Posts by revdjenk

Take the shame: Microsofties ADMIT to playing Internet Explorer name-change game

Since...

...I use Linux, I still won't / can't run whatever they call it!

Dead letter office: ancient smallpox sample turns up in old US lab

I wonder...

...how the anti-vaccination people would react if smallpox got around again?

Swiftkey: We just want to be free - Apple didn't bump us

Re: Hate predictions

If you are trying to use flow/swipe on a BIG virtual keyboard, you are doing it wrong. Swiftkey offers smaller, undocked keyboards. The Swiftkey keyboard I use on my 9" Android tablet is merely 3cm x 5cm, and is extremely fast to use with flow.

Driver drama delays deep desert XP upgrade

Actually...

...these comments of windows driver problems DOES remind me of Linux in the '90's... just not NOW!

Microsoft issues less-than-helpful tips to XP holdouts

Re: It depends on the distro...

"No, the biggest problem with Linux is that installing programs."

If you insist on installing programs as you were taught in Windowsland, then yes, you will have difficulty.

If you have any familiarity with iOS or Android, you know how to install programs in Linux, as Linux was doing it that way longer.

Many Linux distros have a software manager, the name may be different for each distro, which acts like a store. You search by category,name or keyword for an application you wish to install.

You click to install, the manager adds any necessary library packages, and installs them.

You can do multiple installs at the same time, and no re-boots needed.

Windows XP market share GROWS AGAIN, outstrips Win 8.1 surge

So...when MS had the chance to do things differently on different hardware, when they released their first tablet in 2002, they absolutely missed it. The motion for opening menu and clicking on sub-menus, as you so succinctly shared, was brought over from the desktop...

...and we saw how great that worked!

The UNTOLD SUCCESS of Microsoft: Yes, it's Windows 7

Re: What the hell did they expect?

"... there's a good chance those Win8 boxes were purchased but immediately wiped clean and had a fresh install of Win7 in its place."

Mine had a fresh new Linux Mint install, instead. I have been free from MS's we-know-what's-best-for-you since 2006.

What lies beneath Microsoft's Cloud OS?

Re: Cloud OS

Sorry about the name, my lovely wife is a Potts, out of habit, I guess.

Mind you, I am not an IT specialist, barely a network user. Just seemed like what you were describing was MS combining the work of the "os" and the local machine along with the server, as you said:

"This is an operating system that gives you a single point of management and a single layer of APIs, storage interface and what-have-you stretching from your server closet to the local service provider to Microsoft's Azure data centres around the world."

To me, in a way, like Chrome OS allows doing everything in one browser layer. That was my comparison.

You can ease your mind...its just the way mine works...

Cloud OS

Isn't this as if a Microsoft took the "Chrome OS" idea, moved if off the local machine and would run it instead on Microsoft servers naming it Cloud OS?

That's how it sounded to me. Mr. Potts, what am I misunderstanding?

That toolbar you downloaded is malware? Tough, read the EULA

Why is it...?

...that Linux specific problems (like the wifi router fail) have that OS' name prominent, but this one does not have Windows or Microsoft attached to it at all?

C'mon!

DEATH-PROOF your old XP netbook: 5 OSes to bring it back to life

Re: Rather strange

Linux is not a security hazard compared to windows, no matter what the age, as long as the updates are available and current.

The sharing of files and file types is easier through Linux, because Linux was built on the Internet, using standards and knowing it needed to share to be usable. Either use the older MSOffice formats or pdf to share to most other OS'.

With Linux being used more and more in the scientific, server, military, 96% of the top 500 supercomputers, and of course on the majority of mobile systems, it is the OS to know going into the future.

'Burning platform' Elop: I'd SLASH and BURN stuff at Microsoft, TOO

Re: I can't see Elop being the right man for the job

Elop, instead of taking Nokia onto more of the mobile stage by using as many of the available OSes as possible, ditched all and chose one, WP. Some say it is too early to judge the outcome, but it appears to have been so-so, at best.

So now, he would heave Office onto each and every OS available?

He is not being consistent.

Unless, it is to be consistently MS focused, and the tech is already re-calibrating its view of that dinosaur.

Internet Explorer 11 BREAKS Google, Outlook Web Access

Lightzone - lightroom replacement - free and open source

LightZone is a free, open source digital photo editor software application. It was originally developed as commercial software by the now-defunct Light Crafts. Its main purpose is to handle the workflow when handling images in various RAW formats. It is comparable to Adobe Systems's Photoshop Lightroom. (from widipedia)

Available for linux, osx and windows.

