Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
In computer hell need XP set up disk
Am in computer hell. Windows is messed up - seems to have lost Explorer, Control Panel & network connections. Need a newish version of XP set up disk or expertise. Can you help? (currently able to use connection by phone only.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Danzigger on
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I'm a big fan of Macs (I'll get that in first, to clarify my prejudice ) and a bit of an evangelist.
The main downside to macs is with their integration to LAN in an office environment; i.e. they can be difficult to configure when part of a windows based domain. Macs are also more expensive (both to buy and to repair) than an equivalent PC.
But if you're using it at home, and are prepared to spend a bit more, you'll get a computer with hardware and software designed by the same company to run harmoniously. So when you get it out of the box, your web browser, mail client, address book and iCal (diary/calender) software all play nicely with each other. You'll also have iTunes, iMovie, Garageband and iDVD. Internet connection from the box is easier on a Mac, too.
You will probably want to buy Microsoft Office for Mac, but that is equally true when buying a PC.
Here's a guide that you might find useful; there are millions of words on the internet arguing the merits of PCs and Macs. You'll have to decide for yourself.
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Permalink Reply by Philip on
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With Linux or a Mac, there's no need for there to be any downside. In either case it's very easy to set up the computer to "dual-boot" so that when you switch it on it gives you a choice between Linux and Windows (or Mac OS X and Windows). So if you've got an iPhone that won't communicate with Linux, or a SatNav device that doesn't have a Mac driver, or a web application that won't run on anything other than Internet Explorer under XP, then you can always go back to Windows when you need to.
When using Linux or a Mac, the main thing you'll miss is the benefit of several years of experience using Windows. I honestly don't think there's much to choose between the three of them in terms of ease of use (the Mac is definitely more elegant, but that's not quite the same as being easy to use). But if you've spent years using one of them, then the new operating system can seem difficult/irritating at first.
If you have your heart set on a new computer then I imagine that you'll be very pleased with a Mac. If you'd prefer to try to get some more life out of your current machine, then it would certainly be worth giving Linux a whirl.
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Permalink Reply by Nigel Lupton (luptonn) on
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We're a multi machine house, PC, Mac and Linux and the Mac is by far the most pleasurable to use.
There really are very few downsides to a Mac or Linux these days. The Ubuntu version of Linux is very similar to Mac OSX and software like Firefox for web browsing and OpenOffice for Word and Excel compatibility work on all platforms (PC, Mac and Linux), in fact Open Office 3 on the Mac is great.
The old joke about Macs is that the only downside is that you can't right click.
I'd agree with Philip, Dan and Jeremy - if you're looking for a new machine then consider a Mac. If you're just curious to know what else is out there then try a LiveCD version of Linux that will boot of of the CD and allow you to play with no risk.
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on
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Same question to you Clive, what are the downsides?
Hi Hugh,
Travelling UNIX-class
IN PRACTICAL terms, the downsides would be (a) the cost of new (or secondhand) hardware and (b) the time needed to unlearn or re-learn some techniques of working. Much M$ "Windows" experience is transferable to the Mac because so much of M$'s user interface was copied from the Mac.
I think the adaption required should be thought of as an investment that will repay big dividends over the long run. The dividends are so huge and so varied that this isn't the right place to go into them.
You will have noticed the tendency of Mac users to advocate and proselytize. I think this comes from the pleasure of using a tool that is well designed and as fit-for-purpose as it is possible to be with the current state of the art. It can be painful to watch the torture that our poor Windows brethren have to endure to accomplish simple tasks. Microsoft would have you believe that viruses are like the weather, that they affect 'computers' rather than particular operating systems.
I think one of the reservations of Windows users, who've contemplated making the jump is, If it looks to good to be true, it probably is! The admired external design of Macs has been a double-edged sword for Apple, because it leads non-Mac users to think that Macs are mainly about appearance. That Mac users have been duped into taking a silly risk by buying a pretty, but limited toy. After years of experience and exposure to a poor compromise, it does not seem right or natural that great speed and ease-of-use can go with great security and reliability.
Since March 2001, Apple's flagship operating system has been based on industrial strength UNIX – computing does not get any stronger or more reliable than this. Again, this is not the place to talk about the merits of UNIX, but when you buy a Mac, you get Mac OS X and with that you get UNIX-class heritage, pedigree, power, security, stability and granulation built-in. There was a time when UNIX was the Internet and the Internet was UNIX. I have no doubt that in the long run that all computing will be based on variants of UNIX (such as Mac and Linux), if only because of the Internet is fundamentally UNIX (also because people will tire of unreliability and security vulnerabilities).
The other point I would make is that about a couple of years ago, Apple switched to Intel chips and you can run the Windows OS on your Mac, at native speeds - i.e. no speed penalty as in the past. Indeed, one test on laptops showed that Windows ran fastest on ... a MacBook Pro.
Another drawback of becoming a Mac owner is that you can be perceived as being smug and self-satisfied. Are you prepared to live with that?!
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Permalink Reply by Hugh on
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For info, I did a search on the affected registry key and came up with this page which seems to describe my problem exactly
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You guys are convincing me. My only major reservation is about compatibility of documents between pcs and macs - much of my work is done in pc environments. Will that be an issue?
Re getting a Mac - love the look of the new Macbooks, but not sure I understand the difference between the specs - what actual difference will it make to me.
Help getting a new one Storky? Sounds good. What type of help do you mean?
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Macs can't read the new .docx or .xlsx files created by the latest version of office. You'll need to convert them using a free program, or save as older .doc files. That's the only one that I come across regularly. What sort of files do you need to work with?
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Word, Excel and Powerpoint were first developed by Microsoft for the Mac. Each of these programmes are part of Microsoft's Office suite for Mac, today.
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You evangelists! You'll end up converting me - but I'm sorry I'll only think about it as long as we're agreed that it doesn't me I have to be in the least smug or sanctimonious.
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You'll have to download an enhanced smugness driver to use a mac. You'll also need a trendy pair of glasses and a polo-neck.
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