I have been working with computers since Steve Jobs and Bill Gates were still at high school. I am, or at least was, more of a generalist than a specialist and followed a career path of programmer, sales, tech support, management, consulting, the finally support and training (whilst semi retired).

I am not right up to the minute like some of our members who are still working in the industry but I have no problem setting up and maintaining small business networks and systems, and general software support.

This ramble is to say that I don't think of myself as a complete bunny when it comes to computer tech.

swmbo jnr was given an iPad which I use more than she does, she uses her Windows laptop. When I get a replacement for it it will be Android (in reality it is almost impossible to tell the difference but I find Android fractionally more intuitive to use).

In our household the cell phones are Samsung Android, the TV Samsung. They can be integrated but in practice we don't. My newish computer is Windows 8.1 and I don't have any problems with it (true I have "adjusted" a couple of small things). It too can be integrated with the TV as can the iPad. Personally I think all this business of integration is somewhat overrated and Apple leans on it too much in their publicity. They just want you to get totally locked in on their products. In any case there are about a million ways (slight exaggeration) in which data, images and video can be shared between your devices.

This brings us to swmbo's laptop. It is a MacBook. To put it mildly I simply can not stand it. I can never find anything and nothing works the way you would expect it too. IT thinks you don't have a brain and IT decides where it is going to put your files and heaven help you if you want to find them again to use in some other way. In effect you give over control to the machine. I find it the most frustrating piece of computer equipment I have ever used and that is saying something. The first time Apple gave me this sort of frustration was with the ill fated Lisa and I hope the last is with the MacBook.

The speed you experienced is more representative of newer technology and hardware than the OS. I'm working on a desktop system but I find Windows 8.1 plenty fast enough. Nearly all the programs I use are General Public License (GPL) and if I like the software I have been known to make a donation. I use Libre Office, and Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird. You can get these for Mac too.

I really like Linux by the way but I have not spent enough time to really use it as an alternative to Windows.

Sorry about the long rant hide

Peter

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