So who's staying XPut?

[WillysJeepMan]

It's nearly 3 months since Microsoft stopped supporting XP and there are 25% of systems still running it.

So where is the XPocalyse that was predicted? Where are the reports of massive numbers of XP systems being infected with malware now that they are "left unprotected"? Is this simply the calm before the storm? Are the digital miscreants biding their time to lull the laggers into a false sense of security?

What are your theories?

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by WillysJeepMan

It's nearly 3 months since Microsoft stopped supporting XP and there are 25% of systems still running it.

So where is the XPocalyse that was predicted? Where are the reports of massive numbers of XP systems being infected with malware now that they are "left unprotected"? Is this simply the calm before the storm? Are the digital miscreants biding their time to lull the laggers into a false sense of security?

What are your theories?

Well, I am now typing this from my laptop with Arch Linux installed. (Woohoo!) But I still have XP as a dual boot option. I use it mainly for ADE, but at first I was still using it for browsing (while preparing Arch) and nothing happened to me.

This was after I stripped it down to clear space. One of the first things to go was the antivirus (AVG) as they tend to be on the large side. Update databse and stuff was hiding in All Users\APPDATA and was about 500 MB right there.

Yes I know you should always have an antivirus. But honestly I am a pretty safe browser (#1 rule is don't be stupid, antivirus waits till #2) and I could always fall back on Arch, so... I didn't really care. But the good news is, I was fine.

I honestly think malware is far more likely to be blocked by basic internet safety + antivirus (and fortunately #2 is widespread enough to make up for the lack of #1) than by which OS you have. Once the malware is running on your computer (having gotten past that first line of defense) Win7/8 is not a significant advantage over WinXP. Either way, you are asking to become toast.

The most important thing is, that critical applications seem to remain WinVersion-agnostic. And MS only provides the OS framework and, if you are stupid, the browser.

FF/Chrome + antivirus pretty much blocks the main attack vectors.

[Glorfindel]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Well, I am now typing this from my laptop with Arch Linux installed. (Woohoo!) But I still have XP as a dual boot option. I use it mainly for ADE, but at first I was still using it for browsing (while preparing Arch) and nothing happened to me.

This was after I stripped it down to clear space. One of the first things to go was the antivirus (AVG) as they tend to be on the large side. Update databse and stuff was hiding in All Users\APPDATA and was about 500 MB right there.

Yes I know you should always have an antivirus. But honestly I am a pretty safe browser (#1 rule is don't be stupid, antivirus waits till #2) and I could always fall back on Arch, so... I didn't really care. But the good news is, I was fine.

I honestly think malware is far more likely to be blocked by basic internet safety + antivirus (and fortunately #2 is widespread enough to make up for the lack of #1) than by which OS you have. Once the malware is running on your computer (having gotten past that first line of defense) Win7/8 is not a significant advantage over WinXP. Either way, you are asking to become toast.

The most important thing is, that critical applications seem to remain WinVersion-agnostic. And MS only provides the OS framework and, if you are stupid, the browser.

FF/Chrome + antivirus pretty much blocks the main attack vectors.

Yup on most things, I happen to think that IE is one of the better browsers however.

[eschwartz]

We must agree to disagree.

BTW, I came across a rather interesting thing lately: http://www.infoworld.com/t/microsoft...in-arms-243183

---

I've been trying to get ADE running on WINE, but without success.

Anyone who has suggestions as to how I can remove my last dependency on Windows?

ADE2.0 keeps crashing, I haven't gotten it to be stable AT ALL (although some say it's possible, not my experience) .

ADE1.7.2 runs just fine and even downloads books and everything -- and Alf's tools import a key through WINE, but it doesn't work. So it is possible I can get help from the tools site on that, but I'd really like ADE2.0 to work. I even had it running for one session and imported a book successfully, but but it won't even start up since then. Arghhhh!

[Glorfindel]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

We must agree to disagree.

