Am I Crazy or Eccentric?

     For a long time I always thought that the difference between crazy and eccentric was the amount of money in your bank account. If you are rich and do wild things you are eccentric. If you are poor you are just crazy. 

     Eccentric is deviating from the norm. But what is normal. Being herded along like a bunch of sheep? Or is it being practical and pragmatic? Being practical and pragmatic certainly isn't being normal. Normal means that you do dumb things because everyone else is doing the same dumb thing. If everyone else is doing it it must be normal, right? 

     One thing that I do most of the time is ride a bicycle to work. People think why do you ride a bicycle to work when you have access to a car? I say access to a car because I have the keys to one but am making payments on it. So I do not own it. If I stop making payments the real owner will come and get it. Sue me. It is called a repossession. Stop making payments on your car and see who owns it. Biking to work gives me exercise and can get there nearly as quick if not quicker. No lights and few cars to deal with depending on the route I take. Plus you see things up close and first hand.

      Technology. I do not have the latest and the greatest. But how much do you need? If something works why change until you need to. Sometimes we are forced to change. But most jump right on the bandwagon. It is the cool thing to do. I am the only one most of the time not fooling with their phone in the lunch room. Kind of makes me look like a turd in the punch bowl. Social media has caused us to become shallow and not really interact with life in a three dimensional basis. So we spend money on our little video games. This is not reality. It is some game you spent a lot of your hard earned money on . Kind of like stroking yourself. It don't mean nothing to no one but yourself. 

     Everyone seems to have to perfected the easy way out. No one wants to hoe the tough rood. Let us find an easier thing to do. People seem to have a bail out mode. Bail out and let someone else deal with it.This lethargic mentality seems to have superseded the old can do mentality of the past. Or even the getter done mentality of recent times. If you look at people they are not in shape. The young girls are either fat or skinny with no muscle. What ever happened to the fitness craze of the eighties? I notice that the moms of that age are in better shape then their daughters. Although most of them roasted their selves.in the sun. Too bad because most have a real good shape!
     I help my parents. Is this so eccentric? I have heard that my aunt still does so many things for my cousins. It should be the other way around. But again I am eccentric. My parents gave me every way to be successful. If I did not deal with that in a positive or successful manner it falls on me. My father looks a lot like my grandfather did. I guess I will look like that too.Both of my grandfather were so cool.
     A lot of people out there now do not even know who their grandfathers and grandmother are.So I guess I am eccentric. Maybe crazy.

     

Am I Crazy or Eccentric?

     For a long time I always thought that the difference between crazy and eccentric was the amount of money in your bank account. If you are rich and do wild things you are eccentric. If you are poor you are just crazy. 

     Eccentric is deviating from the norm. But what is normal. Being herded along like a bunch of sheep? Or is it being practical and pragmatic? Being practical and pragmatic certainly isn't being normal. Normal means that you do dumb things because everyone else is doing the same dumb thing. If everyone else is doing it it must be normal, right? 

     One thing that I do most of the time is ride a bicycle to work. People think why do you ride a bicycle to work when you have access to a car? I say access to a car because I have the keys to one but am making payments on it. So I do not own it. If I stop making payments the real owner will come and get it. Sue me. It is called a repossession. Stop making payments on your car and see who owns it. Biking to work gives me exercise and can get there nearly as quick if not quicker. No lights and few cars to deal with depending on the route I take. Plus you see things up close and first hand.

      Technology. I do not have the latest and the greatest. But how much do you need? If something works why change until you need to. Sometimes we are forced to change. But most jump right on the bandwagon. It is the cool thing to do. I am the only one most of the time not fooling with their phone in the lunch room. Kind of makes me look like a turd in the punch bowl. Social media has caused us to become shallow and not really interact with life in a three dimensional basis. So we spend money on our little video games. This is not reality. It is some game you spent a lot of your hard earned money on . Kind of like stroking yourself. It don't mean nothing to no one but yourself. 

