Boeing Nut From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (5 years 9 months 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 1654 times:
It's finally come down to that my POS computer will no longer play videos for my kid that's it's played hundreds of times already. First it will play only the sound, then the Player says I don't have the right codec, then it will just play the video with no sound. Then after tens of tries it will play it. Then after playing a couple times, it will close on it's own because of a problem.
Making it known now.... Apple, you will have a little more revenue this week, because I can't stand it anymore!!
I've had a few people actually give me their computers because they were so fed up with them. I'm known as the "computer guy" in the neighborhood, so it's usually one of those "if you can find a use for it, you can have it" situations.
Every software problem (well, 99% of them) can be solved by a re-format and a fresh install of Windows. I do that, and everything is fine. I ask people if they want their computer back, but they refuse, probably because of the greif that box represents.
So what do I do with them after that? Sell them, of course!
Easy money, people.
Better to be nouveau than never to have been riche at all.
Alias1024 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 2502 posts, RR: 2 Reply 4, posted (5 years 9 months 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1577 times:
Quoting Go3Team (Reply 1): Well, if you don't want it, I'll take it.
Quoting AC773 (Reply 3): I've had a few people actually give me their computers because they were so fed up with them.
Whatever you do, don't give the computer away. It will be MUCH more satisfying to take a sledge hammer to it. Or if you happen to have access to a hatchback car, SUV, or pickup truck, you can sit in the back and throw the computer out while doing 75 mph.
It is a mistake to think you can solve any major problems with just potatoes.
Bill142 From Australia, joined Aug 2004, 8143 posts, RR: 11 Reply 6, posted (5 years 9 months 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 1556 times:
Quoting DLKAPA (Reply 5): I've heard that Linux is very anti-user-friendly for anybody who isn't a real computer nut. Is this true
I've also heard this. Althought I've also heard there are various versions avaliable suited to the home user. One thing against linux is lack of third party support for some devices.
Klaus From Germany, joined Jul 2001, 20143 posts, RR: 57 Reply 7, posted (5 years 9 months 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 1545 times:
Linux is for you if you are or want to become a Unix system administrator, if you only need a server or if you absolutely have to save every single cent no matter the time it will cost you in return. In all other cases, I wouldn't recommend it.
Leigh pilgrim From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2000, 392 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (5 years 9 months 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 1493 times:
PC's are nothing but a complete waste of time
- You but them at a stupid price
- They work for a week and then something always goes wrong with them
- You get 'Illegal operation'.
- They 'crash'
- You end up calling the help line which is 50 per min
- After they fix it, something else goes wrong
- Hard drive fails, you loose all your work
- Cooler fan fails, you PC ends up either constantly re-starting or in the end blows up
- You buy printers scanners etc, all state 'Easy set up', yet after a month, you still trying to get it to work
Migfan From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (5 years 9 months 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 1479 times:
Quoting DLKAPA (Reply 5): I've heard that Linux is very anti-user-friendly for anybody who isn't a real computer nut. Is this true?
No, but it is not a "set it and forget it" system yet. People would nothave as much problems with Windows, if they would just maintain it.
Quoting Bill142 (Reply 6): One thing against linux is lack of third party support for some devices.
True, many companies do not make the source code for their drivers freely available. Everything in Linux, is released under the GNU and the source code is freely available to anyone who wants it.
I didn't say you couldn't use it as your desktop system; Just that it takes a lot of dedication and expertise.
Working with Linux is part of my job, and for servers it is a really excellent infrastructure system.
But for my desktop I'm glad I don't have to put up with it. With MacOS X I have all the Unix I want - I can even run pretty much everything I'd run on the Linux servers otherwise - just without the hassle and the perpetual babying.
I wouldn't absolutely dissuade people from using Linux as their primary system - I'd just put great emphasis on them knowing what they're getting themselves into.
Most people are a lot better served with a Mac. Windows has neither the industrial robustness and power of Linux nor the ease of use of MacOS X, so there are fewer and fewer reasons to actually stick with it - gaming may be an exception, but a Mac running the occasional Windows game once in a while would perfectly suffice for almost everybody.
