www.iFourWinns.com

Microsoft have an interestng business model - turn out a crap OS (Vista) and force people to go down the Vista path by dropping all sales and support of XP. Punish them all for 3 years with a never ending series of bugs, hangs, incompatibility issues with just about every piece of hardware and software known to man, etc, then announce Windoze 7 as the saviour.

Windoze 7 actually has the same Kernel (core operating system) as XP, but without all the crap Vista interfacing which kept causing it to fall over.

All those existing Vista users are now queing up cash in hand to get Windoze 7 (a glorified version of XP!) and cannot part with their money quick enough... Microsoft gets to screw them a second time, but the customer is happy to hand over their money to go back a step functionally (but forward 10 steps as far as performance goes)! Go figure... like being offered a Ford Pinto as an upgrade!

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Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

So, are you a PC or a Mac user?

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

I wish it was a Mac - but a PC unfortunately - we have a standard operating environment at work that we all have to adhere to..

I am very interested in the new operating system that Google plan to bring out soon - hopefully a real alternative to Microsoft.

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Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

I am still using XP on my home desktop, and I run a linux based OS on my netbook, which runs super quick. At work I am using XP 64 to gain as much horsepower out of the computer's processor (Xeon) as I can for running Solidworks. My son runs Vista on his laptop, and yeah, its a dog......

I did run a Mac years ago for a brief period of time to try a Mac OS version of AutoCAD. That turned out to be a disaster, as it was quite unstable. It wasn't long before I was back to running AutoCAD on a Windows platform again.

When on the water though, a standard Cel with no data.... I deal with enough Data during the day/week that I don't need to process any more on the lake!

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2009 H180 w/3.0 Merc
Homebuilt Minimax Hydro
2011 Zodiac Cadet 310

I run Windows based systems at home and work....Don't ask me what they are though! All I know is how to use the programs that are installed and don't experience too many hickups... My 5 yr old media center desktop unit had the hard drive fail last year and when I restored the system I now have no more media center so that kind of PO'd me, spent all that money to not have it anymore.

I am envious of all you tech geeks... I am fascinated about all you can do with your desktops, laptops, phones, MP3 players etc... I always fantasize about how much more "pleasant" my life would be with some new techy items but unfortunately I find that if I don't know somebody who is really into how that item works then i just use the basics and my money has been wasted.

I have a 8 yr old cel phone that work provides (no text, no browser capabilities), a 6 yr old desktop at home, 4 yr old desktop at work and a Sony walkman 4 GB MP3 player. I still have a 32" flat screen Tube TV and no home theatre system. I am way behind the times technically but can't seem to find the money or the time to upgrade. Will Windows 7 help me alleviate any of this? I think not ...

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Marc, Kathlin & Nathalie


'89 Chaparral Laser 32

'93 Vista 245, 5.8L w/ King Cobra

Former Boats
'01 H260, 7.4 VP Duoprop
'98 H200, 5.0 GL w/VP SX drive

I typically run MS stuff from beta versions through release candidates either on a demo or virtual machine. I've found that the performance of Windows 7 in the VM world is so much better than what Vista was. The new Office features (especially OneNote) will also be useful, but we're really waiting for the new SharePoint to be released.

For a moblie device, I'm strictly a Verizon user due to coverage in our area and the northern part of the state and formerly carried a Motorola Q with WM. I didn't have many complaints about it, but switched to a BlackBerry Storm when it became available. It doesn't integrate as easily with desktop syncing, but the features on the phone are alot better than the Q.

Now if we could just get people to stop using IE 6...

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-Rob.


Current boat: 2011 Yamaha AR210
Previous boat: 1998 Horizon RX 4.3GL SX

Our company IT Director recently did a blog on Mac vs. PC and this is his take on the bugs that you refer to. I had no idea that Windows had 90% of the market.


Viruses, Trojans, and Spyware? No Way!

Apple will lead you to believe that PCs will submit your social security number to identity thieves, then crash and destroy your data, all in the first 20 minutes. If Windows was as evil as Apple portrays, it would not be so popular.

There is a seed of truth to the campaign. Let’s pretend you are a terrible person who writes malicious software, and you set out to destroy the world, one computer at a time. Would you target 90% of the market, or 10%?

Windows machines are more susceptible to viruses simply because they are more prevalent. Macs can get viruses.

The biggest enemy to Windows are its users. If you do not maintain virus protection, and you do not keep Windows updated (automatically, through the aptly named Windows Update feature), then you can very well get malicious software on your computer.

You must remain diligent to protect yourself. Even a Mac cannot protect you from giving out your account numbers because you got an email asking for them.

Here is the link to the entire blog if you are interested: http://blog.metrobrokers.com/2009/07/13 ... /#more-720

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

Worry not... I'm still trying to get my head round how a saucepan works

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Regards
Beyond the Blue

"If we improve with age I'm now excellent"


Ex 1998 238 Vista 5.0Gi SX DP
Lexus RX300

Saucepan? we're not allowed to have them in Wales as they can be an offensive weapon (in the hands of the mother-in -law !)

Graham

My black berry goes on the boat with me, and I only boat where I get service.

I am a PC user, XP! I don't care about new software, all I need to get to is this site and ebay!

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

Same here, I use Weather Underground for the local radar in order to beat the rush back to the ramp when the weather is sketchy.

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-Rob.


Current boat: 2011 Yamaha AR210
Previous boat: 1998 Horizon RX 4.3GL SX

If you want something that works as well as a MAC, why not buy a MAC?

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2008 Four Winns F224
5.0 Volvo Penta
Towing with Audi Q7 4.2 V8

I can't help but laugh at this.

If only Apple had half the growing pains and market exposure that Microsoft does. As for working as well as anything... well, here's my official 2 cents.

A Mac is not a rockstar.. they do need reboots. Gorgeous hardware and a boutique price tag for moderate value. They are and will forver be a victim of virus'. You just don't hear about them because it doesn't affect what - 93% of the WORLD? They do have their own set of issues.

I'd like an iPhone be able to accept a meeting request via exchange... or maybe not have a pukable mail experience which is optimized for POP3 (so 1980's). But - people build apps for it and it's killer for browsing the internet. I'd love to have a conversation about battery life for any iphone owner who is a very active user.

I think of the app store as McDonalds... over 1 billion served and something for everyone -but it's far from the 'best' at anything other than surfing the internet. First to market for their targeted segment (just like McDonalds).

(I'm not Apple bashing because they are an amazing company with a leader who can create a market out of a cloud).

What happens when Steve Jobs is no longer around...... Ask any reputable analyst. Apple is in trouble.

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

Whats the word on this "7?" I've got XP on my desktop and love it. I also had XP on both of our laptops until they were stolen, and we didn't have a choice and got stuck with Vista on there replacements. They are SLOW. How long do I have to wait to get this 7? Any tips/tricks on speeding Vista up? They are both P4's with 2GB ram....

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

No, it does not have the same kernel OS as XP. It's based on Vista, and works quite well.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista