Are there any viable alternatives to Windows 10

Massive problems with Windows 10 Update

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This morning my Windows 10 computer stated I need to do a major upgrade and stupidly I went along with it which took over an hour to download.  It then ended up that I could not access my browser or print off many documents.  I tried to restore to the previous version twice and after an hour each it said it failed.  Eventually I found my way into the administrator which sucessfully allowed me to reinstall an earlier version and all is well - until the next update when it will probably cause mayhem yet again.  There seem to be quite a few other operating systems out there - is anyone using them and was it an easy transition?  Whilst I anticipate it will not be straight forward to change, I am not a totally computer literate person these days but all I want is a reliable system and any comments would be most welcome.    

Replies (25)

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By zebaa
22nd Aug 2017 22:11

If you run everything on the cloud, maybe. Your choices come down to Windows, Mac or Linux. I run a Linux system but I also run windows 8 in virtual box and a really old XP program in Wine. For some things I just have to, due to the shortage of Linux finance / tax software, no matter how much I dislike Windows.
I have never had a Mac, but I understand the software problem is similar.

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Replying to zebaa:
By SteveHa
23rd Aug 2017 08:58

Mac runs on top of a Unix subsystem, and so has more in common with Linux (and, in fact, many of the skills are easily transferable between the two, especially at the command line). Both also use CUPS (developed by Apple) as the print server.

I personally use Linux exclusively at home, but I'm not sure how I'd get on with it professionally with the plethora of proprietary software in use, having to stay on top of ensuring wine behaves to run it all would probably be counter productive, and running on a Windows VM defeats the point of switching in the first place.

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David Winch
By David Winch
22nd Aug 2017 22:48

At risk of sounding like a spammer, I use a free repair tool from tweaking(dot)com which I would recommend for Windows problems.
Worth a try before going for a different operating system.
David

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Teignmouth
By Paul Scholes
23rd Aug 2017 09:18

Just to top up on zebaa's post, after no end of constant updates and security software hassle with Windows desktops & servers, about 6 years ago I moved my office systems (MS Office, Iris etc etc) to Hosted Desktop UK and switched everything local to Macs a year later.

Just in case I needed to run anything locally I also installed Office for Mac on my local machines which works fine.

All these years on, I'll soon be dropping Hosted Desktop as practically everything I do is now cloud based and will be shifting the admin stuff to Google apps.

In all these years none of my Macs (and I still use the same ones) have ever given me any grief, and I have never used virus or security software. They are like TVs you switch them on and in a matter of seconds they are fired up and ready to go. Other than "Office for Mac" which still makes me grind my teeth when it goes off for the latest fix, all software updates in the background in seconds.

So longer term, as machines or tempers run out I'd recommend anyone to look at making the switch and if it's a case of anxiety over different ways of working on Macs, it took me less than a day to get to grips with the transition.

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Replying to Paul Scholes:
Red Leader
By Red Leader
23rd Aug 2017 12:21

Paul,
Sounds very interesting.
I'm vaguely thinking of going Mac the next time I replace my laptops. Main reason is that they are more reliable hardware. Do you think they are? I live in fear of hdd failure.
Also: how do updates of the specialised s/w occur with the hosted desktop, e.g. IRIS?

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Replying to Red Leader:
Teignmouth
By Paul Scholes
24th Aug 2017 12:56

Hi RL - I have friends & clients who have been running the same MacBooks with hard drives for the best part of 10 years. However I've always bought solid state drive Macs (no moving parts) plus, as I say all of my data is held in the Cloud.

Whilst I no longer use Iris, all I ever did with Iris, or any other 3rd party software I had loaded on my Hosted Desktop, I just emailed them and they upgraded the software for me, it's all part of the service.

If you don't want a full desktop, they will host individual software for you:
https://www.hosteddesktopuk.co.uk/cloud/hosted-services/hosted-application/

Cheers

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Replying to Paul Scholes:
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By dgilmour51
24th Aug 2017 11:19

The 'Cloud' concept is a great innovation [where there is good/excellent internet access].
But new dangers loom, arising from GDPR and territoriality.
You need to know exactly where all [personal] data is stored, backed-up and processed.
Say you are in UK, with a UK based cloud provider. All is good. Then you go on holiday to, say, South Africa or Goa, taking your Laptop as all small business people do. You get a query on a client and have a quick look at their personal tax stuff.
If you have not the clients consent to process the data extra-territorially then you have committed a breach of GDPR, must report yourself to the Regulator and the client within 72hrs, and are liable to the client under tort.

In any event you will need to know where each execution of the Google app is actually processing the Personal Data . . . and this can be the subject of a Personal Data Subject Request.

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By PracticePartner
23rd Aug 2017 10:21

A problem with W10 is the home version is shipped with most PCs, and who would pay extra for the Professional version which allows you more control over updates.

Unless PCs have had their day and we should all be on cloud devices, its about time MicroSoft invented a whole new PC architecture, W10 is PC DOS at the end of the day, and not everyone wants a Mac.

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Replying to PracticePartner:
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By SXGuy
24th Aug 2017 10:52

Sadly I can't see that happening. You could argue that with the endless updates and bug fixes which slow the os down, it forces a user to upgrade generating more revenue for them. This along with the requirement to roll out windows with all Ms dos/pcs they will not change their ethos any time soon.

