Suggestions...fed up with MSN!

[jimbob92c]

I am about to drop kick this computer out the 9th story window.

( o.k....I know it's not the computer's fault)...
MSN 8 stinks. We would like to go broadband....
NATNI stinks. We would like to find another cable tv provider.....

Can a person find a reasonable internet/cable tv package??

Suggestions??

Jim

[Swiffer]

Jim, have you tried the MSN DSL? We had that in Blaine, and were happy with it. Here in Stillwater the MSN DSL isn't available, so we went with Comcast cable hook-up(formerly ATT). I have no other cable to compare it to, but seems OK. Still not as fast as I was expecting though.

Steve

[jimbob92c]

I haven't tried the DSL, but was hoping to find some sort of internet/tv package. When we moved in here, our cable provider was Privcom...they went belly up and were taken over by NATNI.
It seems now that we lose another channel each time we turn the tube on. No explanations, same price being charged. We've lost 7 channels in the last two weeks.....and one of them is the hockey channel!!!
So we're shopping for something different.

Wonder what's going on today....there has been nothing but constant sirens blaring from up Central. ( for about an hour now).

hmmm
Jim

[jimbob92c]

Just took a scan out the window....
tons of flashing red lights on 35W. Must be another accident.....
bummer!


Jim

[perksdlx2001]

We just switched from dial up to cable broadband, through Charter comm. It uses MSN as the home page but it is very fast. I like it alot. We are also Charter digital cable subscribers and the package runs about 80 bucks a month. I don't know if charter is available in your area but I am happy with it.

[Sparky_Bill]

JimBob, Jimbob...... I told you to stay away from anything MicroSoft has their hands on. In your area, the best bet for you would be Quest DSL with CP Internet being your ISP. I think cable has only one provider per area. I do not think one has a choice, it's whoever is there.

I have Charter cable out here but do NOT have MSN at all. I did not install their software. The home page Wayne talks about can be changed to here if he wants. That is just a feature of what he has IE open to.

Good Luck and let us know. I bet Bobbie is POed about hockey. What timing. :mad:

[jimbob92c]

Sparky,
Yeah...she was upset because it wasn't on the radio or on TV.
At least tonight we should be able to watch it on FOX. Also, I didn't take her to Vancouver but I got her a Wild shirt. ( I know....cheap skate!).

About the cable... I see the Time Warner rig as well as Quest and I believe Charter out here from time to time. I'm going to check out the prices and availability.

I may have to reload our Window 98 again too. For every two times I use the computer, it'll lock up once.

Hitting the hay early ( won't watch all the game)...start the new job tomorrow morning. We'll see how it goes.

Jimbob

[perksdlx2001]

I had windows 98 installed on my old computer and like you it would lock up three or more times a session. I took the computer in to have some updates done and asked about windows me. The tech I go to is very good and he told me that windows ME sucks and to install windows 98 second edition, which I did. Was very happy with that and it didn't lock up at all. Now if you have the memory (ram) I would reccommend XP. You can find it on e-bay for around 100 bucks and it is much faster and when it does lock up (very rarely, never on my wifes computer) it saves everything so you don't lose any of the projects you might be working on. The big drawback is that it is loaded with microsoft spyware and you have to sign up (no charge) for their support which allows them to access your computer at their will.

[jimbob92c]

perks,

I hate spyware! My son loves Kazaa for downloads, but I won't download that software for the very same reason.
Second edition 98 sounds good. I had Norton Firewall on for a while and I know it has issues with locking up ones computer...so I uninstalled it. Things were better for a short while, but soon started locking up again.
It would be nice not to lose the stuff you're working on. That has happened alot.
Probably time for an upgrade. How much is the update for 98, or do you have to buy the whole program over again?

Jimbob

[Rockney]

Ok... a few things... Windows XP isn't loaded with MS spyware... I dont know where that came from but it simply isnt true. You don't sign up for MS support and they CANT log into your computer at will. Perks if your computer tech is telling you that then he isnt that good. Any of the MS products will work fine provided you run Scandisk and Defrag every couple of months or so. Also MSN isnt Charter's home page its yours... that can be changed with a few simple clicks and some typing. If you go to tools - internet options you will see a spot that allows you to change your home page. It varies from OS to OS but thats the basic jist of it.

