psuedo-poll: favorite x86 OS?

[csubear]

Meh, I'll reconsider installing any version of Windows after Longhorn is released, it looks quite sexy.

If by sexy you mean cheap rip off of OS X? I don't think longhorn is going to catch on.

I havn't read too much, but my guess is that they are try to reinvent windows again, and i think they are going to have to break alot of leagcy win 9x programs to get a better OS. and if so they are going to need a "blue box" like classic, and that is not easy. basicly this is going to a make it or break it thing like OS X was for apple. Apple made it. Will Microsoft?

2cents

 

[janey]

If by sexy you mean cheap rip off of OS X? I don't think longhorn is going to catch on.

I havn't read too much, but my guess is that they are try to reinvent windows again, and i think they are going to have to break alot of leagcy win 9x programs to get a better OS. and if so they are going to need a "blue box" like classic, and that is not easy. basicly this is going to a make it or break it thing like OS X was for apple. Apple made it. Will Microsoft?

2cents

the black is attractive (its my favorite color), and although it just looks like XP skinned, I still would like to give it a chance, like I have done with every single version of Windows i can get my hands on. Some are not bad, some are horrid, but i'll still give it a chance.

 

[Rower_CPU]

Celeron-

Windows' firewall - why does it only block incoming traffic?

Mac BIOS - you've got Open Firmware for some low level settings, but a BIOS is overkill for a "closed" system like Apple's.

"Hand holding" - The one-button mouse is a throwback to the original Mac that Apple needs to get past; people know how to use 2+ button mice. But, in order for me to make Windows secure, I have to hold its hand. That is simply unacceptable.

"Typical" Windows user experience - you have seen the reports about how widespread virus, worm, spyware are these days, haven't you?

 

[monkeydo_jb]

i installed the antivirus apps after i noticed the speed. because i at least wanted to know what it was, and if i could remove it.

and btw, i honestly dont see the point of using Windows any longer. i swear i'm so ticked off right now i feel like sshing into the computer and installing any other OS right now. God, i'm not happy. I think the copy of MyDoom was from the disk image of my iBook's drive though, I had saved a few copies of it just for the heck of it. Still...that doesnt explain the others

Here's a slick little virus scanner.

It covers just the major iterations and is entirely free.



-jeff

 

[monkeydo_jb]

the black is attractive (its my favorite color), and although it just looks like XP skinned, I still would like to give it a chance, like I have done with every single version of Windows i can get my hands on. Some are not bad, some are horrid, but i'll still give it a chance.

Good luck affording a system of at least this caliber (granted it is a few years down the pipe):

dual-core CPU running at 4 to 6GHz; a minimum of 2 gigs of RAM; up to a terabyte of storage; a 1 Gbit, built-in, Ethernet-wired port and an 802.11g wireless link; and a graphics processor that runs three times faster than those on the market today.

 

[Mav451]

ubergeek: i think you should consider applying for the record book (6 viruses/15 days...a lil less than 1virus/2days) Joking aside, though, I am having trouble trying to rationalize 6 viruses in 15 days. I mean, I've heard 1 or 2 in 3-4 days, and this lends itself to a hasty reformat, patching or whatnot.

But 6 viruses? What AV software detected it and removed it? Or were they not removed at all? I mean 6 viruses at once would be scary...I'm not even sure if the XP would work anymore.

What has my experience been? Well I have 2 computers I can relate to:

1) My own. My baby Haven't gotten a virus since the day I set it up last March of 2003. I have been using Firefox/Firebird since September, which has significantly cut down on spyware.

Used to use Zone Alarm on my '98SE box (1999-2003), but haven't since I went to XP.

2) Brothers comp--built it too
Well, he uses IE all the time--so it took me quite a while to remove the spyware (uninstall software involved and JV16 cleaning runs), but he rarely, if ever downloads the security updates, unless I force him too o_0. No viruses on his box either.

*Many things to note:
1) We're on college campus? I'm not sure if this increase/decrease our vulnerability
2) Both are running on the A7N8X mobo, with an onboard nVidia NIC.
3) Both run XP SP1 Integrated
If you installed XP, then upgraded to SP1...there may be some slip-ups in the update process. Never really trusted M$ with this stuff, so i choose to use Integrated, which guarantees its working out of the box (SP1 fixes).

