ASU2003

I am currently looking into moving away from Windows XP as my primary OS. But, I am a picky computer user that wants everything to work, and work quickly. My current computer is three years old, but should be much faster than it is. It is a tablet laptop with a 1.6Ghz CPU, 1.5GB of RAM and will have a 7200 rpm hard drive when I switch out my current 4200 rpm one. The hard drive speed alone will make some difference in responsiveness. The main reason I am switching away from Windows is the poor memory management (Firefox is also to blame) and slowdowns I experience. I am a demanding computer user that pushes the computer hardware to the limit.

I am currently looking at Fedora 7 with KDE3/KDE 4 (alpha), Debian, Suse 10, or Mac OS X 10.46. Yes, all of those will work on my computer as I have run Mac OS X as a test to see if it would work. Fedora 7 should be released this week in 5 days. Debian and SuSE have also been installed, but it's seems like something is missing, and getting the last 10% of my requirements takes way too long. Some of them may require an emulator like Parallels, Boot Camp or Wine.

Now here are my requirements, I am making this list for myself to check off when I switch to the next OS. It will be easier finding it on-line than on some USB hard drive that might not work.

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Required
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+ Wireless Internet (atheros chipset)
+ Wired Internet
+ USB (high-speed)
-.......... Mouse
-.......... Wireless Keyboard
-.......... USB external soundcard
-.......... USB Hard Drives
+ SD card slot on laptop
+ Docking station with VGA cable & USB ports
+ iTunes 7 (for Nike + sport kit)
+ Microsoft Money 2007
+ Microsoft Streets & Trips with USB GPS receiver
+ Google Earth
+ Java Programming IDE (Oracle JDeveloper 10g) http://developer.apple.com/tools/jdeveloper.html
+ BitTorrent
+ DVD player
+ Flash player (youtube/google video)
+ Media player that plays WMV, MPG, AVI, Divx. Also needs to have a ability to create a playlist. (Will this work?
http://www.microsoft.com/mac/downloa...gnosysreq=True)
+ Thumbnail view file manager for pictures
+ 1920x1080 resolution preferred (37" LCD monitor) 1024x768 should be there for using it as a laptop. The ability to easily change resolutions without rebooting is a plus.
+ Open Office (have to wait for the alpha Aqua version for Mac OS X, but I don't do anything complicated. The X11 port isn't very good)
+ GIMP Photo Editor
+ Nice default photo viewer
+ Adblocker/PithHelmet for whatever browser I pick
+ Ability to get to every website (even ones that require IE)

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Bonus Points
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+ Pen based tablet functions work (Run Microsoft Office OneNote in an emulator?) Use pen as a mouse.
+ Buttons on computer work
+ Photo organization program (Mac has this, although I would need to buy it, Need to find a good one for Linux)
+ Cell phone software
+ Kismet/Netstumbler or similar wifi programs. Ability to crack WEP passwords a plus.
+ Ethereal
+ Video capture program (I currently have Pinnacle Studio 9)
+ Program like GetRight that can resume downloads and pause them
+ Parallel port on docking station (Okidata OL600e laser printer) (doesn't work currently in Windows)
+ Quicktime
+ Half-life 2 (I would be able to switch back to my current HD to play it)
+ Car mp3 support (Linux has it, might be able to work in OS X) http://www.empeg.com/support.html

Dilbert1234567

how bout vista

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ASU2003

My parents just got a new computer with Vista. I was more impressed than I thought I was going to be. But the file manager is pretty bad. XP's is much better.

The hardware requirements for Vista are pretty high and my computer might have some problems. I have problems once I have lots of programs open and haven't restarted my computer for a few weeks.