Just a little word of advice...
Microsoft isnt the "devil" when it comes to your computer. If it wasnt for them you wouldnt even be reading this in all probability.

I've been a tech for many years now and if anyone has any questions about computers email me or call me... I'm always willing to help out a fellow Vicster. :)

[Rockney]

Oh by the way Kazaa IS loaded with ALOT of scumware so if you use it expect problems.

And a good firewall program is Zone Alarm... the best thing about it? It's free. www.zonealarm.com

[Sparky_Bill]

Originally posted by Rockney
Just a little word of advice...
Microsoft isnt the "devil" when it comes to your computer. If it wasnt for them you wouldnt even be reading this in all probability.


You were doing great till you wrote this line. Bill Gates IS the not a nice person. He wants to rule the internet. He runs the competition out of business with unfair tactics. We as the comsumer lose as a result. This is the reason that Linux is coming on strong before the next OS release by MS.

If you really believe that Bill Gates is doing what is in OUR best interest, read this fully.

http://www.aaxnet.com/editor/edit029.html

Sorry to be off Victory talk but since we use the internet and computers to organize, beware.

[sstodvictory]

Originally posted by Sparky_Bill
Sorry to be off Victory talk but since we use the internet and computers to organize, beware. To be more specific, where I'm sitting we use the FreeBSD UNIX operating system, the Apache web server, MySQL database software, and PHP web applications software to communicate, all of which are free and beyond Microsoft's control. None of us are dependent on Microsoft if we don't want to be, except perhaps in the workplace.

Steve

[Gimpy]

Check with Quest DSL . That is who we use and love the speed AND reliability. Then, if you have a couple of computers you could network them and have multiple machines working the 'net at once.

[Rockney]

Bill why is it that I said Microsoft isnt the devil... and you change that into my saying that Bill Gates is a nice guy? I couldn't care less if Bill Gates is a nice guy or not. But like it or not Windows IS the best combination of an OS that is user friendly AND powerful. I have worked on Unix, Linux and Irix. There are people out there that wouldn't stand a chance in hell of figuring out these operating systems. Granted they are getting more user friendly and the GUIs that they use are getting better and better but they still have a learning curve that is extremely prohibitive.

BTW what OS are you using? When something better comes along I'll use it but until then I will stick with what works.

Also where do you think the computing industry would be with MS? Everyone would be using Apples... and I think that we've seen that they will sit on technology until someone comes along to challenge them. Hell thats how they lost out to IBM/MS in the first place. Besides I just hate that little one button mouse!!;)

Linux and BE are fine OS but I like the fact that my parents have a computer that they understand. They wouldn't spend the time to learn how to use it if it wasn't as easy as it is. They just wouldn't have a computer.

[redvic802]

You certainly sound like a microsoft booster to me. Back when I used to work on IBM mainframes..yes this was before the "PC revolution" I used to watch IBM use the same tactics microsoft does today. Lets not confuse the fact that they are dominant with the quality of their products. For the amount of bugs and security problems alone..they should be taken to the shed and beat hard ! As for alternatives..without microsoft holding a thousand pound legal hammer over other comapnies heads..your mom and dad would probably have a completely integrated CONSUMER style device to access the world of information. The technology has been available for years to make this happen. Micorsoft does what any company does that commands an industry..it uses ALL its tools to assure its coninued dominance =( This includes hijacking any standards you cant set yourself =( Unfortunately it is more cost effective to hammer your competition thru legal and illegal means than it is do build cutting edge products that the consumer would buy..and affirm their leadership positiion. Microsoft tactics make IBMs tactics like positively civilized. Unfortunately it looks like they will find a more ???????????? administration a lot easier to deal with as far as the effort made by the industry to reform an out of control giant. But then this is the same government that urged our own justice department to do their best to block a series of court cases asking for damages brought by WWII US servicement that were prisoners of war in japan and forced to work as slave labor for japanese corporations ..that we are still buying products from btw. Next time you buy anything from mitsubishi...consider the US servicemen force to mine coal as slave laboroers during WWII. Btw this happened in japan. I dont want to stray to far off topic here..but I really think you might be better served to research the history of microsoft before you champion them.