     Everyone seems to have to perfected the easy way out. No one wants to hoe the tough rood. Let us find an easier thing to do. People seem to have a bail out mode. Bail out and let someone else deal with it.This lethargic mentality seems to have superseded the old can do mentality of the past. Or even the getter done mentality of recent times. If you look at people they are not in shape. The young girls are either fat or skinny with no muscle. What ever happened to the fitness craze of the eighties? I notice that the moms of that age are in better shape then their daughters. Although most of them roasted their selves.in the sun. Too bad because most have a real good shape!
     I help my parents. Is this so eccentric? I have heard that my aunt still does so many things for my cousins. It should be the other way around. But again I am eccentric. My parents gave me every way to be successful. If I did not deal with that in a positive or successful manner it falls on me. My father looks a lot like my grandfather did. I guess I will look like that too.Both of my grandfather were so cool.
     A lot of people out there now do not even know who their grandfathers and grandmother are.So I guess I am eccentric. Maybe crazy.

     

Laptop, Desktop Or Chromebook? Which One Is Best Fot You?

     Still not sure of the fallout from Microsoft's ending of support for Windows XP many may have to be in the new computer market. I am no expert in the field just my observations. What do you need if you could only have one functioning machine?
     Just learning about a Chromebook. It may do everything that is needed. I have seen them for less than $200. They do not have a CD drive. They have a small amount of hard drive space as it is not that important. They do not need an anti virus. Chromebooks rely on the Cloud for memory. They would be good for surfing the internet. Bill paying. Purchasing items on the Web. You do have to use a wireless connection. They run on a Chrome operating system. No Windows.
     The desktop is the old standby. Now with a lot of hard drive and memory. Good processor speeds. But you cannot easily carry them around. They are generally connected to a land line. They are a good gaming console because of their power. A good choice for a home family computer with multiple users. With space for every one's own stuff.
     Then there are laptops. They are a less expensive then in the past. I see them with lot hard drive capacity. Two to four gig of ram and more. What I have noticed is that even with the large hard drive and a lot of RAM they can still have a small processor speed capacity. Which I consider more important as I do not put many programs, downloads or media on the computer. Processor speed and RAM are more important to me. For surfing the net. At this time a laptop is my first choice. Only because I am not familiar enough with the Chromebook. I low end laptop has enough power to do what I do.
      I am not in an economic situation to just go out and buy something. So I hope the XP thing is not as bad as predicted. What are your purchase options? New, used or refurbished? The end of new is around $300. Good hard drive space and RAM. Slow processor speed. Again with me processor speed and RAM are more important than hard drive space. So looking at about $400 to get one with the minimum.
      Used from an individual is out of the question. I have had bad luck with these in the past. Most are broken, infected with viruses and an outdated operating system.
     Then there are refurbished machines off lease from companies from the manufacturer. They have a small warranty and good performing machines. Maybe with scratches and signs of use. They should however work well. Everybody seems to want Windows 7 as Windows 8 was not well received. I do not think that I want a touchscreen. or Windows 8. Microsoft is pushing Windows 8.1. So a nice refurb with Windows 7 is around $200 to $300. But when will Microsoft stop support for 7? I am reading 2015 or 2020. A lot of help there! Do I buy something it will takes months to pay for to have it's operating system go unsupported in a year and be in the same boat I am now?
     So what to do? If you are not poor just go out and buy a new Chromebook, desktop and laptop and let it go. You know drop about $2500 and move on as Microsoft says you should.

Laptop, Desktop Or Chromebook? Which One Is Best Fot You?

