[Katsunami]

Bah, Windows.

I've used it since Windows NT4, transitioning from OS/2 Warp 3, because it could run Windows 95/NT programs, and OS/2 Warp 3 and 4 couldn't. I haven't had much problems with Windows, not even Windows Vista, moving from Windows NT4 to 2000, XP, Vista, and 7.

(So, I basically never used Windows 95, 98 and ME, and I never had the 'Windows is unstable' problems; I've been on a full 32-bit system since 1994, starting with OS/2 Warp 3. The only 16-bit I've used was Windows 3.1, running *inside* OS/2, to be able to run Windows 3.1 games.)

In Windows 8, MS started changing things for the sake of changing things, and I skipped it. Then I moved to Windows 10, from 7, during the free upgrade period.

To be honest, I didn't like it then (mainly because all the 'We want this information' stuff), and I don't like it now. Titles are too huge. Fonts are too small. Customization as known in Windows 7 and before is down the drain. Can't even change font type (officially). Now I'm hitting a snag that the Start Menu can't find half of my installed programs. Classic Shell can, though.

I can't move back to Windows 7 because Microsoft has officially scrapped Windows 7 support on Skylake and newer systems; they basically say: "If you can get it installed and it works, fine. If it doesn't work, bad luck."

So because of that, Windows 10 is the only operating system I can use, even though I dislike it.

Apple/OSX? Not an option. Laptop prices are through the roof. Half of my software is not available on MacOSX, not even mentioning games. iMacs are underpowered, and I like a better monitor than what they've got (and non-glossy, even). I'm not even talking about the Mac Mini. That system has less power than computers I've put out with the trash or given away for free 5 years ago. To get a Mac Pro with the power my current desktop has, I need to win the lottery (and that system hasn't been updated for three years already). Apple seems to be transforming itself from a computer company to a 'we have a single phone... and oh, some computers as well, sometimes'-company. Not an option.

Linux? OK, it basically runs most of my software, except for the Eizo monitor calibration suite... and it doesn't run most games. To get it to work on my laptop requires endless tinkering. It will run on the desktop, but then I can only reset my monitor to not use Eizo ColorNavigator, and the display basically gets reduced to a €150 generic monitor, which I don't want. Even though I don't do a lot of photography anymore, I kept the monitor because I liked it. Games will require endless jacking around with WINE to get working, or I'll need to setup a dual boot and reboot each time.

R.I.P. useful home computer, 1981 - 2011.

I wonder if someone will be able to ever fix this crap.

Bah. Maybe I should just install Linux in Virtual Box, booting it automatically, use it for day to day work, and drop back to Windows when I want to play a game.

Seriously, I'm so tired of this crap. 40 years of computers, in which everything got better and better each year (although I only experienced this starting in 1990), and in 2009, the computing world starts to tear itself to pieces because they're afraid of the iPhone and want to go mobile at all costs; and now we're stuck with desktop software that is half desktop and half mobile, and doesn't work anymore.