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New Windows user help

ehbowen

Banned
ehbowen
Joined
Nov 23, 2002
Messages
281
Location
Houston
(Sniff) After 13-1/2 years of virtually trouble-free service, I have finally semi-retired (waaah!) my faithful Amiga 3000. Having been a Commodore user since the '70's, I now find myself in the position of having to start from square one with a new operating system.

Well, maybe not square >one< -- I have, reluctantly, used Windoze at work and at friends and relatives. My new (to me) computer was a gift from my parents, so I am still, for the moment, in the position of never having put a dime in Bill Gates's pockets. It's a Dell OptiPlex GX-100 (Celeron processor) running Windows 2000. I did a few things to it out of the box--downloaded all of the "security critical" Windows updates, installed a CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive so I could make backups, and boosted the memory from 128 to 320 megs as well as buying a new printer. I've also signed up for broadband (DSL) which should be activated next week.

What I'm looking for are recommendations for keeping my new system as safe and secure as possible while getting as much use and performance out of it as I can. I'd like recommendations on browsers and email software (one of the first things I did was to disable IE and OE and download Netscape, and I've set my email preferences to plain text). What kind of virus protection and firewall software would you recommend? How about other kinds of security software, like Adaware? I'm open for suggestions.

(And, by the way, I haven't completely given up on the Amiga yet. I've just ordered an ethernet card for it--does anyone have any recommendations on networking Old Faithful with the upstart newcomer?)
 
What? Just when 'Amiga' is about to be reborn like the phoenix from the ashes?
http://www.amiga.com/

But seriously, if you don't have anything invested in new hardware, do some basic research and shop carefully for Linux-compatible hardware, and double check you have linux-compatible drivers for what you have, and start there.

It's relatively easy to download a Linux distro, burn a CDR and try it out. Knoppix is fairly painless as an introduction. Boots off the CD, doesn't volunteer to muck with your hard drive, and most of the time, everything just sort of works. Redhat or Mandrake will both take three CDRs to download & install. Lindows (now 'Linspire') is also a relatively easy option, though not free.

http://www.linuxiso.org/

If you do download linux, I recommend installing bittorrent and looking for a bittorrent site to download the ISO from.

http://bittorrent.com/
 
evildave said:
What? Just when 'Amiga' is about to be reborn like the phoenix from the ashes?
http://www.amiga.com/

But seriously, if you don't have anything invested in new hardware, do some basic research and shop carefully for Linux-compatible hardware, and double check you have linux-compatible drivers for what you have, and start there.
Click to expand...


I've thought about that, but I needed a new printer, and there was a price on an HP all-in-one that I couldn't pass up. So if I went with Linux it would turn into a boat anchor. Maybe in the future, but for right now I think I'm stuck with Windoze.
 
evildave said:
Well, what's the printer model? There's most likely a driver project for it.
Click to expand...

It's an Officejet 5510. And my new CD-RW is a Sony CRX320A.

What's the application software situation like for Linux? I'd be mostly interested in websurfing/mail, with perhaps some desktop publishing and small business bookkeeping. No heavy games or file sharing. Got some reference links?

(Amiga users have Aminet. What's the comparable resource for Linux users?)
 
Openoffice.org (StarOffice) works fine for me. As does Mozilla. Most distros come with both. There is tons of free junk.

Yes, your printer is supported for printing and scanning.
HP OfficeJet 5500 Series no YES(2comp) no DJ3320 no YES no no not yet no TBD

The compatibility with your DVD burner is a question mark. Most likely, if any Sony DVD burner has worked under Linux in the last couple of years, your current one is supported.
http://www.burnworld.com/software/cdrburning/linux.htm
http://www.xcdroast.org/#manual
 
Do you have children? If so forget Linux their games will not run an anything but Windows. I dont like Bill Gate$ but his software IS the most used and the one you can get most applications for. Linux is mostly for nerds who prefers to do all things themselves and to have "total control" (I'm a bit like that meself. ;) )
 
For desktop publishing under Linux there's Scribus. It's fairly powerful and I find it easy to use. Linux has great postscript support which makes it very useful for documents. LyX is the best document preparation tool I've ever used.

For security while browsing the internet I find Linux so much more secure that won't access my email, bank or credit card accounts from any Windows box. I'm just paranoid about spyware.

When it comes to protecting my data, Windows feels like driving in a car without seat belts.
 
Ove said:
Do you have children? If so forget Linux their games will not run an anything but Windows. I dont like Bill Gate$ but his software IS the most used and the one you can get most applications for. Linux is mostly for nerds who prefers to do all things themselves and to have "total control" (I'm a bit like that meself. ;) )
Click to expand...