     Still not sure of the fallout from Microsoft's ending of support for Windows XP many may have to be in the new computer market. I am no expert in the field just my observations. What do you need if you could only have one functioning machine?
     Just learning about a Chromebook. It may do everything that is needed. I have seen them for less than $200. They do not have a CD drive. They have a small amount of hard drive space as it is not that important. They do not need an anti virus. Chromebooks rely on the Cloud for memory. They would be good for surfing the internet. Bill paying. Purchasing items on the Web. You do have to use a wireless connection. They run on a Chrome operating system. No Windows.
     The desktop is the old standby. Now with a lot of hard drive and memory. Good processor speeds. But you cannot easily carry them around. They are generally connected to a land line. They are a good gaming console because of their power. A good choice for a home family computer with multiple users. With space for every one's own stuff.
     Then there are laptops. They are a less expensive then in the past. I see them with lot hard drive capacity. Two to four gig of ram and more. What I have noticed is that even with the large hard drive and a lot of RAM they can still have a small processor speed capacity. Which I consider more important as I do not put many programs, downloads or media on the computer. Processor speed and RAM are more important to me. For surfing the net. At this time a laptop is my first choice. Only because I am not familiar enough with the Chromebook. I low end laptop has enough power to do what I do.
      I am not in an economic situation to just go out and buy something. So I hope the XP thing is not as bad as predicted. What are your purchase options? New, used or refurbished? The end of new is around $300. Good hard drive space and RAM. Slow processor speed. Again with me processor speed and RAM are more important than hard drive space. So looking at about $400 to get one with the minimum.
      Used from an individual is out of the question. I have had bad luck with these in the past. Most are broken, infected with viruses and an outdated operating system.
     Then there are refurbished machines off lease from companies from the manufacturer. They have a small warranty and good performing machines. Maybe with scratches and signs of use. They should however work well. Everybody seems to want Windows 7 as Windows 8 was not well received. I do not think that I want a touchscreen. or Windows 8. Microsoft is pushing Windows 8.1. So a nice refurb with Windows 7 is around $200 to $300. But when will Microsoft stop support for 7? I am reading 2015 or 2020. A lot of help there! Do I buy something it will takes months to pay for to have it's operating system go unsupported in a year and be in the same boat I am now?
     So what to do? If you are not poor just go out and buy a new Chromebook, desktop and laptop and let it go. You know drop about $2500 and move on as Microsoft says you should.

Why Would Anyone Use UPS To Ship?

     I really do not know why anyone would want to use UPS to ship with anymore. They are expensive and slow. I cringe I buy something one line and they use UPS to ship with. When I sell something on ebay I prefer USPS. I also prefer to receive things via USPS.
     Check into that the next time you need to ship

Why Would Anyone Use UPS To Ship?

     I really do not know why anyone would want to use UPS to ship with anymore. They are expensive and slow. I cringe I buy something one line and they use UPS to ship with. When I sell something on ebay I prefer USPS. I also prefer to receive things via USPS.
     Check into that the next time you need to ship

The Future Of Using Windows XP As Your Operating System

     Without a concrete or concise answer to the XP dilemma There are so many theroies out there. What is true. The first fact is that Microsoft is going to stop support for Windows XP. The big guy is going to pull the plug on the poor folks that are happy with that system. The second fact is that the hacker people will without a doubt attack XP. 

     The thing to do is buy a new computer. Wasting a lot of perfectly functioning machine. Creating a lot of toxic waste. Maybe throw them into a lake. With the batteries and everything. If a new computer is not in your budget you will be without one. Hope you did not go paperless on all of your bills. You will have to contact everyone and request a paper statement. Get some stamps and write some checks. Hope you still have checks. If not  better order some. As your banking is no longer going to be secure on line. 

      Some hot rod anti virus, spyware and malware may help you. Pay to get this if you do not already. Do not open any email. Unless you know who sent it and know what it says. You do not even need to open it anyway then.
     It may be like the year 2000. Everything was going to stop. Maybe it won't 

The Future Of Using Windows XP As Your Operating System

     Without a concrete or concise answer to the XP dilemma There are so many theroies out there. What is true. The first fact is that Microsoft is going to stop support for Windows XP. The big guy is going to pull the plug on the poor folks that are happy with that system. The second fact is that the hacker people will without a doubt attack XP. 

