Do you use Windows?

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Do you currently use Windows?

No, never
31
31%
Yes, but only in a virtual machine (rarely, regularly or often)
17
17%
Yes, on bare metal, but very rarely (eg. for things like updating certain appliances/software)
19
19%
Yes, on bare metal, but only for gaming
4
4%
Yes, on bare metal, but only for work
15
15%
Yes, on bare metal, often and for different things/reasons
12
12%
Yes, I use it as my only OS, or I use Windows and another non-Linux based OS.
3
3%
No, I do not use either Windows or any Linux-based OS.
0
No votes
 
Total votes: 101

DAMIEN1307

Re: Do you use Windows?

Post by DAMIEN1307 »

im still using windows everyday here at home...i get up in the morning and start opening up windows...my cats love sitting in the windows all day...lol...DAMIEN
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Portreve
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Re: Do you use Windows?

Post by Portreve »

MScott wrote:I didn't vote because I'm not sure what the bare metal reference means, regardless, I'm glad to have choices and I'm thankful that Linux has come so far, Apple is great too but too expensive for my needs. Windows has always just worked for me and I've been using the OS since DOS 6.22/Win 3.11.

<snip>

My very modest Lenovo laptop with Windows 8.1 x64 has worked without a hitch for 4 years (I think), but of course the major issue is the white-listing tactic Lenovo uses to keep you limited on your (essentially non existent) upgrade-ability. If Mint works fully on this machine I will be nixing Win 8.1 asap - still looking into some things.

The security risks are very real on Windows but most problems can be avoided with some common sense.

I'm really impressed with the various flavors of Linux and with my eye on Mint I'm hoping to fully divorce myself from Windows mostly because I'm tired of forking over money every few years and losing more and more control of the OS to auto-this and auto-that -- I simply don't like where MS has gone with taking control away from the user -- IMO. If I can make Mint work for me I will drop MS altogether and never look back, but not because it didn't work for me, I agree much more with the philosophy of the open source, FOSS, linux, call it what you will community.
So, here's some assorted thoughts. I have no idea what may be of use to you, so use all or some or none of it as the case may be.

In light of demonstrated (and, in some cases, exposed) business practices of assorted companies within the tech sector, certain ones in the entertainment sector, and all the things we've come to learn about various assorted government behavior, for me one of the single most important reasons to use what I use is the accessibility to independent and objective auditing and peer review which comes only with libre-licensed software and its associated open source code. If it's proprietary, I simply do not trust it. On the other hand, peer review as a concept is established and well-respected, so it's for positive as well as negative reasons I prefer software to which this can be applied.

There are a number of different distros out there which are of a specialty nature. There's a couple (one of which is an Ubuntu spin) which are specifically oriented to multimedia production workflow. So, while of course all of us here love LinuxMint, you may find your specialized needs served particularly well using something else. Because it's all "GNU+Linux" you're not having to either: 1) resort to Microsoft's or anyone else's commercial offerings; 2) be forced to use that other distro to the exclusion of this or any other one.

This article gives a good rundown on creative pro-oriented distros.

While it won't work with all possibilities, WINE and in particular it's commercial variant CrossOver by CodeWeavers, enable you to run many Windows-specific programs. The link I provided takes you directly to their software compatibility search system which, you will find, doesn't hesitate to tell you not just what does, but also what does not work well or even at all. I've always liked their attitude that they'd rather you knew in advance whether their product was suitable for your needs before you go spending any money with them. They also contribute back to the WINE development project.

Where music specifically is concerned, I have ripped all of my CDs and transcoded them to FLAC for archival purposes, with all the appropriate metadata (including album art) added in. I can then either play them directly (since FLAC support in GNU+Linux is ubiquitous) or transcode them to some other format as necessary.
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chiefjim
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Re: Do you use Windows?

Post by chiefjim »

slipstick wrote:I use Windows 7 (dual boot) once a year for income tax preparation and e-filing. Not sure what I'll do when W7 is no longer supported. On-line tax prep? IRS Free File? pencil and paper? Pay an accountant? At any rate, I will not use Windows 10!
Same here. Prefer not to use the cloud for filing taxes. Also use it to upgrade my Garmin and program a portable scanner. Rendering a guess likely under 10 hours total per year. Seems half of that has been waiting for updates and virus scans to complete.

With any luck the changes in the US tax laws might make TurboTax unneeded beginning next year.
stargazerpjs

Re: Do you use Windows?

