It's 2010. A new Decade, people shouldn't put up with this shit. If you are a gamer get a PS3 or Xbox 360.
If you aren't a gamer or don't demand 100fps Crysis do as I do: Dual-boot Linux and OSX on a Mac + Little Snitch + Vmware Unity with Windows 7+ Deep Freeze = WIN
@lennie22 It means get rid of your windows box because the days of relying on just Windows dominance are over. There are plenty of alternatives to windows software. Get a more stable, secure and faster OS as your backbone and if you absolutely need windows just get Vmware with Unity. The new iMacs can run windows and OSX at the same time with little or no hiccups.
This is how my set up works: Most of the time I need raw speed, stability, customization and flexibility so I use Linux as my primary, Mac for when I need mainstream software for certain tasks, and windows for certain tasks that only windows software can do best. But using Vmware Unity I run OSX and Windows at the same time and it is all seamless but has little effect on performance because today's cpu's are so fast plus the massive amounts of ram available. Windows has Deep Freeze so any Virus is removed at reboot but since it is Vmware I can simply "pause" it when I am done using it then resume when I go back or if anything goes wrong I just reboot it back to the original state. All my files from windows are saved to the Host OSX via a shared folder so those are retained. I am telling you it is the best of all 3 worlds. I don't have to worry about crashes, viruses, malware, rootkits, etc... (many undetectable by antivirus) in windows. Oh and to game I just fire up the PS3 on the big ass T.V.
Little snitch is just there to keep windows from going online in case I get a Trojan or worm. A simple reboot will get rid of it though with Deep Freeze.
@Marbles I didn't say that. Obviously I am still using Windows. I think all OS have their strengths and weaknesses that is why I use a balance of all of them, however if Security is of concern to you and Stability then keep your real data outside of Windows if you really must use it.
Vmware runs all software perfectly except games but that is what consoles can be used for. As a matter of fact this the most exciting Console generation ever with Epic game after Epic game being released every month. I am just trying to be as real as possible about this. http://www.vmware.com/products/fusion/features.html
I said get a Mac because OSX has more mainstream software than Linux does. Even if you don't like it, you can at least keep it as your underlying OS while running a Frozen Windows VM for maximum stability, convenience and security. Now I don't spend hours trying to fix my windows problems, I just reboot or restore a snapshot. But I do all my browsing outside of windows so I don't have to worry about malware stealing my data or turning my P.C into a botnet.
OSX can't run on a windows box unless you Hackint0sh it, but that is more trouble than I will ever care to explain here so you will have to google it.
@Eternity I think I understand your point, but at the same time, I won't be an idiot spending $2000 on hardware I can get for $900, and i'm sure enough that the software isn't worth $1100. you get my point? why in the hell do I need so much different OS when I get everything under one windows roof? I'm not "relying on...Windows dominance", I'm using what works best for me, and that is Windows.
@lennie22 By windows dominance I meant HUGE developer support. Before it was overwhelming the amount of software on windows that had no alternatives outside of it. Anyways To each his own. I am just trying to help....For all you know a rootkit can be stealing your keystrokes and banking info right now.
@Eternity I actually laughed out loud when I read, "Mac for when I need mainstream software for certain tasks" what mainstream tasks are those? i get your point though, but there's really no benefit in your setup. just a waste of space, waste of time, waste of resources, waste of electricity powering the wasted resources, waste of money paying for the wasted electricity powering the wasted resources.
if you're not a cross platform dev then there's really no reason for that setup than to say "hey look, I have all three running", with a sort of self gratification that comes with it.
well, there's always someone in my house using one of our x360 either gaming, or Media Center or Zune videos, Netflix, or a quick facebooking
@lennie22 I'll give you an example: Nokia PC Suite to backup my phone doesn't have a Mac version so I use windows for that, Alternatively Final Cut Pro is Mac only so I'll use mac for that. Windows I don't trust with any of my stuff due to the overwhelming experience that tells me I shouldn't. period. so I like to keep it in a "Sandbox" of sorts while still being able to use what I need from it. There is also more hardware compatibility with windows than Mac.
Linux on the other hand is for all my normal stuff that doesn't need specialized software and the reason for this is that it gives me total control of everything that the Mac can't give me and also isn't bloated, boots and runs way faster than the other two and the software is free. Oh and no rootkits or Viruses.
