Understanding MS-product end-of-life dates

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Understanding MS-product end-of-life dates

By Tracey Capen Microsoft is clear and upfront about when its products reach their end of life. Here’s what Windows 7 users should know. Also, a mostly forgotten app provides detailed system information, and why the LinkedIn purchase highlights a scary and murky trend.

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The full text of this column is posted at windowssecrets.com/top-story/understanding-ms-product-end-of-life-dates/ (opens in a new window/tab).

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We watch the creation of Big Brother, not completely understanding where it’s all going and we will one day wake up (totally?) enveloped in an AI controlled net of our own making.

Beautiful New World..

And why? Greed and power are the answer. More money, more revenue, more power, more control.

As far as home computers are concerned for now at least there luckily are alternatives like Linux, Libre Office and local backups for starters.

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We watch the creation of Big Brother, not completely understanding where it’s all going and we will one day wake up (totally?) enveloped in an AI controlled net of our own making.

Beautiful New World..

And why? Greed and power are the answer. More money, more revenue, more power, more control.

As far as home computers are concerned for now at least there luckily are alternatives like Linux, Libre Office and local backups for starters.

Hey someone who’s thinking like me! I retired 6 years ago after 38 years in IT (formerly known as data processing – my first installation was 96 column punch cards!). I’m responding to this on my Windows 10 machine, and as a Windows upgrade I think it’s the best MS have done – but that doesn’t make it good in my view.

I also have a 3 year old Dell notebook with an SSD (boy does that make a difference). I run the latest version of Linux Mint 17.3 Cinnamon 64-bit. This PC flies. It boots in around 30 seconds or less. My Win 10 even with auto logon, takes up to a minute & a half. Whilst in use my Win10 machine is OK not sluggish (except when will MS stop the 30+ year issue of an app not responding? I don’t get that in Linux). I find I’m using the Dell more than the Win10 box & am looking at turning this into a dual boot machine with Linux as my alternative OS.

But the biggie is not technical. Apart from Google whose applications I use extensively, the Linux world doesn’t hammer you with stuff all the time & slow your system down with unnecessary ads & emails. I use most of the apps in Linux that I use on Windows. The best bit is that updates whether at the OS or application level don’t stop you working & you don’t have to reboot. You need to invest a bit more time in Linux fixing the odd errant app here & there, but after a while as you learn new stuff that becomes less of an issue.

Anyway watch out ‘cos Linux is getting into everywhere (the International Space Station, US Navy guidance systems, automated milking machines for herds of cows – yep weird eh? are just a few).

I think MS has allowed itself to be out manouvered by Apple & Google & is not doing a very good job of clawing things back. Over a billion Android devices in less than 10 years – that’s the type of adversary they have to deal with.

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Is it possible to print the MSINFO32 output so that I can compare an ‘older working’ report to one I generate when I start having problems?

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Is it possible to print the MSINFO32 output so that I can compare an ‘older working’ report to one I generate when I start having problems?

Go to File | Export to save the results then you may do as you please.

--Joe

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I also find the LinkedIn purchase worrisome. Like other social sharing sites, it’s packed with information about who we’re connected with and our backgrounds – but in this case professional.

I’ve found it a useful platform for connections. But now many companies are competing to collect as much demographic info as they can about users. People don’t want this, the resulting ads have proven to be less than effective, they’re offending customers as the article notes, and people are responding by installing blocks. But the race continues.

It’s useful to network but too much connectivity is not in our interest when it’s driven by companies treating us as commodities.

I’ll see what happens before I decide on LinkedIn. I’m certainly not dependent on it and will delete the connections and content if they abuse it.

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