     The thing to do is buy a new computer. Wasting a lot of perfectly functioning machine. Creating a lot of toxic waste. Maybe throw them into a lake. With the batteries and everything. If a new computer is not in your budget you will be without one. Hope you did not go paperless on all of your bills. You will have to contact everyone and request a paper statement. Get some stamps and write some checks. Hope you still have checks. If not  better order some. As your banking is no longer going to be secure on line. 

      Some hot rod anti virus, spyware and malware may help you. Pay to get this if you do not already. Do not open any email. Unless you know who sent it and know what it says. You do not even need to open it anyway then.
     It may be like the year 2000. Everything was going to stop. Maybe it won't 

Blowing Tax Return Is Not Frugal But Can Be Fun

     It is tax time. You may get a return. What do you do with it? Save it. Blow it. Do something in between. Obviously the smart thing to do is to save it for a rainy day. Found money that could help you down the road. 

     You can however have a little fun with it. I was on bikenashbar picking up some maintenance supplies for the bicycles. They had a 20% off sale on everything Nashbar. I got all my stuff to checkout and realized this may apply to a single speed bike they already had on sale. I haven't bought a bike in eight years. So I scored it. A blowing of money I know. I hope I like it. Got to live a little right. I like Nashbar anyway. I guess they like me. 

     After getting put together by the local bike shop (henceforth LBS) I find I can get better results through Nashbar. and other internet stores. Nashbar has good sales on things you may really need. I went beyond the pail with a new bike purchase. I use a bike everyday. So maybe not. A new bike may cause me to want to ride more. Which is better. I will have a piece from the twenty-first century. All good, I think! With the sale the bike was purchased for about the same price as a wheel at the LBS. I hope I am happy with it as I own it now. Single speed with a coaster brake. Haven't had that since the old Schwinn Stingray. Hope I do not get hurt!

     By the way. The LBS said the wheel I bought a week earlier was completely ruined by me. I bent an axle and ruined the bearings. Again this is where I should have stopped. Should have stopped when I took a wheel to get a spoke. They said it couldn't be fixed. Bought a new on . I guess I ruined it too Could have stuck to the old wheels I had in stock as they worked fine. Would have saved $175. Three trips and a lot of aggravation. My foolishness. Can't blame anyone else. Could have saved a lot of money and time by being rational. The new bike may have not been rational. But I have it coming. Looking forward to it. 

     I did not squander all of the tax return. Need to keep it for a rainy day (read rent, utilities, car payment, insurance and food). 

     I know I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer. But I am not the dullest  either. But I let my urges  cause  me to spend money that I did not have to do. A little lesson. But I should be old enough to know.

Blowing Tax Return Is Not Frugal But Can Be Fun

     It is tax time. You may get a return. What do you do with it? Save it. Blow it. Do something in between. Obviously the smart thing to do is to save it for a rainy day. Found money that could help you down the road. 

     You can however have a little fun with it. I was on bikenashbar picking up some maintenance supplies for the bicycles. They had a 20% off sale on everything Nashbar. I got all my stuff to checkout and realized this may apply to a single speed bike they already had on sale. I haven't bought a bike in eight years. So I scored it. A blowing of money I know. I hope I like it. Got to live a little right. I like Nashbar anyway. I guess they like me. 

     After getting put together by the local bike shop (henceforth LBS) I find I can get better results through Nashbar. and other internet stores. Nashbar has good sales on things you may really need. I went beyond the pail with a new bike purchase. I use a bike everyday. So maybe not. A new bike may cause me to want to ride more. Which is better. I will have a piece from the twenty-first century. All good, I think! With the sale the bike was purchased for about the same price as a wheel at the LBS. I hope I am happy with it as I own it now. Single speed with a coaster brake. Haven't had that since the old Schwinn Stingray. Hope I do not get hurt!

