My old laptop with windows 8, that's nine years old, gave up the ghost. It got so bad that I had to reboot it to send an email. So, I went and got a new one. This one has windows 11, and it's an adventure trying to figure it out. The programs on the old one are not compatible with this new one, so I had to get new programs. These new programs aren't something you buy. It seems these are rented by the year. At first it wouldn't let me load any new programs that weren't in the microsoft store. It had something called an "S" {safe} mode, that I had to take off.

It took me about half a day to figure out how to get outlook figured out. I finally got the data from my old quickbooks loaded into the new one, but only after about an hour on the phone with tech support. Now I'm working on getting my FTP program to work.

Just venting!

Went with Apple for that very reason. Ours died and we went to Windows 10 at the time. It was more confusing that learning a foreign language. It still sits unused in a corner, lol!!

Being born before television was made available I prefer Apple. Had to use windows for previous employment and hated it.

Good luck Paul.

Windows 10 was the last version I understood
I have only used an Android phone for the last 4 years

Gave windows the boot here. Running Linux Mint now.

The new technology seems more about selling you apps then the ease of use idea if I get any updates I’m not happy because it often being nothing but trouble. I have to admit the new phones and lap tops can do a million things that I’ll never need or use ever. It amazing they sell it without directions on how to use it. LOL. Even going from android to android the systems are set up different, why?


I did not actually mean a million things literally or do I need an answer to why.

I find that from the user interface if you stop thinking of it as a computer and think of it like a smart phone with a really big screen.

now many people only have a phone no pc and it is what they are familiar with

20 years ago I could walk you through navigating to things over the phone , there were set a>b>c>d>e> instructions to get you to something as more stuff tries to look like or is a web page it gets harder and harder

on the other hand 20-24 years ago I couldn't pop open a teams meeting and see and control your screen . well sort of could we had pc-anywhere it was slow but it did work


software has always technically be licensed and not sold but since it was a physical media and you could write down the registration code once those started to be a thing , so you could sell or keep using it till you got a computer operating system it was not compatible with

so I have a conflicted relationship with it

as a cheap skate and a sometimes neo-luddite I want to keep everything running as long as I can as long as it does what I need

as an employee of a hardware and software company a lot more software these days than hardware, I like to get paid every month an keep my job and selling new versions with new features started to get hard about 2002
luckily in 2004 our company went a different direction and said , if you maintain your corporate support contract you keep getting versions for free and we charge a licensing fee for added capacity and features.

people had gotten their businesses to a good size for them so selling bigger wasn't working they didn't want to manage 50 people they found a good spot in say 10-15 so they didn't have to start hiring more managers

think about it this way , you have something like a point of sale system , I want you to have all the current software so you get fixes and updates it makes my life easier it makes your life easier you may never need 50+ stations 6 might be all the bigger your going to get at your location.

at the same time we need a way to keep getting paid for our work and development of the fixes and updates and this is what has driven much of the annual license fee driven software market.



there are some good videos people do to show you the ins and outs of the new version here is an example
of some basics , some times the new way isn't very intuitive but isn't hard once you have seen it.

I am haveing trouble just understanding what is said about my new depth finder in the u-tube thing.......jk

I took mine back the same day. They didn't want it but they got it anyway. I think I'm using windows 8.

I do not even have cell Phone and do not need a SMART One!!!

I got a laptop with Windows 10 on it. Buggy as all get out and slow as molasses in January. Gave it to the wife when hers died and it apparently works much better and faster with fewer bugs if used every day. My desktop came with Windows 7. After a couple years it got really bad at freezing up and needing rebooted constantly. Switched to Linux and almost no bugs and very rare issues. Lots of free programs for Linux also rather than the rental without even an option to buy like Microsoft has went to.

My puter is running winders 7

My puter is running winders 7

Windows 98 was the best , they should have stopped there!

You win, LOL.

I kept my windows 7 limping along for as long as I could but it's been dead several years now.

I'm actually impressed.

I have a chromebook laptop. Simple, simple, simple to figure out and operate and it don't get any viruses or any of that BS. And it cost like $100 to buy one.

I have to have my grandson help .me with these darn computers.When it comes to smart phones I'm not too smart, then there are apps. For crying out loud if I stop at McDonalds they want to know if I want to use the app.Give me a break!!!!

speaking of apps

the one of the more sophisticated apps was the ticket master app , you have to both have your phone and data these days to enter a concert , the code to get in is on the app on your phone and it changes every 5 seconds.

so people al taking a photo of the same ticket to gain entry to a venue and just scanning the qr code won't do it

the app and the scanner at the door also register you once you enter so that it knows your seat is full

parking is another app , go to the city and need to park , you can walk to the end of the block and pay or pay from your phone by typing in the parking space # selecting how long you would like and paying

I'm still running Windows 7 with no issues.

Ive probably used every OS(DOS, windows, linux/unix, blackberry, android) out there and by far the most annoying was anything apple.

X2. I started out on a DOS machine in 1993. Anything Apple I have used is just not intuitive.

I still have a Win 95 desktop, two Win XP desktops, a Win NT (my favorite) desktop, two Win 2000 desktop and laptop, Win 7 laptop and desktop ( typing on right now), and a Win 10 desktop for a dedicated use.

All of them still run but can't upgrade the browsers on the older ones anymore.

I haven't bought a "new" machine since 1999. Only buy refurbished stuff now, Never had a problem. Make sure you buy enough RAM and an SSD hard drive. Delete all the game crap and artsy fartsy stuff that sucks memory.

