Computers, what do you prefer?

[Ethan Reigns]

I used that for a long time.. until I managed to nick to versions of Office from work! There are alot of open source software that does the job. I just wish something could compare to Adobe.

Your wish is my command:

http://www.cutepdf.com/

allows you to create and edit .pdf files.

 

[white avenger]

Thinkpads ARE tanks.. is yours spill proof as well? I know a few in the 400 line are, didnt know if they all were.

I'm not sure. I bought it refurbished on Ebay, and didn't get a lot of details on it, but probably so. I know that I've splashed Dr Pepper on the keyboard a couple of times with no ill effects but sticky keys. I've also dropped it from about 3 1/2 feet onto the floor, screen up and computer running, with no more ill effects that a cracked bezel ring. That's pretty tough in my book.

 

[Ethan Reigns]

@Mr. Pole you might like:

http://www.gimp.org/

for photos and:

https://inkscape.org/en/

for vector graphics.

 

[Fuffy]

I've also dropped it from about 3 1/2 feet onto the floor, screen up and computer running, with no more ill effects that a cracked bezel ring

That sounds like one durable computer!

 

[sk]

I have different devices at different places. Depending on how and what I use them for.

At work I use a laptop because I need to take it with me when traveling.
Not much choice there. 🙂

But generally so do I find a laptop to be too small.
I want a bigger display, more hard drive space and better keyboard.
At work I plug in an external display and keyboard but that's not optimal

So at home, when I don't need to move the computer I use a desktop instead.
It's filled with hard drives and I've 3 displays connected to it permanently.

Also got a tablet (an iPad) for the lazy, laying in the sofa just surfing the internet, moments. 🙂
But I could've used an Android tablet for that just as well.

So yeah, basically you need to find a good comprise and try to priorities what's most important for you.

Regarding OS so do I personally think it doesn't matter much.
You can do pretty much the same thing with all of the big ones.
It usually just comes down to what you are most used to.

I've Windows 7 on my desktop at home. Windows 8 on the laptop.
Also use a Mac mini with OS X since I develop iOS apps as a hobby.
Don't have much experience with Linux, not with any graphical interface anyway.

In the end I don't think its that much difference between them though.
The one you know the best is the one you will prefer.

/SK

 

[Cordy_Chase]

I've got two laptops, a six year old Acer with Windows 7 which I've used very little in the past at least three years and the Macbook air I converted to.

The Acer ran very well for the first three or so years of it's life when I was able to restrain from downloading a bunch of crap from the internet on it but I wanted to find good DVD playing software with screen capture capability and one thing led to another...anyway, it's had a few virus infections and has slowed down with age but for the most part it still runs well.

I'm unsure how old the Macbook is because it came from my mother's office and who knows how long it was there, but it became a better device for my purposes because it's faster, has clear, working media playback (Itunes, youtube etc) and is lighter to carry around. The battery life is also a lot better and what's really a benefit to me is that it's not used when the lid is closed, on the Acer it still was.

Unfortunately, for the past couple of days I've had multiple episodes of unresponsiveness with Chrome here on the Macbook and I'm a bit worried. How do I check for malware on a Mac?

 

[Fuffy]

How do I check for malware on a Mac?

This might help https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202234

Also, windows is a virus welcoming OS (even with virus scanners).

 

[Cordy_Chase]

Also, windows is a virus welcoming OS (even with virus scanners).

It is, that's another reason why Macs might be better suited to me, It's not as easy to get malware onto a Mac. So I can keep it alive longer hehe.

I don't understand the security thing, it installed an update but how do I like do a scan for malware?

 

[Ethan Reigns]

Go to www.malwarebytes.org and you can get a free download that will pick up almost all viruses. Also, download cryptoprevent to avoid all of your files being encrypted and held for ransom. Cryptoprevent can be downloaded from a number of sites, so pick one and load it - it is a small file, so it loads quickly and doesn't take much room.

 

[Cordy_Chase]

@Ethan Reigns I love Malwarebites, I have it on my Acer but my Macbook won't allow me to download it, I receive a message saying it's not compatible.

 

[Fuffy]

@Ethan Reigns and @Cordy_Chase , thanks for reminding me with your malwarebites talk why I now use open source 😛