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By KH
24th Aug 2017 11:05

Been using Macs ever since they came out ... best decision I ever took with regards computers ... would heartily recommend them to everybody ... and if you ever have to run a Windows programme there is a plethora of excellent & cheap emulation software, so no problem

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By Kernowlive
24th Aug 2017 11:26

I use two computers, one running linux and the other Windows 7 (for the few programs that won't run on linux). If I wanted I could network the two together, but I like to keep the Windows PC separte for security reasons. The system works well, and the advantage of linux over Mac is that it's free. I use Zorin 9 which is very good. I did try Windows 10, but had update problems and went back to 7 which allows more control. I find it's mainly the government who seem to require Window/Mac use. HMRC's webinars for example.

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By chatman
24th Aug 2017 11:30

I wouldn't bother with a Mac. They are much more expensive than Windows computers and I hear from Paul that there is an Office for Mac problem that is so bad it makes him grind his teeth. With the added hassle of needing a virtual machine or an emulator without which some programmes cannot run, it just doesn't seem worth the extra time and money involved in a Mac.

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Replying to chatman:
Teignmouth
By Paul Scholes
25th Aug 2017 12:07

Skinflint - you earn so much more than me!

"extra money" - yes but in the time I'd have bought/replaced 2-3 windows machines, I'll have owned just one Mac.

"extra time" no no no that's the whole point, I spend a fraction of the time now running on Macs than I ever did Windows

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Replying to Paul Scholes:
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By chatman
30th Aug 2017 10:16

Paul Scholes wrote:

you earn so much more than me!

Says the man who can afford to buy Macs!

Why do you buy so many PCs Paul? We're still using one we bought in 2009 and it's fine. Far from costing us time, it saves time.

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Replying to chatman:
Morph
By kevinringer
30th Aug 2017 10:59

Our XP PCs were the best we ever had and we'd still be using them today if it wasn't for our accounting software stopped working on XP some years ago. Our accounting software stopped working on Vista. It is software which forces us to replace our old Vista PCs with W10.

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Replying to chatman:
Teignmouth
By Paul Scholes
31st Aug 2017 17:24

I don't buy PCs? I might though if they could run the Apple OS

As I have so often had to say on here, whether it be dumping timesheets, going paperless, moving to the cloud or electric cars, don't knock it till you've tried it.

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Replying to Paul Scholes:
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By chatman
31st Aug 2017 17:42

Paul Scholes wrote:
don't knock it till you've tried it.

That would be quite an expensive trial!

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Replying to chatman:
Teignmouth
By Paul Scholes
01st Sep 2017 18:23

OK then I'll let you play with mine when I next see you :)

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Morph
By kevinringer
24th Aug 2017 13:16

The problem I find with W10 is that it is stable for months then suddenly stops working. Our W10 machines started experiencing problems with MoneySoft a month ago. Nothing wrong with MoneySoft. It was something within W10 that is still playing up. Then suddenly all will work well for a few days then the problem returns. I like the look and speed of W10 but the stability is rubbish. In contrast our remaining Win7 PCs are solid and never give us any grief.

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By Silver Birch Accts
24th Aug 2017 13:41

Which Win 10 upgrade is this, there is nothing this week.
Most updates are second Wednesday of the month, with sometimes an emergency patch. Win 10 is lot less to update than Win 7. The last major update was the Creators Edition several months ago.

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Replying to Silver Birch Accts:
Morph
By kevinringer
24th Aug 2017 13:56

Different PCs receive upgrades different times. We have about 20 W10 PCs. The first one received the Creators Edition 2 months ago. One received the update last week. Some haven't yet received it. I guess M$ regulates the updates to avoid its servers being overloaded.

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By chatman
24th Aug 2017 15:22

Paul Scholes wrote:

If you don't want a full desktop, they will host individual software for you:
https://www.hosteddesktopuk.co.uk/cloud/hosted-services/hosted-application/

Now that could be really useful. We could have Moneysoft Payroll Manager online.

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By richardterhorst
25th Aug 2017 13:18

Download an hour = broadband speed. Just pay for faster broadband. Solved
Windows 10? Run it on desktop and on laptop. No issues other than a rather inconvenient time to upgarde on my laptop at a client meeting.

Linux. Ran it very sucessfully as a server but desktops were Windows as nearly all accounting software is Windows based.

As people said if you can go to a fully cloud based setup then a mac is the best. But then better get very fast broadband.

FYI my Windows 10 downloads take roughly 10 mins for a big one and my broadband is not that fast.

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Replying to richardterhorst:
Teignmouth
By Paul Scholes
26th Aug 2017 14:16

Hi - there's actually no need to have very fast internet access if you are cloud based, all the number and data crunching is done up there and, other than the occasional spreadsheet I rarely have to down or upload anything and so the internet connection is used on the whole to send up keystrokes & mouse clicks and to download screen refreshes.

For years I have been able to run my entire practice, including facility hungry Iris over a 3G connection when wifi is not available.

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By carnmores
04th Sep 2017 14:21

lets all move to a chrome book

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