@Eternity haha, I get your sarcasm, funny. but I'm running windows 7 x64. every 6 months my systems go through a full refresh, all my data are saved on a low powered community server in my house which serves data to all my other machines and xboxs, it's easy to interact with that data using my windows phone Remote Desktop built in when I'm not in the home. I loose no data that I don't want to loose. that's my setup. there's no reason for me to have a million+1 OSes installed. one works best for me and my household.
I'm not sure if you interact with your systems remotely but how do you do so? how easy is it for you to connect to all those systems? startup seems like a pain in the ass: this is how I see your setup:
boot up linux, boot up macOS, boot up windows......wait for them all to finish.....wait some more.....use windows software that works best for that particular task, finished with the task and save data, switch back to primary OS linux, surf net, find some additional data I wanted to use in the previous task, i can't copy and paste from linux to windows so I have to save that data then switch to windows and then try to access that data....hmm, I didn't setup a shared folder between windows and linux, but the macOS and windows have a shared folder, so then send the data from the linux box to the MacOS box and go to the macOS box and put the data into the shared folder, then go the windows box and access the data from there......
....that is why I said your setup has no real benefit.
@Eternity too many steps. my friend, it's counter productive.
and this is why I think you're just in for the "look what I can do" because you said you use linux on a regular then you would of ran the nokia pc suite through wine without a need to run windows for such a trivial task. there are many windows alternatives to final cut pro.... so again you fall in the "look what I can do" category.
I do surf the net on Mac OS which is running Windows inside a VM so it doesn't exactly happen the way you think where I am constantly switching and rebooting. They all play their respective roles well and I don't have any headache. I never have to do a system refresh either because Linux doesn't slow down over time or decay. OSX either because I don't use it as primary. Windows I just have to press the restart button and it reverts to day 1. Oh and I can do remote desktop too via VNC from smart phone to any of the 3 but I don't really have a need for it. Thanks to torrent clients that have web interfaces built in, I don't have any other use for it.
@Eternity you talk of windows superior hardware compatibility, that is benefiting my point, not yours. there is no need or logical reason for me to through away my windows boxes as your original point stated. again I wonder how easy it is for you to log into your mac or linux box from your mobile. can you be half way around the world and shoot a video with your mobile, connect to your computer at home send the file to your computer at home, edit the video file on your home computer through your mobile, then send back the finished product to your mobile? can you do that on your linux box? can you do that on your mac OS box?
On Windows 7 I have never had a crash or virus problem, I can run games and access all of my work apps (Photoshop, Dreamweaver etc) without carving up my RAM and running VMs or rebooting.
If Linux could run Photoshop and my games I would be there in a shot. Kubuntu is my desktop of choice without question. Sadly it doesn't so I will stick with WIndows which does everything I need it to, and very reliably.
@lennie22 That's just the setup. However, screwing over windows in that scheme of things is pretty easy for a mac user. Then, you eventually decide you don't need the mac anyway, jump off the luxury-tax-ridden train, and go linux-exclusive, plus possibly a tiny Hacintosh partition.
@lennie22 I believe it's very possible. Just go to the Ubuntu One page, upload the file, and Voila! Happy Birthday present to your wonderful computer. Plus, I believe there's an option to configure automatic download and delete for the home configuration.
To the remote-in comment, it should be fairly easy to configure, as I've been able to set up shared folders visible to the windows computers on the network without difficulty, set up a password for it, and the like. I really can't say I know it works, not wanting a windows mobile phone anyway. It should be fine, though.
It's certainly the solution to suffering from Microsoft's security incompetence. If you aren't comfortable running a VM for "trivial apps" that you can't get on Linux, then defecting to a Mac is definitely the way to go. Apple has always been better at making end user systems (than Microsoft). Now that Macs are relatively cheap, most people no longer really have an excuse not to.
Although there is of course that old problem of obscure bits of software that only run on Windows.
I guess it all depends on where your pain points are.
The Chromebooks are here, starting with Samsung's Series 5, a cute little number that promises instant-on access, 3G connectivity, and long enough battery life to web surf with the best of 'em.
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It's 2010. A new Decade, people shouldn't put up with this shit.
If you are a gamer get a PS3 or Xbox 360.