Willravel

I'll tell you what I'll be getting and try to qualify your needs using it.
MacBook Pro 15" 2.33 GHz with 3 MB RAM and 256 GeForce 1600:
Wireless Internet: AirPort Extreme 802.11n or ExpressCard/34
Wired Internet: 10/100/1000BASE-T (Gigabit)
USB: Two USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 400 port, one FireWire 800
Mouse: Don't use Apple's Mighty Mouse, I like logitech's mice
Wireless Keyboard: Apple Wireless bluetooth keyboard = $59
USB external soundcard: this looks nice
USB Hard Drives: I'd strongly suggest, if you go Mac, to use firewire 800, like the one 'm getting
SD card slot on laptop: nope, sorry
Docking station with VGA cable & USB ports: DVI output (up to 30"), VGA, s-vid and composite, so long as you have the adapter
iTunes 7: No problem
Microsoft Money 2007: DOn't you have to buy this either way? MS Monay works on Mindows or Mac OS X
Microsoft Streets & Trips with USB GPS receiver: same as above
Google Earth: free online
Java Programming IDE (Oracle JDeveloper 10g) http://developer.apple.com/tools/jdeveloper.html
BitTorrent: azureus
DVD player built in 6x double layer superdrive
Flash player (youtube/google video): when you open a page with flash it prompts and you download. No problemo.
Media player that plays WMV, MPG, AVI, Divx. Also needs to have a ability to create a playlist: I use VLC, but it doesn't have a playlist. Mplayer might have a playlist capability.
Thumbnail view file manager for pictures: yep
1920x1080 resolution preferred (37" LCD monitor) 1024x768 should be there for using it as a laptop. The ability to easily change resolutions without rebooting is a plus: I know it supports a 30" Cinema Display, which supports up to 2560 x 1600. I suspect that a 37" that you want to run resolution through 2560 x 1600, you'll be fine.
Open Office (have to wait for the alpha Aqua version for Mac OS X, but I don't do anything complicated. The X11 port isn't very good):yeah...
GIMP Photo Editor: $18.50 available here
Nice default photo viewer: Preview or iPhoto
Adblocker/PithHelmet for whatever browser I pick: sure
Ability to get to every website (even ones that require IE): While I primarily use FF and Safari, I still have Explorer and Netscape.

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Bonus Points
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Pen based tablet functions work (Run Microsoft Office OneNote in an emulator?) Use pen as a mouse: http://www.welovemacs.com/adbmousepen.html
Buttons on computer work: What? Yes the buttons on most computers work. Maybe I'm missing something here...
Photo organization program: iPhoto FREE (not a demo or 60 day trial)
Cell phone software: That depends on your cell phone. My Samsung isn't supported on Mac.
Kismet/Netstumbler or similar wifi programs. Ability to crack WEP passwords a plus: isn't that an invasion of privacy or something?
Ethereal: The network protocol analyzer? http://pdb.finkproject.org/pdb/package.php/ethereal
Video capture program: BTV, Gawker, iCamShare, iRecord, MediaCapture, myVCR, and WebcamTweaker
Program like GetRight: http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macos/1814
Parallel port on docking station: Not 100% sure. I'll need to check around.
Quicktime: I sure hope so
Half-life 2: Hmmm, well bootcamp should help out with this, but I'm not 100% sure about how well Vista or XP will run on a Mac yet as I've not tried it.
Car mp3 support (Linux has it, might be able to work in OS X) http://www.empeg.com/support.html: I'm not sure what this is...

Oh well, I hope this was helpful.

ASU2003

I do like VLC, but it is lacking that playlist feature. Maybe there is something else, maybe even opening up every file in it's own Quicktime window would work. That is if Quicktime will play all of these files. I should try it out right now.

And I don't believe there is a Microsoft Money Mac edition anymore. I have the CD here, but haven't tried it out yet. I've been using it for 3 years on Windows just fine. Same with the GPS thing, I would get so lost if I didn't have the turn by turn directions.

I think this is the better GIMP version (it's for Mac) http://www.macgimp.org/index.php?topic=osx86

For the tablet PC pen, it would be something like this:
http://forum.insanelymac.com/index.php?showtopic=41054

Quicktime and iTunes will work on Macs without a doubt. But the Linux support is very minimal.

The buttons will adjust the brightness of the laptop monitor, rotate the screen, lock the screen, and put up a on-screen keyboard. I wouldn't need them to work, and I think the brightness one doesn't care which operating system I have.

ethereal is the invasion of privacy program. WEP passwords are useless and prevent me from getting on-line to this site.