BTW, I came across a rather interesting thing lately: http://www.infoworld.com/t/microsoft...in-arms-243183

---

I've been trying to get ADE running on WINE, but without success.

Anyone who has suggestions as to how I can remove my last dependency on Windows?

ADE2.0 keeps crashing, I haven't gotten it to be stable AT ALL (although some say it's possible, not my experience) .

ADE1.7.2 runs just fine and even downloads books and everything -- and Alf's tools import a key through WINE, but it doesn't work. So it is possible I can get help from the tools site on that, but I'd really like ADE2.0 to work. I even had it running for one session and imported a book successfully, but but it won't even start up since then. Arghhhh!

I'm no good at wine
What do you use ADE for?

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Glorfindel

I'm no good at wine
What do you use ADE for?

It is occasionally possible that I will end up getting an ADE book (even though I prefer Amazon).

Also, I heard some people may DeDRM a library book that is only available via ADE, put it on their Kindle to read, and delete it when the loan expires. Not that I'd ever do such a thing </righteous> but, you know, theoretically it might be a good thing for Kindle owners who frequent libraries to know.

[Glorfindel]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

It is occasionally possible that I will end up getting an ADE book (even though I prefer Amazon).

Also, I heard some people may DeDRM a library book that is only available via ADE, put it on their Kindle to read, and delete it when the loan expires. Not that I'd ever do such a thing </righteous> but, you know, theoretically it might be a good thing for Kindle owners who frequent libraries to know.

I'm not entirely sure were you would get books for ADE, but aren't the only places Kobo and B&N?

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Glorfindel

I'm not entirely sure were you would get books for ADE, but aren't the only places Kobo and B&N?

There is that. There are others too, but they aren't as big and well-known (except for Google ).

Amazon usually has the best deals.

[Glorfindel]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

There is that. There are others too, but they aren't as big and well-known (except for Google ).

Amazon usually has the best deals.

I mean you can't get them directly from Adobe can you?

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Glorfindel

I mean you can't get them directly from Adobe can you?

Nope, Adobe just sells the content server software.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by Glorfindel

I'm not entirely sure were you would get books for ADE, but aren't the only places Kobo and B&N?

and

eBooks.com
OmniLit/AllRomance
Google Play

Not sure if Copia, eBook Mall and a few others still do Adobe DRM or not.

and some stores in other parts of the world.

[Glorfindel]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Nope, Adobe just sells the content server software.

I forgot the point I was attempting to make :\

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Glorfindel

I forgot the point I was attempting to make :\

Wow, that took a while...

I believe you were going back on:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

It is occasionally possible that I will end up getting an ADE book (even though I prefer Amazon).

And thought I meant buy a book from ADE instead of locked with ADE.

[Glorfindel]

I think I was wondering if you could use the kobo app instead

[pc god]

it doesnt seem to matter what os you use these days everything after windows 7 is garbage and everything before 7 was usable all the web based security and anitvirus malware scanners adware scanners all are bult on the same idea as they were in windows 95/98/me/2000/xp/7 you can hack one you can hack them all the dll files from win 98se are not so different to 7 its just the coding thats changed so staying 'xput" as its been dubbed is really not a bad idea its more stable than 8 has a better start menu uses less system resources than 8 seems like a sensible thing to do the updates stopping thingy dont matter because these system s run for years without a internet or a update in office blocks around the uk so being 'xput" is more cost effective no new licence required and still supprts near enough everything you need to play games write letters do facebook its only those who are played by a salesman or by there friends about having old pcs that will go buy the new stuff keeping up with the joneses some of us will carry on having our pcs not cluttered with rubbish start menus and "apps" that no one needs its take the people of the world 20 years to shorten the word applications to apps and there all programs and all said and done so if it takes 20 years to take 9 letters off a word i cant see how the new windows 8/10 can be right great fyi i have had 2 computers both with 8 on and xped them both was naff completely try running old dos based games that worked on 98 and you will see compatiblity mode does nothing see ya all laters im "xput" and proud