If you aren't a gamer or don't demand 100fps Crysis do as I do:
Dual-boot Linux and OSX on a Mac + Little Snitch + Vmware Unity with Windows 7+ Deep Freeze = WIN
@Eternity
WFT?
@lennie22 It means get rid of your windows box because the days of relying on just Windows dominance are over. There are plenty of alternatives to windows software. Get a more stable, secure and faster OS as your backbone and if you absolutely need windows just get Vmware with Unity. The new iMacs can run windows and OSX at the same time with little or no hiccups.
This is how my set up works:
Most of the time I need raw speed, stability, customization and flexibility so I use Linux as my primary, Mac for when I need mainstream software for certain tasks, and windows for certain tasks that only windows software can do best. But using Vmware Unity I run OSX and Windows at the same time and it is all seamless but has little effect on performance because today's cpu's are so fast plus the massive amounts of ram available. Windows has Deep Freeze so any Virus is removed at reboot but since it is Vmware I can simply "pause" it when I am done using it then resume when I go back or if anything goes wrong I just reboot it back to the original state. All my files from windows are saved to the Host OSX via a shared folder so those are retained. I am telling you it is the best of all 3 worlds. I don't have to worry about crashes, viruses, malware, rootkits, etc... (many undetectable by antivirus) in windows. Oh and to game I just fire up the PS3 on the big ass T.V.
Little snitch is just there to keep windows from going online in case I get a Trojan or worm. A simple reboot will get rid of it though with Deep Freeze.
Stop acting like buying a Mac is the solution to suffering bugs.
@Marbles
I didn't say that. Obviously I am still using Windows. I think all OS have their strengths and weaknesses that is why I use a balance of all of them, however if Security is of concern to you and Stability then keep your real data outside of Windows if you really must use it.
Vmware runs all software perfectly except games but that is what consoles can be used for. As a matter of fact this the most exciting Console generation ever with Epic game after Epic game being released every month. I am just trying to be as real as possible about this.
http://www.vmware.com/products/fusion/features.html
I said get a Mac because OSX has more mainstream software than Linux does. Even if you don't like it, you can at least keep it as your underlying OS while running a Frozen Windows VM for maximum stability, convenience and security. Now I don't spend hours trying to fix my windows problems, I just reboot or restore a snapshot. But I do all my browsing outside of windows so I don't have to worry about malware stealing my data or turning my P.C into a botnet.
OSX can't run on a windows box unless you Hackint0sh it, but that is more trouble than I will ever care to explain here so you will have to google it.
@Eternity
I think I understand your point, but at the same time, I won't be an idiot spending $2000 on hardware I can get for $900, and i'm sure enough that the software isn't worth $1100. you get my point? why in the hell do I need so much different OS when I get everything under one windows roof?
I'm not "relying on...Windows dominance", I'm using what works best for me, and that is Windows.
@lennie22 By windows dominance I meant HUGE developer support. Before it was overwhelming the amount of software on windows that had no alternatives outside of it. Anyways To each his own.
I am just trying to help....For all you know a rootkit can be stealing your keystrokes and banking info right now.
http://www.newschief.com/article/20100117/NEWS/1175013/1009/LIVING?Title=-Rootkits-pose-another-problem-for-Windows
But if anything like this happens to you, I hope that "works for best you" too.
@Eternity
I actually laughed out loud when I read, "Mac for when I need mainstream software for certain tasks" what mainstream tasks are those? i get your point though, but there's really no benefit in your setup. just a waste of space, waste of time, waste of resources, waste of electricity powering the wasted resources, waste of money paying for the wasted electricity powering the wasted resources.
if you're not a cross platform dev then there's really no reason for that setup than to say "hey look, I have all three running", with a sort of self gratification that comes with it.
well, there's always someone in my house using one of our x360 either gaming, or Media Center or Zune videos, Netflix, or a quick facebooking
@lennie22 I'll give you an example:
Nokia PC Suite to backup my phone doesn't have a Mac version so I use windows for that, Alternatively Final Cut Pro is Mac only so I'll use mac for that. Windows I don't trust with any of my stuff due to the overwhelming experience that tells me I shouldn't. period. so I like to keep it in a "Sandbox" of sorts while still being able to use what I need from it. There is also more hardware compatibility with windows than Mac.
Linux on the other hand is for all my normal stuff that doesn't need specialized software and the reason for this is that it gives me total control of everything that the Mac can't give me and also isn't bloated, boots and runs way faster than the other two and the software is free. Oh and no rootkits or Viruses.
