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June 19, 2007
Living With Windows
We've had a few people on the forum buying new Windows PCs, upgrading older ones. And we've been discussing backup and maintenance approaches. Which segues into this thought.
Microsoft Windows XP (and it's successor, Vista) is quite a mature (some people call it geriatric) product. Archeological evidence of this is in the extreme number of freeware, shareware and commercial programs. There are lists of such software and there are lists of such lists. Microsoft has no doubt helped this proliferation of detritus carrying out the Raymond Chen principle - engineering some mix of compatibility into every subsequent Windows version.
There are some of us who barely use Windows. Let's call people like that Category A. I've got this theory that Category A people seldom need a tech support. They don't get bitten by rabid bugs and if their luck and modus operandi does not deviate, never will. I'd put that category at 25%.
Then there are those who generally use Windows, a little Word, some light surfing in the course of everyday activities. Let's call people like that Category B. I'd put regular users in Category B at about 50% of the general public.
Finally, there are those miscreants who install each and every inscrutable utility at the drop of a hat and subsequently spoil their Windows often (yours truly included). Let's call these people Category C.
So, as a Category C, when I turn around to the next person and proffer some advice about backup, maintenance, and playing it safe, I don't get much credibility - it's like I'm hidden by a perception filter.
So how do you Live With Windows?
a. Do you keep using the machine until it manifests some BSOD?
b. Do you take the vim and brush at yearly intervals and remove programs, files with vigour, regardless of whether the machine is misbehaving?
c. Do you knee jerk and call _put your poor IT literate person here_ the moment an email you're waiting for doesn't come through?
I'd put it to you, that a saner way to Live With Windows, is to come up with some Key Performance Indicators for the machine. For once, it would be a proper use for KPIs. I'll come up with some points in another article. Feel free to contribute in the comments or at the forum.
Posted by Anandasim at June 19, 2007 05:16 PM
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Comments
I live with Windows safely contained in VMware on Mac OS X.
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at June 20, 2007 05:31 AM
I recently built a new system and the first thing that I did once I had everything installed and updated was to run Acronis True Image.
Acronis made an image of my HDD which I have stored on another drive. If my system stuffs up at least I can restore the computer fairly quickly.
Posted by: Chopper at June 20, 2007 09:52 PM
I haven't windows, I use Kubuntu : http://www.kubuntu.org/ I have a better productivity with this.
However, you can test Ubuntu : http://www.ubuntu.com/ it's more easier for beginner, but less features than Kubuntu.
You can test this easily with VMware.
Posted by: X-treme at June 30, 2007 08:31 PM