Why Teflon Ballmer had to go: He couldn't shift crud from Windows 8, Surface

win for me?

win for me?

Have an older friend (70+) who returned a new win8 laptop less than a week after purchase (coming from XP), came back from the store with a laptop with win7 installed.

Now, a month later, having problems with and doesn't like the new MSOffice (ribbon interface). Helped go through an install of LibreOffice today. "This is better than the Office I paid for! I like it."

Now, maybe she'll take a look at Linux... as her win7 is also bogging down.

... which would make a lie of two more "strengths" of Ballmer's

Microsoft warns of post-April zero day hack bonanza on Windows XP

Re: Wait, hear that?

@Kellic

,,,but MS is responsible for the extended XP's life when they kept it going to 'save' the netbook line from the 'evil cancer,' Linux. (Vista was too bloated to fit the limits of the netbook's hardware.)

So put the blame on MS for this length of service time!

BTW, if you know someone with an XP box, offer them a dual-boot with a modern Linux; Mint, Ubuntu, or any of the top distros. Using wine, much of their windows games and programs can still but used and run ... or they may discover that the Linux programs are valiant replacements, and many of those already installed with the Linux distro.

AREA 51 - THE TRUTH by the CIA: Official dossier blows lid off US secrets

Re: SR-71

My grandson and I met a docent at the Air Force Museum in Dayton who had been an SR-71 driver. My grandson asked if anyone ever had to eject from one, and he had! Not everyone survives such an event he assured us.

Everything else, the leaking fuel, the long, long flights, the glowing of skin at speed just added to the allure.

Here we go again: Apple gets second bite in ITC Moto patent spat

Re: Cliché alert

"The fruity firm now finds itself directly in confection with the Chocolate Factory"

That was 'sweet' of me to fix that for you.

Dell explores wearable computing as PC base crumbles

"Maybe in a few years ...

"Maybe in a few years when we get to Windows 8 tablets being a third or 40 per cent of tablet volume ...

Yeah, right ...

Former Microsoft Windows chief: I was right to kill the Start button

Re: When you look at it it's actually pretty stupid...

I've told you a "gazillion" times to not exaggerate!

Google goes on the Blink in WebKit fork FURORE

@SJB

Thanks for playing...

New nuke could POWER WORLD UNTIL 2083

no nukes is good nukes?

...but therein lies a problem. Since these reactors aren't amenable to produce nuclear fuel capable of being weaponized, it will be a hard sell in the US. It will be a harder sell because of the billions already spent for the current setup...you know 'we can't let all this go to waste?'

But therein lies a safer future for multiple good reasons.

Reg readers brew up the ultimate cuppa

Re: Brilliant

I was invited to officiate my brother's wedding in Kent, England. As an American, I wasn't quite sure what the wedding customs were, but the English mother of the bride (MOTB) definitely had things under control. My comments on the scriptures, aimed to help us all understand about God's hope for the new couple was to be limited, she said, to the time it takes to brew tea. Being a coffee drinker, I hadn't the slightest idea; but she told me, about five minutes.

Upon finishing my delivery at the church blessing, I looked to the MOTB, and asked, 'is it tea?' She nodded, 'just right.'

Europe tickles Microsoft with €561m fine for browser choice gaffe

Re: What a joke!

Microsoft embeds IE in their operating system, which is part of the problem of abusing their dominance in the desktop PC market.

Knowing about other browsers doesn't change the fact one cannot get rid of IE in a Windows OS. You will carry that extra code and storage space no matter what you decide for a browser choice. And any chance it gets, IE pops up for use, and seeking preferential, default, treatment.

We have one computer left in our household with Windows. It has three browsers, one for me (chromium) one for my wife (firefox) and that "background" snake (IE).

Microsoft: Office 2013 license is for just one PC, FOREVER

Re: Fuck 'em

So! You are proud of pirating the software of a company who makes "standards" by breaking them? And then help to continue foisting these "standards" on the rest of us?!

Meet the stealthiest UK startup's app Swiftkey - and its psychic* keyboard

SwiftKey vs Swype

Swype, as has been mentioned, has a better "flow" than SwiftKey, especially with double letters. It also allows for a smaller width keyboard, which is best for me, as I usually work in landscape on my tablet (less finger travel).

However, SwiftKey's predictive process is the best for next word/phrase. It's recording function works for more than a sentence at a time, which is what you are restricted to in Swype. Both recorders are fairly accurate.

SwiftKey has a temporary price reduction. I think I'll buy.