Cory6188 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 2684 posts, RR: 7 Reply 12, posted (5 years 9 months 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 1442 times:
Get a Mac. That's all I can say. After having been a Windows user for a number of years, I finally decided to get a MacBook Pro for college. I couldn't be more pleased with my decision.
IFEMaster From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (5 years 9 months 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 1434 times:
Quoting Bill142 (Reply 6): I've also heard there are various versions avaliable suited to the home user.
Check out either Mandriva 2006 or Suse 10.1 Desktop. Both are adequately suited to the home user.
Quoting Klaus (Reply 7): Linux is for you if you are or want to become a Unix system administrator, if you only need a server or if you absolutely have to save every single cent no matter the time it will cost you in return. In all other cases, I wouldn't recommend it.
I know we've had this discussion before, Klaus, but I still disagree with you, especially with the two distributions I mentioned above. They are both incredibly easy to install, come with some great support and help options, and autodetect most common hardware devices around. With emulators such as CrossOver and W.I.N.E., users can run most common Windows applications (such as Office or most Adobe products) without hassle, and can easily use the system without needing to be an expert. Heck, if I can get my mother-in-law to use it for Internet, email, and basic office tasks, then anyone who can control a mouse can use it.
To DLKAPA and Bill142, I would suggest checking out 'Knoppix'. It's a free Linux distribution that you boot to from CD, so you don't need to install anything. It's great for checking things out, see if you like it, and get used to the difference between Windows and Linux. If you don't find it PM me and I'll send you a link to my FTP server where you can download it.
Migfan From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (5 years 9 months 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 1421 times:
Quoting Klaus (Reply 11): Most people are a lot better served with a Mac.
I agree 100%. When asked, I recommend a Mac. Macs just work, and that is why I love them. The only thing that a Mac has that I do not like is proprietary hardware. I'll love OS X forever when it comes out for x86, right now it is Ubuntu for me.
Although, I am not a big fan of either SuSE or Mandriva, I have to agree with IFEMaster. Some linux distros have come very close to being home-user friendly. I don't think I would be comfy giving it to my folks yet. Most distros have live-CD versions of their products available for download.
SuSE, Ubuntu, Mandriva, Knoppix, Gentoo all have live-Cd versions of their distro. checkout distrowatch
I appreciate the offer sir, but in my eyes this is nothing more than yet another band-aid solution. This time, I'm dealing with the problem from the foundation up.
RichardPrice From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 17, posted (5 years 9 months 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 1396 times:
Quoting Boeing Nut (Reply 16): I appreciate the offer sir, but in my eyes this is nothing more than yet another band-aid solution. This time, I'm dealing with the problem from the foundation up.
Unless you use VLC on OSX, you may find yourself in the same boat - Quicktime Player is just as bad as Windows Media Player and isnt something I would ever use.
Halls120 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 18, posted (5 years 9 months 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 1366 times:
Quoting Boeing Nut (Thread starter): It's finally come down to that my POS computer will no longer play videos for my kid that's it's played hundreds of times already. First it will play only the sound, then the Player says I don't have the right codec, then it will just play the video with no sound. Then after tens of tries it will play it. Then after playing a couple times, it will close on it's own because of a problem.
Making it known now.... Apple, you will have a little more revenue this week, because I can't stand it anymore!!
I made the switch two weeks ago, and I haven't regretted it for a minute!
BaylorAirBear From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 2913 posts, RR: 54 Reply 21, posted (5 years 9 months 23 hours ago) and read 1298 times:
I have limited experience with Macs, am a loyal Windows based user, but will buy a Mac soon just to see what it's all about.
What I like about my Windows machines is that if something goes wrong, I can troubleshoot and fix it myself. It seems that if something goes wrong with a Mac product, your first step is to stand in line at the Apple Store for an hour, have the Apple dude tell you your hardware needs to be replaced, go through all of these printouts and receipts he gives you, mail off your hardware, culminating in a new machine, at which point the process starts over.
