I'd like to get an old lady from my church a new OS (currently running WinME) for crimmus, but I'm not about to shell out $88.94 for it.

What can I do?

Can I trust someone on ebay? All the auctions I see are more expensive than prices listed on NewEgg.com.

Is there anyone out there who would be kind enough to donate their free XP copy from school?

Something, anything...

12/3/2005 12:04:46 AM

First off this should be in the classifieds. Second off, before you shell out money for XP I suggest you make sure her system can run it. It would be pointless to buy XP and then find out that the machine isn't powerful enough to run it at it's full potential (unless you plan on doing hardware upgrades as well). I suggest you pick up a copy of Windows 2000. That, IMO, is the best OS Microsoft has made to date. Or you could try and set her up with a linux distro. Some user friendly distros include Suse, Mandrake, Linspire, Xandros, SimplyMEPIS, and Ubuntu (the one I'm using).

12/3/2005 12:52:21 AM

The problem with 2000 is that it's going out of support from M$ next year. If you turn off all the fancy effects and stuff, XP doesn't put much more of a load on the system than does 2K anyway. I've had XP happily running on a PII-450, for example.

12/3/2005 2:03:06 PM

Windows XP $69.95 at the NCSU bookstore. You aren't going to find it any cheaper unless you download it from MSDNAA.

12/4/2005 10:14:27 AM

^^^ You are a fucking idiot.

Linux for an old lady? HAhahAhAhahAhAh

12/4/2005 2:54:26 PM

Acutally its not as crazy as it sounds. My grandfather (who is in his 70s) uses a Linux distro on his computer (Ubuntu, for those who are curious). Since he only does basic things (browsing the web, check email, type letters, get photos off digital camera, etc) it is perfect for him. Most modern Linux distros are just as easy to use as windows is (once it is setup), and theres no concern about viruses and things like that.

The myth that linux is hard to use comes from the fact that you have to install the OS manually. Since windows comes preinstalled on most computers, people always assume that "Linux is hard to use" since the install is, admittedly, rather complicated (though no more so that doing a clean windows install). Old people using linux isn't as crazy as it sounds.

12/4/2005 3:01:57 PM

My grandfather and little sister both use cheap machines with some versions of redhat on them. They've never had any problems either. They log in at startup, and click on the programs they want to use. OMFG that's so hard!

[Edited on December 4, 2005 at 3:47 PM. Reason : ]

12/4/2005 3:46:50 PM

free

and on the internet

12/4/2005 4:07:29 PM

Quote :

"You are a fucking idiot. Linux for an old lady? HAhahAhAhahAhAh "

12/4/2005 4:23:20 PM

also, JUAN is lying his ass off, he's trying to get that shit for free for himself

you asshole

12/4/2005 4:23:50 PM

Quote :

"Windows XP $69.95 at the NCSU bookstore."

oh shit. i didn't know about that. that's interesting.

it's too late though. i started a donation thing and ordered a copy from newegg. i should have checked the univ. store damnit.

Quote :

"he's trying to get that shit for free for himself"

free? shit if i wanted free, that's what the intarnet is for.

i want legal for an old lady, so that she update without getting hassled by "the man".

Quote :

"you asshole "

yo momma.

[Edited on December 4, 2005 at 5:08 PM. Reason : eh]

12/4/2005 5:07:01 PM

Quote :

"The myth that linux is hard to use comes from the fact that you have to install the OS manually. Since windows comes preinstalled on most computers, people always assume that "Linux is hard to use" since the install is, admittedly, rather complicated (though no more so that doing a clean windows install). Old people using linux isn't as crazy as it sounds."

That's only true under the best-case scenario for a desktop machine.

Often, you have to jump through hoops to get drivers and stuff installed for linux, and also get it to configure some devices. Not to mention that sometimes, you can't even find a driver. There is also the issue of some distros being bloated, and not having an easy way to trim things down.

12/4/2005 7:12:08 PM

how would you be able to get a free copy from the school?

12/4/2005 7:49:45 PM

Quote :

"That's only true under the best-case scenario for a desktop machine. Often, you have to jump through hoops to get drivers and stuff installed for linux, and also get it to configure some devices. Not to mention that sometimes, you can't even find a driver. There is also the issue of some distros being bloated, and not having an easy way to trim things down."

Stop generalizing. That's only true for SOME distros of Linux. It's easy to install programs in distros like Ubuntu, SimplyMEPIS, and Xandros. I recommend only Debian based linux distros. I'd try to stay away from any distro that uses the RPM packaging system. In Ubuntu all you have to do is issue the "Sudo apt-get install package name" and it will download and install the program for you including all the dependencies. Or if you HAVE to have a GUI based installation, you can use Synaptic to install programs. Command line is so much easier though, once you get the hang of it.

12/4/2005 10:29:13 PM

^Typing is the devil. Grannies don't like to type. For that matter, neither do I if I don't have to.

12/4/2005 10:39:34 PM

You have to type to write emails or type in web addresses. Typing out the apt-get command is so much easier than opening Synaptic, searching for the program, and then installing it. By the time someone does all of that, I've already issued the apt-get install command and am using the program. Sometimes the GUI is easier and sometimes the CLI is easier; it just depends on the situation.

12/4/2005 10:45:52 PM

wtf is this shit.

http://www.fis.ncsu.edu/ncsubookstores/pdf/Student_Select_Agreement.pdf

[Edited on December 5, 2005 at 4:16 AM. Reason : ha]

12/5/2005 4:10:03 AM

yeah... i need a copy of xp as well. someone bring me a disc, and i'll pay you a delivery fee of course.

12/5/2005 10:45:03 PM

Quote :

"how would you be able to get a free copy from the school?"

take an ECE or CSC class

get on MSDNAA

...

profit.

12/6/2005 6:58:32 AM