Microsoft says Google trying to undermine Windows Phone

Re: Stages of competition

@RyokuMas

um, the win isn't for Microsoft... ahem.

Re: Ironic!

I browsed to microsoft.com to send them a note about this irony from my Chrome browser on my Android tablet!

Whining babies comes to mind...

Windows 8: At least it's better than ‘not very good’

Re: Not this again!

Downvote for the bullhorn!

I think people are still talking about this, because Microsoft hasn't heard...

4chan founder Moot threatens site for using his handle

Then the next featured headline said it all...

Swollen SUPER-GIGANTO PLANET sighted

Surface sales 'modest' so far, Ballmer modestly admits

This is a weighty decision...

2 lbs! nearly a kilo! surface pro is waaaaay too heavy!

iPhone 5 imperilled by Sharp's 'huge' problems with tellies

Re: Apple anyone?

Just the bits that they need - the -larger, small- display division, for starters...

there, fixed it for you.

or

as Samsung would call the 4" screen, mini...

Microsoft fast-tracks Windows 8 Service Pack updates

Re: Err...error RICHTO error

'paid-for' should be 'proper'

Re: Err...error RICHTO error

My second laptop I ever owned came without a Microsoft cd/dvd install disk. I wanted to install a feature that is found on such a disk, but when I called Microsoft, they said, "that is up to the manufacturer." On calling the manufacturer, they said, "Microsoft won't let us send out the cd version since we gave you the hard drive installed version."

So much for paid-for support?

This, and other issues, led me to re-format and install Linux soon after. Happy, happy!

Windows Phone 8: Microsoft quite literally can't lose

@Mark H

" Nokia gets free software. No wonder it was a no-brainer for Nokia to go for WP7 rather than Android."

...um...Android is free...as in cost and free to change/alter.

"WP8 is probably in the spot where OS/2 was in the PC operating system wars, with Android 2.x/4.x in the role of Windows 9x/NT "

...um...horrible example if meant for an analogy! OS/2 was at least a 7 year predecessor to Win 9x and 5 years for NT. Look how late to the game WP8 is!

Of course, if you mean that WP8 is as viable a candidate now as OS/2 was in its day, you missed the mark there, too.

wow, just wow

Windows 8: Download it, then speak YOUR brains

I already have an impression...

...and have Linux on "sticks" to rescue those who wish to escape the 'horror."

Gabe Newell: Windows 8 is a 'catastrophe' for PC biz

Re: Gabe Newell

I still have my boxed set of win 1.03, ( five 5.25" floppys) so yes, there was a 1.03. My Color Computer was faster. The GEOS ensemble was multi-threaded and faster, too.

Windows 8: Not even Microsoft thinks businesses will use it

Re: Even the fan boys say no thanks

I think Paul Thurrott's response carries more weight than John C Dvorak's concerning Win8, which speaks even more of MS' miss on this DE.

Space Station crew enter the Dragon

Re: Astronaut humor

In response to this astronaut humor let me en-capsule-ate: I think Pettit is a little bit spacey.

Windows 8 tablet freezes in Microsoft keynote demo

Re: Don't see why the fuss

Except when you attempt something requiring new tech in a church service ...

... break the electronic concrete of the past and ...

... apply it to your feet!

Hey Commentards! This pre-populated 'reply to' is for you

Pre-Populating means its too late to plan...?

Super-powered 'frankenmalware' strains detected in the wild

...and...

if you tried to tell that to the youth today, they wouldn't believe you!

There fixed it for you-

Viruses are accidentally infecting worms on victims’ Windows computers,

MPAA threat sparks White House petition for bribery probe

... and ...

the tech industry employs more people than the film industry, anyway! (bls.gov figures)

BEAST SSL fix in supersized Patch Tuesday

The big deal...

MS has to make a big deal of their Patch Tuesday. They have to show they are doing something ...

The other OS' just do them. For example, my Linux gets patched when it needs too, not waiting on some scheduled, particular day. I think that is another reason Linux is more secure.

Now Russians can't even contact their busted Mars probe

In Russia ...

... Mars probes you!

Zuckerberg: 'Make partnerships, not war'

own little version?

Wow!

Try ... fastest growth of a social site

Try ... sharing vid chat with 9 others, and can share videos and chat at the same time

Try ... businesses cannot send you messages unless you allow.

Try ... games are not in your face.

Try ... you don't have to wait for someone to friend you back to send them a message

These are just some of the major differences and make G+ not a copy.

Massive study concludes: 'Global warming is real'

perfect sense...

...to call someone "hockey puck" if you compare yourself to Don Rickles.