Linspire (formerly Lindows) is the Linux-based "for anyone" solution, and it comes with a Windows emulator (many other Linux distros do as well) to run most Windows applications.

Now this applies to whatever OS you settle on:

Get 'em a Playstation or XBOX or Game Cube, for less than the price of a good video card, if you want them to play games. As a BIG plus, console game media can be purchased USED, which means you can get good deals on them, or wait until the initial frenzy dies down and get them for less than half cost, and then you can still 'sell them' back to get other games. Consoles all support MORE THAN ONE CONTROLLER, for games that multiple children can play together, rather than be shut in with a CRT. So they won't be fighting over the ONE keyboard if you buy them split-screen and cooperative games.

You can have a far cheaper general purpose computer that serves your purposes for much longer, and the kids won't be whining to monopolize it to blow things up. In addition, if it doesn't play games, you can reasonably BAN games from it so they can actually do homework with it.
 
No kids (although I do have five nephews and nieces) and I don't do a whole lot of gaming. Amigas were known as game machines but I only bought about a dozen games in the past seventeen years. So gaming is not a big deal for me.

As far as Amiga emulators: I know they have them for Windoze, but I haven't heard of any under Linux. Of course, an emulator isn't a big issue as long as I still have a working Amiga.

I wonder.... Hard drives are cheap (never thought I'd say that back in the '80's!). Suppose I get, say, a blank 40 gig drive, give my Dell box a heart transplant, and keep the old HD in case I ever do want to switch back? What would I need to do an installation from scratch?

(edited to add last paragraph)
 
You can have a far cheaper general purpose computer that serves your purposes for much longer, and the kids won't be whining to monopolize it to blow things up. In addition, if it doesn't play games, you can reasonably BAN games from it so they can actually do homework with it.
Click to expand...
I don't have any homework (fortunately:p my non working hours are sacred) so my computer is purely for internet, games, photos, correspondance, etc. And you can yada on about how linux can "Emulate" windows it still is easier to RUN windows.

I am also in the lucky situation that there is NOTHING on my PC that i cant do without(that has been burned on rom's), a total breakdown would be a nuisance but nothing else. I have in fact formatted my harddisk quite a few times just to "sort things out". If you keep your sensible data (photos-letters-spreadsheets etc) on CD-ROM then you won't worry about virus attacs (I've never had one though, - i have a good firewall).;)

And the one that does most gaming in the house is me.;) For the moment it is Microsoft Train Simulator, WHAT A SIMULATION.:D :D :D
 
Linux + Gamecube = All my needs.

With Linux I can do everything I need to with a computer. And it doesn't cost a penny. And I'm not forced into upgrading my computer. To be honest if piracy wasn't so easy on Windows then I think a huge amount of people who ignore Linux would use it.

Show me a user of Windows who doesn't have a single piece of software that shouldn't be there (either pirated photoshop or things like Winzip that they should register if they continue using it) and I'll show you a fraud or a saint.

A console also has the advantage that the games are designed to run on that exact system. So you don't have to spend hours fiddling with the settings to get in running smoothly. I think that harms "gameplay" more than many things.

Whyatt
 
ehbowen said:
No kids (although I do have five nephews and nieces) and I don't do a whole lot of gaming. Amigas were known as game machines but I only bought about a dozen games in the past seventeen years. So gaming is not a big deal for me.

As far as Amiga emulators: I know they have them for Windoze, but I haven't heard of any under Linux. Of course, an emulator isn't a big issue as long as I still have a working Amiga.

I wonder.... Hard drives are cheap (never thought I'd say that back in the '80's!). Suppose I get, say, a blank 40 gig drive, give my Dell box a heart transplant, and keep the old HD in case I ever do want to switch back? What would I need to do an installation from scratch?

(edited to add last paragraph)
Click to expand...

The site I linked has Linux emulators.

Hard drives are pretty simple to rip out and drop in. Four screws, a ribbon cable and a molex connector to the power. Only the most technophobic could fear such an operation.

The only complicating factors come from the case its self. Many smallish cases have some ugly things in the way (i.e. have to dismantle lots of things). Dell machines from the last few years are pretty good about being snap-tight simple to work on.

You can even leave the old drive in place (unplug the cables and plug them into the new drive, installed next to the old drive).

