ECN Forum Forums Technical Discussion Re: Computers and the Internet What OS do you use??

Most of my computers have a home-grown derivative of Slackware Linux. One runs EasyPeasy which is a derivative of Ubuntu. I also have Solaris, OpenBSD, and Windows XP available if I juggle some equipment around.

I've been using linux for a long time. I've tried Red Hat, OpenSUSE, and Mandrake/Mandriva, but I'm now a fan of Ubuntu. At first I used dual boot with Windows 98 and linux and got some experience with system failures. Linux was first and after an hour on the internet I had it running without any data loss. Then, the windows partition crashed and I never could get it back. So I started using linux for everything.

Greg, Nice setup. Give me some good advice on wireless speakers for my gazebo. I can't run speaker wires. Thanks John

I am not a huge fan of wireless speakers but I have some. They are the RCA 900mz type but they seem to drift out of tune over time. I usually end up tweeking the tuning each time I use them. I really use the headset more than the speakers. I have a couple pairs (same model) and one is definitely better than the other (range and stability).
I really prefer running shielded (ground one end only please) twisted pair feeding a local amp. This seems to be the best way to get good, reliable sound.

Configuration for my current Workstation:

Machine details:
Intel board (Dell OEM),
CPU: Intel Pentium E2160 (Dual-Core),
CPU Speed: 1.80 GHz; Board Speed: 800 MHz,
Chipset: ICH9 + Intel G33,
DRAM: 4.0 GB, 800 MHz DDR2 (4x1.0 GB DIMMs),
Controllers: SATA (4 controllers) - RAID Level 1,
On-Board Audio, video, MODEM, NIC, Drive Controllers,
Fixed Disks: 2x 320 GB SATA Hard Drives - RAID 1 connected,
Removable Media: 1x CD-RW / DVD-RW +/- (SATA),
Expansion Bus: PCI (2.3, Express 1.0A); SATA 1.0 & 2.0; USB 2.0,
Display: 19.0" LCD Flat Panel.
"Pizza box" Desktop case; Dell Inspiron.
USB connected Mouse + Keyboard (cordless logitech mouse, receiver on USB).

Operating System + Applications (major / primary usage):

O.S.: Win XP Pro, SP 3.xxx,
Apps:
* AutoCAD R. 2005,
* MS Office 2007 (Excel, Powerpoint, Publisher & Word... need to get Access ASAP!),
* Adobe Acrobat Std. version 9.0xxx,
* Paint Shop Pro ,ver. 7.0xxx,
* Circuit Maker ver. 5.0xxx (PSPICE app),
* Bassbox Pro + Xover 3.0 (Audio Design app),
* Mozilla Browser (Firefox 3.5.2),
* Thunderbird E-mail client (ver. 2.0.0.16),
* Roxio CD/DVD utility (plan to upgrade ASAP).

LAN:
Printing (TCP/IP connected Peripherals):
* HP6P Laser Printer,
* HP 720C Color Printer,
* HP 450C Wide Format Color Printer (max. ARCH D size media).

Additional W/S:
* My Wife's local machine (base is the same Dell as mine, apps different),
* Server machine (File / Server),
* Aux. W/S # 1 - located in same room as the above machines -used for backup, or visitors,
* Aux. W/S # 2 - located in the House.

Gateway: 2-Wire ADSL / Ethernet 100mbps, Wifi capable (Wifi disabled).

Ethernet: All equipment "Wired" per EIA/TIA 568B scheme (used 568B because that was commonly specified at the time I was doing Data work!).
Speed: based at 100mbps,
Ethernet Switch: 100/1000mbps, 8 ports (only... need to cascade an additional switch soon!).

My Wife's Machine came with Vista Home version, which was "Downgraded" to XP Pro by us.
She could not do anything productive with Vista; either could not install an application, or could not run an installed application.

I will keep the list to the current setups, so the length of this reply is small.
A brief description of past configurations:

1st and 2nd Machines: TRS-80; Models 1 & 2 -O.S. = TRSDOS ,
Following Machines:
* 8088 Based Machine - MS DOS (ver. 3.3?), or PC DOS, ver. ? (old IBM OS, pre OS2/WARP),
* 80286 machine, w/ MS DOS 4.0,
* 80386sx 16MHz machine, w/ MS DOS 5.0 (later upgraded to MS DOS 6.22) + Windows 3.0 (quickly upgraded to Windows 3.1, then later to 3.11 WFW),
* 80486dx 66MHz machine w/ MS DOS 6.22 & MS Windows 3.11 WFW,
* P5 166MHz machine w/ Win 95 (all service packs for W95),
* PII 266MHz (3 of these!), w/ Win 95 SER 2.5, later Win 98 SER 2.0),
* One PIII Pizza Box, w/ 1st release of XP,
* Two Dell Pizza Boxes w/ P4 CPUs, O.S. = XP Pro.
* Countless Machines dealt with during work! ranging from 8088s to P4s; O.S. include MS DOS, PC DOS (never dealt with DR DOS), OS2/WARP + "Merlin", Win 3.1, 3.11, 95, 98, NT 3.5, 4.0, & 2000, XP - Pro.

Dealt with IBM System 4700 a lot, prior to the Y2K Upgrade Compliance (Banking Industry).
This was a Terminal-Based System (Controllers driving "Dumb Terminals" at Teller Stations).

Those were the days! I sure learned a lot about Machines between 1988 and 1995!

The 80486dx machine I had was an IBM tower case PC (System 70?), with MCA (Micro Channel Architecture).
For those whom do not know about MCA, this was the first "Plug & Play" type expansion bus architecture -of course, developed by IBM.


Scott

Just a little OT but the surplus outfits are dumping XP pro machines for $40 and up with the XP license (P4 machines 1.8Gz - 2.4Gz. If you are looking for a moderate powered work station it is not a bad deal.
I bought a Compaq the other day for $68 2.4Gz with a gig of memory (upgrade) 40g drive and XP pro. I am going to use it for a media server.

El-Bump'o!!!

Scott

I got that new (to me) Compaq P4 2.8mz ($40) going in my TV cabinet. It is strange to have a 40 inch monitor (my wife's new TV) but with a wireless desktop it is pretty cool.
I am trying to figure out how to get internet TV on it now. It is on my network.

Windows 3.1 was my first

Used Windows 98 pretty much until the drive failed, motherboard and power supply are still good.

Windows Xp is what I use now