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autowasherfreak

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Even though I lost all my Pictures of The day from AW and Vacuumland, and a bunch of washer videos that I saved from AW and YouTube. I now have a wonderful new computer an HP Omni. It's an all-in-one, no tower loaded with Windows 7. It has Office 2010, but I didn't get a key code to use it so I installed my copy of Office 2003. Windows 7 recognized one of my HP printers, and my HP scanner.

The computer is AWESOME, it's going to take some time getting used to Windows 7. I don't care much for the keyboard however, I miss my IBM Model M "clicky" keyboard. There is a company that makes new "clicky" keyboards, so I might get one of those, in black to match the computer.

autowasherfreak++4-11-2011-02-52-37.jpg
 
RE :

"I can never understand why when some thing works well, and you understand it, they have to change it."

When I went to work in the computer industry I was told the only thing constant is "change". This was before the PC came out and when most used punch cards.
 
Change

I think it's called Microsoft... I'm not a real Windows Vista or "7" fan. My big beef there is that they had been building on an OS since Windows 95 in terms of the interface and functionality and even that OS shared element from 3.1 and below. With XP many of the same visual elements and key commands still existed and that made it easy for a PC user to upgrade to the next product. When Vista came out, it was completely different. I don't understand why they would do that, but Windows 7 is the same visually as Vista, just much more stable. I admit that it's pretty, but I think it's worse to already be familiar with XP and then try and figure out this new cluster@#$%. I suppose it would be easier if you were new to computers all together, then you'd have nothing previous to go by and be confused by. I think it's easier to learn something new than learn something one way and expect things to be a certain way and then have to change everything you've known for 15 years.

 

A wonderful opportunity to get a Mac
smiley-laughing.gif


 

-Tim
 
I honestly believe that a lot of the changes Microsoft makes are made simply to make things LOOK new. which will make the item they are trying to sell seem like it's new and improved and worth buying.

But maybe I'm just cynical.

Still, confronted with changes in the software--many of which I'm told have no apparent rational reason--does make changing to something else a little less intimidating. I remember supporters of OpenOffice.org (office suite similar to Microsoft Office) pointed out that MS Office 2007, things were dramatically changed vs older versions. It would be a larger than usual learning curve. Training costs for companies would be higher. The jump to OpenOffice.org might actually have been an easier learning curve, with the added advantage that the cost of OpenOffice.org is $0. Unfortunately, I don't know that OpenOffice.org picked up a huge number of converts.
 
Using an IBM M series in today's world

Apparently it's possible to use the IBM with a modern computer using an adapter. Problem is that many adapters won't work properly--apparently the IBM keyboards need too much power.

Of course, getting a new IBM style keyboard has the advantage of no adapter hassles, and the color will match the new computer.

My link to info on the subject of adapters. These people have provided what should be suitable adapters in the past.
[this post was last edited: 4/11/2011-11:33]

 
Or you can order directly from Unicomp

I took a quick look, and they have an impressive assortment of choices. One model is $79, which strikes me as a good buy. I've never used one of these modern IBM M-style keyboards, but I can say the actual IBM keyboards are the best I've ever used. Period.

I'm lucky in that I still have an old PS/2 port--about the only advantage to using a long out of date computer. If/when I move to something with only USB, I'll probably try an adapter first. I have 2 IBM keyboards, so if one fails I have a backup. Both meet my needs, although they aren't modern--just the basic keys necessary. Both lack a Windows key, for example, but I think that Windows key was one of the most pointless ideas to ever come from Microsoft. (Although, a Windows key may be useful for Mac systems--I think it would become the Apple Command key or maybe the Option key, both of which are actually useful.)
 
Jim:
That's unfortunate, but the old phrase goes "If you really want it, and it's important to you, you back it up". Perhaps now that you've gotten a new computer, maybe implement a regular backup procedure?

I've never really cared for Windows vista or 7. I have to use 7 now because a class that I'm taking uses software that does not work on previous versions. If I could, I'd go back to Windows NT workstation Version 4.0 with SP 6A. But you can't do that and use the internet at the same time.

Linux, I've tried Linux. Puppy Linux will work on SOME laptops, but throws up on most. Ubuntu just looks weird. I like Suse the best for modern versions and Red Hat 7.3 for old versions of linux.

Some versions of openSolaris are just plain flaky for x86 platform. Solaris 10/5 I like for Sparc platforms, but is not the wisest choice to use for some things.

Apple is just too expensive to be told what os you can and can't upgrade your system to. I like that things just "work" on apple machines, not too much configuration. I don't really care for the GUI, as it's too user friendly. It's really for apes who are trained by the computer on how to click a mouse. Windows vista and 7 have a very similar training method.

I think of office 2007 as Office 2003 to which they've incorporated xml-based file formats: .docx, .xlsx, .pptx, etc.,and totally changed around the menus. So now for those who were used to previous versions,you have to relearn the Microsoft Office suite again->more or less in my opinion a waste of money. Since MS office is like the industry standard, people just get in line to get taken up the lower backside. I've told myself that I will Never switch to the new versions->I'm sticking to it. Open Office is very nice suite that I use quite often. I think they've run into a snag because of the Oracle acquisition of SUNW.

