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Raw Bytes Computer News KPBX FM 91.1 Spokane Public Radio National Public Radio Network Frank Delaney Producer Broadcast on Wednesday Morning 7:35 AM During Morning Edition Support Public Radio ! The Theater Of the Mind |
In computer news this week 07/15/2009 The
world’s most popular pc operating system is aging
......... Despite
all the hype you’ve heard for years now about Microsoft’s Vista
operating system, and all the tv ads, it still hasn’t really caught on,
due to some early bad press and technical glitches. The
world’s most popular pc operating system is Windows XP, and is almost 8
years old now. That’s right, the majority of IBM compatible pc’s
in the world are still running Windows XP which was introduced in late 2001
– not Vista – which was introduced in 2006. Windows
XP is a tried and tested operating system that has gone through 3 major
service pack upgrades, and has proven to be a much more stable operating
system than Windows Vista, despite the claim of everything new that Vista can
do. A lot of
people are mystified by what an operating system is and what it does. I’ve seen people buying new
computers at discount stores along with books on learning the operating
system... Now when
you buy a new car do you buy books on mechanics on how the engine and
transmission works ? No you don’t ! You just want to drive and enjoy your
new car. And
that’s the focus – or non-focus - you should have on your
operating system. It’s there and it powers your computer, and as long
as your programs run that’s really all you need to know about what it
is. Both
Windows XP and Vista have great built-in training, so you can learn as much
as you want about the different functions of your computer without having to
bury yourself in books. And if that’s not enough information, the
internet is loaded with sites that have probably a lot more information than
you really want to know about operating systems. Operating
systems have always been Microsoft’s cash cow, beginning with DOS and
continuing through all versions of their Windows. So
that’s why when we see these new feelers that Google is putting out - about
coming up with their own operating system for netbooks – minimized
pc’s used primarily for surfing the internet and for email and
entertainment, I say more power to them. As long as their operating system
runs the programs I need and they support it, I’d switch to it in a
minute. I
don’t believe anyone is really married to Microsoft, and now that Bill
Gates is out of the picture, I think Microsoft is going to be severely
challenged by many competitors on their platforms. There
have been alternate office suites available for years now, including the
shareware Open Office program, but Microsoft still controls the office application
marketplace. They have
made many concessions, and now you can buy their programs ala carte, whereas
in the past you had to buy Microsoft Office with all the modules, regardless
of whether you would ever use them all. Today one
of their most popular selections is their Office Home 2007 containing
Word-Excel-Powerpoint and One-note – for $ 140. And now
Microsoft wants us to upgrade to Windows 7, which is the new improved Vista,
but unless the price is right, and it’s truly the greatest thing since
sliced bread, I think the PC world will wait. |
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For Raw Bytes This is Frank Delaney (C) 2009 MTA Micro
Technology Associates http://www.mtamicro.com/kpbx.html PO Box 31522 Spokane, Wa 99223-1522 (509)624-7230 |
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