Guest LilBambi Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 Turmoil at Microsoft; implications for Windows users - Woody Leonhard at WindowsSecrets.com (answer a question to read for free) Microsoft in general and the Windows group in particular have gone through enormous changes within the past year. All the key Windows 8 players are out. Most of us can only speculate on the reasons for the massive turnover, but one point remains clear: under new management, Windows is in for changes. Reflecting on the Windows 8 disaster As you probably know, I am not one of Windows 8′s biggest fans. And that opinion comes from long experience with the OS. I wrote a thousand-page book about Windows 8 and another thousand-page tome about Windows 8.1. I’ve used Win8 all day, every day, for almost two years.... Excellent article, imho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebrke Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 (edited) Very interesting. I always kept up with Woody's articles on windows and office when I was more involved with windows 10+ years or so ago. I helped (or tried to help) someone with a new win 8 laptop a few months ago and was frankly horrified, but as Eric has recently pointed out, I don't always take easily to change. Edited February 28, 2014 by ebrke 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abarbarian Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 All the key Windows 8 players are out. That is a shame as it looks like someone with brains is in charge. Not so good for us penguinistas though if he manages to produce a rabbit out of the hat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LilBambi Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 It is a shame that XP is being cut loose one year before Windows 9 will be coming out. Many with Windows XP would do better upgrading to Windows 7 than Windows 8. Shame they can't wait till next year and get Windows 9 instead. Sounds like Woody feels it might be worth waiting for. I hope he's right. Many of us are waiting to see what happens with Windows 9. I hope they don't let us down again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V.T. Eric Layton Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 On another topic altogether... I DO NOT like Woody's that windowssecrets.com website with all those Google survey questions, Javascript tricks (no keyboard navigation, etc.) and the tracking carp. It's sad that all that carp is on that site. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LilBambi Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 Are you talking about askwoody.com? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V.T. Eric Layton Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 No. That windowssecrets.com site you linked to is the one with all the ca-ca on it. I edited above now that I realize I was birching about Woody when I should have been birching about windowssecrets.com. Sorry, Woody. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LilBambi Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Yes, agree, Temmu, but if someone has a Windows XP computer, and need to upgrade but can't on the current hardware, they will need to get something else now rather than wait to see if Windows 9 will be more suited to their needs. Just a shame is all.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crp Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 (edited) and more turmoil is coming ... http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57619787-75/microsoft-to-lose-execs-bates-and-reller-report-says/ Edited March 2, 2014 by crp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raymac46 Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Here's my prescription for dealing with Windows XP users: If they want to stick with Windows, steer them to Windows 7. You can still buy it new, or get a refurbed machine. Ask if they'll consider Linux. If no, Windows 7. If yes, check out their hardware. If it isn't a 64 bit processor, they won't be happy. New machine, Windows 7. If Linux is on the agenda, make sure they have 2 GB of RAM and decent video. An old Nvidia card will work. Install a mainstream distro you'll feel comfortable supporting. Linux Mint MATE works for me. Be sure to install Wine as some nimrod will try a Windows program install, like Picasa. Be ready for support and hand holding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LilBambi Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 Microsoft made what I think is a very bad move. I just saw one today btw. They are pushing out a pop up box saying that Windows XP is expiring with a link for more information. The box doesn't say it is from Microsoft, it doesn't show the actual link so you know where you will land, and no way to determine where it will land you if you click on it. I am sure malware purveyors will be jumping on the bandwagon with this one. And people will have no idea which ones are from Microsoft! Sigh... Microsoft to start nagging Windows XP users about upgrading on March 8th This is the actual box. It looks just like the one I saw today: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebrke Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 my understanding remains that pc mfg's like dell, etc and mom & pop white box mfg's are still able to sell new machines loaded with win 7 for about another year. (i know our work buys windows 7 dell optiplexes.) They're not exactly ubiquitous, but I was able to find one without too much trouble, thank heavens. The idea of trying to get my 86-year-old mother to adjust to Win 8 wasn't something I wanted even to think about. Interestingly, Libre Office is nearly a clone of the Office she's used to, and that wouldn't have been the case with a newer version of MS Office. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crp Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 Microsoft made what I think is a very bad move. I just saw one today btw. They are pushing out a pop up box saying that Windows XP is expiring with a link for more information. The box doesn't say it is from Microsoft, it doesn't show the actual link so you know where you will land, and no way to determine where it will land you if you click on it. I am sure malware purveyors will be jumping on the bandwagon with this one. And people will have no idea which ones are from Microsoft! Sigh... Microsoft to start nagging Windows XP users about upgrading on March 8th This is the actual box. It looks just like the one I saw today: this is not a mandatory or sneaked in program, it is clearly identified in the windows update list.But I agree with the point that it is poorly designed in not making it explicit that this is MSFT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LilBambi Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 And the fact that many people don't read about the KB information on Windows Updates further obfuscates it. And the fact that it comes up at odd times, not right after Windows Updates. Plus the fact that it is NOT clear FROM THE BOX who is making this announcement. Which also makes it very easy for malware purveyors to abuse the box style for their own nefarious purposes...specifically lead someone to bad site with malware cocktails... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crp Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 (edited) The name of the update is quite descriptive, no need to look at KB information. It is called something like 'XP countdown message box'. and they should have used the full address as the link text , not "Click Here". hmm, just came up with a thought. How about treating the XP as a non-genuine installation - disable the desktop background and put in a box in lower right saying XP no longer supported. Edited March 9, 2014 by crp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LilBambi Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 Most people with automatic updates will not see that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raymac46 Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 (edited) This has always been my favorite Windows screen saver. If somebody at work left for lunch without securing their machine, I would install it anonymously...and wait for the screams. Edited March 11, 2014 by raymac46 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crp Posted March 12, 2014 Share Posted March 12, 2014 ah, yes, the good ol' days of the blue screen of death. i don't think i've seen one of those in years, save for a dying or dead pc. ms did a good job of making their os lots more stable than in times past. You don't use nVidea video cards? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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