Top Left corner of my screen is "dead".

Ok, I really shouldn't be jumping into week-old threads which
are either dead or should be, but the above paragraph is so
blatantly false, I can't resist.

People use Microsoft Windows operating systems for a variety of
reasons. "Because it's what's there" is a reason only considered
by the bottom 20% or so of Windows users, computer-literacy-wise.
The other 80% have other reasons, else they'd replace it with
what they prefer. Duh.

The 2 biggest reasons people use Microsoft Windows are:

1. SOFTWARE AVAILABILITY. Other OSs may have their advantages over
Windows, but just try installing Quicken, Intuit, Quickbooks,
EasyTax, World-Of-Warcraft, Toontown, Photoshop, etc, etc, etc,
on any OS other than windows. Won't install. Look at the box.
What OSs does a typical software package support? Usually just 3:
a. Microsoft Windows XP.
b. Microsoft Windows Vista.
c. Microsoft Windows 7.
If you are using any other OS, you're shit out of luck.
(Note that, sadly, Windows 2000 is no longer on the list of
OSs supported by most modern software. Sigh.)

2. FAMILIARITY. People would rather use what they're familiar
with than spend years struggling to learn something radically
different (such as Linux).

So when I finally abandon Microsoft Windows 2000 as being
"obsolete", what will I go to? Micosoft Windows XP or 7.
(I may get Linux up and running, but not as my primary OS.)
Why? Software availability and familiarity.

Your other paragraphs don't strike me as being true either,
but I grow weary of the whole topic. I couldn't withstand,
though, someone telling me the only reason I use Windows is
"it's what came with my computer". That's BS. I built my
computer from scratch and installed Windows 2000 because
I wanted to.

I have used Commodore 64 / Amiga 500 & 2000 / Ubuntu
operating systems. I can and will install any OS I want. The OP
disrespects folks that DO use Windows out of convenience (yes it came on
their PC - and 99% likely on their last PC and ALL their friends PCs
too!) Walmart and other retailers have recently tried selling PCs with
LinuxOS but no longer because they did not sell well. Linux is foreign
to 90% or more of the people. Anyway my point....is many,many folks who
are legitimate PC users don't know nor need to know squat about
them..too many folks, and MORE and MORE each day, a PC is just an
appliance...say a souped-up interactive TV set. Linux nerds and geeks
feel their ego-driven tech savvy and pride-driven kingdom being
discounted..they panic and hurl baseless and disrespectful insults. They
truly know that for all their 'geekness' and 'nerdom' that 99% of what
they pride themselves able to do on their Linux boxes can and does get
done by any 3rd grader with Windows XP (or 2000) It scalds their balls
to learn but still reject that for all their tech savvy (which is a good
thing) that at the end of the day Windows users have fulfilled all their
PC tasks and interests without any struggle -and- without a degree in
computer science. BTW I have a BSEE from Arizona State University and do
posses a high degree of the aforementioned 'savvy' - I prefer to install
and use Windows 7 ( I dual boot Ubuntu9.1 as a learning exercise to
relieve boredom) So..Robbie +1 my friend

Obviously you've never even heard of http://sourceforge.net where one can freely download compiled or source code
for anything that can be desired.

You sound like an incredibly slow learner who has far more money than
brains, so give all your money to Billy-Boy and his minions to do your
thinking for you.

Your primary reason is that it's constantly crashing on you, as evidenced by
your plaintive tone in several other threads? No wonder you love M$ so much

OK Linux fan-boy. Here's a real world example for you to ponder...

If I dump Windows 7 (or Vista or XP) how do I replace Windows Media
Center functionality (that my family truly enjoys) from within any Linux
distro? Hmm? Huh? Well..c'mon!! There isn't anything remotely
comparable in function, look and feel.

Oh, brother. Yet another lengthy, emotional paragraph filled with
nothing but BS from start to finish. If you're going to use satire,
at least use it to reveal some deeper truth, not just to exercise
your personal grudges.

