install the new Classic Shell, and upgraded versions of all my favorite software, and I've removed all the stuff in Windows that I don't want or will Never use.
I do find Win-11 to be more user friendly than Windows 10, and much easier to install. I used Rufus to condition the ISO while I was burning it to a Flash Drive. It even put my User Name into the resulting install. And eliminated all the stupid questions from Microsoft. I thought that was especially neat!
I've installed my own desktop theme and my own .wav files for my Startup and Got Mail sounds.
I love both the look and feel of this new OS, and so far I've had no problems. OH, and MS Updates are permanently shut OFF.
I don't want MS screwing up what I've worked so hard to create. Eh?

Y'all have a great 2023, Y'hear?

TM

Well, it sure looks like you love to mod your systems! I hated Windows 8 and never installed or used it. Windows 11 still being in development I would say it's not wise to disable Windows updates, BUT! That being said, I can understand your reasoning, as you've worked hard to get Windows 11 to the way you like it and MS in their infinite wisdom will give you an update that'll mess your system up. So stand your ground.

Dru2 · Jan 1, 2023

TechnoMage2021 said:
First let me say, I may not be the oldest guy on this forum, but I HAVE been building and servicing PC's since 1980.

Right, but when did you last build a system?

It's like Joe telling everyone he's been fixing cars since the 60s, but he's totally lost on today's tech. Me working on cars since the 60s has nothing to do with my ability to fix a car today.

Lance1 · Jan 1, 2023

Dru2 said:
Right, but when did you last build a system?

It's like Joe telling everyone he's been fixing cars since the 60s, but he's totally lost on today's tech. Me working on cars since the 60s has nothing to do with my ability to fix a car today.

It's Bean one year and six months since my last build. Building systems today is easier than in the past as today the OS carries most if not all the drivers needed to have a functional system on bootup. So I'm planning a retro build sometime this month "Inspired By NIXSYS" I have a lot of old hardware around and thought a retro build would be fun as I haven't done one in some years. I was thinking of Windows 95 but I think I'll go with Windows 98SE on this build.

TechnoMage2021 · Jan 1, 2023

Dru2 said:
Right, but when did you last build a system?

It's like Joe telling everyone he's been fixing cars since the 60s, but he's totally lost on today's tech. Me working on cars since the 60s has nothing to do with my ability to fix a car today.

Well, lets see..... I built my last system for a good friend, about a year ago. I still keep it tuned up, for him.
Oh, and I can fix my own car, by the way. There's not much that I can't fix. Fixing things is what I've been doing for well over a half century, plus a decade or so. I used to fix things for a pay check, and now I just do it for fun. It doesn't pay very well, but it's Soul satisfying.
I'm what they used to call a "Board Level Repair Tech" and I still like to keep my hand in, when I get the opportunity.

Cheers mates
TM