Phew..I am wiped out now...I need a putt!

-Don

[Rockney]

I am hardly championing Microsoft. I merely started off stating that Windows XP does not have MS spyware included in it... which it doesn't. It just bothers me that people will believe anything bad that is told to them concerning MS. I have a friend who is a developer for them and he lets me know the real skinny. They have issues with security and lord knows some of the code they write is bloated to beat hell. I just don't like to beat down a company just because they are biggest and the most popular which is what some people do. (not saying that is what's happening here.) It's just when you hear it enough it starts to grind on you... esp. when you know that half the stuff people are spewing simply isn't true.

As for the ???????????? administration? Thank god! A free market economy is much more effective at weeding out bad companies than the government will ever be. If MS gets caught breaking the law they will be punished... as they should be.

As for alternatives..without microsoft holding a thousand pound legal hammer over other comapnies heads..your mom and dad would probably have a completely integrated CONSUMER style device to access the world of information.

Which OS would this be? Linux? BE OS? There is nothing stopping Linux except that Gnome(pick your favorite GUI) simply doesnt do the trick yet. And BE just sucks! It crashes all the time and lacks functionality.

How about this? You use whatever OS you want and I will use whatever one I want.... and we can all ride Victorys. :D My blood pressure is too high already to be ranting about this stuff hehe.

Later

[Sparky_Bill]

Originally posted by Gimpy
Check with Quest DSL . That is who we use and love the speed AND reliability. Then, if you have a couple of computers you could network them and have multiple machines working the 'net at once.

How do you get to use Quest in Northfield. We can only get Frontier here in Farmington. :mad:

Wish I could have stayed with Quest DSL and my old ISP but not to happen. So far Charter has been working okay.

[Sparky_Bill]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Rockney
Bill why is it that I said Microsoft isnt the devil... and you change that into my saying that Bill Gates is a nice guy? I couldn't care less if Bill Gates is a nice guy or not.

I guess I drew from your saying "If it wasnt for them you wouldnt even be reading this in all probability. " that we should be thanking MS for the fine job they have done for us. In 1985 the Amiga OS could run circles around what MS had for 10 years following. The only reason I feel that it works is that the computers today are fast and there is cheap storage and cheap memory. The Windows OS uses most of it cause it is so poorly written.

BTW what OS are you using? When something better comes along I'll use it but until then I will stick with what works.

I use Windows 2000, but as soon as I get some free time I will be changing all over to Linux. BE is a great idea for an OS. Lot of old Amiga folks worked on that.

Also where do you think the computing industry would be with MS? Everyone would be using Apples... and I think that we've seen that they will sit on technology until someone comes along to challenge them. Hell thats how they lost out to IBM/MS in the first place. Besides I just hate that little one button mouse!!;)

Maybe with better marketing the Amiga could have been the platform of choice. I am seeing more and more IT department moving their systems to Redhat 8 lately. Time will tell but I for one like the signs.

[Sparky_Bill]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Rockney
I am hardly championing Microsoft. I merely started off stating that Windows XP does not have MS spyware included in it...

Well maybe spyware is too strong a term. But you have a wide range of experience in this field so you tell me what is the difference between XP Home, XP Pro and XP Corporate?

If MS gets caught breaking the law they will be punished... as they should be.

I recall that they did get caught but Asscroff let them off with a tap on the hand.