     By the way. The LBS said the wheel I bought a week earlier was completely ruined by me. I bent an axle and ruined the bearings. Again this is where I should have stopped. Should have stopped when I took a wheel to get a spoke. They said it couldn't be fixed. Bought a new on . I guess I ruined it too Could have stuck to the old wheels I had in stock as they worked fine. Would have saved $175. Three trips and a lot of aggravation. My foolishness. Can't blame anyone else. Could have saved a lot of money and time by being rational. The new bike may have not been rational. But I have it coming. Looking forward to it. 

     I did not squander all of the tax return. Need to keep it for a rainy day (read rent, utilities, car payment, insurance and food). 

     I know I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer. But I am not the dullest  either. But I let my urges  cause  me to spend money that I did not have to do. A little lesson. But I should be old enough to know.

The Less You Have The Less You Have To Maintain

     There is an old saying the one that dies with the most toys wins. The older I get the less I am believing in this saying. More is not necessarily better. More is just more to maintain. More stuff in the way taking up space. More to pay taxes on if they have real value. Something someone wants to steal. Less is really better.

     Keep it simple. Keep it straight. As I get on kicks I tend to overindulge in a project. I go to the neath degree to accomplish something. Often however in something that I know is not going to bother anyone else but myself if I fail . Which is likely . If you do not ask them out they will not say no. If you do not try it you will not fail. There is something to nothing. 

     If you have nothing no one wants to take it away from you. After all nothing is nothing. So who could want it. Junk is junk. No one wants junk. No one steals junk. So junk is safe. If it is junk you can use it is not junk to you and may be to someone else. Making it totally worthless to any one else. 

     Then there is just junk. Not useful to you or anyone else and should just be discarded. I however like to try to re purpose junk. People throw away a lot a things that can be used again. With very little money to waste on frivolous things I try to use what I have and make it work. Trying to be frugal. But every once in a while I just blow money on something that really doesn't make a difference to anyone but me. Even then I will go to the next thing and then concentrate on it till I move on to the next thing. Obsessing on it till the next phase comes along. I can't say for sure if it keeps me sane or insane. Busy anyway.
     The bigger your home the more room you have to accumulate more stuff. The more stuff you have the more stuff you have to take care of. At one time I had two trucks, a car and a motorcycle. Had to decide which one to use. Each had a specific use. Lots of money for insurance and tags. Let people use them because I am so cool. They would come back dirty and out of gas at best. Many times damaged. Guess I am not cool, just dumb. I also go for overkill. Too many of basically the same thing. I could as many could really get along without a car. In many ways I wish I just kept my old truck as I do not have to drive that often. But I got it into my mind I needed another one. Things break on newer ones too. Plus a car payment.
     The more things you have the more things that can go wrong. The more rooms you have. The more rooms you have to clean, heat, cool, paint and decorate. The more automobiles you have the more you have to fret and spend on keeping them on the road. The more of everything you have the more you have to worry about and spend.

The Less You Have The Less You Have To Maintain

     There is an old saying the one that dies with the most toys wins. The older I get the less I am believing in this saying. More is not necessarily better. More is just more to maintain. More stuff in the way taking up space. More to pay taxes on if they have real value. Something someone wants to steal. Less is really better.

     Keep it simple. Keep it straight. As I get on kicks I tend to overindulge in a project. I go to the neath degree to accomplish something. Often however in something that I know is not going to bother anyone else but myself if I fail . Which is likely . If you do not ask them out they will not say no. If you do not try it you will not fail. There is something to nothing. 

     If you have nothing no one wants to take it away from you. After all nothing is nothing. So who could want it. Junk is junk. No one wants junk. No one steals junk. So junk is safe. If it is junk you can use it is not junk to you and may be to someone else. Making it totally worthless to any one else. 

