Windows 10: A Step in the Right Direction!

Windows 10 now has been out for a few months and used in anger by a large number of users out there it has become very apparent it is a step forward not step backwards for normal users out there. A step forward which has been long overdue for domestic Window users as it is certainly more functional and usable than Windows 8 ever was.

Basically Windows 10 is what Windows 8 should have been a real improvement on the previous to previous versions of Windows which kept the much loved desktop with the start button and menu. Add to this they have actually made the improvements in the background which include a smaller footprint and performance improvements.

The upshot of which because of where I currently work on a Tech Desk we are noticing less complaints and issues from Window 10 users simply by the fact people simply return less because of issues with their computers other than usual teething issues of a new operating system which is to be expected.

But as always there are dark clouds associated with Windows 10 due to Microsoft and the way it does business and treats it’s users which may of softened a bit but still has an unhealthy edge to it. Microsoft is still very high handed with way it does it business and told a lot of half truths about Windows 10 especially to the business customers.

The biggest lie Microsoft has told it’s business customers is the fact that they can stop updates of Windows 10 but it turns out that in the end business users can only defer not stop updates. This regardless of the potential issues this could cause business users with software compatibility and stability of the computers. After all some business users are far more demanding than domestic users and expect their computer systems to be reliable as their business depend on this fact.

Add on top of this Microsoft downloading Windows 10 onto people’s computers using Windows 7 and 8 regardless of the fact that person in question informed Microsoft they did not want to upgrade to Windows 10 either by saying no or ignoring the upgrade prompt. This has caused some major issues with people who are using mobile broadband because of it size and also smacks as high pressure selling on Microsoft’s part.

All this once again highlights that Microsoft attitude to users has not improved if anything they have got better at hiding it behind a better media and advertising smokescreen which once again ruining a real step forward in their main product Windows 10.

In conclusion Windows 10 is a step forward but as always Microsoft itself is still same as it is always been putting business before it’s users which I find saddest of all!

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BunsenLabs Carries on the Magic of Crunchbang!

This weekend I finally got around to updating the Linux on my small laptop to newer linux mainly because the Crunchbang Linux currently on the laptop was slowing down which was all due to my use and abouse over the past few years. Add to this I had issues updating Crunchbang because of issues with AMD’s Catalyst driver as one day they may get around to making this an easier process but I’d not hold my breath.

So I decided to bite the bullet and load up the next incarnation of Crunchbang Linux which is BunsenLabs Linux based on newer Debain called Jessie and still uses a slightly modified Openbox desktop.

Other than a number of issues which were easily corrected by little research and replacing number of packages used, the whole process was painless as I previously found when I loaded Crunchbang on the same laptop. I have ended up with a laptop which once again which is very usable and flexible for a low specification laptop even to a point of getting even more out of the hardware than Crunchbang Linux did.

The only major issues I had were usual issues you even get with Windows and hardware with allowing hardware going into sleep mode which always causes the laptop to lock totally or lose it’s network connections with only option to unlock the laptop is to switch it off. I also had issue with the screen saver going into a lock screen which also caused major issues and it had to be replaced with previous screen saver package used by Crunchbang Linux.

Once this issues were fixed and using Debain’s native AMD graphic card drivers rather than using AMD drivers themselves, I am initially finding my whole experience with BunsenLabs Linux has been a very good experience indeed. This is at a great contrast when I used the actual Debain 8 which turned out to be a big disappointment with major desktop and performance issues to a point I had to stop using it.

I would recommend that both current Crunchbang uses and the more savoy computer users who are looking for their first Linux that they go towards BunsenLabs Linux even in it’s current first release form as it is very usable, customisable and certainly gets the best out of the computer hardware.

Please Note: If you are interested in a more personal scrapbook of mine just follow the link to Patterns in the Static!.

Please Note: If you are interested in my home page just follow the link to Experiment No. 3.

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Me a New Guru?

