I just bought a PC...and sick of it already !

by grimgraphix Nov 28, 2005 3:52AM PST

I just bought a PC... I needed it for certain college classes in CAD and architectural drawing that only have software for PC. It's been almost a year since I had to use one. It was a pretty good black friday deal where I got a Athlon 64 3200 939 socket/ATI 200 chip set plus a 15 inch LCD TFT monitor for less than $400 after rebates.

I'm already sick of it.

As soon as I turned it on I spent a good hour and a half registering virus and internet security programs. I then spent another 2 hours downloading updates. Good thing I've got broad band !!!

I have previous experience with PC so I also downloaded 2 spy ware detectors and some pop up blocker tool bars for the browser. For that matter, I also downloaded FireFox to use instead of the questionable IE 6 that came with the tower. Then there was the choice of firewalls (MS, Norton - 3 month trial, or the best that money can't buy Zone Alarm).

Had to load drivers for the linksys card, the wireless inteli-mouse (a good product IMO), and my Canon printer.

I then went to Windows update and ran 19 security patches !!! Guess what... One will not instal !!!!!!!!!!!! I tried 3 times and then followed the troubleshooting links to a page detailing how the patch has trouble loading on a variety of systems. The article was originally written in june/05 and had been reviewed again in sept/05... still no fix for the fix but they do keep up to date at least !!! LOL.

3 hours after getting on line I go over to google and down load "Google Earth" since they don't support Mac yet and I've been restless to play with it. COOL PROGRAM !!! Highlight of the evening.

I then went to CNet forums and perused some of the threads and lo and behold... (drum roll please) got a VIRUS warning ! Bloodhound Exploit 2 I think it was. I spent the next hour running antivirus and clearing cache.

Good thing I've got till next January before I have to use the beast. It may actually be running by then.

Did I really have my mac running in under a half hour out of the box or was that just a dream ?

Grim (and bear it)

Discussion is locked

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Wow! That quick?

by lampietheclown Dec 1, 2005 11:20PM PST

Where did the Virus come from? Google? C-Net? Downloading virus updates LOL?

Lampie

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I got the warning

by grimgraphix Dec 2, 2005 12:02AM PST

while on the speakeasy forum. I posted about it at this link...

http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-6130-0.html?forumID=50&threadID=138236&messageID=1566322

From what I read on a seperate thread several others have had the same experience. It's a bloodhound exploit warning. The Norton warning said it was in my Temp folder so once I got it I cleared the cache and a subsequent antivirus scan did not find it. So whether it was real or just appeared as a virus I can't tell.

As I said I've been PC "free" for almost a year. I had forgotten how much work they are ! I'm impressed by the power of the mid level athlon 64 chip (wow it's fast compaired to my G4 1.2 but to be fair I need Ram) but the OS is soooooooo much work ! I struggled (really I resisted) with learning OS10 when I first got my iBook and I still honestly believe it's not as cutomizable as windows (but I'm still on panther so can't speak for Tiger)but OS10 is much more convenient and easy to work once you get the hang of it.

The Google Earth program is really quite cool if you haven't seen it yet. The satalite pics combined with 3D imaging allows you to fly thru the streets of Chicago or down the grand canyon with a click of a button. Gave me a touch of vertigo at first !

Hope all had a good holiday.
grim

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Windows update and ran 19 security patches !!!

by jcrobso Dec 2, 2005 12:38AM PST

Just think,,, if you have to reinstall W2K at SP2 on PC it takes about 4~5 hours on a T1 to get ALL the updates.
Sometimes it seems like I spend more time updating Windows that using it. The Mac??? Just works. John

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Virtual PC

by thegeekdeek Dec 2, 2005 8:55PM PST

I have no knowledge on this product other than it exists. Can you get a virus/spyware on a Mac running virtual PC? If you're a diehard Maccy, which I'm turning into because of the first letter, when you need to run programs unavailable on the Mac (pity), would VirtualPC be something to look into?

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VPC

by mrmacfixit Forum moderator Dec 2, 2005 9:33PM PST

does exist and is of use when you absolutely have to run a program that is not available for the Mac.
"Virtual PC only emulates a Pentium II processor, so you will only get processor speeds up to 650 MHz" and this is regardless of what Mac you are running it on. The quote is from Microsoft after being cornered. That information is NOT on the VPC website.
Games are just out of the question, the machine is too slow.
On the question of virus's. VPC is equally vulnerable to virus's, even though it is running on the Mac. It is still Windows and it is still just as leaky as when run on an PC box. You will still need all the Windows updates and Virus protection for the Windows side.

Hope this helps

P

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But the...

by thegeekdeek Dec 3, 2005 9:34AM PST

virus(s)/spyware will only effect the running of VPC and nothing in the Mac system, right?

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(NT) (NT) Right

by mrmacfixit Forum moderator Dec 3, 2005 10:24AM PST

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ACK!

by RaeAtkinson Dec 8, 2005 10:26PM PST

I feel your pain! I had to buy a Window's Laptop for my college classes that require programs as well and what a nightmare this PC experience has been!
I know the whole downloading software and virus nightmare! Also, my laptop, being the ripe old age of 9 months has been repaired four times. Thank god for that extended warranty plan, because if it breaks again, Toshiba will have to junk it out.
Good Luck with that old Dinosaur of a PC

I just bought a PC...and sick of it already !

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