What Type of Computer and Operating System Are You Using?

[Contrast]

I have just two words, (actually, one word and a number) which brings the common man to his knees: "Windows 8". How I hate this operating system.

What was going on at Microsoft when this thing happened? Bill Gates, where are you? Do you see what happened after you left, Bill? Is anyone in charge...?

OK, enough of my ranting.

My experience with computers goes way, way back. I'm old enough to remember punch cards, the Sinclair Z88 (with thermal printing paper), Apple CMOS 8 bit processers, the IBM PC with dual floppy disks and the Intel 8086 chip (16 bits -Wow!). Then DOS (actually I like it), Windows 95, Windows 98 (my fav), Windows Me (2000), "Bob" (another deranged operating system), Windows XP (most engineering friendly), Vista, Windows 7....finally, this, this thing, the most poor excuse for an operating system that ever existed: Windows 8.

(Side Note: I also remember reading George Orwell's, "1984", and how we were actually concerned about "Big Brother" watching our lives. Who could have ever predicted the situation today, where people willing share their personal information, posting it for the world to see, and services such as Google collecting our every keystroke!)

OK, I'm really done now. That felt good.

So, what computer and operating system are you using? Any Linux users out there?

Unfortunately I am using Win 8's successor as my primary OS, Windows 10

To be honest Windows 10 is amazing OS that makes multi tasking super easy with the widest selection of third party software for anything across the board but it has forced updates, a metro interface that designed for non tech savy easy navigating at the expense of tech savy users. However a good work around is http://www.classicshell.net/ to get back the old start menu. My biggest concern with Windows 10 is N.S.A spying knowing Microsoft really does have backdoor access to your computer.

I'm trying to switch over to Linux Mint it's really good but certain image and video editing software I use is Windows exclusive. Eventually one day I am going to have to make the full move.

 

[Contrast]

(Side Note: I also remember reading George Orwell's, "1984", and how we were actually concerned about "Big Brother" watching our lives. Who could have ever predicted the situation today, where people willing share their personal information, posting it for the world to see, and services such as Google collecting our every keystroke!)

You mentioned privacy and security

Here are some search engines focused on privacy. They are not as efficient as Google, Yahoo and Bing but they are better at protecting privacy

https://duckduckgo.com
https://www.startpage.com/

I assume you are using a Mozilla browser and not Chrome

Here are security addons for Firefox/Waterfox

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/disconnect/versions/
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/duckduckgo-for-firefox/versions/
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/adblock-plus/versions/
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/https-everywhere/versions

 

[AZeurotuner]

If you want true privacy just use a VPN... Mine has DNS leak protection, a kill switch that actually works, doesn't keep logs, and has a legit ad blocker built in to it.