I have never seen myself as a Guru or even someone anyone even listen to what I say or even take it seriously. Why do I say this?

Well I was talking to a Polish customer at work whose old laptop was running slow but still fully functioning and I suggested be replace the Windows on this laptop with Linux Mint using xfce desktop. All so he could save money and get more life out of this old equipment as anyone who uses Linux knows.

The customer did what I suggested and loaded Linux Mint with xfce desktop and after the usual learning curve and minor issues when starting use Linux in anger. He also asked me few questions at the start but seamed to get on with the change over to Linix from Windows.

I saw the said customer recently and they told me they loved Linux and wondered why they had not done the change a long time ago. It sort of says it all that if someone is brave enough to change from Windows to Linux especially now will find their whole experience with computers in general will become fun again and not a chore as Windows seams to make it.

As said me as a new guru seams a new experience for me but those of us who use Linux keep pointing out that Linux is easy to use and lot less hassle than Windows and one person listens and takes the plunge. The people in question will tell others and spread the word of Linux slowly but surely.

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The X Windows System Strikes Again!

There I was yesterday praising Debian with lxde desktop which turned out to be very premature as once again the underlying X Window System used by the lxde desktop stuck again after an update!

The upshot of which I once again ended up with a Linux whose desktop was damaged beyond repair or very difficult to repair t a point it was easier to restart again. This is not the first time I have encountered this issue in so much it has been one of the constant problems I have had to cope with when using Debian with the X Window System both with AMD and Nvidia graphic card drivers.

It mean I had to go back to an Ubuntu Linux distribution which is far from ideal at my end but it seams that Ubuntu have seam to fixed the constant issues with the X Window System and graphic drivers which still exists with Debian including the current releases.

I think I am not only one who has been plagued by this issue and my biggest question I have to ask both Debian and the X Window System is knowing there is an issue why have you not fixed it yet?

Considering the fact that Ubuntu have seam to fixed the issue in so much you can update an Ubuntu Linux distribution using the X Window System without ending up with a computer which fails to boot up after the update.

As you gather I am very disappointed with Debian who from the little research I did seam to expect the user to fix the said issues rather than fix the issues as Ubuntu did!

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Ubuntu Loses to Debian Again!

As the current Linux distribution, Crunchbang, I am using has come to the end of it’s life I have had to change my Linux to a distribution which has a longer life time. So started the search for a new distribution which included a light desktop and a stable Linux behind it which as always runs the Second Life Viewers with little and no issues.

Once again I had to go through a number of Linux distributions which were based on either Ubuntu or Debian as they were most likely to do what I needed them to do. This time much to my surprised I ended up with Debian 8 with a LXDE desktop and not some obscure Linux distribution as the Debian/LXDE combination turned out to be a fast and stable Linux on my hardware.

But one thing which came out again as last time the Linux distributions based on Ubuntu failed to be up to scratch as they certainly were easy to set up and use but it failed to run any Second Life Viewers correctly either not displaying some special characters or even playing music in world.

I should of not been surprised in the end as Ubuntu may tell everyone it is the major Linux distribution even to a point it now associates itself with the likes of Microsoft and Dell but, and it is a big but, it is far from the best Linux distribution out there. If anything it is one of the most bloated and least stable Linux distribution out there.

Add to this regardless of some bad press Debian is still one of the better and more stable Linux distributions out there and those of us who regularly use Linux have already found this fact out over the past few years.

Plus for those people who want to run the major Second Life Viewers on Linux the only Linux distributions which they run consistently with least trouble are those Linux distributions based up on Debian. Also helps that it seams the people developing the Second Life Viewers use Debian based Linux distributions.

Once again Ubuntu lost out to Debian my end!

Please Note: If you are interested in a more personal scrapbook of mine just follow the link to Patterns in the Static!.

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When Are They Going Stop Believing!

Once again when talking to someone at work about Linux I got the same old story from the person in question that he thought or had been told that installing Linux on computer was difficult!

