Dear Microsoft,

[Theory?]

Suck my balls.

So last night I went to bed and made note of the tiny little Windows Update icon in my system tray. Being far too tired to wait out the download to examine what packages Windows was trying to install, I went to bed almost certain that my settings indicated that no updates were to be actually INSTALLED without my consent.

I wake up this morning to a black screen with an error message that, essentially, said, "No maek login screen. Ouch." After pressing a random key on my keyboard, I got a blue screen and was forced to restart. Upon restart, same problem.

Not ****ting you, every successive Windows update since the release of Vista has turned my computer into more and more of a flaming pile of ****, as if Microsoft was trying to FORCE me to buy their new inefficient and utterly terrible operating system, which my computer isn't really capable of handling anyways. (protip: it meets the minimum requirements, but little more, so I have no intentions of updating JUST yet).

I'm really at the end of my rope here. I'm very close to just installing Linux and calling it a day. I'm trying to see if I can survive without an audio machine long enough to warrant installing an OS I know won't nuke my system (though it will nuke my mind) until I can afford to bring it up to par with Vista.

[Jabrwock]

I believe "critical" updates (like security stuff) ignore your preferences. MS's way of saying "we know better than you".

I'm at work on Ubuntu right now, and it runs nicely. Have any specific audio apps you were thinking of? I can check to see if Ubuntu officially supports them...

[Thefremen]

I believe "critical" updates (like security stuff) ignore your preferences. MS's way of saying "we know better than you".

I'm at work on Ubuntu right now, and it runs nicely. Have any specific audio apps you were thinking of? I can check to see if Ubuntu officially supports them...

I heart Ubuntu. :)

[Theory?]

My best friend runs Ubuntu on his computer, but he has a G5 in his basement on which he does all his audio work.

There are a few Linux apps out there for audio that I know of, but none of them have any real money behind them, which when it comes to this kind of software, really means it's not worth my effort. It won't be compliant with any standards, it won't run VST's properly, I can just forsee the never-ending pains I would suffer.

On top of that, I need Reason (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reason_%28software%29) which exists in no form for Linux.

I may be able to survive without it though, since it's been a minute since I've used my computer for audio. I've been in a bit of a creative rut lately.

[Jabrwock]

Ah Reason. I dabbled with that years ago. Never really was an audio guy though.

There's a mac version, but I guess you know that since your bud runs it on a G5. ;)

[nightwng2000]

I believe "critical" updates (like security stuff) ignore your preferences. MS's way of saying "we know better than you".

I'm at work on Ubuntu right now, and it runs nicely. Have any specific audio apps you were thinking of? I can check to see if Ubuntu officially supports them...

I've long since disabled AutoUpdate because I don't want my computer installing stuff I don't want (like IE7).

Also, Windows sneaks in one additional thing that, if you aren't paying attention, can allow Windows to install during your shutdown. When you hit the Shut Down button, it brings up the 2 or 3 options you have (Log Off, Turn off, Restart). But it also indicates when there are updates that need installing and if you want them to occur while shutting down or just Turn Off straight away. And if you're tired and don't notice the slightly larger box with extra writing, you can hit that Turn Off button, which allows the updates to occur.

Little bugger's caught me off guard a couple of times too. Fortunately, nothing major other than critical updates were done.

[Theory?]

Ah Reason. I dabbled with that years ago. Never really was an audio guy though.

There's a mac version, but I guess you know that since your bud runs it on a G5. ;)

And I run it on my Mac laptop...

However, my lappy is a G4 Powerbook, not really up to par with the software out there. It bogs down really fast so I try to avoid doing audio on this machine too much.

[Theory?]

ARGH!!!!!!!

This happens everytime I need to reinstall Windows. It tells me my system drive is not formatted for Windows and even after I delete and create a new partition it's still nto valid.

I HATE MICROSOFT!!!!!!!

[Picho]

I think ill soon stop the autoscrewer.

I'm getting sick of starting up my computer and having to close 30-40 pop up things telling me to update something. (exageration.)

[Jabrwock]

And I run it on my Mac laptop...

However, my lappy is a G4 Powerbook, not really up to par with the software out there. It bogs down really fast so I try to avoid doing audio on this machine too much.
That's why I'm looking to replace my G4 tower. It's beginning to show it's age, being 8 years old now. ;)

I don't do intensive gaming a lot, and have a 19" monitor already, so I'm looking at a Mini for now, and then a tower in 2-3 years.

[Theory?]

That's why I'm looking to replace my G4 tower. It's beginning to show it's age, being 8 years old now. ;)

I don't do intensive gaming a lot, and have a 19" monitor already, so I'm looking at a Mini for now, and then a tower in 2-3 years.

Not that I can afford a new Mac, but at this point, it's all about waiting for Leopard, unless I want to spend ANOTHER $130 on top of the $8000000 I'd spend on a new Apple computer.