MigFan From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 22, posted (5 years 9 months 21 hours ago) and read 1274 times:
Quoting BaylorAirBear (Reply 21): if something goes wrong with a Mac product, your first step is to stand in line at the Apple Store for an hour, have the Apple dude tell you your hardware needs to be replaced
You could do that if you want, but the chances of you having to do so are lesser than with Windows. The staff at the Apple stores are actually quite knowlegable. They beat hands-down the folks at Best Buy or Circuit City. The dudes at those places just want to direct you to the Geek Squad, please. The Mac community was an early player in the field of user-driven support.
Tootallsd From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 526 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (5 years 9 months 20 hours ago) and read 1249 times:
Quoting MigFan (Reply 22): Quoting BaylorAirBear (Reply 21):
if something goes wrong with a Mac product, your first step is to stand in line at the Apple Store for an hour, have the Apple dude tell you your hardware needs to be replaced
You could do that if you want, but the chances of you having to do so are lesser than with Windows. The staff at the Apple stores are actually quite knowlegable. They beat hands-down the folks at Best Buy or Circuit City. The dudes at those places just want to direct you to the Geek Squad, please. The Mac community was an early player in the field of user-driven support.
I have to agree with MigFan about the Genius Bar at the Apple Store. I make my appointment. Two years ago I had a video card failure on a 17" i-mac. Took it in to the store. Dropped it off. That afternoon it was repaired and worked faithfully until sold to a friend a year later. Last month, my partner's 15" ibook slide of a pile of magazines and then would not boot. Logic Board problem. Eventhough I admitted to it being dropped, it was submitted as an extended warranty repair. They handled all shipping and coordination. The machine was back in 8 days, all data secure. Push the on-button and voila operating just fine.
And the support.apple.com has a lot of info that has helped me solve several minor software questions.
Overall all staff at the Apple retail outlets is very informed about products, combinations and ideas. I'm always happy with the recommendations that are made and the company stands behind errors with their return policy.
BaylorAirBear From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 2913 posts, RR: 54 Reply 24, posted (5 years 9 months 20 hours ago) and read 1244 times:
Thanks, Mig and Toot.
I also have a question regarding the OS. As I said, I'm a loyal Windows user, and have been since the early 90's. Do you think I would find the transition to a Mac platform upfront agreeable?
Thanks,
BAB
I'm just skipping stones...
25 AC773: For the most part, yes. I found a lot of things to be pretty easy to figure out. That said, there are a few things that you'll just have to ask someo
27 Tootallsd: Ah yeah, I think you can master it and it will be agreeable. And you'll be ready for Leopard. I can hardly wait for Time Machine. WOO HOO! Finder is
28 Klaus: It appears to be for most people. Just be open to the fact that things work somewhat differently under MacOS - you can make use of much of your previ
29 Baylorairbear: Thanks, y'all. What about software now? Are most things that are available on PC, available on Mac? Is Mac software more expensive? I guess my main co
30 Klaus: Many applications have MacOS versions as well (and documents are usually cross-platform compatible, such as with MS Office), but there are often attr
31 RichardPrice: What you will probably need: TextEdit Parallels MS Office iWork iTerm VirtueDesktop CoreDuoTemp (vital) AdiumX NetNewsWire Lite Firefox Seashore.app
32 Migfan: Why would you need parallels? Isn't the whole idea of this to retire Windows? Why tarnish the mac by putting Windows on it? It is kind of like placing
33 Bezoar: Here is a guide to over 23,000 programs made for the Mac, searchable by categories, and updated frequently: http://guide.apple.com/index.lasso
34 RichardPrice: Because very few people actually ever retire Windows. Only if you are an anal zealot...
35 Migfan: I guess that is me, but then again, an ass would tend to make that kind of observation.
36 Asturias: Great stuff! Welcome to the Mac side Use VLC or MPlayer on the Mac to play anything.. Except for Windows Media stuff, then you'll use QuickTime with
37 Asturias: He can use MPlayer on OS X and that's a very good choice. QuickTime is nothing like the mess that is Windows Media Player. cheers Asturias
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