M-series IBM keyboards:
I use one when I have to do papers longer than 3 pages. They are a nice, heavy, clicky keyboard. You can drop them over and over, and they won't break.
 
OpenOffice, Sun, and Oracle

I have to admit I've been concerned with OO.org's future since the Oracle takeover of Sun.

I'm not alone. The project has been forked to create a new suite named LibreOffice. Right now, LibreOffice is essentially OpenOffice.org with a few changes. It's impossible to predict computer future, but LibreOffice does have some good support behind it, including, I believe, Canonical (the Ubuntu people) and Novell.

Home | LibreOffice - Free and private office suite - Based on OpenOffice - Compatible with Microsoft

Free office suite – the evolution of OpenOffice. Compatible with Microsoft .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx. Updated regularly, community powered.
www.libreoffice.org www.libreoffice.org
 
LordKenmore(John)
I liked Sun a lot better before they got gobbled up by Oracle. OpenOffice as well as Java has me concerned too. I started following the events as far as Openoffice being forked, etc. but have set it aside for a minute. You've given me an interest to pick it back up again. Oracle just flat out SCARES me!
 
You can drop them over and over, and they won't break.

I don't know how many times either myself or one of my cats have knocked my IBM M keyboard off the desk. I messed up the my last Model M keyboard big time, a couple times a times a years I will pop all the keys off and give the keyboard a good cleaning, the last time I did this I caught some to the little springs in my cleaning rag, and ripped them out of the keyboard, I was so pissed at myself for not being more careful. I love the feel of the Model M keyboards, they were modeled off the same keyboards that IBM used on the Selectric and Wheelwriter typewriters. The keyboard that came with the computer is so light, but I'm getting used to it, LOL.

Thanks Allen and John, I knew the name began with U, and thought it was Unicorp, I was close, LOL. Yes, I think I will start backing things up. Most of my music files were already backup up to cd's. I was getting ready to back up the appliance pics and washer videos when the old computer starting acting up, should have done it a little sooner I guess.

I use Office 2003 most for Outlook and Word. I was using office 2010 for free as a beta tester, but it started acting strange so I uninstalled it and went back to Office 2003.
 
This is the Keyboard I'm thinking of getting. Or I might just get another IBM M off of eBay, and just spray paint the case black.

autowasherfreak++4-11-2011-14-14-51.jpg
 
I had a IBM PS/2 Model 70 (running OS/2 Warp 3) and I absolutely loved it's Model M keyboard. It made a right racket when typing fast!

The whole machine, like the keyboard, was built like a tank.
 
IBM PS/2

I was also a real fan of the IBM machines, keyboard and all. I cut my teeth on a model 30 286 and moved to a 55sx with a wopping 8mb RAM and 160MB hard disk. I had a Model 70 486 and a 90 as well, but I never had all of the pieces to make them whole. At one time I had 5 of them, a 55sx, 50z, 40sx, 70 (386) and an old model 25. I had about 4 of the 8514 color displays and the M keyboards. I did however hate the original PS/2 mice, we had the PS/ValuePoints at school at the time and I would routinely swap the better full button mice for the old PS/2 wrap-arounds.

 

Oh the memories. I'll always have a special place for these.

 

Jim, beware some of these IBM knockoffs don't click. I've been bitten twice by that.

 

It's funny that the M is popular sort of again, when these were still around everywhere, people hated the sound they made. To this day it's the only keyboard that I can type fast on.

 

 

-Tim
 
Many years ago I also had a IBM PS/1 (can't remember the model but it had a small case and a 386), that was a bit of a odd machine.

I'm not a fan of the PS/2 mice ether, were always a bit awkward for me to use.
 
people hated the sound they made

It's funny, but I was one of those people. I can only remember one IBM keyboard years back. It was used in a library, and it seemed way too noisy. Asked then if I'd ever have one myself, and I would probably have said "NO WAY!" Yet, I do have one--in fact, I'm using it to write this--and the noise doesn't bother me much. Why did that one years back bother me more? I can't say. Maybe it was the dead quiet of that part of the library, the noise was reinforced by the location in that library, or that keyboard was noisier for some other reason than the keyboard I have now.
 
I love the sound of the "M" keyboards, and they don't move while I'm typing like some of the lighter keyboards do. I'm not a super fast typist 60-65 wpm, but when I get to typing really fast the cheap light weight keyboards start moving across the desktop. The "M" keyboards, were just well built as IBM typewriters were, I have a IBM Correcting Selectric II that sits right next to my PC. I had a IBM PS/2 Model 60, the tower weighed anywhere 45 to 50 lbs according to the bright yellow warning label that was under the handle use to lift it, LOL, built like a tank. The original hard drive finally died on it, and finding a seemed impossible, and when I did find one it was very expensive, so I left it behind when I moved the last time.

Is it the spring action that makes the "M" keyboards click? Unicomp keyboards come with either buckling spring, or enhanced quiet keyboards. I wonder just how much the look and sound like the genuine "M" keyboards.
 

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