Like Windows? Going to buy Vista? Is it too expensive? Look:

[originalpckelly]

GATES, BILL
REDMOND, WA 98052
MICROSOFT

WASHINGTON STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY
08/19/1998 2000.00 98033570812

GATES, BILL
REDMOND, WA 98052
MICROSOFT CORPORATION/CHAIRMAN

VOLUNTEER PAC
07/06/2004 2000.00 24971657360
12/30/2005 2000.00 26990169196

GATES, BILL
REDMOND, WA 98052
MICROSOFT/CHAIRMAN

ALLEN, GEORGE
VIA FRIENDS OF GEORGE ALLEN
12/31/2005 2000.00 26020052188

Go to the Federal Election Commissions' website, mouse over "campaign finance reports and data," then "search the disclosure database," then individual search. Type in "Gates" and then "Bill" in the second box.


When President Bush came into office, Microsoft was being pursued in an anti-trust case, a case which would have mandated them to split their company one for office and games (which would have allowed other OSes to compete with Windows), and one to make windows. Unfortunately, Bush was beholden to Gates and the DOJ did not seek to break up Microsoft, after he came into office.

We now cannot buy Macs, and enjoy Microsoft games on them, at least in large part. Apple tries to compete with Microsoft, but the lack of games and other software prevents them from competing. (Though they are doing better of late, mainly because of iPod.)

Think about all of this when you go to shell out more than a couple hundred dollars for Windows Vista.

[Trillo]

1. I'm getting ready to try Linux

again. Debian? Is it still as difficult as it was for Linux dummies to install?

[flobee1]

4. I'm keeping my xp

until I get hooked up with a free copy of vista:D





I'm actually considering going to apple

linux isnt quite to my liking

[longship]

5. PM me.

Linux user (exclusively) for well over a decade.

I can help you choose the right distribution.

[David in Canada]

6. Try Ubuntu!

Hi!

My laptop runs Ubuntu Linux. You can install it on a partition and another for Windows.

Yes, it IS easy to install. I have had no problems whatsoever EXCEPT for getting wi-fi to work.

Here is the link: http://www.ubuntu.com/

You can get a free CD/DVD or download the ISO and burn it yourself. :)

[skids]

8. Redhat "tourists" looking for Debian-based seem to like ubuntu.

Me I'm no linux dummy so I stick with Debian core mostly. But ubuntu seems to have a good following.

So if you're looking for a Debian based system that's newbie friendly that might be a good pick.

[American Jesus]

9. Most distributions of Linux install as easy as Windows now

A Linux powered PC will surf the net quicker and safer, and with the freeware Open Office you can do anything you did with MS Office. The only area where Linux hasn't quite caught up yet is multimedia stuff, such as burning DVD's. There are ways to do it, but most of it is still command line utilities not recommended for Linux newbies.

Of course you can always set the PC up in a dual boot configuration, using Linux for your everyday tasks and Windows for the multimedia stuff.

As for Windows Vista, I tried an early beta and a more recent one, and I'm not really impressed. I'm not a programmer, so I don't know what they did to the guts of the OS, but the new "bells and whistles' are a waste of time and resources, so I just shut 'em off anyway. Leaving me, essentially, Windows XP updated to the latest drivers. And that's not worth the $300 Micro$oft wants for the "ultimate" upgrade.

[Feron]

24. Command line programs aren't THAT hard to use

Yes it takes some getting used to ,but it isn't horribly hard if a person is willing to make an effort and do some reading.

I dual boot with Windows mainly because I have a capture card with software that only runs in Windows along with software that I want to get my money's worth out of, but don't use on a regular basis.

So the only real obstacle would probably be hardware. Some hardware will only run in Windows and you will have to research hardware a bit before purchasing an upgrade. Fortunately though there are many websites and forums that do help. There are also live CDs that will let you try the distro without installing it. And there is always the dual boot option if you are uncomfortable with the idea of solely using Linux.

I installed Linux earlier this year and love it. Everything is customized to my specification without having to install hacks or buy expansion packs. And if I need a hack or theme then there is plenty of freeware and free sites out there with things I can pick and choose from.

Not to mention that if you choose a distro with a package manager, installing software is as easy as a few keyboard strokes. :D

The only distro I've tried and that I'm happy with is Mandriva.

[lapfog_1]

17. I used to like Suse myself.

but I haven't tried it since Novell took over.

Linux is getting easier and easier to install. However, that being said, hardware compatibility is an issue, make sure that your add in cards are supported (many, many are, but a few are not).

Anyway, try it, you'll like it.

[silverojo]

19. I'm weaning myself onto Linux, too

Meanwhile, Win98SE works just fine with all the programs I use.

Screw you, Bill Gates!!

