I just read a really disturbing article about Windows 10 privacy (Google it; there are quite a few). In short, the end user has no privacy whatsoever. Microsoft will have access to everything you do, type, and say as well as every web site you ever visit. What's more, they state clearly in their 'privacy' policy that they can disclose or even sell anything they gather from you to anyone they want, any time they want. I was all ready to jump onto the bandwagon until I read that. In fact, until yesterday, I was signed up and waiting impatiently for the upgrade prompt. Now I'm thinking Windows 7 is going to do me until 2020 when the warranty runs out. After that? I have no idea. Maybe Linux? Hard to say, really. I've checked back with Linux every few years since 1995 and it still looks like a big mess to me. Apple and the Mac? This year's models are all sealed up so no hardware upgrades... unless you fork over the big bucks and get the top-of-the-line Mac Pro bucket. Otherwise, what you buy is what you're going to be using until you go buy a whole new system. And I really can't think of another OS that will run high quality software for music production, graphics, video editing, animation and writing. (sigh) I can only hope that the outcry is so loud that Microsoft rethinks their privacy policy... or someone comes along with a saner OS that actually allows us the privacy we all have the right to.
Well, no one can accuse you of being a sheeple, that's for sure. You clearly know who you are as a consumer, a concept that is sorely lacking in many and inevitably the seed of childish "platform war" flamieness across the landscape of tech-article comment sections. I'm not a Windows user, but the concern you mention is certainly alarming.
A mess? How so? I use Linux every day, exclusively, with few problems. Linux. Linux can and does run all that stuff very nicely.
Yeah, I'mma stick with my Windows 8, thanks. That, or I'll just stick with my iPad once my Windows 8 computer croaks. Good thing I have the Pages app and Dropbox for my creative needs.
That report has already been debunked on tech sites today. The blogger who started the keylogger apparently didn't know what he was taking about, but people spread the story without checking it out.
Even when I used to buy upgradable computers, I never upgraded them. Do a large percentage of people do so? I understand that if you're doing, oh, 3D rendering or something you would, but in that case wouldn't you buy that top of the line Mac Pro? I suspect I just don't get it.
I upgrade my gaming computer. I built it six years ago and it still runs the latest games, but I've upgraded the processor, RAM, and video card.
Not so, it is a misconception that Mac is better for computer graphics/anything artistic. While there's software that's exclusively for one OS or another, all the major software needed for any creative purpose is either multi-platform or has an equivalent competitor that's multi-platform.
Sorry, I didn't mean "wouldn't you buy the Mac" but "wouldn't you buy the powerful choice". And the powerful choice was the one mentioned as being upgradable.
Here's an article I just found that might be of interest... Windows 10: Here are the privacy issues you should know about
I don't have that kind of money. It's so expensive, Best Buy Canada doesn't even list it any longer. If memory serves, it was over $4k
Cortana, for one. I'm still digging into the details. There's an article on gHacks.net that outlines all the privacy switches found to date and which features you'll lose by turning them on/off.
Sorry. I didn't mean to step on anyone's toes. Seriously. Perhaps 'mess' was too strong a word. I'm talking about two things, tracking down drivers for hardware and installing software. I found drivers for my sound card (EMU 0404), but they not only don't work, the procedure for installing was long, convoluted and ended up not finding the hardware. I tried installing Linux alongside Win7 a few months ago (don't remember which distribution or version) and couldn't get a dual-boot set-up working. I've been hacking computers for almost two decades and despite following several different tutorials, it just wasn't happening. As far as installing software goes, I long along became complacent about all this on Windows. It seems there are several different ways to go about installing Linux packaged software and some involve having to spend time working out dependencies... unless a person wants to wait for the next distribution update. Blender 3D, for instance, is updated more often that any distro and by the time a new distro comes out, the Blender version included is almost always at least one version behind. That means, each time a person wants to install it, they have to do it either by hand using a PPA or by finding and installing any library dependencies. I imagine Linux is fine as long as you don't need to update individual software packages between disto updates... or if the only thing a person does is go on the Internet. And if I've said anything horrendously non-PC in this post, please forgive me. I've done my best to make sure I've said things in as non-inflamatory a way as possible.
Wow, Wreybies. Did I step on your toes? This could be interpreted in two quite different ways. I suppose that shows that you're a very skilled writer, but I really don't know if you're insulting me or not.
Nah, you missed my toes by at least a mile. Can't really speak to the driver issue, but installing and updating software is pretty straightforward. Have you thought about installing in a virtual machine? Might be easier to just install on virtualbox. I use Arch Linux, which is a "rolling release" distribution. there are no update cycles per se. I can update any program any time, and using Arch's package manager makes it a snap. Not at all. I hope my other post didn't make it seem like I was offended in any way...
No, no. I meant it plainly, simply and directly. No irony at all. ETA: I understand, though, why you were perhaps apprehensive as to my reply. I have posted in the past here in the forum my complete bafflement and confusion regarding the bizarre behavior of otherwise normal people when the subject of Apple v. Windows v. Linux or Apple v. Android comes up. People lose their minds. Respectable ladies and gents turn into raving warriors, faces foamed with spittle like exhausted horses. And it only seems to be certain types of products that evoke this behavior. You don't see housewives/househusbands going all berserker concerning washing machine or refrigerator brands. You don't. I've looked! As you can see from my avatar, I am fond of Scrivener, and there are many on the MS Word "camp" who consider this to be some kind of moral heresy. What I said about knowing yourself as a consumer was meant honestly and plainly. I know who I am as a consumer, and I make my choices accordingly. Your OP shows that you also employ the same mindset, that you are not shackled by the religion of brand, but instead guide yourself by your needs. Also, in the mode of being a mod, it was my subtle statement to the rest of The People that thus far the conversation here has been refreshingly adult and sensible and that it will remain so, else attract my attention, which would be unfortunate indeed.... for them.
I'm a little concerned about switching to Windows 10 now, but judging from that @fivetoesten posted, it seems you can turn a lot of it off. I get the impression it's Microsoft's idea of trying to create a more user friendly operating system by collecting user's data, though, those of us who are aware of the reality of things know that this is just another version of 'big brother.' I'm pretty sure I read a few months back that e-companies are now obliged to share information about it's users with governing bodies 'on the basis of national security.' I might just use it, anyway; it's not like I'm buying materials to construct bombs or perusing the dark net. The odd bit-o-porn is as unsavoury as I get.
Mac/Windows/Linux are all good. With Arch, the installation process makes we want to pluck my eyes out with an oyster fork, but you end up with a nice system. I can't remember the last time Ubuntu or Mint have failed to find the right drivers right at install. I never have to hunt them down anymore.
