What is your computer running on?

[dankles]

My biggest Apple complaint is DRM!

Yet you run vista? Maybe the most DRM encumbered piece of software (yes, an OS is software) on the planet.

And for those that wonder why some people still choose XP is because of less DRM bloat, among other reasons.

Anyways, a few of you people here know I'm a linux fanboy. And as a fanboy I'm obligated to say how great it is.
At the moment I'm running stock CentOS 5.2 on my main workstation because I'm studying for my RHCE exam. Though normally I run a more customized setup of some linux flavor. On my eeepc I got ubuntu. On my network cluster I've got a custom build of slackware.
My operating system is superior and kills all things Microsoft/DRM/Patent-encumbered JK... though for me it suites best.

[chubbysumo]

My biggest Apple complaint is DRM!

Yet you run vista? Maybe the most DRM encumbered piece of software (yes, an OS is software) on the planet.

And for those that wonder why some people still choose XP is because of less DRM bloat, among other reasons.

Anyways, a few of you people here know I'm a linux fanboy. And as a fanboy I'm obligated to say how great it is.
At the moment I'm running stock CentOS 5.2 on my main workstation because I'm studying for my RHCE exam. Though normally I run a more customized setup of some linux flavor. On my eeepc I got ubuntu. On my network cluster I've got a custom build of slackware.
My operating system is superior and kills all things Microsoft/DRM/Patent-encumbered JK... though for me it suites best.

All the DRM on vista can get turned off if you know what, and how, to do it, and its not even that much work.  At least on windows(any windows) we have more widely availible drivers and apps, and a much more upgradeable hardware than in a mac.  Im not saying that macs arent good, but when a PC becomes outdated, we can just upgrade it.  Can you mac users say as much?  It makes me wonder what happenes to all the macs thrown out when they get outdated, because they have no resale value after 2 years, because apple re-releases all their products, and then the current is valuless.  PC's can at least be broken down and sold out for components(yes, even laptops can).  Since macs are mostly specialized hardware, which is all patented/copyrighted btw(for those who say macs dont have as much DRM and such, apple procecutes people more than microsoft because they have more patents and copyrights than microsoft, and are more sue happy because they fear pirates more than most do)

[dankles]

All the DRM on vista can get turned off if you know what, and how, to do it, and its not even that much work. 

is that legal? Not that I care. If I was forced into using vista, I'd try turning off every DRM "feature" I could. If that really is possible.

At least on windows(any windows) we have more widely availible drivers and apps, and a much more upgradeable hardware than in a mac.  Im not saying that macs arent good, but when a PC becomes outdated, we can just upgrade it. 

what do you want to upgrade? a motherboard? Cuz RAM and HDD are easy to upgrade. Video cards can't be too hard either though I've never tried it on a mac.

Since macs are mostly specialized hardware, which is all patented/copyrighted btw(for those who say macs dont have as much DRM and such, apple procecutes people more than microsoft because they have more patents and copyrights than microsoft, and are more sue happy because they fear pirates more than most do)

Don't confuse DRM, Copyright, and Patents. They are all very different animals. I dont run Mac or Windows at the moment, but I'm not sure if apple is really more sue happy than Microsoft... And as far as hardware, I think you're talking about closed proprietary drivers? There are a ton of those for MS as well... And it's hurting the linux community(my systems) a lot

[queenmetroid]

what do you want to upgrade? a motherboard? Cuz RAM and HDD are easy to upgrade. Video cards can't be too hard either though I've never tried it on a mac.

That may be true but Mac GFX card prices are a joke. Even USED older cards go for obscene prices on eBay. My main beef about Mac = Price.

[captiosus]

what do you want to upgrade? a motherboard? Cuz RAM and HDD are easy to upgrade. Video cards can't be too hard either though I've never tried it on a mac.

That may be true but Mac GFX card prices are a joke. Even USED older cards go for obscene prices on eBay. My main beef about Mac = Price.

Agreed. Ive seen macbooks running into the 2k range that had hardware that was worse than a laptop running vista that cost 600 dollars less. Im sorry, i am not going to blow 600 more dollars on inferior hardware. Ill take my Windows 2k/XP/Vis-shit/7 anyday.

[boxer4]

You know, something occurred to me about how the initial question was worded...

"What is your computer running on?"

or should it be

"What is running on your computer?"

Does your software dictate how your computer should run, or should your computer limit what your software can do?

Okay, just a bit of wording thoughts for pondering...  Well, specifically dealing with DRM.

[Lupin]

"What is your computer running on?"

solar power due to some college project a friend is doing

"What is running on your computer?"

windows xp/7/centos 5

[SirSkyRider]

I got a Mac, and I'm happy with it, since the noise is not as annoying as it was with my old Windows PC. Furthermore, the energy needed is lower (It's a 17" iMac, second cheapest Model from 2 years ago) and it runs without problems.

I don't play on the PC, otherwise I'd still have one, and I think this guy right here in front of me will last a lot longer than all of my old PCs did...

[milosbeli]

Vista Home Premium.

[queenmetroid]

I got a Mac, and I'm happy with it, since the noise is not as annoying as it was with my old Windows PC. Furthermore, the energy needed is lower (It's a 17" iMac, second cheapest Model from 2 years ago) and it runs without problems.

