Everyone who knows me realizes I am a big fan of Windows 7. Currently I have the Operating System running on two of our computers at home including my main machine. We still have 3 machines running XP pro in our house as well. I also run 2 virtual pcs which have Ubuntu Linux running on them. To add to the equation we also have several cell phones, an ipod and an Iphone. The question then is why do I run such a mixed environment?
The key to this equation is choice. I really prefer the best of breed approach for whatever task I have at hand. In 20 plus years in the technology business I have learned to keep an open mind and keep looking for alternatives and better way of doing things. Most importantly to never stop learning and progressing.
Lets start with the Desktop setup at home. I have an AMD 4000+ machine that runs the Windows XP RC. As soon as the full Windows 7 release comes out I will be upgrading the operating system on this pc. This machine was orginally purchased with Windows Vista and Vista was just pure junk on this pc. Vista did not agree with my AMD box at all. I had constant crashing that was unreal. This is very hard for someone like me who’s livelihood depends on his computer.
On our second pc (the one @neonrose uses) we also have Windows 7 RC running. It is a Lenovo that originally came with Windows XP on it. It is a dual corse machine with 3GB of ram on it and it just flies.
In the server department I have have made an interesting choice. I saw no need to installing Windows server at home. The overhead of creating a home domain was not worth it. I decided to setup a Windows XP Pro work group server. I have this server running on a Compaq slime line PIV with 1 GB of ram. This work group server drives our 2 printers and our shared drives. It has 5 usb Hard drives connected to it. Our long distance phone device is a Majic Jack and it connects to our work group server as well. The Majic Jack does not yet have Windows 7 drivers available for it and I really do not like running Windows Vista as an upgrade so XP it is.
In the portable department we have two portable computers. One is an IBM PIII laptop an older model that Kelli (@Neonrose) uses around the house when she is watching tv and in the bedroom. It has Windows XP Pro on it for the security. It runs a little slow but for what we used it for it works well.
I recently purchased an Acer Aspire netbook that I really like. One of the fist things I need when I got it was upgrade to Windows 7 RC. I then ordered a Rogers Rocket stick for portable Internet on the go. It turns out the Rocekt Stick does not like Windows 7 yet. The driver loads but then the connection manager will not connect. As a result I had to downgrade the netbook back to Windows XP Home.
I also run 2 Virtual machines that have Ubuntu on the. These help me keep up to date on the Linux world.
In the cell phone department we basically have two. Kelli users a Motorola Crazer that she really likes. It is as basic a cell phone you can get and suits her needs well. As for me I have recently switched to an Iphone. I use a lot of Web 2.0 applications on the go as well as check and write email constantly. That added with the ability to listen to podcasts and audiobooks enhances my daily life.
Kelli uses a Ipod as well for music and I use my Iphone for that as well.
Yes I am a true geek who lives in a mixed environment.