If one really wanted to tap into a Windows computer, even if turned
off, and with an impossible-to-guess Windows password, one could do
so, and easily. No, I'm not going to tell you how. I'd prefer you
not know. But I will not refrain from pointing out the fact that
everything in the paragraph I quote above is false.

Your childish rant is laughable ... with a Hauppauge
capture card, (for non-linear editing) and
http://qdvdauthor.sourceforge.net (for DVD authoring) provide far more
functionality and productive creativity than WMC. There are several others
as well, but I don't use them and so can't comment

One can edit and work with any media formats imaginable, and export to any
other as desired. mov, flv, rm, mpg[24], iee1394, dv, avi, yuv, ntsc, pal,
wsvqa, smk, sdp, sol, thp, truehd, rl2, rpl, nut, ogg, oma, mpc, mm, mvi,
mulaw, eac3, and dozens of other media formats, most of which I'd bet you
and your beloved WMC never even heard of before.

Not only that, but the opensource software can arbitrarily crop, insert PIP,
sample at any desired frequency, digitally enhance and far more.

I've worked with them all (including WMC, Movie Maker, etc) and that's what
makes your childish rant so laughable ... you don't even know what you're
talking about when you criticize the freely-available Linux/Unix
applications, many of which are available as precompiled packages within the
various distributions, and all are available as free, open-source code
that's simple to compile with the free GNU compiler.

Of course your beloved M$ provides a free compiler for its open-source free
of cost code? Every Unix/Lix distribution does.

Go ahead and rant some more, it's pure pleasure watching you make an
ignorant fool of yourself.

So buy a video capture card download and install several other apps and
I'm all set!! Cool....

Oh and I almost forgot this all comes AFTER I get Linux running and have
already REPLACED all the other Windows apps that have worked fine for
decades..yeah..I see it all now..so straightforward, easy and such a
happy time it will be. Just replace everything in order to gain what..?
Identical (or so you say) Linux functionality. Gee Dr Linux that just
puts me right where I was before..doing my day-to-day computing .

Where's the pay-off...don't cry about Bill Gates and fighting the good
fight against his tyrannical kingdom. He is my hero. You are my buffoon

If they were working fine, and not constantly getting infected with
viruses, or trojans that were doing things like harvesting their banking
info, people would not be replacing their m$ crapware with linux.

Those who can't do it on their own, are learning enough, that they are
getting more knowledgeable people to do it for them.

Installing linux is easier, and faster, than installing windows. With
the exception of using software or that has been specifically designed
to work with m$ crapware, anything a normal person would want to do with
a computer, is easier, with linux. No drm. No phoning m$ for permission.
etc. There is some crap hardware that linux doesn't work with, usually
because m$ has paid the company producing it, to keep the api confidential.

With most (if not all) linux distributions, you don't have to check to
see if there are updates for the updates, for the updates, for the updates,
for the updates, for the updates, for the updates, for the updates, that
you've just installed.

M$ is the only software distributor I know of, that requires multiple
update operations, after installing the os.

M$ purchased anti-virus software from Central Point Software, and called
it MSAV. Try to find an update for it now.

Now m$ has now released "Microsoft Security Essentials". Big deal. If
their software had proper security built in, like linux does, it would
not be needed. How long do you think they will support this one?

M$ is good at one thing, and one thing only. Marketing. They develop
nothing but crapware, but they market it well, often using illegal
methods, that they eventually pay fines for, but still win out in terms
of sales.

If you are gullible enough, or ignorant enough, you'll buy their crap.

Have fun waiting for the anti virus/spyware software to finish updating
and scanning your hard drives, or giving your banking details to a
criminal.

I sincerely doubt it ... you seem the type who isn't happy unless you're
unhappy.

Actually there is: a freebie called MythTV.

Some people use it with no problems.

Having said that, I devoted at least 3 months of my life to
trying to make it work reliably and, in the end, went over to a
Windows-based product called SageTV - which worked right out of
the box and as continued to work ever since.