     Then there is just junk. Not useful to you or anyone else and should just be discarded. I however like to try to re purpose junk. People throw away a lot a things that can be used again. With very little money to waste on frivolous things I try to use what I have and make it work. Trying to be frugal. But every once in a while I just blow money on something that really doesn't make a difference to anyone but me. Even then I will go to the next thing and then concentrate on it till I move on to the next thing. Obsessing on it till the next phase comes along. I can't say for sure if it keeps me sane or insane. Busy anyway.
     The bigger your home the more room you have to accumulate more stuff. The more stuff you have the more stuff you have to take care of. At one time I had two trucks, a car and a motorcycle. Had to decide which one to use. Each had a specific use. Lots of money for insurance and tags. Let people use them because I am so cool. They would come back dirty and out of gas at best. Many times damaged. Guess I am not cool, just dumb. I also go for overkill. Too many of basically the same thing. I could as many could really get along without a car. In many ways I wish I just kept my old truck as I do not have to drive that often. But I got it into my mind I needed another one. Things break on newer ones too. Plus a car payment.
     The more things you have the more things that can go wrong. The more rooms you have. The more rooms you have to clean, heat, cool, paint and decorate. The more automobiles you have the more you have to fret and spend on keeping them on the road. The more of everything you have the more you have to worry about and spend.

The End Of XP Support The End Of The World Or What?

     The end of support from Microsoft is ending for Windows XP. Perhaps the best system they have came up with. It commands the majority of operating systems in use today. Later versions did not work as well.     

     Why do they just not come up with a one time charge for folks using Windows XP to keep up the service that we were so happy to get from them. I would be happy to pay a one time fee to make XP work forever. 

     That may be the whole plan. I will lay down for it as all my computers are old and work just fine.I like many people cannot afford to just go out and get a new computer. They are putting a scare in a lot of us I am sure. By the same token there are probably a lot of folks still chugging around out there on Windows 98.
     You can go to Microsoft and see if your computer will be able to handle a operating system upgrade. Some older units will take the Windows 7 update. Most will not take the Windows 8 update. I have been checking around on the update and will probably require professional assistance. This will likely cost a lot as the computer shops will consider this a big shot in the arm for business. I will keep you updated as I can get more information.
     So far what I have found is that you may have to get a very good anti virus, spyware and malware program. There are also others suggesting that Java, Flashplayer, and Adobe are venues that let hackers get access to your information. Microsoft Securities Essentials will also stop support for XP also. That is supposed to end in 2015. But without the XP security updates will be lame. That is why an outside provider may be the way to go. The top two I have found endorsed by pundits are Kaspersky Internet Security 2014 and Avast! 2014. McAfee and Norton will have something too. I took liberty to download Avast on the desktop. It is free for 30 days. It really slowed things down. Maybe because I still have Microsoft Security Essentials running too. It takes 500 MB. So it is probably good at what it does. The minimum package is about $35 per year. The best around $80. Kaspersky starts at around $80. I have not downloaded Kaspersky. Avast! has a sandbox and virtual computer mode which I understand makes some actions on your part more secure.
     Also suggested was to not use Internet Explorer. Use Firefox and Google Chrome. I find this interesting as I got a malware that infected Firefox and Google Chrome called Conduit. It was a pain to get rid of. Internet Explorer was not infected. Conduit is a hijacking search engine that directs you to where ever it is they want. I read that Firefox and Google Chrome are going to be more secure that Internet Explorer.
