• My History with Windows

    From CtrlAltDel@Altie@AL.invalid to comp.os.linux.advocacy on Fri Sep 12 23:04:43 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    Since practically every other post in this Linux group is about Windows, I thought I would join in. Why not?

    My first computer was a Packard Bell Platinum and it came pre-installed
    with Windows 95. It was a fun and exciting time with Windows 95 being new
    and the vaunted "Start Menu" and just learning about computer usage.

    I had a passing acquaintance with Windows 2 versions and Windows 3 in high school but nothing to speak of other than group lessons with all the other students where we learning absolutely nothing really about how to use the
    OS.

    My college years entailed no real usage of computers, it was possible back
    in ancient times.

    In 1995, I bought the Packard Bell when I was 24 and used Windows 95,
    Windows 7, and the renowned and beloved XP one time and that was it. I refused to switch over to Vista and jumped to Linux Mint in 2008 with
    Elyssa.

    Anyway, I said all of that just to show everyone some old Windows discs I still have and thought some of you might find interesting. Everyone post
    some images of their own old computer related material.

    See here:

    https://i.imgur.com/BCu3NZp.jpeg
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  • From CtrlAltDel@Altie@AL.invalid to comp.os.linux.advocacy on Fri Sep 12 23:07:29 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On Fri, 12 Sep 2025 23:04:43 -0000 (UTC), CtrlAltDel wrote:

    where we learning absolutely nothing

    where we *were* learning absolutely nothing
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  • From rbowman@bowman@montana.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy on Sat Sep 13 00:53:46 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On Fri, 12 Sep 2025 23:04:43 -0000 (UTC), CtrlAltDel wrote:

    Anyway, I said all of that just to show everyone some old Windows discs
    I still have and thought some of you might find interesting. Everyone
    post some images of their own old computer related material.

    I'm too lazy to figure out the mechanics of posting an image but I have
    the Microsoft Developer Network folder from October 1994. It has 20
    sleeves for CDs including Windows 3.1 and Windows for Workgroups 3.11.
    Some of the sleeves are empty but iirc they were for non-English installs
    that I recycled along the way. There is a Visual J++ beta and a released version. I liked Visual J++ but it was shut down for non-compliance and
    later emerged much improved as C#.

    That's probably the oldest. I gave my computer related stuff away when I
    left New Hampshire in '88 and stayed away from the damn things for a few years.
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  • From CtrlAltDel@Altie@AL.invalid to comp.os.linux.advocacy on Sat Sep 13 04:47:00 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 13 Sep 2025 00:53:46 GMT, rbowman wrote:

    On Fri, 12 Sep 2025 23:04:43 -0000 (UTC), CtrlAltDel wrote:

    Anyway, I said all of that just to show everyone some old Windows discs
    I still have and thought some of you might find interesting. Everyone
    post some images of their own old computer related material.

    I'm too lazy to figure out the mechanics of posting an image but I have
    the Microsoft Developer Network folder from October 1994. It has 20
    sleeves for CDs including Windows 3.1 and Windows for Workgroups 3.11.
    Some of the sleeves are empty but iirc they were for non-English
    installs that I recycled along the way. There is a Visual J++ beta and a released version. I liked Visual J++ but it was shut down for
    non-compliance and later emerged much improved as C#.

    That's probably the oldest. I gave my computer related stuff away when I
    left New Hampshire in '88 and stayed away from the damn things for a few years.

    That's interesting; thanks for sharing. You seem to have me beat by a
    handful of years in becoming acquainted with computers. I really, really
    wish I had kept some of my actual old computers. Especially that original Packard Bell Platinum I with the hokey, yet great at the time, Navigator shell.

    https://ibb.co/FqWP49Lk

    Getting online with Prodigy was like entering a different world back then, with the World Wide Web being so new. It *almost* felt like you could
    visit every website that was then currently in existence.

    And those early Usenet groups were really something, with seemingly
    thousands of people visiting them and sharing troves of information with actual civil conversations in many instances.
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  • From rbowman@bowman@montana.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy on Sat Sep 13 07:11:29 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On Sat, 13 Sep 2025 04:47:00 -0000 (UTC), CtrlAltDel wrote:

    That's interesting; thanks for sharing. You seem to have me beat by a handful of years in becoming acquainted with computers. I really,
    really wish I had kept some of my actual old computers. Especially that original Packard Bell Platinum I with the hokey, yet great at the time, Navigator shell.