For GetRight, these two look better. I'll have to pick which one I like more. The one you linked to was released in 1997.
http://www.osnews.com/story.php/6248...2-for-Mac-OS-X
http://www.igetter.net/iGetter.html

I didn't know iPhoto was free. I thought you had to buy iLife for $79.

For the cell phone: http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/isync/
or http://www.susteen.com/productdetail...hones/Notempty
But my Verizon global phone isn't supported by either. I thought I saw one other program that I wanted to try as well a few months ago.

I'm trying to hold off on buying a new laptop for a few more years. Or at least until Apple comes out with their new OS 10.5.

Willravel

I asked a freidn of min about it, and he mentiond Movie Gallery. He didn't mention how well it worked with the million and one types of video files, but it organizes VERY well. I just keep them organized on folders, personally.
Don't forget Bootcamp....but Quicken is so much better it makes me giggle (and I'm not a man that giggles).
Good to know.
Linux support is good in third party software....and there are third party versions of QT and iTunes.
- OH, I gotcha. Brightness: f14 = less bright, f15 = more bright
- Rotate the screen can be accessed in the display preferences
- Lock the screen...hmm there's several ways to do this.
http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/maco...reen/index.php
- Keyboard: http://www.macworld.com/news/2002/03/30/keystrokes/
Interesting.
I got my eMac back in 2003 and iPhoto came free. I bought my mom an eMac in 2005 and it came with iPhoto. I bought my little bro (Ch'i) a Mac mini Christmas of 2005 and it came with it. I'm almost certain it still comes with iPhoto free.
Yeah, that's a drawback. Companies like Samsung aren't always friendly to Apple products. It's a thing.
Leopard should be out very soon, possibly June.

ASU2003

I have folders too. But that movie gallery looks like the program I need. I'm surprised Apple doesn't buy it from that guy and make it Quicktime 8. It looks like it is iTunes for video.

Thanks for that suggestion. I'll have to try it out.

Willravel

You know iTunes works for anything Quicktime can play, right? Right now, I have .mov and .mpeg files in iTunes. Oh, and np for the help. Anything I can do.

ASU2003

I also need to play WMV, AVI, and Divx. I just played an AVI(maybe Divx) file in Quicktime and all that happened was the audio track played. WMV gives me and error.

Plus I think iTunes is missing the thumbnail view that is in that movie gallery program.

I do need iTunes and only iTunes to be able to upload my running data to Nike, so the third party applications that are good, aren't really useful to me.

shakran

That deserves a ban

Look ASU, I know you're disenchanted with Windows. So am I. It sucks, but unfortunately it sucks less than all the other OS's out there. I tried switching myself - went to Ubuntu Edgy Eft or whatever the hell they call it. Neat OS - looked cool, especially with that Beryl desktop manager installed - but the trouble is that 1) not much is written for it and 2) installing new programs was like pulling teeth. I'd love to abandon Windows entirely, but unfortunately, nothing else can touch it at the moment.

If I were in your shoes I'd wipe the drive and reinstall XP. You'll notice a speed jump just from doing the fresh install.

Willravel

Quicktime....a the great white hope....the problem is that Apple has made a few enemies, be it fair or unfair, and getting permission to play some avi, wmv, and divx files was impossible. I'm looking, but there aren't many if any out there. I should write one...
True.
Gotcha. That's an amazing system that Nike has set up.

ASU2003

It is isn't it? I think it is a great thing though. I even bought my first iPod in order to use it. It was well worth the money because now I am in better shape and have reduced my blood pressure because of it.

Windows is worst than some of the other operating systems in some key areas as well. I won't even get into the viruses and spyware stuff because I don't have much if any at all on my computer. But it is something I worry about when I install some small application from some weird website.

Memory management is broken in Windows. Programs use it up, and then when I shut them down, the memory is still gone. It isn't a problem if you shutdown and restart once a week, but I have 100 tabs open (IE and Firefox), iTunes, 26 Word documents, MS Money, and a few other programs open right now.

There are no real terminals in Windows. As a programmer, it gets to you. (Yes there are terminal emulators for windows...)

