I picked up a couple of el-cheapo laptops from Office Depot, one for us and one for my parents. They'll replace our dying/dead Windows 7 laptops, although parents now mostly use Apple iPads (shown are Windows 10 and Linux Mint Cinnamon 19.3)...



Lenovo™ IdeaPad™ L340 Laptop, 15.6" Screen, Intel® Core™ i3 [8th Gen - 8145U CPU @ 2.10GHz x 2], 8GB Memory, 1TB Hard Drive, Windows® 10
https://www.officedepot.com/a/products/9008531/Lenovo-IdeaPad-L340-Laptop-156-Screen/

A couple of selling points for me were...

- 15.6" LCD screen with 1366 x 768 HD resolution (my trifocals don't see so well my wife's higher-res work laptop, even with larger screen size).
- Plays and burns DVDs and CDs (optical drives not a given these days).

Nice bang for ~$300.00, IMO.

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I'm dual-booting mine with lots of testing, corrupting and factory restoring as I go (lol). Windows 10 vs. Linux Mint, so who wins?

To me, the champ is still Windows 2000 on my Dell 1.7GHz/512MB SDRAM/40GB HDD/Radeon 9600!

Many years of tweaking and streamlining...so lean, fast, smooth and business-like, with a Norton Ghost image of my entire partition including all production software ready to go (CAD, Dev, Office, etc.) fitting on a single CD with room to spare. A full dual-boot drive restore takes just a few minutes!

IMO, Win2k was the best NT as it was easier to deal with than NT4 and especially NT3.51. XP was the beginning of the end, the first NT that started offering the "consumer experience" of 9x/Me (also first with online activation). IMO, Windows has been ruined ever since. MS needs to bring back a lean no-nonsense production OS that doesn't insist on constantly reloading install icons of Candy Crush and Spotify on your PC (among other settings issues on updates, not yet confirmed).

One word I'd describe Windows 10 would be...unprofessional. As I understand it, the "Professional" version of 10 is not much better, only the Enterprise version (rental OS, 5-seat minimum) would give me the experience I'm looking for. This one lacks Microsoft's "consumer experience" and doesn't fight you for control of your own PC, although I'm sure it's still as bloated and cumbersome as Windows 7, but with 10's schizophrenic UI (is this for a tablet/touchscreen or traditional desktop?).

Of course, I can't go online with Win2k (my Win2k and XP desktops/laptops are physically connected to a hub with no modem), but I'm still of the mentality that a PC is a production tool first and source of entertainment second. I spent thousands of dollars on my first *real* PC (486 DX2 w/NEC 17" CRT) with no thoughts of gaming whatsoever, only computer drafting, programming and various office needs. But once I added a Creative Labs Soundblaster Multimedia kit (CD-ROM/sound card/speakers), my attitude about gaming changed...a little.

But I digress...

By comparison, I'm blown away with what you get for the money these days!

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Fortunately I've found the solution to making Windows 10 Home behave...

And that is to NEVER let it connect online! In my case, I started over yet again with a factory reset and in the initial setup, I withheld my router password (mine is a HughesNet router/modem combo). Cortana will #%&*$# and moan until you shut her up, and 10 will keep bugging and reminding you that it can't connect with messages like, "Ah snap, I can't connect" to "The Web just isn't the same without you" with pic of broken heart. Very professional, MS. I will never again connect with a Windows OS, only Linux (and the current Mint flies on this laptop, same Linux OS on my 2008 Vista laptop so it makes sense that it's so fast).

But for testing my Win2K compiled executables on current Windows, managing music, pics and very large drives, this permanently offline secondary-boot Windows 10 should serve me well. Eventually I'll figure out how to do most things in Linux, but for now my dual-boot is working great. Mom isn't ready to go Linux yet so she'll be going online with 10 (Edge, but still includes I.E.), so we'll see how that goes.

So now a long-time default function in the function keys is the secondary function???

For example, F7 has been Spell Check in various word processors for as long as I can remember, but now it's Airplane Mode. Lol.

Yeah, along with the new funky UEFI BIOS and mandatory Win10 drive partitions, I've a bit to get used to (until I learn how to reset everything back to normal).

So far I'm seeing way too much change for the sake of change, IMO. Change is good when it makes sense, not so much when it doesn't.

The F-key change isn't a Winows thing, it's a Lenovo thing. Other PCs don't do that, while some do. Often there's a function lock, or something in the BIOS to make it a permanent change. That change was made because a lot of people prefer that functionality the way PCs are often used.

Ah, the BIOS "HotKey" setting...thanks.

Tomorrow I'll start a methodical in-depth look at all BIOS settings then move on to features and settings of Windows 10 and the latest Linux Mint.

Operating Systems and user interfaces in general seem to be getting less and less intuitive in the last 10 years.

Its like they're going out of their way to maximize the time and effort it takes to accomplish a given task.

My parent company is requiring me to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 in January. I am dreading this.