[boolean]

21. Good luck!

Linux is a pain in the ass. But it's fun!

[The Cleaner]

2. BLAH

:puke:

However, unless I'm misunderstanding what you're trying to say Mac now has "Boot Camp" which natively runs both Mac OS and Windows.

[originalpckelly]

7. The idea is that you shouldn't have to run Windows to get the games on it...

the games and other software for Windows ought to be compatible with Mac OS X. (Or at least there should be versions of the various ones for the Mac.) The Mac version of most Microsoft software sucks.

If Mac OS and Windows were competitive, there would be a downward pressure on the price of compute operating systems. That means Windows Vista wouldn't cost $259 ($399 with a new computer) to get its full feature set.

[zulchzulu]

3. Windoze is a necessary evil in my business

Try doing web sites and even IT solutions without Windows... it's just a reality.

But for those that want to make a switch from Gatesdom, the Mac and OS X are sturdy, fun and even play Microsoft apps if you need to. The newer Macs run BOTH Windows and Mac OS environments natively... if you know your stuff, you can run Mac, Windows and Linux on one Mac...

[schead]

11. Web site without windows??

The vast majority of websites are run on Unix platforms. IIS is crap, Apache runs far more web servers than IIS. If you want to run different OS's on 1 machine, do as I do. I have Linux running on my PC, with vmware running Windows and Solaris. This means that when I need Windows, I simply start vmware and boot the windows virtual machine, (same for Solaris).

[zulchzulu]

18. No OS wars from me...

Sometimes clients have existing sites on Windows-based servers and don't want to migrate...so even when I try to have move to some other location, it's met with the usual claptrap.

I prefer Linux on Apache, but yunno...

[silverojo]

20. LOL, you kiddin'?

I can build web sites with a freakin' WEB TV unit! You don't need Windows--just a knowledge of HTML and a text editor!

[Ravenseye]

27. LOL

Right. Lets see you run a web development business where you have to do everything via web tv. That does graphics too?

Whatever.

[Swamp Rat]

10. "We now cannot buy Macs, and enjoy Microsoft games on them, at least in large part."

That's no longer true. The next Apple OS X update (Leopard) will include the ability to run Windows natively on a Mac.

http://www.apple.com/macosx/leopard/index.html

A demo Beta version called "Boot Camp" is already available.:

http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/

[Solon]

14. Boot Camp is a boot manager, not really different from Grub or Lilo...

Not really a new technology or anything.

[Swamp Rat]

23. And?

[ContraBass Black]

29. I cannot buy a gasoline car and run it on diesel.

What's that got to do with politics?

[ghostsofgiants]

31. I'm not buying new fucking hardware just for OSX.

If they can run Windows on a Mac they can run OSX on a fucking PC. Of course the likelihood of them doing that is next to zero because it would mean fewer hardware sales.

I'll just bootleg Vista like I did with XP.

[William769]

12. I have been beta testing Vista since July.

I will buy buying Vista when it's released in January.

[Nomad559]

16. I've been beta testing

Vista for about two years now, my only complaint Is that Vista Is "almost" as bloated as my Linux systems. Vista does run a bit faster than most of the Linux systems I have used.

That's not to say I don't like Linux, I do like Linux, but my preferred poison Is Windows.
?click

?click

:)

[stepnw1f]

13. I LOVE OSX

I don't like using Windows..... too buggy and susceptible to viruses for me.

Now I can play all the PC games too....

[McKenzie]

15. Any aspiring Linux users should join their nearest Linux Users Group (LUG)

I'm on a Mac these days although I've used Linux in the past.

http://www.linux.org/groups/

Windoze is used because it is so heavily pushed. Other OS's would do just as well if they had the exposure that M$ gets.

[silverojo]

22. I'd switch to Linux completely in a heartbeat

If I could just learn some ways to tweak the fonts and make them look good in all the programs. Windows does, sadly, have the advantage in that area. :(

[Deja Q]

25. I wouldn't be surprised.

For plenty of reasons.

[democracyindanger]

26. Cherry picking

http://www.newsmeat.com/billionaire_political_donations/Bill_Gates.php

He's no Steve Jobs, not by a longshot, but geez.

You going to stop buying gas and using electricity, too?

[CC]

28. Let me add in the

$23.5 billion he has given to charity through the Bill $ Linda Gates Foundation.

http://www.liberalartsandcrafts.net/contentcatalog/charity/billgates.shtml

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/default.htm

[madrchsod]

30. i`ll never use vista

it`s the worst bit of software ever written. i`m sticking with what i have now and i guess in the future it will be linux

[dpbrown]

32. Only Macs

I will never buy a Windows computer, ever.

I will never run Microsoft software.

I will never use a Microsoft browser.

I am the revolution.