[Jabrwock]

Not that I can afford a new Mac, but at this point, it's all about waiting for Leopard, unless I want to spend ANOTHER $130 on top of the $8000000 I'd spend on a new Apple computer.
Ditto. Besides, I'll be too busy this summer with landscaping to play with any new toys anyway. Got 3 retaining walls and a fence to build, a really long asphalt driveway to rip up, and a concrete pad/driveway to lay. All to deal with my new house's drainage issues...

Added bonus though is my wife get's the education-equivalent discount, through her union. 30% off for me, yay! :D

[Calvinball]

On the audio front, 3 of the professional sound engineers that I work with all use ableton live ( I think I got that right. I deal mostly with lighting not so much audio) on thier macs. It might be worth checking out until things improve on the finacial front.

[Theory?]

On the audio front, 3 of the professional sound engineers that I work with all use ableton live ( I think I got that right. I deal mostly with lighting not so much audio) on thier macs. It might be worth checking out until things improve on the finacial front.

First off, Ableton is a sequencer and little else. It's also a very bad one used by people who make awful trance music using little more than presets. No offense to your "professional" friends, but no self-respecting professional uses Ableton for any purpose other than to prove why Ableton is a useless sack of crap.

Also, it doesn't run on Linux. It runs on Mac and Windows. I have a DAW for my computers, the issue is, if I go to Linux, can I live WITHOUT being able to do audio.

[BetaSword]

I actually have Ubuntu Studio dual-booting on my laptop. Comes with all sorts of audio editting software and stuff like that built in. I don't have a list right off the top of my head or anything, nor do I know how well most of that stuff would work for you as I haven't really investigated most of it yet... But http://ubuntustudio.org/ is the website. I think it's pretty nifty, but I'm also not exactly a real heavy music/audio editting person, so your needs are likely a lot higher.

But there is also always Wine. I'm not quite sure how well it'd run your audio editting programs, but it seems to do most stuff for me pretty well. It's always worth a shot trying it out, at least.

Either way, hope things can get themselves worked out for you.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna turn off auto-update.

[Theory?]

I actually have Ubuntu Studio dual-booting on my laptop. Comes with all sorts of audio editting software and stuff like that built in. I don't have a list right off the top of my head or anything, nor do I know how well most of that stuff would work for you as I haven't really investigated most of it yet... But http://ubuntustudio.org/ is the website. I think it's pretty nifty, but I'm also not exactly a real heavy music/audio editting person, so your needs are likely a lot higher.

But there is also always Wine. I'm not quite sure how well it'd run your audio editting programs, but it seems to do most stuff for me pretty well. It's always worth a shot trying it out, at least.

Either way, hope things can get themselves worked out for you.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna turn off auto-update.

How dare you suggest I use wine. Wine is an evil app created by evil people for the purpose of evil doing. And by that I mean it never works, and when it does, it melts all that it touches. I once saw a man try to run UT in Wine and his laptop kicked the bucket three seconds later. Then I saw him try and run Office through Wine, and he had a Kernel panic. Wine is deadly.

Also, I just realized that I don't think I can get drivers for my external sound card for Linux. ****.

EDIT:

JOY!!!! RAPTURE!!!

http://freebob.sourceforge.net/index.php/Main_Page

YAY!!!!! Drivers for my ASIO Firewire devices! Well that settles it, then. I'm totally going to rock an Ubuntu install.

[weatherlight]

The only reason I have not moved to linux is because so many programs and games that I use are Windows only and I do not trust wine.

[Hannah]

The only reason I have not moved to linux is because so many programs and games that I use are Windows only and I do not trust wine.

Same. I have Linux on my laptop, but I rarely use it. I have, however, installed Cygwin on my Windows machine so I at least have access to a proper command line, and I regularly use programs like Open Office and Pidgin/Gaim.

[Theory?]

Only psychopaths dare use Open Office.

[Hannah]

Only psychopaths dare use Open Office.

I'm too lazy to pirate Word :p

[steelcobra]

I just pay for my software. And I don't really get any serious problems.

[nightwng2000]

Only psychopaths dare use Open Office.

Really? Where can I get it? :)

[Theory?]

I just pay for my software. Because I'm a tool.

Fixed for great justice.

[steelcobra]

Or maybe I just recognize that in most cases you're exchanging not paying to lose feature sets. While GIMP is great for most users, it's never going to replace Photoshop.

And all my work material is going to be in an MS Office format, and the only issue I have with that is Autocorrect, which I disable on install.

And guess what? Subscription-based security software is generally more effective than the free versions.

ZoneAlarm pro was one of three firewalls to score an excellent in a comprehensive leak test, and in a recent test of standalone AV, the top three were Kaspersky, Norton, and Bitdefender. The $30 AVG pro scored 7th.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,130869/article.html

[weatherlight]

Only psychopaths dare use Open Office.
And apparently Germans. I had to get openoffice because I needed to be able to read documents they sent me.