How about this? You use whatever OS you want and I will use whatever one I want.... and we can all ride Victorys. :D

Now you're talk'in. :)

[redvic802]

I agree,

being a booster is hardly being a champion =)

As for spyware..lets get our definitions in place..A generally accepted definition of spyware is any program that communicates any information from you computer..without your knowledge of the event. Windows XP has many..but for berevity I will only list 2. Both of these are installed on "default" windows XP installations..The way most consumers either buy the machine..or install windows XP. The first is the microsoft messenger. As soon as the operating system comes up this programs tries to establish a connection with a microsoft host. It displays no message to this effect. The second is the windows update feature. This operates silently as well. There are settings to disable the above windows XP "features" but microsoft places then in awkward places for the casual user to find..guess some parts of the operating system dont really need to be easy for the user to access =) As for the ???????????? administration...they no more represent free market..than Communism represented a workers paradise ! Also a small history lesson for you..OUR government is the last line of defense our citizens have to weed out "bad companies" when the "bad companies grow so large as to become (almost) imune to market pressure. The robber Barons of the last century come to mind. What a great world we would have if standard oil had survived. Microsoft HAS been convicted fo wrongdoing..they just havent been punished.They are still appealing the many issues. But given enough time..administrations come and go..who knows how it will end for them ? As for alternatives..there are many that might have been on the market except for undue pressure. That is a certainty in any market. The amiga comes to mind as a powerfull system of its day..that might have done better. As it is ..I am expecting game consoles at first..but hopefully general purpose devices later to help give people easy to use alternatives to a market saturaed with the products of a single company =( As for a computer based alternative..GOD HELP MICROSOFT if apple ever ported OS X to the intel world. Nothing like a solid unix underpinning with apples expertise in GUI to make using a computer easy to do =)That is what this is really about ..everyone should have a CHOICE in the operating system they use. That choice should be based on what is the best operating system by thier criteria..not by monopolistic pressure on the market. IE well MR Computer manufacturer the price of windows is this if you buy windows..It is this minus this ..if you preintall it on your machines. It is this minus this minus this oif it is the ONLY operating system you intall on your machines. As for people using whatever operating system they believe in...HOORAH ! They do..people are buying linux and other non windows alternatives =) Please dont let a online discussion raise your blood pressure, that could cut down on your saddle time =) I intend to make the most of my saddle time. Hope to see you on the road =)

-Don

[Rockney]

You've got me on the Amiga system... In it's day it certainly had more than enough potential to become a great system. I'm no fan of WinXP connecting to MS to communicate your MAC address(which is essentially what it's doing when you install and register it). I guess I just wouldn't call that spyware. The windows update doesn't bother me as it doesn't communicate any info other than OS system info... drivers, security and bugfixes etc.

Didn't mean to come off so hardnosed about it but when you work in the retail world fixing and selling computers you hear all kinds of things that simply aren't true. It makes you a little bit defensive hehe. :crazy:

The monopoly idea is a little bit difficult to pin down. Redvic you said it yourself... OS X is a good alternative that I hadn't thought of. So there really isn't a monopoly per se. It's just that damn mouse!! :gun: hehe

Man I don't know how I'm going to get through the next couple of days... just took my SC into Warner's for the 2500 mile checkup and TPS adjustment. I guess I will have to break out the old Yamaha. :eek:

[redvic802]

Well we still disagree about microsoft being monopolistic. I feel pretty secure in my opinion as the courts has come to the same conclusion. Unfortunately for all of us apple seems to be content to stay in their lil corner of the computing universe..and with OS X not being available commercially for the INTEL processor platforms..it cant be considered a competitior to microsoft. I am just happy microsoft doesnt make motorcycles =)

On a brighter note...is anyone going to warners on friday ?

-Don

[jimbob92c]

Great discussion!

So how come is it that I got the OP-U system on my computer with the BS e-mail?:p


Jim

[sstodvictory]

By the way, Eudora 5.2 for Windows is a good Email client alternative to MS outlook that is easy to install and use. I set my sister up with it because I thought it might have fewer security issues and be less susceptable to KLEZ viruses. Outlook isn't even installed on her computer, yet she has all the functionality she needs.

After installation you can select various service levels. The lowest level is free and has all the functions most would need.

http://www.eudora.com/

Steve

[Sparky_Bill]

I agree Steve, Eudora is a very good E-Mail program.