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Windows 11 Guide
cbxjeff
Member Posts: 17,599 ✭✭✭✭
I had to buy a new laptop last week. It has Windows 11 and I am struggling. My wife says that I'm too old to learn anything new. It also is using MS-Edge. I know many of you guys don't like either but I'm pretty much stuck with what I have. When MS-IE went away my problems began. I started using Firefox and finally got used to it but found a few of my sites wouldn't work with it. I added Brave which is doing OK when needed. Now with Edge I have to start over. Maybe a "... For Dummies" book might help. Any suggestions guys? Maybe my wife is right.
It's too late for me, save yourself.
Comments
I have the same setup. Edge to me works with nothing and I leave it at that. It was a change from the unsupported windows 7 from years ago but you can get the idea if you just start plinking with it. I am totally inept with computers so I know you can get the Edge after some trying.
Take your old laptop and convert it to Linux Mint. You'll never go back to Windows again.
https://linuxmint.com/
That's it? No other comments?
Sooner or later (actually pretty soon) Microsoft will force all of you to:
Surrender your newer computer to Win 11 under complete control of MSoft, or
Buy a new computer because your old one cannot be updated to Win 11, or
Switch to some other Operating System.
That leaves you with the VERY expensive and equally tyrannical Apple, or
Yes, Linux. Which is free, runs on almost all computers, is highly resistant to malware even without anti-malware software, uses free software, familiar to all users, and puts you in total control of your own machine.
@cbxjeff when you first posted this I did a quick search and there are several books available including at least one from the "Dummies" series of books and also some with "for Seniors" in the title relating to Win 11. I looked at the reviews and they are mixed as to the usefulness of the books which is why I was reluctant to comment.
Before I retired, I spent many years teaching corporate users about many different operating systems including Microsofts, several versions of Unix, Linux and few others that are no longer being used.
Whenever I had students with little or no experience I often used books from the "Dummies" series to get ways to describe technical concepts in layman's terms and for the most part they were useful. Some people learn better by reading, some don't, I found hands on worked best with a most folks, but it can also be difficult without a lot of previous experience.
As Rocky always shows up with Linux as the solution, I knew he would be along to tell you that and it could be a viable solution depending upon your interests and abilities. It is not the end all, be all as he seems to think it is and will never be,
I'm in no way trying to discount him or Linux, I just happen to be a heck of a lot more experienced in it and based on that, I don't recommend it to people that are not truly interested or competent in the underlying ways that Operating Systems work.
Yes there are Graphical User Interfaces (GUI) that look, feel and act very much the same as Windows that are front ends to the Linux Operating System (OS) that come with most versions like his favorite "Linuxmint". He has admitted to me in these forums before he has no use/knowledge of the command line user interface which is a necessity to actually become proficient in trouble shooting problems in computers which is what I taught to the folks that maintain corporate computing systems including the Internet/Intranets and what now a days is called the "cloud". As an "end user" someone like Rocky and yourself will always have to search the web and/or upgrade your versions to solve problems that can often be fixed much quicker with the right knowledge and skills which are not just being able to point and click or drag and drop icons on a personal computer.
Sorry for such a long winded response, I'll shut up for now, just be aware there is a lot more to it than just "switch to Linux".
R4me is correct in all he says, but the analogy is driving a modern car. You do not have to be a certified auto technician to successfully operate a car - even the sophisticated "infotainment and navigation" systems.
I salute anyone like R4me who uses and maintains a computer using the command line. But for a majority of home - meaning casual - users, that knowledge simply isn't needed to any great detail. His arguments can also be applied to Windows'. Most users get along fine with point and click maintenance, but MSoft technicians use esoteric command line verbiage because they're professional coders. I doubt he'd say that if you don't use the command line you shouldn't use Windows.
I'm happy to be seen as a Linux Missionary. My position is that switching to Linux solves a lot more problems than sticking with Microsoft. Linux isn't perfect . No operating system is. But it sure is a lot better for the common user. If you can use Windows - whatever your level of knowledge - you can use Linux.
I miss my Etch a Sketch. It always worked and never needed to be updated.
Grinnin' here, Ricci.
(Note that the interface controls are labeled both in graphical and verbal notation!)
Windows 11 sucks. I had it for a while and am happy to be back at 10.
The best thing Microsoft Edge is useful for is browsing to www.firefox.com and downloading a useful browser. I used to occasionally run across sites that it won't load properly but that hasn't happened in several years for me.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
I don't even know if I have a operating system, what it does or where to find it.
I grew up in Bryan, Ohio. At one time Bryan had the largest candy factory in the world and the largest toy factory in the world, Ohio Art. Ohio Art did the Etch A Sketch. If I remember correctly Ohio Art did not manufacture the Etch A Sketch, it came in from Germany. These would be 65 year old memories so I could be wrong!!😂
The candy factory was Spangler's. When I was a kid I could walk out of our house down by the RR tracks and I could take a sniff of the air and tell you what flavor Dum Dum suckers Spangler's were running that day. The orange flavor was not my favorite Dum Dum but it was my favorite scent to smell on a chilly winter day.
Hey Joe, I'm ahead of you!! I know I have an operating system, but like you I don't know what it does but my uneducated guess is it is something that deals with the operation of my computer.😁 To be honest I'm just guessing, but it seems logical just from the name.
Speaking of Dum Dum's, remember when those suckers were kind of flat on the bottom instead of round? Kind of weird how the taste changed when the shape changed! I went back to safety pop suckers until they disappeared from store shelves.
My favorite flavor Dum Dum was pineapple. Glad I totally gave up on suckers when I was around 12 and suddenly I became a LOT smarter! 😁
Just so I keep this post on subject, my Chinese Toshiba laptop Satellite has the name "Skullcandy" engraved on the key side next to the shut off button. It utilizes Windows 10.
Joe, your computer's operating system is like its government. Windows is like communism: IT owns the computer and tells you what you can do. Linux is what the US used to be: you have complete freedom to do what you want.