I don't play on the PC, otherwise I'd still have one, and I think this guy right here in front of me will last a lot longer than all of my old PCs did...

I dunno, I've never had a PC really "die" on me. (They always survive to go to my younger brother, except for the HDs) So it's a non issue depending on who you are. And Intel CPUs just keep getting better in terms of power consumption. You can certainly build a power efficient PC if you want.

[vuzedome]

hmmmmm. XP SP3 is awesome. I'm actually amazed by its capabilities. It sure kicks SP2 right out of the picture.

[dankles]

You know, something occurred to me about how the initial question was worded...

"What is your computer running on?"

or should it be

"What is running on your computer?"

Depends how you look at it because the OS and hardware both depend on each other. Neither is very useful without the other.

Does your software dictate how your computer should run, or should your computer limit what your software can do?

Okay, just a bit of wording thoughts for pondering...  Well, specifically dealing with DRM.

Software can dictate how your computer is run. That is what DRM does. This is why I shun DRM if I can, though unfortunately it can be difficult to avoid it all together with the state of the computer industry at present....

[queenmetroid]

hmmmmm. XP SP3 is awesome. I'm actually amazed by its capabilities. It sure kicks SP2 right out of the picture.

Haha, so you are one of the those people who don't download every update as soon as it comes out?

(Or you crack Windows like I do and SP3 broke that crack...xD)

[Stsin]

While I'm using Windows 7 and enjoying it, I don't feel a need to upgrade my other XP systems.

[captiosus]

hmmmmm. XP SP3 is awesome. I'm actually amazed by its capabilities. It sure kicks SP2 right out of the picture.

Haha, so you are one of the those people who don't download every update as soon as it comes out?

(Or you crack Windows like I do and SP3 broke that crack...xD)

Yes to the first and no to the second. Thank god for OEM install disks X-D

[SirSkyRider]

I got a Mac, and I'm happy with it, since the noise is not as annoying as it was with my old Windows PC. Furthermore, the energy needed is lower (It's a 17" iMac, second cheapest Model from 2 years ago) and it runs without problems.

I don't play on the PC, otherwise I'd still have one, and I think this guy right here in front of me will last a lot longer than all of my old PCs did...

1. I dunno, I've never had a PC really "die" on me. [..]
2. You can certainly build a power efficient PC if you want.

1. Then you're lucky. I had three from 1999-2006 and they really made a bunch of problems. Though the last one lasted a little longer, it soon turned out that the harddisk was broken.

2. I'm currently considering on doing that, it just depends on time, money and need...

[queenmetroid]

I got a Mac, and I'm happy with it, since the noise is not as annoying as it was with my old Windows PC. Furthermore, the energy needed is lower (It's a 17" iMac, second cheapest Model from 2 years ago) and it runs without problems.

I don't play on the PC, otherwise I'd still have one, and I think this guy right here in front of me will last a lot longer than all of my old PCs did...

1. I dunno, I've never had a PC really "die" on me. [..]
2. You can certainly build a power efficient PC if you want.

1. Then you're lucky. I had three from 1999-2006 and they really made a bunch of problems. Though the last one lasted a little longer, it soon turned out that the harddisk was broken.

2. I'm currently considering on doing that, it just depends on time, money and need...

I guess when I say "die" I refer to everything except the hard drive. I've only ever had one power supply explode on me, and it took the computer with it, but it was an old HP that I dragged out of storage so it was no great loss. Everything I used as my main computer, including 2 separate Dells one of which actually lost the USB ports after a power surge (I had to clip them off the motherboard) but continued running. I have great respect for Dell, needless to say.

Yes to the first and no to the second. Thank god for OEM install disks X-D

I have all legal copies of Win XP and 5 or 6 product keys but I hate activation, so I don't.

[vuzedome]

Meh~
 
I didn't crack it, i built an XP installer disc image and integrated SP3 into it. But of course instead of buying it, I had to acquire some sort of license key to activate it.
It was fun, its in dual boot with Vista(legit 100%), but after fixing it up its been 3 days since I last touched it.

Oh well, still hate 7 and be sticking with Vista, until Microsoft says they'll be offering discounts for Vista users with legitimate stickers to buy(not upgrade) 7. Why stickers? Anyone can bypass the WGA these days to prove it to Microsoft that they're running legal Windows, and independent OEM system builders can go screw themselves for not giving their clients the stickers(they do that a lot here).

[adinsx]

Well, my house has the following:

2 Windows XP Laptops, and 1 Vista Laptop (These are used by other members of my family).
1 eee with Ubuntu-eee.
1 Desktop with Ubuntu. This is an apache/mysql/bind/dhcp/ssh+sftp server, plus bittorrent box (ssh+screen+rtorrent). I plan to switch this over to Arch within the next week or so.
1 Laptop with Arch Linux. This is what I am posting from now.
1 Router (wrt54gl) with dd-wrt installed, so I'm counting this as a full-fledged computer.

[captiosus]

hehe

Computer #4: Windows XP SP3

im expecting to get a blade server next week, so that will end up running linux or a windows Server OS (might end up being win2k3, as this blade is too old for the most recent one; it has a pair of P3 cores running at a combined speed of 2ghz with a gig of ram)