[Elecraft] WinXP - SP3 ... too late!

[Don Wilhelm]

I have tried Linux.  It is just fine for those who have computers that 
are not networked to each other and do not need access to files on other 
computers on a network.  Yes, for Linux geeks, it can be made to work, 
but discovering just the right 'tweeks' for Samba can be frustrating.

If all one wants is a computer to do email and surfing the internet, 
Linux is an extremely good no cost solution, but if integration into a 
Windows Network is part of your operation, I suggest that you upgrade to 
Win 7 or Win 8, there are just too many hurdles to leap in that 
situation with Linux.  Besides, most ham applications are Windows based, 
and several do not run well under Wine.  Getting COM port assignments 
when using Wine has been an exercise in frustration for me, most 
recently with USB adapters.  Maybe I am just not "geek enough", but it 
was frustrating and not successful.

Linux may be good (and getting better), but it is not the cure for all 
ills.  As I indicated, it is a good, no cost solution for old Win XP 
computers that will be used primarily as standalone computers for email 
and internet surfing.  For that I like Linux Mint with the Mate desktop 
- it is quite "windows-like" and can be easily used by users who are 
transitioning from Windows.

I have 8 computers plus a file server on my network that talk to each 
other, all running Win 7, but 2 of them dual boot to Linux Mint for 
those occasional excursions for things that do not work on Windows - but 
those are not mainstream items, they are "sideshows". The workbench 
computer and the ham shack computer are the only 2 with that dual boot 
installation.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 3/28/2014 8:59 PM, JohnE wrote:
> Its just the Universe telling you its time to try Linux....
>
> On 03/28/2014 05:27 PM, Edward R Cole wrote:
>> If you need upgrades to SP3 for win-XP, you may be too late.
>