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Dear Microsoft Windows ...
SpaceCanary writes "I recently read this open letter to Windows and I think it's pretty funny. The guy writes a letter to his OS as if he was breaking up with it. It's a bit strange, but finally more people are starting to see the light and moving away from Windows. The writer chronicles his relationship with the versions of Windows and finally is able to move on in the end."
Dear Microsoft Windows,
In retrospect, this letter should be of no surprise to you. For years now I have stood by you despite the terrible things people have said. We have always managed to work through our serious problems but too many things have been swept under the table. I do not think I can stand (idly) by you any longer.
What's that? No, another service pack will not help, not this time. I remember when we met, a warm April day, in 1992. For years I had been hearing about you, about your graphical user interface, innovations, and problems in the courtroom... I had seen you here and there, but it was not until that fateful day, April 6, that our relationship became serious. Though you had changed with the times, never like this. I was almost knocked off my feet when I first saw you. Right then I knew it, you had to be mine. Who else could offer me what you could? I wanted, no, I needed, your TrueType font support, your video playback capability, your color screen savers...
As time progressed so did my needs. Our affair took its next serious step on August 24, 1995. At the time I thought our happiness would never end. You brought me places I never thought possible. How could I refuse your Plug-and-Play cabability or your TCP/IP stack? I mean, you gave up your best friend, DOS, so our relationship could progress unhindered. It hurts me to look back at us, two starry-eyed lovers wanting nothing more than each other's company.
Then it almost all came tumbling down. June 25, 1998. What were you thinking? Were you thinking at all? You changed, like in 1995, but not like I thought you would. Still clinging to your DOS kernel, like a small, lost child clutching its teddy bear. Where was the OS I had learned to love? You feebly proffered USB support, DVD playback, and a Quick Launch toolbar, but you were beginning to mix with a bad crowd. With that invasive Internet Explorer. I knew about what happened... You let him access your Explorer. I thought that was something special between us.
Though we had a bit of a falling out afterwards, my love was rekindled after February 17th, 2000. You were once again new- Professional- just like I thought you could one day be. I knew you were once again stable, not like back in 1998, and that you were the only OS for me. I remembered what had drawn me you you in the first place- ease of use, speed, your stunning looks, your compatibility. I remember saying, "I hope things never change because I love you the way you are."
I thought that what we had meant something- your transformation in 2000 seemed to cement that. I know now that I was wrong. By Sept 17 you tried to change for the Millennium. I saw right through you- trying to settle down and fit in better with the 'home-user'. Did you think I would love you more because of a few cosmetic changes? I was not impressed with the full-color icons, fancy skins, or your new media player. I thought what we had was deeper than that. Luckily you gave me a choicer, I did not have to choose the new you, the old version would be fine. I know you meant well but you just shouldn't have done that, especially with the '1998' episode so fresh in my mind.
By October 25, 2001 more changes had come. Everyone told be how great the new you would be. I got so tired of hearing about how up to date, easy to work with, and slick looking you had become. That was all I could take. You changed so much that I didn't even know you any more. I really dug some of your new features but the old you, the you from 2000, could have done all this. So why did you have to change at all? I didn't want to upgrade you or make you into something you were not.
Well, like I wrote, I have reached my limit. Its going to take more than an automatic update to fix our relationship. I just don't feel like I know you anymore. For example, do you know what I found on the computer a few days ago? Spyware! I wonder who let that in...
Windows, I know you will try to
With the first link, the chain is forged.
Pleace read the FAQ.
Actually, it looks like Linux....
Netcraft output
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Linux Apache 29-Feb-2004 69.5.25.92 FUTUREQUEST INC
Rule #1 -- Politics always trumps technology.
http://uptime.netcraft.com/up/graph/?host=www.xyzc omputing.com
/.ed server will be a Windows machine.
aww...well...maybe the next
You say you are the news for nerds, yet consantly post old news about the useless Windows vs Linux debate. I am a nerd and don't undertand you no more. How about changing the topic and talking about interesting news for once?
dvd::rip
Check out OmniGraffle from the OmniGroup. If you're looking for good Visio compatibility you'll probably want the pro version. I have the "regular" version (came with my PowerMac G5) and I think it's a great program.
If all you want is a Visio like app and you don't need to share it with Visio, have a look at OmniGraffle.
If you must use Visio I would suggest putting your Windows box in a closet someplace, only fire it up when you need it and use Remote Desktop to connect.
I use both methods only because VPC is easier with multiple OS installs and when I'm on the road I can still test. VPC is a dog, Remote Desktop is actually not bad if you don't mind having the extra box around.
Huh? Of course I'm serious about using XP on purpose. I'm not quite sure why I was modded flamebait, but I don't need a lot of intensive programs, and I prefer microsoft alternatives (MS office vs openoffice, windows vs linux, etc.) I'm not interested in building my OS from scratch, and I just feel like Windows XP is a more finished product than Linux (specifically, Mandrake & Red Hat). My computer isn't my hobby, it's my entertainment, and seriously, I've had zero to no problems with Windows XP.
Condemnant quod non intellegunt.
Actually, my Windows boxes take about the same amount of maintenance as my Linux boxes. I run a firewall to protect them all and I keep them all up-to-date on patches. I've been connected via broadband now for 5 years and have had ZERO virii or worms on any of my machines. However, I *did* have my Linux box rooted once when I was using it as the firewall. I now have a dedicated firewall device.
"I personally think XP looks like garbage and it is the one of the main reason I refuse to upgrade my Win2k system at home to XP"
Mebbe you already know this, but you do know that you can turn off the brain-rotting "eye candy" and make XP look pretty much just like Win2000 don't you?
Having said that, there is still not a whole lot of reason as far as I can tell to make the upgrade anyway. XP doesn't do anything better than 2000 (unless you want to run the latest and greatest Adobe bloatware, which demands XP for no good reason at all.
"You can't fight in here, this is the war room!"
Linux, Windows, Apache, IIS. Without an admin with skill, that is typical.