i just bought myself an eee pc from asus for work. i should've had it by now but delivery is slow.

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a wise man isn't always saved by his wisdom. just like a stupid man does not always do stupid things.

Just use Linux. Or any Unix based operating system. It's better than Windows, and any advanced computer user who knows what they're talking about will tell you that.

Plus a lot of Linux systems have been designed for average, every day users, who don't know how to use a computer very well. And now they're easy to install.

I'd say it's easier to use than Windows too. No backslashes.

Start teaching kids how to operate a Unix based operating system. Then you won't have kids who don't know how to use a computer - then they just won't know how to use Winblows

If anyone does want to look into linux for a free alternative to windows, check out Ubuntu. Still a major change, but it's about as user friendly as it gets.

What Aegis said. But try out Mandriva Linux too. It's alright, but a little buggy at times. Ubuntu is much better, but it's always nice to have a second option, right?

Most non-technical users should partition their drive, tho (or have two). In the days when we used PCs (this was when the earths crust was still liquid) we ran Linux on a machine that could also be booted to run Windows. So you can do both if you want.

And MacOS is Unix-based now, tho I suspect most users don't get into their terminal much (tho probably more than PC users do).

Yes you're right about MacOS is Unix-based.

I partition my drive. Winblows is for videogames, MacOS is for development.

I use my terminal on a daily basis Though it's only bash... I used to use ssh to **** with my coworkers back when I worked for the publishing company.

I use the mac terminal sparingly. Its typically been for things like I couldn't delete a file in the standard way--usually a MicroSHit prblm, or needed to do something w/a protected folder (e.g. iTunes), when I was moving my library around to share. I had something a while back where I didnt want my ext HD indexed (it was full of huge music files) & it was screwing up the firewire transfer so I needed to go in & turn it off. Now you can do w/Preferences menu, but couldn't then.

Now, mac has gotten better about making these things more transparent, but things still occasionally comes up & I'm impatient to wait for fixes.

You can really **** up your comp if you mess around in the x term & you don't know what you are doing, tho. Personally, I like the control tho & I'd be pissed if Mac didn't have this feature.

You can't really mess up much, Indi, without sudo. You may be able to rearrange some files, but root is the ultimate user. I don't even login as root by default, for that very reason.

I am attracted to the fact that you use the terminal You must look like a pornstar with your Mac.

I use the terminal for directory navigation and file management. I am much faster on the keyboard than with the mouse. Occasionally have to use it to compile open source software and mount frameworks and shit. I even used to use it to compile C++ programs, but I am really liking Xcode, and am trying to use that instead.

On my new mac, I am the superuser acct. But you are right, I should probably create a special acct just for that.Its what I've done in the past. It always seemed so ominous the way my mac screen darkened when I logged in as the SU, lol.

I'm hardly a pornstar, lol. Just a control freak.

I don't do it much, LW, b/c I'm not really an expert. Its all relative, I suppose. I used to have to use a SunWorkstation for some work I did, so I got a bit used to unix then.

You should definitely reserve the superuser only for when it is needed Which shouldn't be much... Plus, all kinds of bad stuff could happen if someone somehow managed to gain control over your computer while you were logged in as root.

Hahaha, oh of all the puns and innuendos...

I'm not calling you an expert. I am just impressed that you know how to use it, even at the minimal level. (no pun intended)

You will if you ever have to manage a database or do some serious work on excel. Aside from that, if you only need it for word and basic excel then openoffice is good.

For a little bit more effort, you can have MS Office 2007.

1. Download m torrent
2. Download torrent for MS Office 2007
3. Download Daemon Tools virtual drive
4. Mount .iso file onto virtual drive
5. Run MS Office 2007 from virtual drive
6. Install
7. Run

yeah, but who really wants do that when they can have a perfectly functional, legitimate piece of software, for free and no risk?

If vba-type stuff is necessary, sure, but if basic office-type functionality is all that's required, OpenOffice is the way to go, imo.

my new laptop has linux, a wireless card, and it converts everything into open office automatically.

i'm ever so satisfied.

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a wise man isn't always saved by his wisdom. just like a stupid man does not always do stupid things.

anachronistic, the latest Opera is way better than the latest Firefox. Besides it's a bullet for websites, it has BitTorrent, e-mail and chat engines included too. Check it out.

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I hate Opera. Hate it.

I also don't need the email client inside of it because I use Thunderbird.

I also don't need BitTorrent because I use uTorrent.

Firefox > Opera