Posted on 07/28/2014 4:25:25 PM PDT by markomalley
You can get crate engines from a dealer. Some of the engines are available for decades. I got a pair of fenders form a Chevy dealer for my GMC pickup over a decade after it was made. I have gotten differential parts from a dealer after the model had been discontinued.
Reality is, NO MANUFACTURER, none supports their products forever.
Now you are adding forever. Automotive manufacturing offer parts much longer after the products have been withdrawn than do software makers. The only thing that seems forever is this conversation.
Serious question: At what point does Microsoft give up on the OS business and focus on the areas where they still have cachet: Office/Exchange?
“What is the best non windows operating system?”
For non-techies, I would say the Apple Mac. Their sleek hardware impresses me. Their hardware, software and programs are tightly integrated.
However, Linux does not seem that inferior to the Mac as the software experience goes, particular if your needs are basic (email, web browsing, “office” functionality). Before you plunk down $1,000+ on a Mac, you ought to check out Linux on your existing hardware if you have the slightest technical aptitude and a willingness to experiment a bit.
Probably never. Even with all the whining and predictions of doom they still own the OS market. And that ownership gives them leverage in the Office/ Back Office market. It’s important to keep in mind these predictions of doom have been around a long time, industry analysts insisted the XP adoption rate was glacier and showed MS had lost its cachet, and most of the OSes they’ve shipped since have had similar adoption rates.
” Serious question: At what point does Microsoft give up on the OS business...”
Serious answer: when enough hardware OEMs decide they are sick enough of complaints to go with an alternative.
As long as hardware OEMs continue to load MS OSs, Windows will be around, no matter how bad it sucks.
That is hysterical! Those Kindle forums are absolutely brutal. I’ve never seen so many supercilious, unhelpful jerks concentrated in one forum, and that includes liberal political ones! If you criticize the device or ask for any advice you’re downvoted into oblivion.
Yes, but not from Ford. They are produced by factories in other countries. Once upon a time a decade or so ago, I read an article that said one could build a totally new Model T from available parts. Wouldn't be cheap, but it could be done.
Which makes my point. You Joe Public had no alternative but to pay someone {usually Sears} for a repair. Microsofts new products are more often than not especially W8 like a car company putting the steering wheel on the right hand side and calling it an upgrade. The brake was moved to the back seat and you can buy a headlight app, Wipers app, heater app, for $100 a year.
The layout, the stability, the overall ease and reliability of W/XP simply isn't there with W/8. I had XP pretty well figured out within a day. W8 took over a month and I started out using W/98. Hiding files and functions in obscure places wasn't cute nor an improvement.
For those of us who due to location can not get high speed internet service W8 is a royal nightmare and PITA. So is "CLOUD" I liked to have never found the place to gain some control in what was uploaded. The IE crashes at least once a night usually more than that. IE also hates Bing Search for some reason how Ironic. Every other OS Microshaft puts out is Crapware and after W7 that's just what they did. That pattern started after W/98. W/ME junk, W/XP reliable, W/Vista more junk, W/7 reliable, W/8 crapware again. Not once in the past 15 years has MS acknowledged they made a serious blunder and made things right.
W/8 as a laptop or desktop OS should have never been released. It should have never passed Quality Control. Actually it should have never made it past the first level supervisor's desk in their R&D department. Microsoft is it's own worse enemy bringing much of the animosity & contempt on itself due to sheer corporate arrogance. They know better but refuse to do better and feel they don't have to because they hold the majority market. Much like Walmart and their on time delivery inventory policy these days. Empty storeroom, empty shelves, and too arrogant too care.
>>Nice Non Sequitur.<<
It was a humorous analogy.
Wasted on those with no sense of humor.
If I had the money to invest in another vehicle I'd buy a 1960's era vehicle with a basic ignition system. The newer computerized vehicles have left me stranded several times over the stupid CP sensor going bad.
I’m not even slightly a techie, but have worked on a computer since the late ‘70s. Daily. I write things. I loved WORD STAR. It had everything I need and nothing but. Everything else is endlessly complicated. Currently using MS Word on MiniMac. Ugh.
I’m not alone in this. George R. R. Martin writes with a DOS word processor. The “Game of Thrones” author confesses on a chat show that he writes his best-selling books using WordStar 4.0 on a DOS machine. So don’t distract him!
http://www.cnet.com/news/george-r-r-martin-writes-with-a-dos-word-processor/
I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am about this. Where do I get this equipment?
BEAUTIFUL! See my post 152 on this thread:)
W8 UI is confusing to users of pre-8 WinOS.
that’s a given.
My servers (running Win Server 2008) at work are easier to navigate than my Win8 devbox. So, I use classic shell.
With Win 8.1 I’m assured that all bleeding edge .Net assemblies are supported and all available bugfix/workarounds installed..
the thing to understand about software is that is evolves quite independently from how customers react, or can be predicted to react, by marketeers.
Some people are into having to learn a new OS many more want the transition as easy and hassle free as possible. Much of it was preventable. I can imagine business owners were cussing because the learning curve for employees to get used to 8 would have cost plenty or they are paying for XP support. I have noticed many doctors offices and hospitals went to 7 when it came to crunch time rather than W8.
I can also understand reverse compatibilities issues to a certain extent. That part isn't a biggie for me I have three operational XP machines and even an old 98/2.
Ease of use is a biggie for almost any electronic device unless it is a trade or specialty specific device where training would likely be a necessity. An OS change on a desktop especially from the same corp should not be made a nightmare.
Another issue is manufactures were betting on high speed coming to nearly every home in USA by now. It didn't happen. The cable companies went in to areas and grabbed up just enough territory to stop competition then stopped expanding. AT&T the major Ma Bell is in the process of getting out of the landline business and as a result neither DSL or Fiber Optics is being expanded. The landline grid isn't being maintained anywhere near the standards it once was. Open cable boxes is one example. With people moving more and more into rural areas more and more people right now either have to depend on Hughestnet or dial up. IOW they won't be buying Tablets they'll be buying laptops and desktops. I don't see that issue changing in this economy.
or James earl jones....
I doubt that. MS will be like IBM, still around.
Me too. I haven't used one since I used to switch between Red hat 5.2 and Windows 98. I had just gotten my very own static IP and was blazing along on DSL.
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