I have played around with Ubuntu myself. I think I have a Virtual PC
installation of it around here somewhere.
As with any Linux package, it has been fun to play with, but I haven't
devoted enough time with it to make it a useful platform. Since I service
customers' Windows systems for a living, I have to work in the Microsoft
world - it pays the mortgage.
Try this:
Find a site with a large file to download - something over 20 MB, for
example.
Download the file with Windows, then download the same file with Ubuntu and
notice the difference in download speed. I have always seen a striking
difference with the Linux TCP/IP stack - it has always seemed MUCH faster
than Windows. (I have not tried this with Vista yet, but am curious to see
how much improvement they have made.)
By the way, Open Office is available (also for free) for Windows as well:
http://download.openoffice.org/2.1.0...&version=2.1.0
I didn't reply to this post to slam Microsoft - I think their products are,
for the most part, excellent. I do feel that they overcharge, and I have
found that their support (Knowledge Base, Documentation, patch availability,
reliability of Windows Update) could be better...
However, their products dominate the market for good reason. Vista aside, I
figure the last versions of Windows and Office have been very good. The
Vista release wasn't near as smooth as XP was, and I fear the availability
of XP will drop off long before the market is ready. Since XP was so
similar to 2000, a good number of the drivers and software worked without
issues. Since Vista is so different, forcing it on us before the hardware
and software vendors are ready will hurt us all (except Microsoft, I'm
afraid)...
Wow - what do I sound like? Sounds like I think Microsoft is great AND
terrible. Well, that's exactly what I think...
"Papa" <bikingis@my.fun> wrote in message
news:uOqYOACbHHA.2188@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Good question. Actually I am not in the market right now for a new
> computer for myself, although I recently purchased a Gateway notebook for
> one of my grandchildren. It has Vista Home Premium on it, and it gave me
> fits for awhile in regard to wireless connectivity - but I eventually got
> it to work.
>
> At the moment I am playing around with a Linux operating system called
> Ubuntu. It has a graphical user interface similar to Windows, and includes
> Open Office - which is similar to Microsoft Office. Ubuntu is a free
> download. I had it up and running in about an hour, including setting up
> for email and connecting wirelessly to the internet. My initial impression
> is positive.
>
>
> "Rob Pelletier" <rpelletier@ody.ca> wrote in message
> news:Oref00BbHHA.1216@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>> The Vista systems I've seen so far, and had a great deal of wireless
>> headaches with, have been Dell and Sony products with Vista loaded.
>>
>> As you say, not fly-by-night outfits.
>>
>> However, since Microsoft has seen fit to release the product before they
>> were prepared to service it, the manufacturers figure they can get away
>> with it too.
>>
>> What are you going to do - buy a Mac?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "Papa" <bikingis@my.fun> wrote in message
>> news:%23vgSVTAbHHA.1216@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>
>>> "Robert Moir" <robspamtrap@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>> news:eyfaKw$aHHA.4616@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>>
>>>> "Papa" <bikingis@my.fun> wrote in message
>>>> news:%23Prrkf$aHHA.1296@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>>
>>>>> Or is it a matter of waiting for new Wi-Fi card drivers from the Wi-Fi
>>>>> manufacturers - or buying a new Wi-Fi card?
>>>>
>>>> Hopefully it will be a driver issue, as then it ought to get fixed in
>>>> the end.
>>>>
>>>>> Buying a new computer with Vista pre-installed is not always the
>>>>> answer. Some highly reputed computer sellers are releasing their
>>>>> products WITHOUT 100% Vista compatibility, even though Vista is
>>>>> pre-installed.
>>>>
>>>> If this happens then I suggest people return these products for a
>>>> refund. The only reason companies pull nonsense like that is because
>>>> people let them get away with it.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Unfortunately far too many computer sellers "get away with it" because
>>> of policies that have been in effect for years, and these are not
>>> fly-by-night sellers either. The response I have heard far too often is,
>>> "We'll sell you a copy of Windows XP if you don't like Vista".
>>>
>>> Don't expect a discount.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
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