 

[7on]

My college shuts off computer internet access when you get a virus. Incidentally the largest virus outbreaks were during finals.

Anyhoo, I'm planning on checking out Windows 2003 to see what that's like. The XP install on the family computer needs a reinstall but I'm checking it out first on VPC first and check about any differences. If Longhorn begins to work right then it'll be pie, if not I dunno. For most people it'd impossible to switch from Windows. For most people if there isn't a start button in the lower left hand corner of the screen their head explodes. Trust me, I've seen it happen. It takes while a while to clean up too.

 

[Mav451]

Celeron-

Windows' firewall - why does it only block incoming traffic?

Are you sure its only incoming? While i am no network geek (I'm only H/W geek sorry, ), from this website, it seems, correct me if i'm wrong, that it blocks both incoming and outgoing:

http://www.wown.com/articles_tutorials/Windows_XP_SP2_New_Security_Features_Review.html

 

[Rower_CPU]

Are you sure its only incoming? While i am no network geek (I'm only H/W geek sorry, ), from this website, it seems, correct me if i'm wrong, that it blocks both incoming and outgoing:

http://www.wown.com/articles_tutorials/Windows_XP_SP2_New_Security_Features_Review.html

That's the new FW in SP2 - XP doesn't currently block outgoing traffic.

 

[monkeydo_jb]

Anyhoo, I'm planning on checking out Windows 2003 to see what that's like. The XP install on the family computer needs a reinstall but I'm checking it out first on VPC first and check about any differences.

When you say Windows® 2003, do you mean Server or are you planning on cracking it
to run as a desktop OS?



-jeff

 

[Mav451]

That's the new FW in SP2 - XP doesn't currently block outgoing traffic.

Yeah I think we're seeing deja vu...'98 was crappy until '98SE came out...and XP SP2 is looking like what XP should have been 3 years ago, when it was first released

 

[Rower_CPU]

Yeah I think we're seeing deja vu...'98 was crappy until '98SE came out...and XP SP2 is looking like what XP should have been 3 years ago, when it was first released

The silver lining is that if SP2 lives up to the hype, it should be pretty OK for us on the x86 side of things until Longhorn moseys in.

 

[7on]

When you say Windows® 2003, do you mean Server or are you planning on cracking it
to run as a desktop OS?



-jeff

I was was under the impression that a Server OS just has extra bells and whistles that a Desktop OS doesn't have. Still installing so we shall see.

 

[7on]

Just installed 2003. Meh, it's so so. IE's security is higher (by notification of IE's first launch). Multiple accounts are hard to manage (naturally). It's basically 2000 with server features. So if you're going Windows, it might just be safe going with XP or 2000 rather than 2003 (unless you manage servers of course )

 

[Celeron]

Celeron-

Windows' firewall - why does it only block incoming traffic?

Mac BIOS - you've got Open Firmware for some low level settings, but a BIOS is overkill for a "closed" system like Apple's.

"Hand holding" - The one-button mouse is a throwback to the original Mac that Apple needs to get past; people know how to use 2+ button mice. But, in order for me to make Windows secure, I have to hold its hand. That is simply unacceptable.

"Typical" Windows user experience - you have seen the reports about how widespread virus, worm, spyware are these days, haven't you?

Why does it only block incoming traffic? Thats the entire point of a traditional firewall. Programs like ZoneAlarm do per application blocking, but technically, all a firewall does is absure internal machines from external networks. Personally, I don't trust software firewalls and feel much more comfortable on a hardware solution.

 

[MorganX]

Good luck affording a system of at least this caliber (granted it is a few years down the pipe):

Those specs are bogus. I run Longhorn on a 2.4Ghz P4 with 512M and a Radeon 9600. No performance hiccups whatsoever. None. After I realized it was too alpha for me, I went back to XP (Ghosted image) and installed Longhorn I a VirtualPC with 256M and 16G HD. Runs almost as well as natively.