My biggest issue with modern OS's is their massive sizes with so many unneeded and sometimes forced features (Windows being the worst culprit). I'd pay to have the ability to install only those features I want, but this would require parts of the OS to once again be modular and independent. Like most 2000-era software, I want my OS and programs to be as lean and mean as possible, and to run only minimal required background services.

Take Office 2000 for example...you can install a bare minimum of files with a tiny footprint and tell the installer to install the other parts off CD "on first use" (while determining if a feature is even worth loading the CD for...a winking paper clip is not). Some software has a minimal "Laptop Install" where you install additional features only if you need them. You have lots of install options.

I'm not comfortable with an OS until I crash and trash it many times over, and smaller OS's are easier to manage and restore. As long as you know the ins-and-outs of your cloning/imaging software, you can easily and quickly restore disk/partition images at different stages of setup while experimenting. I've restored this new laptop back to scratch a couple of times just deciding which method of Linux dual-booting I was most satisfied with and learned some things about both OS's along the way. Every drive I use has multiple saved images at different stages, so I never worry about experimenting or HD crashes (which has never happened that I recall). It's still relatively easy to restore these behemoth OS's, just not so quickly anymore, nor with managing and storing their images, especially if you backup in triplicate.

That said, the free home version of Macrium Reflect seems pretty slick and has decent speed considering image sizes. I'll have to decide later if I'm going to upgrade my Acronis (~$40.00) that I used for Win7.

BTW, I never keep my personal/irreplaceable files on the same drive as my OS (regardless of OS default save locations), always on a different drive which I backup regularly in triplicate. Working in Windows 2000, all images and backups are so tiny by comparison. EDIT: Also, I feel like I have complete control over Win2k, it doesn't feel like it's fighting me like 10 does.

Just wanted to add...

1. It's nice to occasionally catch up with modern tech. 20 years from now I'll probably still be on Win2k (just love 2000-era software) but I never want to fall completely behind.

2. I'm more comfortable with the current Windows than Linux, although the gap is closing. The latest Mint is the most polished and Windows-like Linux I've used, but I wish it were even more like Windows (selecting a filename twice to rename it vs. having to right-click and choose Rename). Linux can be cumbersome by comparison, but this latest version is very good.

3. This laptop doesn't have the usual heavy bulky power brick, just a larger but light wall plug-in with thin cord. Sweet.

4. I miss the packaging...

You may already be aware but most of the 'fluff' in the start menu can be uninstalled (right click and if there is an uninstall option you can get rid),otherwise Ccleaner will dispose of a lot more if you are looking to trim it down further.

Personally,Win 10 to me is the best O/S for gaming but if I gave that up then maybe Linux,either Zorin OS (looks more like Windows than Mint) or Mint itself.

And yeah,when doing a clean install unplug the router,M$ really want you to create a M$ account and they made that difficult to skip with the latest build unless you go offline.

Technically, it's Microsoft that's requiring them to, because they're dropping support for Windows 7 on January 14th.

We're upgrading everyone at work, and for the most part, going from 7 to 10 hasn't been much of an adjustment for people, and most of these are non-technical people.

Thanks for the tips, guys.

So far my learning curve has mostly dealt with a newer style BIOS (UEFI, sometimes needing Legacy settings for booting), making images with new mandatory partition, playing nicely with another OS on boot, and some administrative tasks.

As far as the UI, it looks to me like a tablet-centric version of Win7, although I've cleaned it up a bit (no Start tiles for me). But as mentioned above, at least (un)pinning and uninstalling is easy enough. I have no real problems with Win10 as long as it stays satisfied to be permanently offline.

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I have GOT to look into using "Virtual Box" one day (a recent video by an ex-Microsoft developer)!...

Microsoft Windows 2000 - Best OS... ever?...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6CS4zwU43Y

Once you lean it out and get rid of the crap you'll be laughing G. I stayed on 7 for a few extra years because i dreaded 10, i was sold on it within a week once i trimmed it down.

I've never had a bsod, never been interrupted by an update, never had a virus/trojan or related issue, i cannot remember the lat time a program crashed or froze, everything i install old or new just works..mostly. Some older games/programs require some mucking around but nothing like the late nights and bleeding eyes of 20 odd years ago.

It's been about two years since my last fresh install and it just cruises along without any hiccups. Daily driver, tons of hours under its belt

Hmm, so upgrading from 7 -> 10, say enterprise or professional, is still pretty easy? I don't want to reinstall everything.

I like your attitude, Ajay.

Yeah, I can see one day maybe getting into Win10 the way I have Win2k with these dedicated books...

Microsoft Windows 2000 Registry Handbook
Microsoft Windows 2000 MS-DOS Command Line

...among others which have taught me how to take total control of my OS. I don't know if one even *can* take total control of Win10, especially while being connected. BTW, at this level you realize just how closely 2000 (NT5.0) and XP (NT5.1) are related, XP being a bloated 2000 with Fisher Price UI...and it's only gotten worse with each Windows version, IMO.