I have tried switching in the past, but there is always something on that list above missing that drives me back to Windows. Well, I think Mac OS X has finally checked every box and should meet my demanding standards. I use linux at work, and it does the work requirements just fine, but getting a few of those items to work is nearly impossible.

zero2

+ Java Programming IDE (Oracle JDeveloper 10g) http://developer.apple.com/tools/jdeveloper.html --> Xcode (Mac)
+ BitTorrent -->Transmission (Mac)
+ DVD player --> DVD Player, VLC (Mac)
+ Thumbnail view file manager for pictures --> Preview, Adobe Lightroom, iPhoto
+ Nice default photo viewer -->Preview, iPhoto
+ Ability to get to every website (even ones that require IE) --> Mozilla or Opera

--------------------
Bonus Points
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+ Video capture program -->SnapzPro
+ Program like GetRight that can resume downloads and pause them -->Igetter or Speed Download (works well if you have rapidshare premium account)

You need to have the Divx codec: You have a couple of choices:
- Perian - Divx Note: if you don't want to install divx player, there's a way to extract and install just the codec.

As for WMV:
- Flip4Mac A couple of other codecs you might want:

- Xvid - AC3 If you still can't play a certain file, for instance some of the newer encoded WMV's might give you a problem, try VLC player or

convert it something that will work:

VisualHub

Lasereth

A basic question: have you formatted your laptop and reinstalled Windows? Windows XP is blazing fast if you reformat after a year or two when it starts to get bogged with registry bloatz. There's also some tweaks you can do to XP to make it even faster than the default installation.

__________________
"A Darwinian attacks his theory, seeking to find flaws. An ID believer defends his theory, seeking to conceal flaws." -Roger Ebert

ASU2003

I purchased a new hard drive that runs at 7200 rpm. My old one is a 4200 rpm one.

Yes, I realize that Windows will work. I'll even keep my old drive as a backup in case I mess something up. But, I'm looking for something different. I will probably try Linux first, but the iTunes, MS programs, and video/DVD player might be problems.

I use linux at work and have had linux as my only OS for 6 months back in college, but I could use the practice on a system that isn't critical to work on each day. Meaning if I mess up on my home system and have to format, no big deal. All of my data is stored on USB hard drives, not on the system drive.

kofspades

...and you blame your problems on the memory management in Windows?

__________________
Even if you stop the clock, it gives the right time twice a day.
Once we get out of the eighties, the nineties are going to make the sixties look like the fifties.

ASU2003

Yes, Yes I do. I could close every tab except for 1, and the program (Firefox, IE) would hold onto almost all of the memory it had when all 100 were open. Even when Firefox crashes after 3 or 4 days and takes up 1.2 GB of RAM (although windows only reports 400MB), it only gives back about 300MB. About 800MB-900MB just disappeared and can’t be freed until I reboot.

Second, the OS should prioritize events so the things I do when using the computer take precedence over background events. That isn't happening right now, and I am switching to see if a different OS has got it right.

MikeSty

My god. I've never ever ever used that much RAM.

ASU2003

Amateur.

Willravel

Lol...yeah, I'm not settling for less than 3GB RAM in my next computer. The last thing you want to have to worry about is how you can't access my data fast enough. That's one of the important things about computers.

ASU2003

I found out that you can't buy a laptop with a 7200 rpm drive in it at Best Buy. They actually had the laptop that I customized for my parents in the Best Buy store, except that it came with a 5400 rpm hard drive.

The CPU and RAM are plenty fast enough now, it is the system bus (on some computers) and HD rpm's that slow down computers now.

Lasereth

Another fun fact: FireFox taking up that much memory is a problem that occured as FF got more expansive and more popular. I've seen it start to take up memory like that as well. It sucks memory into it and won't let go for some reason, especially if you haven't restarted in a while.

I'd say that's a problem with the application, not necessarily the OS itself. But they, if you want to try something new, go for it!!!

__________________
"A Darwinian attacks his theory, seeking to find flaws. An ID believer defends his theory, seeking to conceal flaws." -Roger Ebert

ASU2003

And how willing do you think Microsoft is to allow Firefox developers a peek into the memory mangement/cleanup portion of the Windows OS?

IE seems to work a litle better in the memory management stuff.

I have crashed the windows file manager a few times by opening up a few windows that have tens of thousands of thumbnail pictures. It seems to have a problem with releasing memory as well.