Computer questions and solutions....thereof...

[blues2cruise]

Thanks, fellas, for the "snippets". It's not my cup of tea..but then, I'm not making the project for me. I'll just mail her the CD along with the project.

[Skier]

Regarding Windows XP versus Linux stability as a desktop OS, I've had much, much better experiences with Linux. I supported approximately 10 desktop Linux machines, mostly Red Hat Enterprise or Fedora Core. The most work I had to do was setting up new accounts and handing out passwords. They just worked consistently.

Now, having to support two buildings on campus with lots of XP installs, it was a constant battle against spyware, viruses, malware, hosed installs, junk people install, etc... Undereducated end users are a terrible thing.

[blues2cruise]

Where does one buy Linux? Every single store I have been in has either Windows OS or macs.

Are people supposed to know of its existence and ask for it? It is never an option that is offered.

[Skier]

Where does one buy Linux? Every single store I have been in has either Windows OS or macs.

Are people supposed to know of its existence and ask for it? It is never an option that is offered.

It's free. A quick search for "Linux" on Google can tell you all you know. Although, Red Hat was offered in stores for a while.

Linux spreads by a more grassroots approach than Mac OS or Windows. A friend recommends it, a coworker recommends it, etc...

Also, it has recently become an option through Dell.

[Duane]

Linux is actually just the kernel, the core of the operating system if you will. There are different flavors of Linux out there for free to download. I would recommend if your interested in trying Linux out, download Ubuntu. Its based of another distribution called Debian which uses a 100% open source software. Meaning anyone can go in and see the code and make changes to it if they wished, unlike widows where you have no clue what a program could be doing in the back ground. You don't need to worry about that but Ubuntu has made it very user friendly to install and run Linux.

Anyways, visit http://www.ubuntu.com/ and download the Desktop version.

[blues2cruise]

I was looking through the Dell link and the Ubuntu link....so, if I did download Linux...what happens to the XP currently in my computer?

This is what happens when you're dealing with someone who learns as they go. I never had a computer until a few years ago and all my learning has been by books from the library, or asking questions or by trial and error.

What I know may be a drop in the ocean, but it's sure a lot more than a few years ago.

[Skier]

I was looking through the Dell link and the Ubuntu link....so, if I did download Linux...what happens to the XP currently in my computer?

Nothing will happen to your installation of XP if you just download Linux. (I will refer to Linux as a general term, the proper term would be Linux distribution)

However, if you install it, you could hose your Windows install. Same kind of pitfall you would encounter if you reinstalled Windows. You would have to resize partitions, create new ones, change your computer's MBR (master boot record) and then cross your fingers.

An easy way to try out a Linux distribution is to download one of their "live CDs." You can boot off the CD and it will drop you to a Linux desktop where you can access your computer's data. It runs entirely off the CD and your computer's memory, but it doesn't modify your machine's hard drives at all. Kind of a "try before you buy" (or install) kind of deal.

Ubuntu's live CD is apparently one of the better ones. Another one to look at it Knoppix.

[blues2cruise]

I have an inquiry regarding printers.

My printer has just run out of ink. So, Instead of going out to buy some new cartridges, I attempted to refill the ones I had with a refill kit that was given to me when I acquired the printer.

The colours are hideous. I can print a word document ok, but the photos are way-y-y-y-y-y-y-y off.

Do inks have expiry dates? Do the pigments lose their viability? I am going to toss out the refill kit and buy new cartridges, but I was curious to know why the ink has gone off.

[jonnythan]

I have an inquiry regarding printers.

My printer has just run out of ink. So, Instead of going out to buy some new cartridges, I attempted to refill the ones I had with a refill kit that was given to me when I acquired the printer.

The colours are hideous. I can print a word document ok, but the photos are way-y-y-y-y-y-y-y off.

Do inks have expiry dates? Do the pigments lose their viability? I am going to toss out the refill kit and buy new cartridges, but I was curious to know why the ink has gone off.

Perhaps you put the wrong colors in the wrong slots...?

Can you describe how they're off? Maybe take a picture? Do you get red where you should get blue, or is the saturation poor, or what?

[blues2cruise]

I have an inquiry regarding printers.

My printer has just run out of ink. So, Instead of going out to buy some new cartridges, I attempted to refill the ones I had with a refill kit that was given to me when I acquired the printer.

The colours are hideous. I can print a word document ok, but the photos are way-y-y-y-y-y-y-y off.

Do inks have expiry dates? Do the pigments lose their viability? I am going to toss out the refill kit and buy new cartridges, but I was curious to know why the ink has gone off.

Perhaps you put the wrong colors in the wrong slots...?

Can you describe how they're off? Maybe take a picture? Do you get red where you should get blue, or is the saturation poor, or what?

Saturation is good. Green grass comes out yellow....
Hmmmm. I will have to ask the person who helped me refill if it is possible the ink went in the wrong slot. If it did, I will still have to buy new cartridges anyway.

I will have a look at the cartridge. Thanks for the idea.