Longhorn will probably look more like this when released:

 

[Rower_CPU]

Why does it only block incoming traffic? Thats the entire point of a traditional firewall. Programs like ZoneAlarm do per application blocking, but technically, all a firewall does is absure internal machines from external networks. Personally, I don't trust software firewalls and feel much more comfortable on a hardware solution.

Good firewalls also prevent outgoing traffic so that we don't have things like Sasser propagating themselves out from infected machines or trojans opening back doors into your system. SP2 will add this functionality, hindsight being 20/20.

 

[janey]

well not including variants its iirc 4. i've removed 5, using whatever removal tools were online/on the app and stuff, and one i dont know how the hell it found it...but eh.
i tried and uninstalled kaspersky antivirus (whatever its called), and now i'm using norton antivirus pro 2004


Those specs for Longhorn are just estimates, I highly doubt they'd suggest something that insanely powerful, but then again because it will be released at the earliest probably 2007, those specs are expected.
Bah :x

 

[monkeydo_jb]

Those specs are bogus.

Not according to this

Is your filesystem WinFS or still NTFS? WinFS is supposed to render a huge performance hit.



-jeff

 

[windowsblowsass]

[0SIZE=7]WINDOWS RG(REALLY GOOD EWDITION)[/SIZE]
its great just google for it check out word

 

[wrldwzrd89]

[0SIZE=7]WINDOWS RG(REALLY GOOD EWDITION)[/SIZE]
its great just google for it check out word

Don't bother, go here instead if you want to try out WinRG. A word of warning - it's funniest on a Windows machine running IE. It works just fine in Safari for Mac (but the keyboard shortcut to exit the demo doesn't work - you have to close the window instead).

 

[MorganX]

Not according to this

Is your filesystem WinFS or still NTFS? WinFS is supposed to render a huge performance hit.
-jeff

You missed the part where I said I have it and have run it stand alone and in a VirtualPC (currently) on XP.

In posts elsewhere here I mentioned the only area that could be considered slow was disk access. But not from WinFS, general disk access. Probably becasue the pre-alpha-alpha doesn't have much i/o caching or optimization at pre-alpha-alpha stage.

Those specs are ridiculous and despite what Mary J Foley reposts, I can tell you as fact, the current alpha has the same requirements and WindowsXP. It actually installs faster and the UI is faster already in some areas.

 

[MorganX]

well not including variants its iirc 4. i've removed 5, using whatever removal tools were online/on the app and stuff, and one i dont know how the hell it found it...but eh.
i tried and uninstalled kaspersky antivirus (whatever its called), and now i'm using norton antivirus pro 2004

Dang, you really got infected good. Sure no one used Kaazaa on your PC? You should be safe with Norton. Trend PCCillin is also good. Does a little better with IRC and HTML tricks. Plugs right into SP2s Security Center nicely too. I'm sure Norton will as well when SP2 goes final.

Anyway, I suppose your experience isn't that uncommon. Most people don't get their PC clean and get antivirus installed. Security has to be a major part of the OS now and XPs Security Center handles it elegantly IMO. I think other OS' including OS X will follow suit with similar security presentations. Times change and they're only going to get worse in this area.

I often wonder, what kind of dorks have no life and sit around writing adware... I still have no answer.

 

[monkeydo_jb]

You missed the part where I said I have it and have run it stand alone and in a VirtualPC (currently) on XP.

In posts elsewhere here I mentioned the only area that could be considered slow was disk access. But not from WinFS, general disk access.

Actually, I caught that part. Thanks, though.

I take those specs with a grain of salt as well, but you need to realize that M$ has about
two more years to add more features and bloat.

You never clearly responded to my question about the filesystem. As I understood it,
WinFS wasn't implemented yet. I haven't downloaded any of the Alphas, so I'm interested to know.



-jeff

 

[monkeydo_jb]

Sorry for the double post, but I just ran across this.

Looks like WinFS' full implementation will be delayed a bit.

Advanced search features that Gates has termed the "Holy Grail" of Longhorn, the next major version of Windows, won't be fully in place until 2009, Bob Muglia, the senior vice president in charge of Windows server development, told CNET News.com.