Need advice on non-Windows OS and browser

[strelnik]

I don't know whether it's Windows XP or IE, but my browser seems slow, no matter what I do.

As long as I could browse, do e-mail and write notes, I could use a fater, lightweight system for work on the go.

Any suggestions?

What other OS could I use?

What else is there that is reputable besides Firefox?

For e0-mail, what else besides Thunderbird?

Please speak from personal experience, thanks.

[raymr]

Ubuntu Linux and Chrome browser.

[LUVMBDiesels]

I would install Linux. Ubuntu is good for beginners.
For a do everything browser package get Mozilla's Seamonkey. It combines the browser, email, chat and composition products into one application. It is supposedly faster than Firefox and Thunderbird and uses less resources YMMV...

For office applications get OpenOffice 3.2.

[pj67coll]

Agree with Linux. I use Firefox on it and have no problems but if you want more capabilites then the other browsers mentioned might be good.

- Peter

[LUVMBDiesels]

Originally Posted by pj67coll

Agree with Linux. I use Firefox on it and have no problems but if you want more capabilites then the other browsers mentioned might be good.

- Peter

Only reason I went with Seamonkey is because it basically combines Firefox and Thunderbird I tried Opera but it was too resource intensive. I have to try Chrome... I also hear epiphany-browser is pretty good.

[pawoSD]

Why are you still running WindowsXP? Most likely your computer is an ancient piece....try a modern PC, even a netbook, running Ubuntu or Windows 7 and the Chrome Browser (though IE 8 is pretty fast also) and you'll be amazed. You do realize your using a system nearly 8 years old?

[Emmerich]

Lots of new corporate PC's are being installed with XP after Win7 was removed.

Originally Posted by pawoSD

Why are
you still running WindowsXP? Most likely your computer is an ancient piece....try a modern PC, even a netbook, running Ubuntu or Windows 7 and the Chrome Browser (though IE 8 is pretty fast also) and you'll be amazed. You do realize your using a system nearly 8 years old?

[Stretch]

Take a look at openSUSE (linux) too - especially with the KDE desktop

[Ara T.]

Originally Posted by Emmerich

Lots of new corporate PC's are being installed with XP after Win7 was removed.

A lot of them are also still using Internet Explorer 6. Doesn't make it right. Windows 7 is superior to XP in every sense I can think of. It does take a faster computer to run it well but hardware is cheap these days.. and you can also disable all the pretty goodies in Windows 7 and make it function pretty much exactly like XP.

To the OP, you might want to reformat your hard drive if it's an oldie.. you might just need a fresh slate (viruses, junk, etc). You will need to reinstall Windows and all your programs and drivers and stuff.. back up your documents. It will take you an afternoon or evening.

Make sure you've done a good virus scan and defrag before attempting above.

And ditch IE in favor of Chrome or Opera. Firefox is ok too but isn't as fast as Chrome/Opera. I prefer Opera.. i hate Chrome's interface and Opera is about as fast.

[Stretch]

Originally Posted by Ara T.

...It will take you an afternoon or evening...

Boy am I glad I don't have to mess around doing that anymore - what a waste of life - switch to Linux

[Ara T.]

:0 With newer machines and windows 7 downloading all the drivers for you it can be done very quickly... older machines take forever to install windoze though.

[Mike D]

"Puppy" Linux and Opera here. Wouldn't go back to any MS product on a bet. Of course, I'm not a video gamer so that has some bearing on my choice.

[pawoSD]

It only took about 21 minutes to install Windows 7 on my machine and my brother's PC. We've got the power.

And while early on companies were avoiding Windows 7, most are now adopting. We've been slowly forcing them to. (I do corporate IT work) Many companies are still running the junky PC's they got when they moved to XP. Thankfully these machines are now failing regularly, so the encouragement to upgrade is easier.

[pawoSD]

Originally Posted by Army

Boy am I glad I don't have to mess around doing that anymore - what a waste of life - switch to Linux

Updating 100 linux packages a week takes time too. Especially on a slower machine.