Windows 11

[Clive]

Good luck Simon!  You can order a new laptop from PC Specialist.   

[Simon]

Going to have to look at it again as the Windows 11 banner has reappeared on the Windows Update screen, but at least it doesn't seem to have downloaded it this time.

[Clive]

I fear the noose is tightening Simon.

[Simon]

I've actually bought a new, larger capacity hard drive for the laptop.  I figured I can clone the old one like I did with my old desktop PC, but it will be a project for when I have plenty of time. 

[Simon]

Operation Upgrade is complete!  It was actually easier than I thought, the most difficult part being getting the back off the laptop!

So, now I have plenty of space for Windows 11, but I'm going to make it wait, out of spite. 

[zappaDPJ]

 

[Clive]

They need to be taught a lesson Simon. 

[robinc]

MX Linux, with all the software I use installed, 9.5 Gb 

[zappaDPJ]

OneDrive started issuing error messages at switch on saying it couldn't authenticate/sign me in or something similar. My attempt to get it to stfu (technical term) has been the cause of much hilarity /sarcasm.

It seems I inadvertently activated it and it moved multiple files including my email data files and even my desktop wallpaper to a onedrive folder. The fact that all my stuff is now living its best life in the cloud just waiting to be hacked is one issue but why did it not change the file paths within the applications when it chose to move everything?

So now half my stuff is up sh*t creak (another technical term) because it can't find the data files and there's also little blue circles and arrows and ticks getting applied to various icons that seem to be spreading like some kind of deadly parasite

Yours faithfully,

The founding member of the Ancient Order of Luddites

[Simon]

I avoid clouds wherever possible.   

[zappaDPJ]

That was my intention but perhaps it's time to start thinking about care home costs

Having said that I did Google and the internet is awash with people having the same issue.

[Clive]

Lots of updates lately for win 11

[Simon]

I hate Windows 11.  Nearly every time I turn on my laptop, I have to wait ten minutes for a Windows Update to complete, then sometimes it will reboot several times before actually becoming functional.  Further to this, since 'upgrading' to Win 11, it's like wading through treacle trying to do anything when it eventually lets me.

[zappaDPJ]

I've owned a couple of expensive Windows based laptops but if I'm honest they were a waste of money. Even after removing all the junk they both slowed to a crawl after a year or two of use.

I'd probably buy a Chromebook or even a Mac if I ever needed another laptop.

[Simon]

Mine is a 5-6 year old DELL Inspiron 3793 17".  I wanted one with a larger screen, and also that came with a CD / DVD drive to make it easier to digitise my CDs.  It was fine until I foolishly gave in to the persistent nagging to upgrade to Win 11, and I probably should have heeded the early warning signs and reverted back to Windows 10, because since then it's been running like a three legged pig. 

Windows 11 also somehow messed up the font display, so I can't use my desired Verdana font as a default, as it displays massively extra bold for some reason, unless I choose the italic version.  That said, while I was trying to use it today to rip the new Hackett / Rothery CD into iTunes, it insisted on performing an Intel Graphics driver update, so maybe that's fixed the font problem.  Once it had once again taken 10 minutes to boot up, and iTunes had also decided to go on a go slow, turning what should have been a five minute job into a half an hour laborious drama, I couldn't be arsed with the required reboot after the driver update, and just shut it down.  When I next have a couple of lifetimes to spare, I might boot it up again and see if there's any improvement to the font display. 

[zappaDPJ]

Mine is a 5-6 year old DELL Inspiron 3793 17"

I've seen a few of those, they were quite popular. If it's a Core i3 it will struggle with Windows 11 but if it's an Core i5 it'll still be slow but it should be usable.

The problem is things have moved on almost exponentially in the last five years and os/software developers have a tendency to continually add bloat to their code to take advantage of it.

[Simon]

I've seen a few of those, they were quite popular. If it's a Core i3 it will struggle with Windows 11 but if it's an Core i5 it'll still be slow but it should be usable.

The problem is things have moved on almost exponentially in the last five years and os/software developers have a tendency to continually add bloat to their code to take advantage of it.

It's an i5.  The annoying thing is I've got to set aside half the morning to do what should be a ten minute job.   My older desktop PC is faster, so I should just use that, but the laptop is convenient for portability.

[zappaDPJ]

The last time I went to buy a laptop which was probably over ten years ago I ended up with an iPad which cost the same as a midrange laptop and lasted around seven years at which point I upgraded. Updates are painless and everything is instant plus it's obviously very portable.

The biggest issue was learning a new system but for the most part it's fairly intuitive and it does everything I need.

[Simon]

I have a Samsung Tablet, which I should probably make more use of, but obviously it doesn't have the storage capacity of a PC.

[zappaDPJ]

Apple are rather stingy when it comes to RAM, my current iPad has only 128GB but as I've only used about 32GB I don't think there's going to be a problem

I believe the latest models come with up to 2TB but I bet you'll pay a price for that.