COMPUTER COMPANIES

[Cor]

My first exposure to Microsoft was through some floppy disks in white covers, which if I remember correctly, had D O S (Disk Operating System) written on them.

I recently bought a new laptop which had Windows 11 pre installed and paid for.   I hate advertising on my computers, specially ones that take over half my screen and consequently I spent the past 3 weeks removing responsible apps and changing settings with fairly good success.   Some mornings I switch on and notice some settings are again "on" that I set to "off".

An hour ago I booted up my laptop and a big blue box popped up on my screen before I could even login, telling me that I should finish setting up my computer, but there was no "skip" button and no way that I could see to avoid doing what MS was suggesting??   Off course it was all for free, right, for the first month!

The only way I could get out of that was by using Control-Alt-Delete , but Task Manager would not work at all, I had to completely re boot my device.

Ironically I do understand a company like MS's need for profits, I even understands the greater economic need, but is this the way to do it?  Bully their customers, some have no way of understanding how to avoid it.   Is there a choice here for the consumer, I don't think so, for many of us there is no choice with an acceptable outcome.

I fear for the next episode in this unmatched contest.

Sorry for this rant.

[Rancanfish]

Cor, I could feel my frustration rising just reading this.  I have spent many hours 'stuck' dealing with software that has no option to do what I want.

Realize that I have a much lower level of knowledge to figure how to get around the issues.  I rarely use any apps on my phone, so you can guess my experience.

[quang tran]

Everybody hate advertising but they make big money from that . Try Brave as Internet browser you won't see any advertising even watch YouTube

[JasonGotaProblem]

What you refer to is called "bloatware" and if you search you can often find versions of the laptop without it. Usually for a few $ more

[nelz]

Hey Cor, just advance through those setup screens without entering any info, eventually you'll see options to quit from it, and it won't bother you for a while, probably until the next update(s).

[Cor]

Hey Cor, just advance through those setup screens without entering any info, eventually you'll see options to quit from it, and it won't bother you for a while, probably until the next update(s).

Thanks, I don't remember too well now, but that particular screen wanted some info that I did not want to enter and it gave you no option to exit or go back.   I managed to reboot and got around it in that way.

I used to love computers all sorts, but have gone 360° and hate the things with a passion.   They no longer assist me in any manner, just create additional work and irritation.

[Gfish]

Back in the late 90's, Microsoft lost an Antitrust suit. It was before my time of computer use, except for a bunch of data entry assignments on various jobs. I think it had to do with software compatibility.
For some of these people, their early successes are never enough, like they are entitled to con people out of every thing they can get.
Even small stuff, like same company charger incompatibility between different models or model years.

[happyhooker]

I decided a couple of years back to get off the train that requires a person to periodically buy updated computer operating systems, and also, in order to operate those systems, updated computer hardware.  Tired of being asked to junk perfectly operating systems for no reason at all other than to "keep up".

So, I took the Linux plunge.  Linux Mint to be exact.  Not perfect by any means.  It was cheap. Like, zero dollars.  Have been pretty much satisfied, although there are quirks that can boggle the mind sometimes.  It does operate on lower spec PCs, so no need for newer hardware.  But, it too, ages, and after awhile, even though the system works OK, it will not operate newer browsers, so you end up looking at an upgrade, either of the Linux system or the hardware.  Pro:  cheaper. Con: be ready for surprises and having to do some system "maintenance" yourself.

Frank

[nelz]

So, I took the Linux plunge. Linux Mint to be exact.

I had an older PC that was maxed out on Windows 7, ended up putting Mint on it and giving it to someone in need. Took me about ten tries to get it to work! Eventually had to leave out some updates that were crashing it.

Anyway, once I had it working, I liked it. I think when Microsoft forces me to go to some "AI" operating system I'm done and will probably go Linux for myself.

[Cor]

So, I took the Linux plunge. Linux Mint to be exact.

I had an older PC that was maxed out on Windows 7, ended up putting Mint on it and giving it to someone in need. Took me about ten tries to get it to work! Eventually had to leave out some updates that were crashing it.