    I started with FORTRAN IV on a System 360/30 around '65. I wasn't all that interested until the '70s when micros appeared and control systems became
    more dependent on software than hardware although you could still wirewrap
    up a working Z-80 board. I've more or less come full circle, playing with Picos and Arduinos. I like blinking lights and moving servos.

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  • From CtrlAltDel@Altie@AL.invalid to comp.os.linux.advocacy on Sat Sep 13 10:10:36 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 13 Sep 2025 07:11:29 GMT, rbowman wrote:

    On Sat, 13 Sep 2025 04:47:00 -0000 (UTC), CtrlAltDel wrote:

    That's interesting; thanks for sharing. You seem to have me beat by a
    handful of years in becoming acquainted with computers. I really,
    really wish I had kept some of my actual old computers. Especially that
    original Packard Bell Platinum I with the hokey, yet great at the time,
    Navigator shell.

    I started with FORTRAN IV on a System 360/30 around '65. I wasn't all
    that interested until the '70s when micros appeared and control systems became more dependent on software than hardware although you could still wirewrap up a working Z-80 board. I've more or less come full circle,
    playing with Picos and Arduinos. I like blinking lights and moving
    servos.

    Great. You seem well versed and experienced in computing. I've always
    admired those that have great knowledge in this field.

    Personally, I have other hobbies that occupied my life and I have always treated computers as more of just a lighthearted pastime. Don't get me
    wrong, I enjoy computers but, I've never really dedicated myself to it in
    any great extent.
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  • From Farley Flud@fflud@gnu.rocks to comp.os.linux.advocacy on Sat Sep 13 11:35:33 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On Sat, 13 Sep 2025 10:10:36 -0000 (UTC), CtrlAltDel wrote:


    Personally, I have other hobbies that occupied my life and I have always treated computers as more of just a lighthearted pastime. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy computers but, I've never really dedicated myself to it in any great extent.


    Then why the fuck are you here?

    This a GNU/Linux group and GNU/Linux is for technically competent
    people. You are only polluting the waters with your uninformed
    and ignorant posts.

    You must also be one of those dipsticks that piss in a public
    swimming pool.
    --
    Gentoo: the only true Linux.

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From =?UTF-8?Q?St=C3=A9phane?= CARPENTIER@sc@fiat-linux.fr to comp.os.linux.advocacy on Sat Sep 13 12:47:56 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    Le 13-09-2025, Farley Flud <fflud@gnu.rocks> a écrit :
    On Sat, 13 Sep 2025 10:10:36 -0000 (UTC), CtrlAltDel wrote:


    Personally, I have other hobbies that occupied my life and I have always
    treated computers as more of just a lighthearted pastime. Don't get me
    wrong, I enjoy computers but, I've never really dedicated myself to it in >> any great extent.


    Then why the fuck are you here?

    Having fun reading your garbage can be a reason.

    This a GNU/Linux group and GNU/Linux is for technically competent
    people.

    So, it's my turn: "Then why the fuck are you here?".

    You are only polluting the waters with your uninformed
    and ignorant posts.

    He knows only about Mint, but it's way more than you knowing only about nothing.

    You must also be one of those dipsticks that piss in a public
    swimming pool.

    So, he's like you who explain how you shit in your basement. What's the
    issue?
    --
    Si vous avez du temps à perdre :
    https://scarpet42.gitlab.io
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  • From CtrlAltDel@Altie@AL.invalid to comp.os.linux.advocacy on Sun Sep 14 09:40:10 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On Sat, 13 Sep 2025 11:35:33 +0000, Farley Flud wrote:

    Then why the fuck are you here?

    This a GNU/Linux group and GNU/Linux is for technically competent
    people. You are only polluting the waters with your uninformed and
    ignorant posts.

    You must also be one of those dipsticks that piss in a public swimming
    pool.

    I know enough to know that Gentoo sucks.