You must UNPLUG the Dell machines. They're always 'hot'. If you unplug or plug in a hard disk or PCI card, it's prone to power its self up and start booting.
 
evildave said:
You must UNPLUG the Dell machines. They're always 'hot'. If you unplug or plug in a hard disk or PCI card, it's prone to power its self up and start booting.
Click to expand...

You also should discharge any reserve power by holding the front button for 10 seconds or so (as I found out).

Ove said:

And the one that does most gaming in the house is me.;) For the moment it is Microsoft Train Simulator, WHAT A SIMULATION.:D :D :D
Click to expand...

Tell me more about this one! I don't care for shoot-em-up games but love the simulator stuff.
 
evildave said:
Get 'em a Playstation or XBOX or Game Cube, for less than the price of a good video card, if you want them to play games. As a BIG plus...
Click to expand...
I assume you're talking about the BIG plus(es) of a console over a PC for playing games.
evildave said:
console game media can be purchased USED
Click to expand...
So can PC games.
evildave said:
which means you can get good deals on them
Click to expand...
Just like used PC games.
evildave said:
or wait until the initial frenzy dies down and get them for less than half cost
Click to expand...
You can do that with PC games too.
evildave said:
and then you can still 'sell them' back to get other games.
Click to expand...
You can do that with PC games.
evildave said:
Consoles all support MORE THAN ONE CONTROLLER
Click to expand...
So do PCs.
evildave said:
for games that multiple children can play together, rather than be shut in with a CRT.
Click to expand...
A CRT is a controller?
evildave said:
So they won't be fighting over the ONE keyboard if you buy them split-screen and cooperative games.
Click to expand...
... Since you bought a couple of $10 USB joysticks.

I'm not saying a PC is necessarily a better platform than a dedicated console for playing games, but this is after all a critical thinking forum, and the arguments you gave above simply don't stand up.
 
Good luck finding a split screen or cooperative PC game that SUPPORTS multiple joysticks. Very common in console games, rare (at best) in PC games. I've never actually seen one that supported two players like that, but I suppose if you have the cash to blow on this possibility "just in case", carry on.

You sound like you have very definite notions of how you'd like to play games and with what hardware, Iconoclast. If you feel you should have a 'bleeding edge' general purpose PC to play games on a tiny monitor versus a cheap PC and a cheaper console that plugs into your nice, big TV and stereo in your living room, I am not the one to tell how you should live your life or spend your money.

...

My *recommendation* to those without strong and definite notions of what to buy, is buy the best monitor you can afford, and as cheap a trailing edge PC as you can stand to do work on, that you can upgrade or replace cheaply whenever you feel like.

Buy one or more console systems to play games on that will deliver very consistent and enjoyable performance for anything written for that console, with no special hardware requirements that outstrip your new PC in a week.

Disregard this advice as you wish.
 
evildave said:
Good luck finding a split screen or cooperative PC game that SUPPORTS multiple joysticks.
Click to expand...
Well I've never bought a multiplayer split screen game, but since so many PC games have a split screen mode I'd assumed they would support multiple controllers too, perhaps they don't. In the case of games with digital control, it's a trivial task in any case to map keyboard keys to controller inputs

evildave said:
You sound like you have very definite notions of how you'd like to play games and with what hardware, Iconoclast.
Click to expand...
Absolutely NOTHING I've said in this thread would indicate a personal preference either for or against playing games on a console. I was merely pointing out that many of your arguments for preferring a console over a PC are simply bunk and that a person weighing up whether to buy a games PC or Console should ignore them.
 
I think I'd better re-rail this topic. I appreciate all the sidebars, and I will think seriously about going to Linux rather than upgrade M$ when they drop Win2000 support, but for the moment I am, reluctantly, a Windoze user.

What I asked for, and what I haven't yet seen, are specific recommendations about what I can do to optimize my current system for security and performance. How can I best protect myself from hackers and scan for spyware/etc.? What recommendations do you have for password security? (EvilDave, I saw a message from you on another thread about the WinAdministrator account. When I got the machine from my parents, everything was set up as Administrator with no password protection. I demoted my regular use account to User and set up a password on the Administrator account, which I plan to use only rarely and almost never when I'm connected to the Internet.) Can anyone think of any other precautions?

Also, I'd appreciate pointers to networking help. As I said above, I've ordered an ethernet card for Amy, and I'd like to use the Windoze machine as a gateway from my DSL connection to the Amiga. I found a couple of websites with good info on networking Amigas to PCs for file and printer sharing and the like, but I haven't yet found one specifically covering my situation. I do have two network adapters on the PC; one is on the motherboard and the other on a PCI card.

Thanks in advance for any help.
 
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