Now with some Linux distributions that is true but to be fair the distributions in question are designed for the more capable computer users but now there are a growing number of Linux distributions especially Ubuntu and Debian based Linux which are now as easy to install onto a computer as Windows if anything easier.

What had become very clear to me they were ignorant about Linux in general not helped by a fact the media here in the United Kingdom still avoids or fails to inform people they have real alternatives to Windows and Apple. All not helped by young people who are very happy to follow rather than think for themselves even here in the United Kingdom.

So when are they going to stop believing the lies spread by some about Linux?

Well it looks like I have to lead by example and continue to show by using Linux that it is a viable alternative to the mainstream operating system and software. On top of which keep being vocal and keep banging the drum for Linux and Open Source in the hope it opens the eyes and fires the curiosity of those who eyes have been closed by the modern world around them!

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Please Note: If you are interested in my home page just follow the link to Experiment No. 3.

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Mint was a Disappointment!

In the end contrary to what I have said before Linux Mint turned out to be a big disappointment especially on older hardware and the newer versions as after a month or so usage it managed to pick up a glitch which disabled the wireless card. This is contrast to a Debian Linux I use on other old hardware which has been working over a year without one major glitch or driver issues.

I should of expected that I would have problems with Linux Mint as it is an Ubuntu based Linux and I have had little success using any Ubuntu based Linux on any computer as it always ends up failing due to some glitch or driver failure after a few months which has resulted in myself replacing the Ubuntu with another distribution Linux.

In the end I have done the one thing I should of done in the first place which was to load on a Debian based Linux, in this case Crunchbang, and modified to desktop so it was easily used by someone who is coming from a Windows xp. This turned out to be easier than I expected and the resulting desktop and operating system will be far more stable and maintenance free.

Basically Ubuntu based Linux’s have always been a disappointment my end and I have had no end of problems with stability and speed on older hardware. I should of expected this with Linux Mint but I had a faint hope it was free of such problems which turned out to be wrong in the end.

So now I recommend that anyone thinking of using Linux on older hardware avoid using any Ubuntu based Linux’s and try other Linux distributions especially those using Debian and light desktops for example Openbox but not likes of Gnome 2 or 3.

Please Note: If you are interested in a more personal scrapbook of mine just follow the link to Patterns in the Static!.

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Ubuntu and Steam Missed the Boat!

Two years when Microsoft released Windows 8 to a very sceptical even hostile current Window users who frankly did not like the new look to Windows and still do not which damaged hardware sales and helped the rise of the tablet in the computer market.

Microsoft was most definitely on the ropes a year ago it’s very future as a serious software and operating system creators under question and both Ubuntu and Steam stepped up the mark in an attempt to usurp Microsoft’s position in the domestic computer market.

But two years later Ubuntu is still a minor player in the domestic computer market and Steam are still developing their Linus based operating system which was supposed to break into the Windows Gaming market.

Basically both are still in the same position minor players and Microsoft has kept it strangle hold on the domestic computer market backed by the retailers and hardware manufactures. Plus Microsoft is starting to regain some of it’s lost share of the market and actually reversing some of the disastrous modification in Windows 9.

Both Ubuntu and Steam have missed the boat and blown their chances of usurping Microsoft because they could not act fast or decisively enough when Microsoft was down and out. In the end they have made themselves insignificant because of their lack of action and dragging their feet when they needed to be bold and more decisive!

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Mint is a Good Direction to Go

As Windows xp users are slowly thinking about changing computers or those who have old hardware which frankly is very serviceable and only made useless by the Windows inefficiency of use of hardware should consider an alternative to Windows 8 and Apple.

One alternative which should be considered which will both give the Windows xp users an interface which they are familiar with and not have to abandon their old hardware which on the whole is still very serviceable and far from the end of its life is to replace the Windows xp on the computer with Linux Mint with xfce desktop.

