It is really two expensive to make alternative operating system? Actually having the same operating system across multiple devices won't work some systems are embedded. Some don't want embedded system because that restricts what 3rd party software you can use. Look at Linux they have multiple choices and multi desktop and some are interchangeable and most are free.
And that is one reason why Linux has less than 2% of the market. Finding the right distro and desktop is a lifetime adventure. It tool me more than 5 years to settle on Mint Mate after trying many other options.Look at Linux they have multiple choices and multi desktop and some are interchangeable and most are free.
Plus those are all different development groups that need not make any money. The end result is very different operating systems - e.g. compare Fedora to Ubuntu.
I would of agreed with you that it takes forever but things have vastly improved. I dual boot with windows 7 and Lubuntu. I found the distro that fits me and my system. I use Lubuntu installed with xcfe4 & wine installed. I tried a lot of Linux distos. I do like Fedora as well but prefer Lubuntu. I run Linux total on logical partitions including the swap partition. It also easier to reinstall windows without having to delete the Linux partitions but with Macrium I don't need to do that anymore.
You can make fedora look like ubuntu as well as other distro. Most Linux has their own default desktops but you can usually install other desktops real easy using apt-get or similar tool.
I know. Linux has really nice options. But that is the problem. Laypeople like Joe and Mary cannot deal with that.
It's like my new (2 1/2 year old) car. It came with a user manual of 568 pages plus 200 extra pages only for the radio. I have the car in the third year and I have yet to discover at least half of the functions and buttons. Sometimes I hit something and strange things happen. Once I even got stuck on an intersection. For me that is not progress.
[QUOTE=whs;170404]How then does Apple cope with iOS and OSX?They could have, of course, seperated the OS for the portable devices from the OS for PCs. But that is a very expensive proposition. Maintaining 2 seperate OS is extremely expensive if you want to keep them halfway in sync as far as the functions are concerned. I have been there and know that it is a nightmare.
:)
Groze, I'm not referring to any speed problem so far as hardware and resources are concerned. Windows 7 ran pretty quick and stable, although it was after MS released MSE with Defender shortly into 7 release that it really made a big difference because third party AV ate up most of the 2GBs of RAM. Spent many an hour performing my business and consumption tasks on this thing. So much so that I’m quite surprised this thing continues to run at all. I’m talking thousands of hours for both work and consumption. Besides a recent PSU replacement, this thing purrs along. I’m somewhat holding onto this thing to prove a point about the lean OSs MS is releasing.
There’s no doubt that Windows 7 is a good, stable OS. A little high on system maintenance time, but overall a good OS. What I’m mainly speaking of is the navigational structure and conveying personal or business data of the 8.1 OS itself. How one gathers data and navigates in performing tasks to get work done. The touch-centric Modern aspect of it has brought a whole new dimension of computing to the table. Some will totally scoff at this, but I say different. Some will say that it’s merely a “consumption” OS. To that I say BS. We’ll start with this: The Real Quality Boot Time of 8 Verses 7
Admittedly the Modern Store apps were absolutely worthless in W8 RP, but by the time of RTM with updates they were at most decent. By the time we got to 8.1 they are a joy to work with. Now with their larger live tiles being able to see more info, they are even better. The main Modern apps of Mail, People, Calendar, Photos, OneDrive, OneNote, Maps, and Weather really do fit a business model. At least I know in the construction industry they do. All working in conjunction of one another via Charms, especially Share.
e.g. Upon boot to the Start Screen at a glance I can see who has emailed me with their subject matter, see current weather conditions, news headlines, appointments in Calendar, etc. I can therefore prioritize and decide a plan of attack for the moment or for the day. This is all laid out in front of me on the Modern Start Screen via live tiles. Some of this data can be changed or dealt with via a similar mobile device. Having used Windows 7 for 4 years (and prior OSs for 15) pounding away at a business I can attest that the 8.1 system is much quicker at performing tasks than 7 will ever hope to be. The only time I use the desktop portal is to open Office apps, a construction estimating program, Snipping Tool, Command Prompt, occasionally File Explorer > otherwise I use OneDrive app, and a few others. I found a slew of good Store apps to replace desktop apps.
Just a hunch that very few members here have really sat down at a PC to really ever do some “real work” business wise for any real length of time. I’m talking the likes of (or similar) to a few Office apps (I use mostly Excel and Word), Modern IE with multiple tabs open for researching prices of various supply houses, tabs for accounts, a Modern Notepad, estimating program, Modern calculator, Reader for PDF blueprint files, and existing Excel spreadsheet files to reference past construction projects, all to create an estimate and offer a proposal for a construction project. And if one is granted the project, one must come up with a contract to be signed by both parties. Sometimes I draw project plans, which takes some time.
Then there’s the IT pros. I’m somewhat ignorant in this, so I’m asking. I’m not saying it’s not a difficult job, but how many of you sit at a PC for 2, 4, 8 hours at a time performing business-like tasks? I can imagine there’s a lot of keyboarding with configurations, communications, and filling out records, but using the overall navigation of the system? I’m quite sure you’re not using Modern Store apps to do your work tasks.
Bottom line is that I nor anyone else can prove one system is quicker than the other so far as performing “real work” until there is a scientific work study performed and the results of that study. Obviously MS thought it was quicker. I simply agree.
[QUOTE=HippsieGypsie;170434]I was a paid programmer from 84 thru 02 and I would say it was not uncommon to spend well over 8 hours in front of a dumb terminal or later a PC coding/testing and debugging programs.(IBM Mainframe/VB PC). Generally we had a few function keys that helped out but the majority was just a lot of typing.. Yuck.Just a hunch that very few members here have really sat down at a PC to really ever do some “real work” business wise for any real length of time. I’m talking the likes of (or similar) to a few Office apps (I use mostly Excel and Word), Modern IE with multiple tabs open for researching prices of various supply houses, tabs for accounts, a Modern Notepad, estimating program, Modern calculator, Reader for PDF blueprint files, and existing Excel spreadsheet files to reference past construction projects, all to create an estimate and offer a proposal for a construction project. And if one is granted the project, one must come up with a contract to be signed by both parties. Sometimes I draw project plans, which takes some time.
Then there’s the IT pros. I’m somewhat ignorant in this, so I’m asking. I’m not saying it’s not a difficult job, but how many of you sit at a PC for 2, 4, 8 hours at a time performing business-like tasks? I can imagine there’s a lot of keyboarding with configurations, communications, and filling out records, but using the overall navigation of the system? I’m quite sure you’re not using Modern Store apps to do your work tasks.
Oh and in addition I would spend plenty of my weekends helping out at our data center in the Hang Que helping fix errors in JCL, etc.. Why?? More pay!! And it was fun,.
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