Anyway, once I had it working, I liked it. I think when Microsoft forces me to go to some "AI" operating system I'm done and will probably go Linux for myself.

I get so irritated with this stuff I should not comment further.  I also had an old PC and converted it to Ubuntu (also Linux).  Had no screen so networked it and used one of the "remote" software packets to operate it.  Worked OK...ish for 3 weeks, then I could no longer connect and I no longer felt like fiddling with Linux and that was the end of my experiment.      It has been standing in my garage, since, is impossible to sell.

My more recent desktop PC is 12 Years old I think.    I always use good pricey components, GPU, CPU i7, 16 M RAM, liquid cooler, 2 X SSDS 2 X HDD & monitor.  It still boots up.    It has some niggles and I don't know if its hardware or software related  I'll try to fix it and completely and  reinstall legal registered WIN 10......

Wife calling will continue later.......

3 hours later, had to clean some Squids which have been plentiful for 3 weeks now.

I have been advertising this desktop for about a week for around the equivalent of  1/2 of the price of only one of the components, converted $55-00, not even one enquiry or offer.  I sort of understand but I would buy it if I were still in the mood to build a new or refurbished computer.

Here's the gripe again, I bought a new Laptop  ASUS, after about 3 weeks I realised the USB C port was not working correctly I eventually returned it to the supplier, did they now do everything in their power to avoid liability, or get some more money out of me, I eventually got them to replace it with another machine, Lenovo,  guess what........
I wonder if that computer supplier does not specialise in reject P.C's

They got some very bad rating from me and I learnt another lesson in life,  at my age.

I will give the oldest box away and re build the newer one when I feel like it.

Take care

[nelz]

That's some serious looking hardware ya got there Mr. Cor

[JasonGotaProblem]

There really isn't any appreciable resale value on computers unfortunately.
If Moore's law (the amount of computing power a person can buy with a dollar will double roughly every year and a half) still holds, then if you bought it and kept it in the box without ever using it, your 12 yr old computer is worth 1/256th of what you paid for it. Then consider the 'used' aspect.

A computer is only a good financial investment if you're using it to make money that you weren't making before you bought it. Unless you find the very right buyer who is looking for exactly that machine for parts or something to repair their own, resale value on old electronics is generally not likely to be more than the scrap value of the materials.

[jtwill98]

I will give the oldest box away and re build the newer one when I feel like it.

Before you give it away, you might list the RAM and motherboard on a site (ebay, craigslist FB marketplace or other).  Both are probably worth more than the complete system to some. 

Keep the case and power supply for your next system upgrade endeavor. Hard drives are good for backups, maybe.

Else give Goodwill and they will part it out or install an OS and give you a voucher for tax deductions, if so needed.

[jgp12000]

I was in electronics for 38 years & built PCs for friends/family until I realized the tech support never ends! Frankly, some people don't work well with computers but anyone can learn if they want too. The last PC I built for myself ended up in my shop with a Netgear wifi extender it has a great signal, I use it when I am working on something i.e. lawnmower or reel schematics. It has Windows 10 and the hardware can't handle 11. In the house we use a W10 laptop, Chromebook,& several tablets. Nowadays, I just want to be able to surf the web when I want to without any hiccups. I may build another when I have to, or buy an updated laptop when necessary. I dabbled with Linux & do like it, seems like though whenever you need a microsoft office app they got ya. I got buddies that are into the liquid cooling & overclocking their CPUs for benchmark bragging rights, I rather be fishing 

[jurelometer]

I dabbled with Linux & do like it, seems like though whenever you need a microsoft office app they got ya.

LibreOffice -the free open source office suite highly compatible with Microsoft Office except for skipping the multi-user cloud collaboration stuff. It supports Linux as a well as Windows and MacOS.  It is not 100%  compatible, but is so close that most folk never notice.  It accepts and can generate Microsoft office file formats.  I use it on Linux and Windows and haven't had to go to the Microsoft version in decades. 

I found the user interface to be easier and cleaner, but still close enough  to MS Office that there wasn't much of a learning curve.  I would never buy MS Office for home use.

https://www.libreoffice.org/

-J