This also has the added advantage in these times where money is short it will save the Windows xp user money as they will not have to buy new hardware and pay over the odds for an operating system which frankly not liked by the majority of users.

Why do I say this?

Because I have already done this for a friend who was given an old laptop running Windows xp which would have to be thrown away because frankly when it was running Windows it life span as a viable computer had come to end not because of the hardware but software.

But I installed Linux Mint with xfce desktop on the said laptop which breathed life back to the hardware and produced a laptop which was usable because it ran fast enough to be used again.

The friend in question now uses the laptop more than his Windows desktop simply because it is more stable and usable than his Windows computer with little or no problems simply because the xfce desktop is so similar to the Windows xp desktop with few minor differences.

Would I recommend that all Windows xp users do this?

The answer is yes especially if the user is just someone who uses their computer for browsing the internet, basic word processing and collecting their email as it will mean it will save them money and they will not have to go through the trauma and headache of learning the new Windows 8 desktop which frankly is very messy and user unfriendly!

Oh, the one other big advantage is the days of the constant battle with viruses and malware users are having with Window computers while surfing the internet will be greatly reduced even eliminated when the users go to Linux Mint. Basically the Windows xp user can surf the internet for a first time in a long while safely.

A good place to start is at the Linux Mint site and follow the download link and download the xfce desktop version of Linux Mint: Linux Mint

Please Note: If you are interested in a more personal scrapbook of mine just follow the link to Patterns in the Static!.

Please Note: If you are interested in my home page just follow the link to Experiment No. 3.

Please Note: If you are interested in my small social network just follow the link to On the Other Side!.

Leaving Windows Behind Forever!

It must be few years now I have stopped using Microsoft Windows and started to use Linux on all my computers.

And to be frank it has been best thing I have ever done on the computer in my life as I have said before I now enjoy a relatively problem free computer use without the constant maintenance, stability and virus issues of Microsoft Windows.

On top of which with the use of an ever growing and improving Open Source Software library on the internet I have managed in the last few years to do things which I could only of dreamt of on a Microsoft Windows computer. It has allowed me to mess around and experiment what I can do with my computer at home on a computer stable and forgiving enough not to have to reset the computer because something has gone wrong.

What it means in the end as far as I am concerned is that I will never use Microsoft Windows again here at home as I would now find it as an operating system very limited, to unstable and at a great variance how I use my computer now.

I would not recommend everyone should ditch their Microsoft Windows Computers but for people like myself who want to do more than just use a computer for more than surfing the web, word processing, that is basic stuff but for people like myself who want to do more and more interesting things on their computer it is a must.

My next purchase of a computer will either be a build my own in the case of a desktop or a bare bone computer simply because I will get hardware which will support Linux or any other operating system I require.

I have left Windows behind forever!

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Microsoft Are Still Flogging a Dead Horse!

Considering the growing dislike of Microsoft Windows 8 amongst domestic users as they get to use it everyday and with prospect of business taking up Microsoft Windows 8 which currently not good it got me wondering just why Microsoft are being so persistent at trying to push users to use their new operating system?

I understand that Microsoft have invested heavily in Windows 8 development which in itself is very mystifying as it has not gone unnoticed to likes of myself that Windows 8 has same base as Windows 7 with a few major tweaks regardless of the fact Microsoft claim it is a brand new operating system.

But this constant tweaking Microsoft is doing to Windows 8 to make it acceptable to it’s jaded users must be costing them a fortune as every developer knows it takes a lot more time and cost to modify software after its release. Add to this the fact they are now starting to add features which were removed from Windows 8 and existed in previous versions of Windows because of the user outcry and dislike of look and feel of Windows 8.

I must not be only one out there in real world is starting to think with reception Windows 8 and variants have had, plus the lack of enthusiasm of business world to take up of the operating system are starting to wonder just why Microsoft just cut their losses and simply produce an upgrade of existing Windows 7, and earlier operating systems, which users like and now comfortable with on computers.