@Eternity
haha, I get your sarcasm, funny. but I'm running windows 7 x64. every 6 months my systems go through a full refresh, all my data are saved on a low powered community server in my house which serves data to all my other machines and xboxs, it's easy to interact with that data using my windows phone Remote Desktop built in when I'm not in the home. I loose no data that I don't want to loose. that's my setup. there's no reason for me to have a million+1 OSes installed. one works best for me and my household.
I'm not sure if you interact with your systems remotely but how do you do so? how easy is it for you to connect to all those systems? startup seems like a pain in the ass: this is how I see your setup:
boot up linux, boot up macOS, boot up windows......wait for them all to finish.....wait some more.....use windows software that works best for that particular task, finished with the task and save data, switch back to primary OS linux, surf net, find some additional data I wanted to use in the previous task, i can't copy and paste from linux to windows so I have to save that data then switch to windows and then try to access that data....hmm, I didn't setup a shared folder between windows and linux, but the macOS and windows have a shared folder, so then send the data from the linux box to the MacOS box and go to the macOS box and put the data into the shared folder, then go the windows box and access the data from there......
....that is why I said your setup has no real benefit.
@Eternity
too many steps. my friend, it's counter productive.
and this is why I think you're just in for the "look what I can do" because you said you use linux on a regular then you would of ran the nokia pc suite through wine without a need to run windows for such a trivial task. there are many windows alternatives to final cut pro....
so again you fall in the "look what I can do" category.
@lennie22
No I just boot into the boot loader almost instantly:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZQmQex0I6s
Except I don't have a windows partition like he does...
Also, Drop Box keeps my files synced all across the board.
https://www.dropbox.com/
I do surf the net on Mac OS which is running Windows inside a VM so it doesn't exactly happen the way you think where I am constantly switching and rebooting. They all play their respective roles well and I don't have any headache. I never have to do a system refresh either because Linux doesn't slow down over time or decay. OSX either because I don't use it as primary. Windows I just have to press the restart button and it reverts to day 1. Oh and I can do remote desktop too via VNC from smart phone to any of the 3 but I don't really have a need for it. Thanks to torrent clients that have web interfaces built in, I don't have any other use for it.
@Eternity
you talk of windows superior hardware compatibility, that is benefiting my point, not yours. there is no need or logical reason for me to through away my windows boxes as your original point stated. again I wonder how easy it is for you to log into your mac or linux box from your mobile.
can you be half way around the world and shoot a video with your mobile, connect to your computer at home send the file to your computer at home, edit the video file on your home computer through your mobile, then send back the finished product to your mobile? can you do that on your linux box? can you do that on your mac OS box?
@Eternity
Why all the trouble?
On Windows 7 I have never had a crash or virus problem, I can run games and access all of my work apps (Photoshop, Dreamweaver etc) without carving up my RAM and running VMs or rebooting.
If Linux could run Photoshop and my games I would be there in a shot. Kubuntu is my desktop of choice without question. Sadly it doesn't so I will stick with WIndows which does everything I need it to, and very reliably.
@lennie22
That's just the setup. However, screwing over windows in that scheme of things is pretty easy for a mac user. Then, you eventually decide you don't need the mac anyway, jump off the luxury-tax-ridden train, and go linux-exclusive, plus possibly a tiny Hacintosh partition.
@lennie22
I believe it's very possible. Just go to the Ubuntu One page, upload the file, and Voila! Happy Birthday present to your wonderful computer. Plus, I believe there's an option to configure automatic download and delete for the home configuration.
To the remote-in comment, it should be fairly easy to configure, as I've been able to set up shared folders visible to the windows computers on the network without difficulty, set up a password for it, and the like. I really can't say I know it works, not wanting a windows mobile phone anyway. It should be fine, though.
@Marbles
It's certainly the solution to suffering from Microsoft's security incompetence. If you aren't comfortable running a VM for "trivial apps" that you can't get on Linux, then defecting to a Mac is definitely the way to go. Apple has always been better at making end user systems (than Microsoft). Now that Macs are relatively cheap, most people no longer really have an excuse not to.
Although there is of course that old problem of obscure bits of software that only run on Windows.
I guess it all depends on where your pain points are.