As A Side Note …
Not only have I been working on this site, I’ve been dealing with other issues on a couple of other systems (^%$#%& Windows) plus arguing with an important site I’ve used for 6 years that recently decided to “improve” their product.
I just saw it; some of you may have as well. I sent this to them – they’re code bunnies so probably won’t get the point – but I didn’t care to resist putting up here as well.
I bought my first computer, a mac powerbook, around the end of 2000. Laptops have a tendency to wear out fast due to heat but that mac lasted 8 years. I bought a 21″ iMac and that lasted until a year ago. Now I’ve got a 27″ iMac. I’ve never had a technical problem with these machines. Never caught a virus. They don’t function on Windows! Take note. Also take note that Bill Gates became a multi-billionaire selling computers fraught with viruses and made billions more selling vaccines to fix the viruses. Sound familiar? People love Bill Gates because he wears a pink sweater, has a bad haircut, talks with a squeaky voice and sells vaccines.
I have a 1992 Dell laptop running Win3.11 that still does its job – slo-o-wly by today’s standards.. Win wasn’t so bad then. After that, every other issue seemed bad – Win8 anyone? 7 was OK but I haven’t cared for any version since. I run Linux these days but that outfit’s new system (since beginning of year) I mentioned doesn’t like Linux or Firefox. They want me to use Win10/11 w Chrome and disconnect VPNs and ad blockers. That’s great or pitiful programming, depending on one’s point of view. It’s a necessary evil so I’ll call up an older box and load it w Win10. Unfortunately, it needs to be connected to internet.
Bought my first “computer” in 1984, a Commodore and learned BASIC programming on it. In 1988 I bought an IBM 286 with DOS on it. In 1992 I got an IBM clone 486 with Win 3.11 and continuously upgraded the OS til the machine expired. In 1988 I was so heavy into computers I was building my own based on the Pentium platform and was upgrading my 2 main applications with each new release, Windows and AutoCAD and of course all the supporting software.
Now, I have 2 full rigs on my desk.
On the right is a 3 yo Dell-Win10 that is my web machine and file storage with more than 10 TB of media files.
On the left is a refurbished Dell Pentium with Win XP and AutoCAD 2004 and all the supporting business software. Because this machine is my business tool and neither XP nor Acad are supported I have 2 more of these machines fully set up and tested in boxes in the work shop. I have 29″ Sceptre monitors on each rig, attached to a large spider, and connected with a Belkins KVM cord so that I only use 1 mouse and 1 keyboard to control all of it.
I also have a Win 10, and a Win XP notebooks, each set up like their desktop brethren. Also have several tablets, and of course my phone that I never use.
One of these days I’m going to pile all of it up in the driveway, hose it down with diesel, and then “Fire, to destroy all you’ve done”