Old, out-dated, no longer maintained -- BUT I like it!

Hah, I'm happily posting this with Xp which I continue to use alongside all the more recent versions of Windows and several flavors of Linux. This 10 year old Pentium M laptop would choke on anything newer and the huge UXGA IPS 4:3 display which is easy on my eyes and like, Xp, a legacy item that hasn't been put into laptops for years, is reason enough to keep using it.

The upgrade culture often doesn't take into account that some people actually do real work with their computers and as long as the system and software work for their intended purpose, there is no reason to change things and go to all the trouble of learning a new system and software that might not even be as good for that purpose.

 

I guess you wont be playing crysis anytime soon
Kidding aside, I would think that computing speed could be an issue , considering the hardware/software demands of today's applications as compared to those of '98

Course, if those had been an issue, youd've already upgraded.
It can be said that windows 7 offers strong security upgrades over xp, i'll not elaborate as those are well-noted
-You could always run your old programs in a windows 95 VM, which is easily done

 

I was once a "Mac guy" -- long before OS X. But back in 1999 I saw a good deal on a Windows 98 laptop and decided to buy it. In 2005, after Windows became infected and no antivirus/antispyware/antimalware software I tried could find the infection, I booted up with a Knoppix live CD so I could change all my passwords. After doing that I started using Knoppix to get online instead of Windows. A few months later I installed Debian GNU/Linux, which has been my main OS ever since. Now that I am using Linux, I really have no interest in ever using a Mac again.

Phil

 

I've used Macs on and off over the years. It is usually a short fling. I end up being dissatisfied with the lack of control over the OS and the brutal and expensive upgrade cycle of Macs and go back to Windows. I agree that Linux is the preferable option for leaving Windows. It is a bit harder to learn at first but it gives you much more control and flexibility once you start to master it. It also has some serious performance advantages over both OS X and Windows. On my W520, Windows 7 and 10 both require a 64gb system partition and use around 2gb of ram just to get the system going. Ubuntu uses less than half of a 15gb system partition and around 600mb of ram. Apps run much faster and the system is much more responsive than Windows. I never get the page file lock ups where everything freezes as memory is swapped to a page file that I get with every version of Windows.

 

Linux or Mac -- whichever -- Wilders forum still won't be as much fun, will it?

 

How bout both? Have a mac as your main computer, then build (or buy) a modest budget system to run windows on, which would be modern enough to run the later programs on, allowing you to keep abreast of what's going on in the windows world (firsthand).

You would have the security/stability of the mac system always at the ready, and also have the windows system to occasionally kick around with as you like (and possibly get yourself tangled up in enough problems to keep wilder's fun for you )


Actually though, I think wilder's offers alot of interesting elements without necessarily needing help with a security issue - even were you running a linux or mac system, there's always the news-links, developments in security/privacy to read up on, programs to keep abreast of, general computing chat, etc.

You have many paths to choose from (always a good thing)

 

The Linux threads can get real lively here, believe me. I haven't seen much action about Macs.

 

Lively? How can that be? I know several Linux users & they all have bushy eyebrows, shave their heads, and use pocket protectors & slide rules -- not lively fellows at all.

 

I've got a proposition for you. Buy a mac but run windows on it

 

Seriously? Can that be done by a MAC tyro? How?

 

The Mac OS X operating system has support for Windows included. You can create a partion for Windows, and when you boot, you can choose to boot into OS X or your Windows partition. Also, there is a program, Parallels you can buy, which lets you run Windows software in a window, alongside Mac software.
How to Install Windows on a Mac With Boot Camp.

Personally, I wouldn't choose either option, as don't like Macs. But, that's just me.