Despite ASUS trying to lock the thing down, I was able to change some BIOS settings and install a clean copy of Win7 on a brand-new solid-state drive, preserving the original Win8 hard drive as possible evidence should Microsoft be brought to trial for inflicting that travesty on the world.
The new laptop, named Lambo7, is now up and running. With a clean copy of Windows 7 and an SSD, that little* ASUS G75 feels like this:
Running flat out, the skin on your face will dry up and flake off in 12.3 seconds.
* - OK, truth be told, it's not really "little." Naming it the Lambo7 is even more appropriate than it might seem. With a 17" screen and no performance sacrifices made for weight, it's somewhat like having a real, live Lamborghini on your lap.
When I was first exposed to Windows 8, my thought was that, for the effort it would take to re-learn how to do my normal tasks and figure out where Windows put everything, I could just as easily switch operating systems altogether.
ReplyDeleteWhat, is Microsoft concerned that people aren't dropping them and switching to Apple or Linux fast enough, so they wanted to make staying with Windows just as difficult as jumping ship?
Tim: Amen! Even me, an Apple heretic, has been considering re-embracing the one true religion.
ReplyDeleteSadly, many computer makers are not offering drivers for Win7. It's a forced march over the cliff, with a bayonet to the back.
The mind staggers at what MSFT has done here. I am searching for other analogs. New Coke? Edsel? Gay Ken?
So how long did the previous laptop last? I look forward to hearing your review of windows 8. I'm going to need to get K a replacement for her XP Lenovo. It's starting to Have hardware issues.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting really frustrated with Mac osx. They keep dumbing it down. I fear their eventual transition to ios. I use linux at work and the implementation of x windows, what i need for my work, is crap. And windows isn't going to let me do what I need. So I'm SOL. I miss sun is! At least that worked.
Windows 8 Developer on board, here is the scoop.
ReplyDeleteWin8 integrated the normal "desktop" operatings system with an "app" operating system (the start screen). This allows developers to target multiple devices, phones, tablets and desktops as app developers while maintaining compatibility with desktop applications.
It is 2 operating systems in one. Thus, the 2 versions of Internet Explorer in Win8.
You can escape out the start screen, or on your desktop use 2 monitors ... then it is an upgraded Win7 environment.
Kelly, the old ASUS would have lasted longer if I hadn't beaten it like a drum. It's really a tiny desktop machine and I treated it like an industrial laptop. It traveled all over the place with minimal packing and care. I also used it like a mule, editing 12GB unencrypted video files and generally burning the processor and memory without mercy.
ReplyDeleteI went back to ASUS because I just loved the thing. I'll be nicer to it this time.
As for Win8, I've got a Win8 post in my head, I just need some time to compose it on the screen. In short, my take is that MSFT decided that what we all wanted was an in-your-face OS. "Look how cool this is! Do you see it? Do you? Doyoudoyoudoyoudoyoudoyoudoyoudoyou?" All I want is a stable, invisible OS so I can surf the web and worship Adobe Creative Suite.
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love Win7. I don't care what Unix or OSX can do, I want to run Win7 forever and ever.
My poor laptop here is a circa-2006 MacBook Pro. It's a wonderful machine. And I've done terrible things to it. I shoved it in its sleeve and into the bike messenger bag and off, without letting it cool down. It overheated and has not been the same since. I've learned to field strip it and re-apply thermal paste and reassemble in 30 minutes. I dread replacing it. Because Apple has systematically made everything harder and harder to fix. There are no upgrades, no fixed parts, there is only replacement. This machine is still plenty fast does everything I want. I bought it used. I've stopped at 10.7.
ReplyDeleteIn comparison, I under bought a pedestrian Win 7 laptop for my wife. There was an AMD guy at BestBuy, who convinced me it was as good as an i5 processor, that I wanted but was out of stock. Never again. The machine is horrid. And Windows 7 is constantly infected. I had to buy MyCleanPC or some such just to keep it running week to week.
The problem with Linux is X11. It is a relic. And any advance of gnome or KDE or whatever, is still just lipstick on a pig. Aqua is so much better.
That said, I think my wife's laptop would make a really nice fast Linux laptop.
Since getting an iPad (I tried to buy an Android, but vpn support was suspect), has made me start touching the screen of my laptop to click buttons.
My poor laptop here is a circa-2006 MacBook Pro. It's a wonderful machine. And I've done terrible things to it. I shoved it in its sleeve and into the bike messenger bag and off, without letting it cool down. It overheated and has not been the same since. I've learned to field strip it and re-apply thermal paste and reassemble in 30 minutes. I dread replacing it. Because Apple has systematically made everything harder and harder to fix. There are no upgrades, no fixed parts, there is only replacement. This machine is still plenty fast does everything I want. I bought it used. I've stopped at 10.7.
ReplyDeleteIn comparison, I under bought a pedestrian Win 7 laptop for my wife. There was an AMD guy at BestBuy, who convinced me it was as good as an i5 processor, that I wanted but was out of stock. Never again. The machine is horrid. And Windows 7 is constantly infected. I had to buy MyCleanPC or some such just to keep it running week to week.
The problem with Linux is X11. It is a relic. And any advance of gnome or KDE or whatever, is still just lipstick on a pig. Aqua is so much better.
That said, I think my wife's laptop would make a really nice fast Linux laptop.
Since getting an iPad (I tried to buy an Android, but vpn support was suspect), has made me start touching the screen of my laptop to click buttons.