Post by stargazerpjs »

About two years ago after upgrading from windows 7 to 10 and throwing a dummy spit over issues with this windows 10 having too much control over my computer I thought, mmmm I used to use Linux ten years ago, wonder Linux gotten better. Well two years pure Linux and do I miss windows, nope. I run Linux Mint Xfce or Cinnamon, cant seem to decide which one I prefer :roll: and distro hop on virtual machines, its nice to see how distros are developing. I have in the last few months installed windows XP and 7 in virtual machines for running a game or two .... or three and a very specialised windows only CAD program I need too run. Apart from this Linux Mint, Libre office, GNUcash, Gimp, Inkscape, Knlive, Thunderbird, etc etc etc, has totally filled my needs with no hassles or annoying window like issues. The ease to chop/change desktop environments, the stability of Mint and the few very small issues has been so easy to correct, I really now wonder apart from window only games and maybe some very specialised windows only software, why windows. :D
Pat D

Re: Do you use Windows?

Post by Pat D »

iTunes.
iTunes won't run in Wine, so I run Windows in a VM just for the iPod.
Why an iPod, you say?
Because this ancient iPod Touch is indestructible - about to replace the battery **- and nothing else is worth a pinch of.... I've tried half-a-dozen.
I haven't figured out Hackintosh yet, for a VM, but when I do, I'll happily defenestrate myself. :D

** - a battery-and-tool kit is like 15 bucks, and it only takes a few minutes with the youtube video help at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h53otOBTsI
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Re: Do you use Windows?

Post by Termy »

I suppose, although I said I never use Windows in the poll, that's not technically correct, as there are the uncommon, but unfortunate occasions in which I have to remotely or locally fix something on a Windows 10 laptop and a Windows 7 desktop computer. :( I actually don't mind Windows 7 so much (used to love it), but the former makes my blood boil. Only thing I like about Windows 10 is that I can mess around with Python on it, making stuff people I know can use. (nobody else I know locally uses Linux, sadly)
I'm also Terminalforlife on GitHub.
neru

Re: Do you use Windows?

Post by neru »

In between 'rarely' and 'often' - like a 50/50 option!
Windows7 - had no desire for Win10. Need to try out more Wine/emulators really. Depending on software [and there's always new additions] I'll probably end up using Win7 in A VM - or on a refurb laptop. Problem is that Windows is so bloated - it has a lot of stuff I never use.
A lighter and more adaptable package-based OS is better IMO.
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Re: Do you use Windows?

Post by dXTC »

I voted "rarely." That's from a personal-usage standpoint. At work, though, the workstations and most of the servers are Windows-based. I do tend to one Linux server at work-- a Fedora Core 14 VM, running MySQL.

At home, except for one old self-built XP machine that I keep around for occasional giggles, I classify myself as a hybrid Mac/Linux user. I finally switched my DAW software from Cakewalk to Bitwig, so now I don't have to run Windows for my music projects and can run it natively in Linux-- very freeing indeed. (It's on my iMac now, but I intend to install it on the Dell Inspiron in my sig for a "studio on the go".

The rest of my family are Mac users, and have been for about eight years now.
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-----
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Allison

Re: Do you use Windows?

Post by Allison »

i have no choice at work, as the software we have to use is windows specific :|
MScott

Re: Do you use Windows?

Post by MScott »

Portreve wrote: Thu Feb 01, 2018 6:36 pm
MScott wrote:
<snip> Bah-Blah-Blah
So, here's some assorted thoughts. I have no idea what may be of use to you, so use all or some or none of it as the case may be.

In light of demonstrated (and, in some cases, exposed) business practices of assorted companies within the tech sector, certain ones in the entertainment sector, and all the things we've come to learn about various assorted government behavior, for me one of the single most important reasons to use what I use is the accessibility to independent and objective auditing and peer review which comes only with libre-licensed software and its associated open source code. If it's proprietary, I simply do not trust it. On the other hand, peer review as a concept is established and well-respected, so it's for positive as well as negative reasons I prefer software to which this can be applied.

There are a number of different distros out there which are of a specialty nature. There's a couple (one of which is an Ubuntu spin) which are specifically oriented to multimedia production workflow. So, while of course all of us here love LinuxMint, you may find your specialized needs served particularly well using something else. Because it's all "GNU+Linux" you're not having to either: 1) resort to Microsoft's or anyone else's commercial offerings; 2) be forced to use that other distro to the exclusion of this or any other one.