Microsoft’s actions to force users in one go to change their operating system has failed big time as users can be extremely set in their ways. If Microsoft had been really paying attention the market over the years they would of known users were very conservative as if they were not the likes of Linux would have had a bigger foot hold in the market already!

Plus those executives and decision makers within Microsoft had been actually observing the Linux world would of seen a similar problem Ubuntu and Gnome 3 had being accepted within the Linux world because of the use of an application based desktop. Basically Linux users simply do not like these sort of desktops on computers to a point much like Microsoft Ubuntu is having to reintroduce features they took out which were from previous versions of Ubuntu.

Personally it is high time Microsoft stopped flogging the dead horse called Windows 8 much like ME and vista before it and swallow their pride as if they continue to follow the current cause of Windows 8 they are heading for a disaster or difficult times ahead especially within business aide of computing as Windows 8 is really not up for the job of serious computing.

All I can say Microsoft stop flogging the head horse called Windows 8 as it really not worth the effort any more!


Please Note: If you are interested in a more personal journal of mine just follow the link to Acta Spiritu Amisso.

Please Note: I also have a small personal social network which is invitation only just follow the link to Luther’s Chosen Few.

Windows XP May Be Old But Not Down and Out!

It seams that once again Microsoft have done a bit of a u-turn on Windows XP yet again rather than finally announcing the end of Windows XP virus warning on the 8th April 2014 instead they announced they were extending such warning until the 14th July 2015.

All because around of 30% of both domestic and commercial users still use Microsoft Windows XP even 12 years after it’s launch jointly because of failure of Vista and the inability of such users to adapt the way they use their computers to later versions of Windows both 7 and 8.

Basically after Windows XP Microsoft shot themselves in the foot by radically changing their operating system rather than previously when their operating systems were true upgrades so users found it much easier to migrate.

Add to this that each of Microsoft’s subsequent operating systems after XP have been pale reflections of XP in so much all have been less stable and usable. Microsoft in trying to improve their operating systems by rewriting them, especially with Vista, to make them faster and more secure have created a batch of operating systems which are frankly not up to the job unlike Windows XP was.

As I have said before it is going to be interesting for Microsoft when these Windows XP users finally have to stop using their computers as they are certainly not going to upgrade to later versions of Microsoft Window’s Operating Systems considering their dislike of such operating systems.

If anything as a group they are going to more open to using other operating systems as after all they are going have to change their software they run anyway. Plus they already have a very negative view of Microsoft’s later operating systems to a point they rather stick with 12-year old operating system rather then upgrade.

If Microsoft do nothing about these user they are potentially going to lose more share of the operating system market both on the domestic and commercial sides. We already know Microsoft will not do anything as they are so arrogant they assume there users will come round and everyone else know they will not such is their determination.

It is a testament to the Microsoft Software Engineers who created Windows XP as it is still being used some 12 years later and still much loved by it users even with it little problems here and there. Something has to be put in context here as an operating system Windows XP is not old fashioned as such considering likes of Linux are modifications to older UNIX operating systems which now are some 20 years plus old.

Basically the life spans of base operating systems and software can be measured in decades not years as the media would like you to believe. This mainly because software developers now rarely create new base software but improve on existing software because it is a lot easier and cost effective which again something lost by media in general.

Personally Microsoft rather than keep putting back Windows XP demise should actually modify Windows XP to work with newer hardware and devices as after all it would give them a better chance to keep the large majority of the current XP users. Plus they may actually regain their share of the market they have lost due to their newer operating systems.

But sadly Microsoft will continue presence course and cut lose their loyal Windows XP users without a thought.


Please Note: If you are interested in a more personal journal of mine just follow the link to Acta Spiritu Amisso.

Calling All Windows XP Users!

This year Microsoft’s support for Windows XP ends leaving all of them high and dry without any support though normally this would not be a problem but Windows XP users are very loyal to the operating system itself mainly because it has been one of the best and reliable operating systems created by Microsoft.