I may just get a larger SSD hard drive. The one in the old computer is only 250gb. I wonder if I get a 1tb if it would cure the problem. It says my drive is full and no room for backups, etc.

Doing the exact thing same this afternoon. Was able to load my old QB 2014 in and move the file with no issues. And was able to move my Office 2016. so at least thats done. Now just have to get used to Windows 11. Little different than 8. Feel free to message me and I will try to help if I can.

always pure torture trying to set up a new puter, would rather set my junk on fire!

I think I've got it.
Warning, advanced users only.
For best value and satisfaction,
buy the cheapest known to man.
When it ticks you off shoot it
full of holes and repeat.

Any help choosing
next target appreciated.

Edit, Oh and watch out for the
dreaded picnic virus

Paul,
l have not had a new puter like you in years.
But if l have a problem with my “smart phone “
my tech support lives across the street and she’s 13 years old.
She just shakes her head at my technology impaired cromagnon self!

I saw a bumper sticker in Seatle about 30 years ago that said;
"BILL GATES IS THE DEVIL"
I'll bet lots of folks share that sentiment.

if you are looking at a TB look at a 2TB drive they are like 20 dollars more to double in size.

I imagine Paul is starting to get it figured out beings he made this post over 2 years ago. LOL

And this is why I love having nerdy friends who are good at piracy lol

Maybe I am just old fashioned but it disappoints me that you are apparently ok with stealing.

Is shoplifting ok too ? How about copying old trapping videos ?

Seems wrong to me to take something that someone else created or that is someone else's property.

Noticed that. Wright Bros dug this back up way later, for some reason.

Yep, me to!

That is sad Ken.

Yep.Same problems here with window 11.I hate that safe mode.

I got Windows 11 and never ran into any issues with a safe mode.

Pete just got a new PC yesterday and he's not getting along with it, but I think it's more about him not remembering all the various passwords than the computer itself, lol.

You mean you don’t like playing minesweeper and solitaire!?!?

They say technology makes things easier but they lied its to sell Apps and sell ads.

Playin' devil's advocate here....but how much money should companies invest to develop apps to give them to people.... free of charge?

I mean.... I'm all for it... if you want to develop a suite of programs on par with Microsoft's office..... that you will allow me to download from you.... free of charge.... I'm 100% for it.

But I assume if you did develop such..... you might want to profit from it as much as you do from selling your skunk juice.... at least?

Which, coincidentally, I believe is on par with MSFT's charges for using its tech.

If you think Microsoft is lying in an attempt to profit off of suckers....

I'll be waiting for the skunk juice you send me at your expense next week.....

Used to be a saying about getting hooked " just say no".

You’re a better man than me for even trying. I got a new iPhone like a month ago, feels like a couple times a day I get mad at it and hand it to the wife and ask her to figure it out lol

https://www.libreoffice.org/download/download-libreoffice/

This is what I use. I use Linux but they claim it works on alot of the others. I don't do torent, I load the long way from systems here:
https://distrowatch.com/

You guys are way WAY ahead of me. Too old to learn new tricks and don't want to. Don't even like to drive in traffic anymore. Unless it is about trappin or fishin.......jk

Thanks for the free office apps, guys. I actually have MSFT Office though.

I wonder how those free ones make their money? Advertisements, maybe?

Not trying to make trouble here But I had to straighten out some people at a lumber yard in MS. You have widows in your house and a Winder is that small area between a dogs tail and his butt hole .

That and selling your info

You aren't the Lone Ranger.

I feel your pain Paul. Tech change is frustrating and a fight. Good Luck!!!

Paul totally understand the frustration previous computer had Widows NT 2000 could only get a new one with 11, talk about frustration ready to use the new one as a boat anchor

WOW, I guess I'm not the only one.

I have a laptop that I use that runs windows 10. I dislike it, I like the windows 8 much better.

My wife has a smart phone and a tablet she uses, both are much less useful than a computer as far as I'm concerned, small screens, no key board, much more constant scrolling, enlarging, shrinking, manipulating the screen.

In the case of OpenOffice, there arent strings attached. Its a project from the Apache Software Foundation that is a 501(c)3 company. Believe it or not, people do release free programs without strings. I have a few programs that I wrote years ago still floating around the the net that are free.

Well, I know I've certainly used your tman search program many times over the years!! Thanks for it!

Your welcome.

Its not really my "program" per se. Its a Custom Google Search Engine that i've tailored just for trapperman.com because the default one from UBB.Threads is....not good. I didnt have to do much coding for it other than the HTML code.

The other programs I mentioned are what I call "real" programs in that they were actually written on compiled code(C++ and C#). The first one that I ever released on line is probably defunct in multiple ways. The second one I think still works, I just havent had good reason to use it because we are long past the days of dialup/DSL where it was most useful. It can still be used to block websites on individual computers without a good deal of nerdiness to be able to detect that they are blocked...and they cant be bypassed by any program I know of.

So are things easier or harder now with all of the technology we have it’s a simple question? I counted 35+ buttons and switches on the new dashboard many hidden behind the steering wheel.

New updates on the PC with no explanation just boom we changed it. LOL (free)

Phone updates are in-fact unwanted games they download ( free)

Bought a new Garmin smart watch it will hundreds of things I need to go to YouTube to figure them out (free) one at a time lucky I don’t need but a few functions.

Hundreds of examples out there is what I was getting at. Paid or not.

Billionaires ain’t giving anything away now are they.

It’s not the computer it’s our ages were mostly computer illiterate