This article gives a good rundown on creative pro-oriented distros.

While it won't work with all possibilities, WINE and in particular it's commercial variant CrossOver by CodeWeavers, enable you to run many Windows-specific programs. The link I provided takes you directly to their software compatibility search system which, you will find, doesn't hesitate to tell you not just what does, but also what does not work well or even at all. I've always liked their attitude that they'd rather you knew in advance whether their product was suitable for your needs before you go spending any money with them. They also contribute back to the WINE development project.

Where music specifically is concerned, I have ripped all of my CDs and transcoded them to FLAC for archival purposes, with all the appropriate metadata (including album art) added in. I can then either play them directly (since FLAC support in GNU+Linux is ubiquitous) or transcode them to some other format as necessary.
Thanks Portreve, much appreciated food for thought :)
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Re: Do you use Windows?

Post by BG405 »

Voted for the second option, but the truth is that I have a few old versions of Windows in virtual machines more for curiosity than anything else. There are also old versions of Windows on a few of my old machines, which aren't used for anything as I set up dual-boot with Linux on those.

I might, at some point, use one of the VM installs to update my satnav, and intend to put Rufus on one so I can redo the custom USB and get the tablet working again. That will be "nixed" once it's been imaged.

I haven't actually "used" Windows, as such, since adopting Mint at the beginning of 2016.


Historically, I used DOS, Win 3.1, 95 (all three editions), 98SE, Win Me (worked OK for me) & then xp from about 2000 up to around 2011, then on to Win7 which I preferred over xp once I got used to it.

Avoided Blister.

A brief play with Win8.1 and also tried 10 very briefly, on the tablet, before I borked it.
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Re: Do you use Windows?

Post by AZgl1800 »

My work environment for 30+ years required Windows,
at home I started out on the Tandy keyboard with TV monitor using basic and "storing my programs/data" on a serial 300 baud tape.

then Apple released the Apple I and got that, then along came 3 Apple-II, and a 512k Mc'nTosh
then I needed a 64 kB RAM card for $300???

Pissed me off, I rounded up the whole kit 'n kaboodle sold off 6 Apple computers for $3,000 in 1983...
bought a 286 and that ended Apple..... so went through DOS 1.0 all the way thru Win7 on my big Desktop ( still running financial, TurboTax [ no cloud tax crap for me ] and a few utilities.

Have 3 laptops of various generations, the newest one is my daily driver on 18.3 Cinnamon. This laptop has VB and 3 more Linux flavors to play with. The other two laptops have different tiny Linux.

I still do Windows IT support via TeamViewer.... but with my recent daily use of 18.3 Cinnamon and reading these tech forums here, I am learning more, and appreciating more, the strengths of Linux.

Being retired now for 10 years, I flitter about between this and that via the VB on this laptop.

I will never be free of Windows 7, nor Win10 as my daughter's new Christmas present is an ACER laptop that I got for her.... SSD drive and relatively fast cpu.... wow, is it fast! She has to stay Windows for her work.

I needed to vote in 3 places....
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mank_in

Re: Do you use Windows?

Post by mank_in »

Use windows to repair another windows computer :lol:
lexon

Re: Do you use Windows?

Post by lexon »

Only when I want to look outside or see what is in the oven.

L
Pat D

Re: Do you use Windows?

Post by Pat D »

Windows works best as in the old expression for jumping out of one:
de-fenestration :lol: :lol:
That's how I describe switching to Linux...
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Re: Do you use Windows?

Post by E1-Beard-0 »

Well, Yes I do, it so happens that Sketch-up doesn't run on Linux distros, although I haven't explored Virtual machines or running Windows as a folder.

As of this writing I have two Windows 10 machines, they do have their uses, especially here recently when I didn't have a working Linux Machine. I have now gotten my HP-Compaq dc7900 Small Form Factor machine running with LM 18.3 64 bit, this is a machine that I didn't know was 64 bit and I've been running it with LM X.X 32 bit for a good while.

Although I'm now retired from Plumbing and HVACR work. I still want something to do, that will be to figure out networking, toward that end I will likely replace the Mobo etc. on an older machine that has been flaky. Which begs the question; Why in the world does an old guy need four computers, well I guess it's because I can.

Respectfully, Massively ignorant
mram1340

Re: Do you use Windows?

Post by mram1340 »

I only use the windows if the AC goes out or for improperly cooked Pinto Beans.
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