     So what do you do. Keep on going with XP. Upgrade or try to upgrade to a more modern operating system (Vista, 7 or 8). Another option is switching to a third party operating system like Ubuntu. They claim to have 20 million users and is free. The desktop and laptop I use both according to Microsoft can handle the Windows 7 OS in the 32 bit version. This is only because they meet the minimum requirements of RAM, processor speeds and amount of space left on the hard drive. People look at me like I am crazy using nine year old computers. But they work just fine and I am not hard on equipment and look almost new. They were very expensive units when new with a lot of optional upgrades which has contributed to their longevity.
     If you can or attempt to upgrade to Windows 7 you have to do a custom installation. You can save your currant programs if you save them to an external hard drive. Microsoft is providing a free transfer program. But you will need a external hard drive. Bear in mind that if you do not transfer these programs and documents they will be lost forever. The other thing is finding a Windows 7 disc. I have found some available in the internet. You need the whole program with the COA and key code. Also the disc is only good one one computer. So if you need to upgrade 2 you need 2 discs. There may also issues with drivers etc after installation. Expect to spend around $100 for the Windows 7 OS disc. Make sure that it is genuine and have the key codes and unused as it will not work. Again a lot of people are going to in a panic (like myself) will try anything. Again it may be worth the money to take the unit to a professional for the upgrade. Kind of like calling the plumber. In the worst case scenario you can upgrade with effort and expense, buy a new machine or just keep chugging along until something bad happens.
     In my experience with machines sometimes when you fix one thing it reveals another weak link. So in my case I pay and figure out how to do the upgrades. I am not concerned with saving anything on the laptop as I pretty much wiped it clean for speed purposes. The desktop has a lot of purchased games. If the games do not require an internet connection I can just remove it from the internet and use it for offline use only. Upgrading does not guarantee that these machines do not has some other catastrophic failure from the hard drive or mother board. In essence they could die anytime. Until I find more information do you attempt a DIYS fix. Let it ride and come what may. Do you buy a new machine. Let it ride fits into my budget.
     Since XP is still in use in 30% of the machines to this day someone will come up with something. My nature is to panic about something which may not amount to much. A new computer is not in my budget any time soon. I would imagine this is the case with most people. I am not a hardcore fan of anything. Coordinately not a computer operating system. I do not have Windows XP tattooed on me anywhere. It is just a system in an appliance that I use. Simple as that.
     The big thing they say is the hackers are just waiting for Microsoft to let there guard down. Then they can access everyone's bank account and credit cards. This may be true. XP users will be inundated with every bad thing that could happen to them.
     I think that Microsoft should step up to the pump and continue support of their arguably best and longest lasting operating system. Others have came and gone by XP has hung in there for 12 years. As none other. Perhaps they could charge a one time fee for perpetual support. I do not think that Microsoft is going broke and it would seem to be a feather in a company's hat that they came up with technical ecstasy. Something that worked and still works. Later systems were not as good. Bill Gates has the money to spend on saving some kind of bugs in some remote country. Why can he not have his company continue to support his product for a few more years anyway? It just came to me last Sunday that this may be a big issue. I will try to figure out more and will post on it accordingly.
     Please let me hear your comments.