    BTW, get yourself a new computer chair, for God's sakes!

    https://i.imgur.com/vz5Us0o.jpeg
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From CtrlAltDel@Altie@AL.invalid to comp.os.linux.advocacy on Sun Sep 14 09:59:08 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On 13 Sep 2025 12:47:56 GMT, Stéphane CARPENTIER wrote:

    So, he's like you who explain how you shit in your basement. What's the issue?

    You are loser, just like your ancestors.


    The French Invented The Word Surrender.

    - Gallic Wars
    - Lost. In a war whose ending foreshadows the next 2000 years of
    French history, France is conquered by of all things, an Italian.

    - Hundred Years War
    - Mostly lost, saved at last by female schizophrenic who
    inadvertently creates The First Rule of French Warfare; "France's
    armies are victorious only when not led by a Frenchman." Sainted.

    - Italian Wars
    - Lost. France becomes the first and only country to ever lose two
    wars when fighting Italians.

    - Wars of Religion
    - France goes 0-5-4 against the Huguenots

    - Thirty Years War
    - France is technically not a participant, but manages to get
    invaded anyway. Claims a tie on the basis that eventually the other participants started ignoring her.

    - War of Revolution
    - Tied. Frenchmen take to wearing red flowerpots as chapeaux.

    - The Dutch War
    - Tied

    - War of the Augsburg League/King William's War/French and Indian
    War
    - Lost, but claimed as a tie. Three ties in a row induces deluded
    Frogophiles the world over to label the period as the height of French
    military power.

    - War of the Spanish Succession
    - Lost. The War also gave the French their first taste of a
    Marlborough, which they have loved every since.

    - American Revolution
    - In a move that will become quite familiar to future Americans,
    France claims a win even though the English colonists saw far more
    action. This is later known as "de Gaulle Syndrome", and leads to the
    Second Rule of French Warfare; "France only wins when America does
    most of the fighting."

    - French Revolution
    - Won, primarily due the fact that the opponent was also French.

    - The Napoleonic Wars
    - Lost. Temporary victories (remember the First Rule!) due to
    leadership of a Corsican, who ended up being no match for a British
    footwear designer.

    - The Franco-Prussian War
    - Lost. Germany first plays the role of drunk Frat boy to France's
    ugly girl home alone on a Saturday night.

    - World War I
    - Tied and on the way to losing, France is saved by the United
    States. Thousands of French women find out what it's like to not only
    sleep with a winner, but one who doesn't call her "Fraulein." Sadly,
    widespread use of condoms by American forces forestalls any
    improvement in the French bloodline.

    - World War II
    - Lost. Conquered French liberated by the United States and
    Britain just as they finish learning the Horst Wessel Song.

    - War in Indochina
    - Lost. French forces plead sickness; take to bed with the Dien
    Bien Flu

    - Algerian Rebellion
    - Lost. Loss marks the first defeat of a western army by a
    Non-Turkic Muslim force since the Crusades, and produces the First
    Rule of Muslim Warfare; "We can always beat the French." This rule is
    identical to the First Rules of the Italians, Russians, Germans,
    English, Dutch, Spanish, Vietnamese and Esquimaux.

    - War on Terrorism
    - France, keeping in mind its recent history, surrenders to
    Germans and Muslims just to be safe. Attempts to surrender to
    Vietnamese ambassador fail after he takes refuge in a McDonald's.

    The question for any country silly enough to count on the French
    should not be "Can we count on the French?", but rather "How long
    until France collapses?"

    "Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without an
    accordion. All you do is leave behind a lot of noisy baggage."

    Or, better still, the quote from last week's Wall Street Journal:
    "They're there when they need you."

    Norse invasions, 841-911.
    After having their way with the French for 70 years, the Norse are
    bribed by a French King named Charles the Simple who gave them
    Normandy in return for peace. Normans proceed to become just about the
    only positive military bonus in France's favor for next 500 years.

    Mexico, 1863-1864.
    France attempts to take advantage of Mexico's weakness following
    its thorough thrashing by the U.S. 20 years earlier ("Halls of
    Montezuma"). Not surprisingly, the only unit to distinguish itself is
    the French Foreign Legion (consisting of, by definition,
    non-Frenchmen). Booted out of the country a little over a year after
    arrival.

