NWI INGO General Thread #27 - Fresh Pink Air On US-30 smells like...

[KLB]

So, what kind of options do I have?

Windows, Linux, Mac, Chrome Book

What about linux? Would that be a difficult transition for me?

Probably.

What about programs? Do I lose compatibility?

Definitely.

What kind of laptop would be good?

Snap is right. Get RAM. That is the key for laptops these days. 16Gb is the minimum I would get. If you have a lot of stuff open at the same time, like browser tabs and programs, get 32Gb.

Get one with Windows 11. That will keep you more secure, longer.

Do you have a Costco membership? That is a good place to buy a laptop.

For your current laptop, you probably have a bunch of junk loading at startup. They love to load crap onto laptops. You might be able to turn a lot of it off.

 

[marvin02]

But, when I look at laptops, I don't know if I want Microsoft anything, especially Windows

FYI, Windows 11 requires a Microsoft account now.

If you want to stay with Windows run the PC Health check app on your current laptop:

How to use the PC Health Check app - Microsoft Support

Learn how to use the PC Health Check app to help you improve your device performance.

support.microsoft.com

That will tell you if your current laptop can be upgraded to Win11.

I've found Linux Mint to be a fairly easy transition from Windows:

Home - Linux Mint

Linux Mint is an elegant, easy to use, up to date and comfortable desktop operating system.

www.linuxmint.com

If you just need to browse the web and do email Linux would be fine. Open Office will substitute for 80% of MS Office functionality.

Bunch of programs just aren't available for Linux.

You can download Linux Mint and put it on a bootable USB drive to try. I've got one if you want to just plug it in and try it.

 

[marvin02]

For your current laptop, you probably have a bunch of junk loading at startup. They love to load crap onto laptops. You might be able to turn a lot of it off.

This ^^^^^

Uninstall everything you don't use. Disable auto start programs:

How to Disable Startup Programs in Windows

Not everything needs to run immediately.

www.howtogeek.com

 

[tmschuller]

Good morning guys and gals.. had a great day yesterday and my helpers were there
My granddaughter loves to run an impact.. or two! Headed to my wife’s classroom to finish it… have a blessed day people of INGO! Tim

 

[nonobaddog]

Because my laptop sucks... I keep thinking of getting a new one.
Course, maybe I should just take it someplace to see if they can look and find some conflict or something bogging it down.
Been bogged down since I got it.

Main thing I would use it for, would be programming Christmas lights. And a few other things too.
But I can't do them, because the music won't line up with the events, because everytime I play it, the light sequence timing changes.



But, when I look at laptops, I don't know if I want Microsoft anything, especially Windows.

So, what kind of options do I have?
What about linux? Would that be a difficult transition for me?
What about programs? Do I lose compatibility?
What kind of laptop would be good?


Or am I overthinking things?

First things first - what is your current laptop?
brand, model, CPU, ram, video, operating system, age?

 

[Doug28450]

At least it's moving in the right direction now.

 

[bigretic]

FYI, Windows 11 requires a Microsoft account now.

If you want to stay with Windows run the PC Health check app on your current laptop:

How to use the PC Health Check app - Microsoft Support

Learn how to use the PC Health Check app to help you improve your device performance.

support.microsoft.com

That will tell you if your current laptop can be upgraded to Win11.

I've found Linux Mint to be a fairly easy transition from Windows:

Home - Linux Mint

Linux Mint is an elegant, easy to use, up to date and comfortable desktop operating system.

www.linuxmint.com

If you just need to browse the web and do email Linux would be fine. Open Office will substitute for 80% of MS Office functionality.

Bunch of programs just aren't available for Linux.

You can download Linux Mint and put it on a bootable USB drive to try. I've got one if you want to just plug it in and try it.

This is inaccurate actually; but is beyond the ability/desire of a general user. You can definitely install 11 Pro without an MS account. I don't ever run home version, so not sure about that, but i'm sure google knows.
As for the health/readiness "tool" - don't believe it. I have yet to find a PC that would not install from a clean usb iso of 11 pro even when it was reported to not be ready in the "tool" by using the media creator and making an iso, then use rufus to make the iso bootable. You'll probably have to deal with legacy/uefi boot options in some manor, but that a machine by machine question.
ymmv.

 

[marvin02]

This is inaccurate actually; but is beyond the ability/desire of a general user. You can definitely install 11 Pro without an MS account.

Yes, work arounds exist.

Installing Win11 on a PC without adequate hardware might result in a poor experience.

