Computer Geeks arise!! I need help !!

[phrogpilot73]

I just thought I'd quickly weigh in on the tablet PC discussion, as well as browser. If you're unsure if you want a Tablet or not (and since you upgrade every 1-2 years), look into Tiger Direct. I got an Averatec convertible tablet for $700 (it was factory refurbished). That way I wasn't sinking a fortune into something that I was unsure if I would like it. In a couple of years, I plan on getting a newer, nicer convertible tablet. I'm a convert. I can lay in bed and browse the internet in a way never before thought possible. I don't know that I would like to use it for the actual writing or not, because the handwriting recognition is only good enough for small notes, web addresses, etc... It would be GREAT for the occasional idea, sketch, or editing.

As for browsers, check out the new version of Netscape. I was never really a Netscape fan, until they came out with the new one. Tabbed browsing, and it uses BOTH the firefox and IE engines. If it's a trusted site, it will render it in IE. If it's not, it renders it in firefox for security. I've been happy with it thusfar...

 

[eddie]

BOTH the firefox and IE engines. If it's a trusted site, it will render it in IE. If it's not, it renders it in firefox for security. I've been happy with it thusfar...

Thanks for the heads up, because that is a FABULOUS idea on their part!

 

[Gatordev]

I can lay in bed and browse the internet in a way never before thought possible. I don't know that I would like to use it for the actual writing or not,

I guess if you stopped surfing for porn in bed, you could find out. By the way, how do you write w/ one hand on the stylus and the other on...never mind.

 

[RivrGuide]

Get a Mac

Come to the dark side :icon_rage

My powerbook just took a 4 foot tumbler onto a wood floor, and it still works. Had Apple check it out just to make sure and they said there are no problems whatsoever. If they do turn up, it's still got a full warranty, and i spent less than $1200 on it.

 

[AllAmerican75]

Yes, come to the dark side. Come to the land of Steve Jobs and unix-based OS goodness.

 

[TheBubba]

Yes, come to the dark side. Come to the land of Steve Jobs and unix-based OS goodness.

I'm a firm believer inUnix and Unix based OS goodness. However, if you wanna go with Unix-based goodness, just run a Linux distribution... say Suse or Red Hat (Red Hat for me).

My system: Dual boot Windows XP and Red Hat Linux. Take That!!!

ALL HAIL THE PENGUIN!!!

 

[phrogpilot73]

I guess if you stopped surfing for porn in bed, you could find out. By the way, how do you write w/ one hand on the stylus and the other on...never mind.

I put the stylus in my teeth...

 

[Fly Navy]

Come to the dark side :icon_rage

My powerbook just took a 4 foot tumbler onto a wood floor, and it still works. Had Apple check it out just to make sure and they said there are no problems whatsoever. If they do turn up, it's still got a full warranty, and i spent less than $1200 on it.

That's pretty good for a laptop to survive. Good deal. That being said, I'm not going to blow money on a completely overpriced computer that was built for the less capable in mind (face it... I'm not saying Mac users are less capable, but that's how they're designed).

This is coming from someone who blew money on an iPod.... I guess I'm subject to ridicule

That being said, I haven't used OSX, but good on them for going towards a Unix trend. There are properties of Unix/Linux that have taken for-fucking-ever for MS to integrate into Windows. They're still behind.

 

[A4sForever]

Linux? LINUX, you say ???

Tell me more ... I have been doing some stupid-study on that system and was thinking about downloading and trying it on a spare notebook -- but I suspect there is very little software that is compatible with it.

I would like to replace WinXP with it instead of running a two-boot environment. I believe you can also run Linux from a stand-alone drive (USB?) ... but what's the point???

Again, software integration and compatibility are my concerns ....

 

[Brett327]

Linux? LINUX, you say ???

Tell me more ... I have been doing some stupid-study on that system and was thinking about downloading and trying it on a spare notebook -- but I suspect there is very little software that is compatible with it.

I would like to replace WinXP with it instead of running a two-boot environment. I believe you can also run Linux from a stand-alone drive (USB?) ... but what's the point???

Again, software integration and compatibility are my concerns ....

I'm no linux expert by any means, but it's primarily an OS for extreme geeks and computer experimenters that doesn't really lend itself to use by the general public. While I'm sure there are nifty GUIs and emulators, there's essentially no software written for it that is of much use to most of us. Let's face it, the old debate about stability of the Windows OS compared to Mac has been largely rendered OBE since the more stable NT/XP kernel. Windows is by no means perfect, but it's the standard - embrace conformity. I wouldn't recommend deviating from Windows unless you have an extremely esoteric computing requirement, or are interested in experimental computing for its own sake.

Brett

 

[A4sForever]

.....I wouldn't recommend deviating from Windows unless you have an extremely esoteric computing requirement, or are interested in experimental computing for its own sake.

Brett

Nope, I'm a meat and potatoes (and sometimes fishheads and rice) kind of computing guy, so I guess I'll stick with the one that "brung me". Thanks, Amigo.

 

[Steve Wilkins]

Nope, I'm a meat and potatoes (and sometimes fishheads and rice) kind of computing guy, so I guess I'll stick with the one that "brung me". Thanks, Amigo.

See, I was gonna have taquitos tonight, but now I might just have to go get a couple filets for my wife and me.

 

[KBayDog]

...embrace conformity.

I bet the libs love you!

 

[A4sForever]

See, I was gonna have taquitos tonight, but now I might just have to go get a couple filets for my wife and me.

Well, I'll be damned .... filets .... who could know??? And here I always thought SWO's ate their young ... ???

.... a baby SWO .. ???

 

[TheBubba]

I'm gonna agree with Brett here. The only reason I have a dual-boot (I really don't need it anymore) is b/c I used to do alot of prgoramming in school, and it was easied to connect to the school's servers and edit my programs from my room. If you're doing alot of programming, a Unix based environment give you alot more power than Windows.

However, for the average joe's home PC, Windows is really all that you need. I haven't booted up Linux since I tweaked my Pong-knowck off this past July.

As far as GUI's go, there are a few pretty gucci one floating around. My favorite is Gnome... allows for easy trasition between and co-use of the GUI and command line calls. Couple that the all-in-one text editor Emacs and the Moxilla Suite and you're golden.

And yes, its definitely harder to find drivers and other programs for Unix and Unix-based systems. Though the gnu liscence makes it easier to customize your PC providing you know what you're doing.

Windows isn't bad for what most people do with a PC. Hardcore programming, I'll go with a Linux distribution. For big multi-media manipulation, Mac all the way.