I know for me that is a very strange thing to say but personally Windows XP does have its problems but of all the Microsoft Operating Systems it was very reliable, robust and most importantly easy to use. After Windows XP Microsoft’s operating systems have gone downhill both in usability and efficiency of resource usage to a point it is absolutely ridiculous in Windows 8.1!

This stopping of support of Windows XP by Microsoft is going to cause major problems with the XP users as they are very loyal to the operating system and like the interface and feel of the operating system and bar a few are very dubious about Windows 8.1 especially because of it’s looks, feel and lack of real usability.

My personal recommendation to these Windows XP users who do not want to use the later versions of Windows is to take the plunge and move to Linux especially those distributions which use desktops which look similar to Windows XP so the learning curve in the switch is minimal. Add to this it would also mean the Windows XP user would not have to change their hardware as if anything the Linux will give their old hardware a new lease of life.

There will be those Windows XP users out there who will say that such a change would mean they could not run software they currently use but this would of also be true if they were to upgrade to Windows 8.1 as they would have to change the software anyway so they would be in the same position.

The other worry some Windows XP users will have is the loss of data in the change of operating system which simply will not happen as Linux will still read the Windows files and large majority of associated Open Source software will allow the import of Windows files so not a real problem.

In conclusion I recommend that Windows XP take the plunge and convert to Linux especially those Linux Distributions which use similar desktops to Windows XP as they will find they will continue to use computer with a familiar desktop and use their existing hardware saving them money and heart ache in the long run.

Finally the Linux distribution I would recommend because of it’s closeness to Windows XP in looks with a wide availability of easy to use Open Source packages and the fact it works on old hardware so well is Linux Mint with the xfce desktop which can be found following the link http://www.linuxmint.com/


Please Note: If you are interested in a more personal journal of mine just follow the link to Acta Spiritu Amisso.

Microsoft Windows is Becoming an Even Bigger Joke!

I am still waiting for people in general to wake up to what a joke Microsoft Windows operating systems have become in so much of all the operating systems currently on the market as it is the only operating system you have to pay for and what do you get for your money?

An operating system whose older versions are so full of security holes and exploits even with the best security software are very susceptible to attack plus the fact the newer versions both difficult to use or do anything cleaver with them.

What makes the newer version even more of the joke is the fact that every other operating system works out of the box but Microsoft Windows 8 simply does not. The most common thing people want to do is watch a dvd easy on any other operating system not Windows 8 where the user has actually download an application from Microsoft to play a dvd!

I know I am boring people with this but it has to be said until users wake up to the fact just how poor Microsoft Windows as a product is and wake up to the fact that there are real alternatives including Apple.

For change to take place people have to start to demand a change or things will remain the same and they will continue to have to suffer the problems of Microsoft Windows and nothing will ever change for the better!


Please Note: If you are interested in a more personal journal of mine just follow the link to Acta Spiritu Amisso.

Linux is Still Making Computing Fun!

With all the user disqualification and disappointment with Microsoft Windows 8 it seams I must be one of few users who still finds messing around with computers both fun and challenging outside of Apple users.

My secret being that I use Linux on my computers along with a growing number of users who are discovering same as me that Linux brings back something long been missing in computing which is fun and innovation.

At the same time as those users who still believe the lies that Microsoft is the standard and only operating system on computers myself and others who are prepared to break this mould and experiment with Linux and it’s derivatives have found we end up with a better experience with our computers in general.

We are free from the constant problems associated with Microsoft Windows which include constant maintenance, virus attacks and updates which both fix problems and cause more problems which has allowed us to actually move on from fighting the software to actually do things new with their computers.

It has allowed me to do things with my computer which I could of only dreamed of on a Windows Computer and allowed me to use my computer as a creative tool without the worry of an operating system constantly causing me problems.

As I have said before Linux brings fun back to computing!


Please Note: If you are interested in a more personal journal of mine just follow the link to Acta Spiritu Amisso.