 

[nonobaddog]

Some of their minimum system requirements are just opinions. This is different from the old days. Microsoft wants to decide for you if you will like your machine running Windows 11.

Windows 11 System Requirements - Microsoft Support

Learn about Windows 11 minimum system requirements and how to assess your upgrade eligibility.

support.microsoft.com

Windows 11 is designed to bring you closer to what you love and is releasing at a time when the PC is playing an even more central role in the way we connect, create and play. When we made the decision on where to set the minimum system requirements for Window 11, we focused on three principles to guide our thinking to help ensure a great user experience:

• Reliability
• Security
• Compatibility

If you are interested in understanding more about our minimum system requirements and how these principles helped guide our decision-making, please see this blog that provides a more detailed explanation of our approach.

 

[chef larry]

jedi did it all by jediself.
Remember that pipe that looked like it leaked but had not. This one.

View attachment 372130

Called a few plumbers that never came.
One guy came and said he would send me a quote and never did.

So a few youtube videos and some practice on spare copper pipes today jedi took the plunge and just did it.

Bye bye pipe
View attachment 372131

Was not sure jedi could line up those pipes after the cuts

View attachment 372134

Got your union card?

 

[melensdad]

Don't I recall past posts where Jedi was happy that Divvy Bikes were coming to Chicago?

Now we know what he has been doing with those bikes. . .

Divvy 'Bike Sculpture' On Oak Street Beach Made Entirely Of Bikes Dumped In The Lake

The Alternative Anglers Association created the sculpture out of 22 bikes fished out of Lake Michigan to call attention to how many bikes end up in the water.

blockclubchicago.org

 

[bigretic]

Yes, work arounds exist.

Installing Win11 on a PC without adequate hardware might result in a poor experience.

zero issues even on ancient machines (well, lets say 5th/6th gen intel) again ymmv. It's not a work around, it's an option in the pro version.

 

[jedi]

Got your union card?

jedi wrote jediself a waiver for non-union work.

 

[jedi]

Don't I recall past posts where Jedi was happy that Divvy Bikes were coming to Chicago?

Now we know what he has been doing with those bikes. . .

Divvy 'Bike Sculpture' On Oak Street Beach Made Entirely Of Bikes Dumped In The Lake

The Alternative Anglers Association created the sculpture out of 22 bikes fished out of Lake Michigan to call attention to how many bikes end up in the water.

blockclubchicago.org

.mmmuuuhhhhaaaaaa

 

[jedi]

So above ground pool folks....

How hard is it to maintain the pool?
Do you empty it out before winter and refill in the spring?
Any regrets?

 

[d.kaufman]

So above ground pool folks....

How hard is it to maintain the pool?
Do you empty it out before winter and refill in the spring?
Any regrets?

We have an intex pool. Those have to be drained and taken down. They're not meant to be left up. A regular steel/aluminum pool I believe you just drain maybe a third of water from it.


Wife maintains the pool. Vacuum a couple times a week. We use chlorox 7-1 tablets and we use the same in granular form for opening. She swears by these products. Water is always crystal clear and have little maintenance at all other than skimming and vacuuming.

If you go the intex route. Get rid of the cheap pump that comes with. They cannot move enough water. Get a sand filter and a bigger pump right off the bat and it'll make maintenance some much simpler

 

[yeahbaby]

So above ground pool folks....

How hard is it to maintain the pool?
Do you empty it out before winter and refill in the spring?
Any regrets?

We had one for about 10 years from the previous owner. It's actually not too bad, although I'm sure things have changed now for the better. Back then you just have to stay on top of chlorinating it. Testing the water every few days. And vacuuming the inside bottom of the pool. Flushing the filter. For winterizing it I would drain out maybe a third of the water. Then do a winterizing of chemicals. Then throw the cover on it. We really enjoyed ours and got a lot of use out of it. We decided to take it down as it was going on close to 20 years old. Didn't want to take a chance of a side bursting.

 

[actaeon277]

I never drained my in the ground pool at all.
But all the pipes got blown out and plugged, to prevent breaking pipes.

Cleaned
Chems added.
Covered

 

[actaeon277]

Maybe I just need to have the laptop looked at.
Anyone know a reliable place?

 

[Snapdragon]

Maybe I just need to have the laptop looked at.
Anyone know a reliable place?

I don't have any experience with this place, but they have good Yelp reviews. They're on Summit St just west of Broadway in Crown Point.

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