    Panama jungles 1881-1890.
    With no one but nature to fight, France still loses; canal is
    eventually built by the U.S. 1904-1914.

    Napoleonic Wars.
    Should be noted that the Grand Armee was largely (~%50) composed
    of non-Frenchmen after 1804 or so. Mainly disgruntled minorities and anti-monarchists. Not surprisingly, these performed better than the
    French on many occasions.

    Haiti, 1791-1804.
    French defeated by rebellion after sacrificing 4,000 Poles to
    yellow fever. Shows another rule of French warfare; when in doubt,
    send an ally.

    India, 1673-1813.
    British were far more charming than French, ended up victors.
    Therefore the British are well known for their tea, and the French for
    their whine (er, wine...). Ensures 200 years of bad teeth in England.

    Barbary Wars, middle ages-1830.
    Pirates in North Africa continually harass European shipping in
    Meditteranean. France's solution: pay them to leave us alone.
    America's solution: kick their asses ("the Shores of Tripoli").
    [America's] first overseas victories, won 1801-1815.

    1798-1801, Quasi-War with U.S.
    French privateers (semi-legal pirates) attack U.S. shipping. U.S.
    fights France at sea for 3 years; French eventually cave; sets
    precedent for next 200 years of Franco-American relations.

    Moors in Spain, late 700s-early 800s.
    Even with Charlemagne leading them against an enemy living in a
    hostile land, French are unable to make much progress. Hide behind
    Pyrennes until the modern day.

    French-on-French losses (probably should be counted as victories
    too, just to be fair):

    1208: Albigenses Crusade, French massacared by French.
    When asked how to differentiate a heretic from the faithful,
    response was "Kill them all. God will know His own." Lesson: French
    are badasses when fighting unarmed men, women and children.

    St. Bartholomew Day Massacre, August 24, 1572.
    Once again, French-on-French slaughter.

    Third Crusade.
    Philip Augustus of France throws hissy-fit, leaves Crusade for
    Richard the Lion Heart to finish.

    Seventh Crusade.
    St. Louis of France leads Crusade to Egypt. Resoundingly crushed.

    [Eighth] Crusade.
    St. Louis back in action, this time in Tunis. See Seventh Crusade.

    Also should be noted that France attempted to hide behind the
    Maginot line, sticking their head in the sand and pretending that the
    Germans would enter France that way. By doing so, the Germans would
    have been breaking with their traditional route of invading France,
    entering through Belgium (Napoleonic Wars, Franco-Prussian War, World
    War I, etc.). French ignored this though, and put all their effort
    into these defenses.

    Seven year War 1756-1763
    Lost: after getting hammered by Frederick the Great of Prussia
    (yep, the Germans again) at Rossbach, the French were held off for the remainder of the War by Frederick of Brunswick and a hodge-podge army
    including some Brits. War also saw France kicked out of Canada (Wolfe
    at Quebec) and India (Clive at Plassey).

    The French consider the departure of the French from Algeria in
    1962-63, after 130 years on colonialism, as a French victory and
    especially consider C. de Gaulle as a hero for 'leading' said victory
    over the unwilling French public who were very much against the
    departure. This ended their colonialism. About 2 million ungrateful
    Algerians lost their lives in this shoddy affair.

    "We are fighting an enemy that cannot be appeased; were that possible,
    the
    French would already have done it"

    - Andrew Roberts, British author of "History of the English-Speaking
    Peoples Since 1900", speaking of the War on Terror.

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  • From rbowman@bowman@montana.com to comp.os.linux.advocacy on Sun Sep 14 18:43:04 2025
    From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

    On Sun, 14 Sep 2025 09:59:08 -0000 (UTC), CtrlAltDel wrote:

    - Thirty Years War - France is technically not a participant, but
    manages to get invaded anyway. Claims a tie on the basis that eventually
    the other participants started ignoring her.

    France was a participant in the Franco-Spanish War, sort of a sideshow. In
    a typical Gallic manner Cardinal Richelieu financed the Protestant
    Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden. After Richelieu died Mazarin, who was an
    Italian, continued the game. If anything Mazarin was a bigger weasel.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2