The Death of Windows XP and What to Do About It

-

In April 2014, Microsoft will cease support for Windows XP. This means that all computers running that ancient operating system will be sitting ducks for hackers who find and exploit security holes.

Our home computer runs Windows XP. The entire whirring contraption should have been replaced about 4 years ago, but we're holding on. Now that Microsoft is giving up support for XP, I have been mulling my options.

I could buy a copy of Windows 7 from eBay, assuming my desktop machine can handle it. (I'm guessing that Windows 8.1 is out of the question.) But why buy an OS when you can get one for free? 

Ubuntu, a distribution of Linux, is built for the novice Linux user. It relies heavily on its well designed graphical user interface, and not so much on the command-line. That's great for those who are used to point-and-click Windows.

I installed Ubuntu as a secondary operating system on my ageing PC (dual boot). Setting it up was easy and it took me only a short time to find my way around the major sections of the operating system. True, I have used Linux a little, so some of the Linux-y concepts were familiar to me.

Surprisingly, Ubuntu is a decent option in a post-XP world. I just have to figure out how to get the Internet connection to run at the same speed as it does on XP. And I will also need to find Linux equivalents to those Windows programs that we use often, such as Corel Video Studio Pro X4.

Or I could grab on tight, stick with XP, and hope my computer dies of natural causes before an anonymous teenager in a dingy basement in Belarus zaps it out of its misery.

Comments

  1. UnknownOctober 16, 2013 at 9:23 AM

    Nice point about converting computer to Linux. I might just end up replacing my creaking monster anyways.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Jerusalem Marathon 10km - I Did It!

-
Image
The day started out cold and wet. Looking out at the slick roads winding their way below my brother's Jerusalem apartment, I imagined that I'd be doing more sliding than running in that day's race. But, as the old Aussie song goes, "Will you tie it up with wire, just to keep the show on the road?" - yep, the show will go on, and I'll do whatever it takes to make sure I'm in it. The taxi had difficulty reaching Givat Ram. Thousands of people were converging on the stadium. Some jogged slowly, warming themselves up for the race, others arrived by car, bicycle, and groups in sporty uniforms disembarked from coaches near the entrance. When I arrived inside the grounds at about 8.00am, the festivities were in full swing. A band was playing Israeli tunes, with an unlikely bagpipe accompaniment. At the registration tent, I obtained my runner's pack, complete with a t-shirt, timing chip to strap to my shoe, and an energy bar. Shortly afterward, I met my wife a
Read more

Episode 37: Best Kept Secrets to Healthy Modern Living

-
Our modern lifestyle can be toxic. Listen to this mind-blowing interview with Dr. Reuven Rosenberg - it will change the way you live for the better. Learn several easy things that you can do that will have a profound impact on your health today and in years to come. This is the real deal. Dr Reuven Rosenberg The Integrative Health Center www.drrosenberg.net Israel: 058-432-5849 US: (516) 321 1155 UK: 44 203 734 8291 Skype: dr.rosenberg info@DrRosenberg.net facebook: @drrosenbergihc Some reference material mentioned in this podcast episode: The Art of Fermentation by Sandor Katz f.lux makes the color of your computer's display adapt to the time of day, warm at night and like sunlight during the day for reduced blue light. Biochemical Individuality by Roger Williams Click here to listen on Stitcher:  http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=152797&refid=stpr Click here to listen on iTunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/il/podcast/y-karp-why-not/id1291793305 Click here to lis
Read more

Virtually You

-
Zynga reported a $22.8m loss . Its shares plummeting, analysts are forecasting an uncertain future for the maker of the hugely popular game, Farmville, and six other top games on Facebook. Whoa! Unsatisfactory revenues for the developer of popular games? Yes, because the number of users of largely free games doesn't reflect earnings. Zynga makes its money by selling virtul goods, like tractors for Farmville. Selling virtual goods for a web-based game is a relatively new business model. No inventory to warehouse, no deliveries to make, and no storefront to pay for. Selling virtual bits and bytes (things that don't exist but that people pay for) sounds great, but is the experiment failing? I am tempted to argue that paying real money for a virtual tractor in a game that I don't personally own, is a waste. But consider this - we have been trading in virtual goods for quite a while. Some examples: Virtual money (credits) for online stores - eventually you can exchange
Read more