Your counter-rant misses the point: WMC turns the Windows computer into
a master TV/DVD/music/etc controller, a super remote in fact, that's
very seamless and easy to use. Add a WiFi base, and you can watch/listen
anywhere in the house. WMC is for the kind of user who doesn't care
about all those cool things you can do with your Linux box, and doesn't
want to learn. (S)he just wants to play movies, and watch them anywhere
in the house.

I do have Ubuntu on this box, too. I hardly ever use it. Why? Because
the apps I use most often have no counterpart in Ubuntu. Eg, Open Office
is a good substitute for MS Office, but I detest MS Office, and use it
only when someone sends me a .doc that WordPerfect can't handle. There's
nothing as easy to use as XnView for adding text, or PMView or Irfanview
for quick and simple image viewing and processing. The same is true for
the Mac, BTW, which is why I hardly ever use the Powerbook.

The fact is that most Windows apps are designed to do what most people
want to do most of the time. The Windows pro- and semi-pro apps are just
as good (and sometimes better) than the ones for other platforms. the
days when Windows apps were clunky and inadequate imitations of Mac apps
(for example) are gone.

It all comes down to software. The OS is irrelevant. And here's my rant:

We need a universal interface between applications and OS: a layer
between program and OS that's analogous to BIOS. Then any program will
run on any OS that's designed to use it, just as any OS designed to do
so will run on any hardware that uses BIOS. Even Apple has recognised
that a universal BIOS is a Good Thing. It's long past time for a
universal program-OS interface.

So you acknowledge the utility of OpenOffice, yet won't use it? You create
your own problems, don't you?

So are the freely-available open-source programs that do the same things.

You want to pay for something that can be had for free, and insist that
paying for it is better. Sure doesn't sound very convincing coming from
someone who "hardly ever" uses the installed Linux.

And what's with this "pro and semi-pro" crap? Does that make you feel better
somehow?

The acronym you're searching for is WORA -- write once run anywhere. It's
manifestation is called "Java", which is also free of cost, but the
computational overhead is unacceptable to most hardware for many of the
larger tasks such as video editing.

Much better to use a compiled (rather than interpreted) code.


That was an interesting and informative reply Dave. Are you suggesting
that with a Linux OS there is no need for any AV or malware 3rd party
app? TY

FAX me a copy of your medical / psychiatric degree and state approved
license and THEN I might start to consider your diagnosis.

Greg tell me this:
Why are you taking personal shots at me anyway? Are you maybe
struggling with decades upon decades of repressed sexual urges? That'll
do it every time..make you bitter and prickish too. Is that it?

You certainly must be mistaken...according to the Linux fan-boys
everything windows-based and everything that comes out of Redmond is (as
they say) "Crapware" from the MS evil empire. Moreover the flag waving
myopic Linux shills claim every function Windows users enjoy has an
equally effective or even better Linux counterpart. I found out
otherwise trying to get MediaPortal for Ubuntu to work while my family
begged and screamed for me to put Windows Media center back...which I
did.

That hits them where it hurts..Linux lambs are offended that despite the
tech savvy prowess they pridefully claim folks like you and I could not
care less..as long as the user function we desire is there (I.e. "It
just works!") These same 'blinded by Linux' Neanderthals then become
hateful and hurl personal attacks (as we've seen the past days) against
those that have smoothly running Windows systems and get all their day
to day computing done effortlessly. Let's say that a Linux box would and
could EXACTLY duplicate 100% of a Windows-based system in every way.
Easy to use and reliable. What has one gained by dumping Windows and
going to Linux? One would be right where they were with Windows. A
smooth reliable system..EXCEPT with far fewer software choices. Kinda
takes the bite out of that Linux bulldog eh?

What good is FREE LINUX SOFTWARE if the app you need does not exist in
LINUX?

Gee...Maybe that has a bearing on why only 5% of the world-wide user
base bothers to run Linux...I have rambled on too long.....

That's correct. There is av software available for linux, such
as clamav, or avg, however they are only intended to catch
windows viruses, so linux can be used as a mail/file server for
the windows systems.

How much of Linux's immunity to the above is inherent in the OS
and how much is because Linux boxes are a small percentage of the
total and the Bad Guys just are not targeting them?