4 ms·

People like to shit on MS, but Microsoft's commitment to backwards compatibility allows you to keep the same OS and use your PC to use all the software you paid

by ksk 9y ago

People like to shit on MS, but Microsoft's commitment to backwards compatibility allows you to keep the same OS and use your PC to use all the software you paid for, for FAR longer than any Apple or Linux PC.

AstralStorm 9y ago
In Linux world, the problem is mitigated by availability of specialty distributions and desktop environments. Even older but open software can usually be salvaged with a few patches too. And once you have the hardware new enough to run hardware virtualization well, there are truly no limits other than raw RAM and CPU.
- ksk 9y ago
  Assuming I have the source code (a big if), I will still need authorization from the vendor to modify the source. And even if I do get that, as an end user, all I want to do is double-click on the icon. I am not going to be writing any patches, or wanting to pay someone to write patches. I prefer to simply pay the $100 Microsoft tax when I purchase my PC and let MS worry about it.
- dredmorbius 9y ago
  Thought that RAM and CPU can hit you. I'd add disk -- swapping spinning rust for SSD should make an improvement. I've revive an iMac 5,1 under Debian, and it runs. But with 1 GB RAM, it's good for only a small handful of Web browser pages before starting to swap heavily. The system should be good for memory and HD upgrade, though I've yet to look into that. Compared to a newer Retina iMac, it's actually the screen which is one of the elements that's got me hesitating on an update. The resolution (and brightness) are sufficiently poor that even an update wouldn't give it all that much utility. Given the cost of modest new generic PC hardware, I've got to question the validity of that. For non-Web use, basic apps, shell, and server roles, it's just fine. It's browsers that are absolute resource monsters.
j3097736 9y ago
Yeah, until a few years ago when they started doing things like - Automatically upgrading devices to Win10 - Announce that they will keep adding upgrades to win10 instead of creating new releases - Office 365 - Require win10 to develop for windows phone 10 and important software companies like adobe/autodesk moving to subscription model isn't gonna help.

by ksk 9y ago

AstralStorm 9y ago

In Linux world, the problem is mitigated by availability of specialty distributions and desktop environments. Even older but open software can usually be salvaged with a few patches too. And once you have the hardware new enough to run hardware virtualization well, there are truly no limits other than raw RAM and CPU.

ksk 9y ago
Assuming I have the source code (a big if), I will still need authorization from the vendor to modify the source. And even if I do get that, as an end user, all I want to do is double-click on the icon. I am not going to be writing any patches, or wanting to pay someone to write patches. I prefer to simply pay the $100 Microsoft tax when I purchase my PC and let MS worry about it.
dredmorbius 9y ago
Thought that RAM and CPU can hit you. I'd add disk -- swapping spinning rust for SSD should make an improvement. I've revive an iMac 5,1 under Debian, and it runs. But with 1 GB RAM, it's good for only a small handful of Web browser pages before starting to swap heavily. The system should be good for memory and HD upgrade, though I've yet to look into that. Compared to a newer Retina iMac, it's actually the screen which is one of the elements that's got me hesitating on an update. The resolution (and brightness) are sufficiently poor that even an update wouldn't give it all that much utility. Given the cost of modest new generic PC hardware, I've got to question the validity of that. For non-Web use, basic apps, shell, and server roles, it's just fine. It's browsers that are absolute resource monsters.

j3097736 9y ago

Yeah, until a few years ago when they started doing things like - Automatically upgrading devices to Win10 - Announce that they will keep adding upgrades to win10 instead of creating new releases - Office 365 - Require win10 to develop for windows phone 10 and important software companies like adobe/autodesk moving to subscription model isn't gonna help.