    

The End Of XP Support The End Of The World Or What?

     The end of support from Microsoft is ending for Windows XP. Perhaps the best system they have came up with. It commands the majority of operating systems in use today. Later versions did not work as well.     

     Why do they just not come up with a one time charge for folks using Windows XP to keep up the service that we were so happy to get from them. I would be happy to pay a one time fee to make XP work forever. 

     That may be the whole plan. I will lay down for it as all my computers are old and work just fine.I like many people cannot afford to just go out and get a new computer. They are putting a scare in a lot of us I am sure. By the same token there are probably a lot of folks still chugging around out there on Windows 98.
     You can go to Microsoft and see if your computer will be able to handle a operating system upgrade. Some older units will take the Windows 7 update. Most will not take the Windows 8 update. I have been checking around on the update and will probably require professional assistance. This will likely cost a lot as the computer shops will consider this a big shot in the arm for business. I will keep you updated as I can get more information.
     So far what I have found is that you may have to get a very good anti virus, spyware and malware program. There are also others suggesting that Java, Flashplayer, and Adobe are venues that let hackers get access to your information. Microsoft Securities Essentials will also stop support for XP also. That is supposed to end in 2015. But without the XP security updates will be lame. That is why an outside provider may be the way to go. The top two I have found endorsed by pundits are Kaspersky Internet Security 2014 and Avast! 2014. McAfee and Norton will have something too. I took liberty to download Avast on the desktop. It is free for 30 days. It really slowed things down. Maybe because I still have Microsoft Security Essentials running too. It takes 500 MB. So it is probably good at what it does. The minimum package is about $35 per year. The best around $80. Kaspersky starts at around $80. I have not downloaded Kaspersky. Avast! has a sandbox and virtual computer mode which I understand makes some actions on your part more secure.
     Also suggested was to not use Internet Explorer. Use Firefox and Google Chrome. I find this interesting as I got a malware that infected Firefox and Google Chrome called Conduit. It was a pain to get rid of. Internet Explorer was not infected. Conduit is a hijacking search engine that directs you to where ever it is they want. I read that Firefox and Google Chrome are going to be more secure that Internet Explorer.
     So what do you do. Keep on going with XP. Upgrade or try to upgrade to a more modern operating system (Vista, 7 or 8). Another option is switching to a third party operating system like Ubuntu. They claim to have 20 million users and is free. The desktop and laptop I use both according to Microsoft can handle the Windows 7 OS in the 32 bit version. This is only because they meet the minimum requirements of RAM, processor speeds and amount of space left on the hard drive. People look at me like I am crazy using nine year old computers. But they work just fine and I am not hard on equipment and look almost new. They were very expensive units when new with a lot of optional upgrades which has contributed to their longevity.
     If you can or attempt to upgrade to Windows 7 you have to do a custom installation. You can save your currant programs if you save them to an external hard drive. Microsoft is providing a free transfer program. But you will need a external hard drive. Bear in mind that if you do not transfer these programs and documents they will be lost forever. The other thing is finding a Windows 7 disc. I have found some available in the internet. You need the whole program with the COA and key code. Also the disc is only good one one computer. So if you need to upgrade 2 you need 2 discs. There may also issues with drivers etc after installation. Expect to spend around $100 for the Windows 7 OS disc. Make sure that it is genuine and have the key codes and unused as it will not work. Again a lot of people are going to in a panic (like myself) will try anything. Again it may be worth the money to take the unit to a professional for the upgrade. Kind of like calling the plumber. In the worst case scenario you can upgrade with effort and expense, buy a new machine or just keep chugging along until something bad happens.
     In my experience with machines sometimes when you fix one thing it reveals another weak link. So in my case I pay and figure out how to do the upgrades. I am not concerned with saving anything on the laptop as I pretty much wiped it clean for speed purposes. The desktop has a lot of purchased games. If the games do not require an internet connection I can just remove it from the internet and use it for offline use only. Upgrading does not guarantee that these machines do not has some other catastrophic failure from the hard drive or mother board. In essence they could die anytime. Until I find more information do you attempt a DIYS fix. Let it ride and come what may. Do you buy a new machine. Let it ride fits into my budget.
     Since XP is still in use in 30% of the machines to this day someone will come up with something. My nature is to panic about something which may not amount to much. A new computer is not in my budget any time soon. I would imagine this is the case with most people. I am not a hardcore fan of anything. Coordinately not a computer operating system. I do not have Windows XP tattooed on me anywhere. It is just a system in an appliance that I use. Simple as that.
     The big thing they say is the hackers are just waiting for Microsoft to let there guard down. Then they can access everyone's bank account and credit cards. This may be true. XP users will be inundated with every bad thing that could happen to them.
     I think that Microsoft should step up to the pump and continue support of their arguably best and longest lasting operating system. Others have came and gone by XP has hung in there for 12 years. As none other. Perhaps they could charge a one time fee for perpetual support. I do not think that Microsoft is going broke and it would seem to be a feather in a company's hat that they came up with technical ecstasy. Something that worked and still works. Later systems were not as good. Bill Gates has the money to spend on saving some kind of bugs in some remote country. Why can he not have his company continue to support his product for a few more years anyway? It just came to me last Sunday that this may be a big issue. I will try to figure out more and will post on it accordingly.
     Please let me hear your comments.

    

Million Dollar Bill

     I am happy to say that my father is getting along a lot better now. He got the bill form Tampa General. It is over a million dollars.
     Is it time to go to a truly socialized medicine?

Million Dollar Bill

     I am happy to say that my father is getting along a lot better now. He got the bill form Tampa General. It is over a million dollars.
     Is it time to go to a truly socialized medicine?