Meanwhile I'm running the same current Linux on a 12 year-old laptop as I am a brand new one (consistency), and Mint (Ubuntu-based) is considered a heavy distro, especially with the Cinnamon desktop. Some lighter versions of Linux even make my 1.0GHz/256MB RAM fly! But it's not Windows and I have lots invested in Windows-based software (not sold on Wine yet, but Linux DOSBox is nice if a bit confusing to configure).

I'm posting this from my local library, their Windows books only go up to 8.1 and Linux Red Hat Fedora (2004).

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The holidays have wrecked my study schedule worse than I'd planned (family moving out of country so making an extended visit [which was nice], getting new laptops sooner than expected, lots of football to watch). I'm just going to play until the new year as I'm having so much fun with these laptops (Win10 supporting my old stuff pretty well so far, but much more testing to do). I like having access to identical new laptops, one with Win10 online and one with Win10 permanently offline, for comparison.

You shouldn't have to,I never did when I first upgraded 7-10 although I do like a clean install so that's what I eventually did. If you do the upgrade, Win 10 retains the desktop look of your old 7 so you should feel at home and I find the menu layout easy to understand.

Just coming over to 10, now? Well, welcome to the 21st century! Lol!! I think it's the least problematic OS they've released, yet. And, as has been mentioned, the best for gaming. Had it since it came out, when you could move over to it for free. Can you still do that on older systems?

Concur with Pooch on WIN 10 being the best for gaming. Remember the driver and compatibility disasters when Windows 8 first came out? There was none of that with WIN 10. It's been a rock solid stable OS for me so far.

I feel that I should answer this one line-by-line...


Not my fault, it was pre-loaded on my new laptop.



And that's always a good thing? Anyway, I've been using a current OS for some time now, just not Windows.



The NT's have always been solid for me, although NT3.x could be finicky (and this was before Web support). I did skip Win8/8.1 though.



As a retro gamer (I've never considered myself a real gamer), Win10 was never a requirement. But I will use it for testing my own compiled Win2k executables.



I used a 3rd-party solution on my Win7 laptop to stop the constant Win10 nag screens and forced upgrade.

BTW, I trust Microsoft not at all and would prefer to never give them another dime, same with Autodesk.

Another pic from the vault, part of my software graveyard...

If I may be allowed to soapbox vent a little on a current event (my thread was partially meant to be a vent)...

There's an issue that's happening now that I want to discuss, but first a little backstory...

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My wallet closed to Microsoft and Autodesk early-to-mid 2000's for different reasons. The Autodesk reason was that up until AutoCAD 2005, AutoCAD could be activated online or via phone call (if you didn't have internet). In both cases you received a static activation code (connected with serial# only, not hardware) to enter for your perpetual license which remains usable for any future installs and on any PC.

With AutoCAD 2005, you have to activate with each install to receive a new code, the original and follow-up codes won't work...for a perpetual license.

Autodesk has recently shut down their activation servers for all 2010 and previous AutoCADs, claiming they can't be bothered to support legacy activation technology. So much for having a perpetual license, right?
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Fortunately I won't be affected because, although I purchased a 2005 upgrade, I stopped using it (in 2005) when I found out how the new activation system worked (and would have never upgraded my 2004 had I known). This left me with going back to 2004 which is technically not legal as you're suppose to discard all previous upgraded versions. Yeah, right. I actually went back much further, figuring that if I can't stay current with AutoCAD any longer, I might as well go back to my preferred version which wasn't a recent one.

This is one reason I stick with Win2k over XP, although I have enough XP-era Dells with accompanying XP CDs in storage to last a lifetime (and I'm still on my original factory XP Dell, but with Win2k installed...PC hardware overkill)! After much testing, any one of my XP CDs is automatically activated on any of my Dell PC's, not just the PC it shipped with. I assume this is different for Win10 as it looks to me like Windows serial# info is stored in the BIOS, which I find a bit disconcerting.

Yes, a perpetual license means forever unless it uses online activation DRM (which I completely avoid, unless I receive a permanent future-proof code or static offline method of activation).

P.S. My most expensive, comprehensive and productive AutoCAD-based architectural/construction software runs in...MS-DOS. And DOSBox runs it perfectly. I think DOS support will never die, and now there is DOSBox for Linux.

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Edit:
AutoCAD - Previous version support change

If my current network licensing file includes products which are v2010 or earlier, will I be able to get an activation code?
No. Product version is validated during the activation process. Versions 2010 or earlier cannot be activated.

What about products that didn’t use the year as a version (for example, R10)?
All products using a non-year version scheme are included in the v2010 or earlier set of releases and can no longer be activated after August 31, 2019.

Why did Autodesk choose to make this change in their product activation process now?
The majority of our activation code generators are built on aging technology, some of which are no longer supported by the vendors that built them. Aligning product activation practices allows us to retire many of the unsupported generators which reduces risk and ensures that we provide the help you need.