[Picho]

whats wrong with OO?

[Theory?]

Or maybe I just recognize that in most cases you're exchanging not paying to lose feature sets. While GIMP is great for most users, it's never going to replace Photoshop.

And all my work material is going to be in an MS Office format, and the only issue I have with that is Autocorrect, which I disable on install.

And guess what? Subscription-based security software is generally more effective than the free versions.

ZoneAlarm pro was one of three firewalls to score an excellent in a comprehensive leak test, and in a recent test of standalone AV, the top three were Kaspersky, Norton, and Bitdefender. The $30 AVG pro scored 7th.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,130869/article.html

Y'argh maytee, y'argh.

whats wrong with OO?

Everything.

[Calvinball]

Whatever, thought I'd try to help out.

Obviously a mistake.

I'll pass on your opinion though they need a good laugh.

[Xlorep DarkHelm]

I personally run Ubuntu on my personal computer, Debian Etch on my two servers, and the DD-WRT Linux firmware on my router. If/when I get a laptop, I'm looking for a MacBook Pro. I've never liked Windows, never really was comfortable with Windows, grew up using Unix mainly, or Atari (8-bit & ST) even earlier. I dislike Microsoft's business practices and what they've done to their competitors in the past, I dislike how they "borged" too many products from decent companies, and pirated anything they couldn't buy outright. Just don't care for them, and can't get myself to spend one penny of my hard-earned cash on them.

[weatherlight]

whats wrong with OO?
The auto formating runs me up a wall and I cannot open their file formats in word (more of a Microsoft problem)

[Theory?]

I'm very tired and very burnt out right now, and I'll provide details tomorrow, long story short, after spending the entire day working on it, we still have NOT been successful in installing Ubuntu, and I had the assistance from my buddy who runs Ubuntu on his primary machine at home.

[Thefremen]

I'm very tired and very burnt out right now, and I'll provide details tomorrow, long story short, after spending the entire day working on it, we still have NOT been successful in installing Ubuntu, and I had the assistance from my buddy who runs Ubuntu on his primary machine at home.

I know exactly what you mean! After screwing up a perfectly good intermediate drive shaft I cleaned up an old rusty one and installed it along with the birfield only to find out that the spindle was missing the copper brushing! ARGH! On a side note, I wonder how they got it out before they sent it to me?

[Theory?]

I know exactly what you mean! After screwing up a perfectly good intermediate drive shaft I cleaned up an old rusty one and installed it along with the birfield only to find out that the spindle was missing the copper brushing! ARGH! On a side note, I wonder how they got it out before they sent it to me?

This is not really close to what happened. Right now I'm getting a Kernel Panic right after Grub. I even went into Grub to try and boot in [the equivalent of] "safe mode" and I still got a panic. Yummy!

[Jabrwock]

The auto formating runs me up a wall and I cannot open their file formats in word (more of a Microsoft problem)
Export as "Word", it can save in MS Word format.

Auto-formatting in general runs me up the wall... I turn it off in both regular Office and OO...

[Demontestament]

First thing my ass did when I got my computer was disable Vista's "Auto-Update" bull**** feature. I have it set to tell me when updates are avaliable and then I open it up and choose from the list on what to update. I keep the **** away from the chipset update because it likes to rape my computer if I update it.

[ZippyDSMlee]

Or maybe I just recognize that in most cases you're exchanging not paying to lose feature sets. While GIMP is great for most users, it's never going to replace Photoshop.

And all my work material is going to be in an MS Office format, and the only issue I have with that is Autocorrect, which I disable on install.

And guess what? Subscription-based security software is generally more effective than the free versions.

ZoneAlarm pro was one of three firewalls to score an excellent in a comprehensive leak test, and in a recent test of standalone AV, the top three were Kaspersky, Norton, and Bitdefender. The $30 AVG pro scored 7th.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,130869/article.html

sad trend is lagging, but they do not rate the extras the programs has,how many have full firewall and program blocking..mmmmm wait I am using internet security 2007 it can scan single files on right click....guess there using a different product...ack it seems trend is rounding the gutter....

[steelcobra]

I don't bother with the suites, because mix-n-match tends to plug the holes better.

[ZippyDSMlee]

I don't bother with the suites, because mix-n-match tends to plug the holes better.

eh at 15-20 a year its cheaper, altho I will look up new AV for next year.

[Tollwutig]

I just pay for my software. And I don't really get any serious problems.

Yep generally if you pay for it you'll make your life easier all the way around.


Also people really need to know how to use recovery console, and google. Just about every Windows blue screen out in existence can be found on the web, and many of them can be fixed through Recovery Console.

Another tip, if you want Windows to be more stable go with a reputable hardware manufacturer, and have them build a system and QA all of the bugs out for you. If you're building your own system you're taking on the role of QA for that system.


Another thing, Linux has blue screens too, but they are called Kernal panics. :D