Thinkpads Forum

Posted: **Mon Dec 01, 2014 1:37 pm**

I'm just kinda curious-

What OS are most of you currently using most of the time?

I understand a lot of you will indeed answer Windows. But i'm wondering if there's any weirdos out there who secretly run a Linux file server in their home, or have one of those old iMacs lying around.

I also don't mind hearing about a second-preferred OS!

Posted: **Mon Dec 01, 2014 1:46 pm**

Let's see...it's not that simple...

Desktop at work is running Vista.
Desktop at home is still on XP (gotta do something about that, soon).

The ThinkPads that I use every day:
T43 - Xubuntu
X40 - LMDE
X40 - Puppy Linux

Other ThinkPads that don't get as much use currently have PCLinuxOS, Sabayon, LinuxBBQ of variious flavors, Peppermint and Linux Mint installed.

Also have a home server running Ubuntu Server.

Posted: **Mon Dec 01, 2014 2:35 pm**

Since your question was specific about "me" and what I'm using "most often", I had to answer Windows XP. Got it on both my A31p systems I use at work and home every day. I don't subscribe to the notion that it is a hazardous OS to be using. In decreasing order of usage: iOS on my first gen iPad and 4th gen Touch. Some flavor of Android on a Samsung tablet. X60 on the kitchen table with XP. Newer systems (T410, X300, X301) that I use have a mix of XP and 7. Windows 98 on a Gateway tower that sees the light of day about 5 times a year; it's essentially my FAX and scanner system - I'm too lazy to move the Epson scanner onto another system. Windows 2000 on a 600X or two, 98 on two 600E. Doesn't really count: Vista (with Japanese language, which I don't read) on an X61 and a Ubuntu T23, both buried somewhere in the closet.

My younger daughter uses two X60 with Windows 7. There's an iMac on a shelf which hasn't seen much use since my older daughter returned it to me (she bought her own Mac laptop a few months back). Can't remember what version it is but it is one of the first Intel-powered Macs.

Posted: **Mon Dec 01, 2014 8:34 pm**

Work: customized XP
Home: Windows 7
Phone: Android

To be honest...most common OS is Android. I'm in my phone more than anything.

Posted: **Mon Dec 01, 2014 8:38 pm**

Windows 7 Pro on all the machines in my household, except for:

A31p which double-boots XP and CentOS (on a single HDD) and

T43pSF which double-boots W7 Pro 32 and Cent OS (from two separate SSDs).

Posted: **Mon Dec 01, 2014 8:47 pm**

I'd love to run some flavor of Linux on my HTPCs, but could never get 1080 video to play correctly, so I run Windows 7 on my three PCs and notebook. Netflix, which I believe is now available for Ubuntu, was an issue too. I've got a two Windows phones and like Windows phone a lot. My tablet is a Nexus 7, which doesn't get a lot of usage.

Posted: **Mon Dec 01, 2014 9:36 pm**

Arch Linux on my T61, T60, and T43.

Posted: **Tue Dec 02, 2014 12:00 am**

Desktop: gets the most usage and is running W8.1 Pro

Chromebook c720: chromeOS and XFCE 14.04 (via Crouton)

Frankenpad TR4050E: crunchbang installed

X201T: w7 Pro

@Zaz. FYI. Netflix does indeed run on linux now however from what I have read it will only work with the Chrome browser (Chromium browser is excluded). I watched a couple of movies over my Thanksgiving break on my c720.

Posted: **Tue Dec 02, 2014 3:22 am**

Starting with the T4x generation, I mainly run Win7 on my machines, except from one T60 which runs Win8, and a T420 which will run Win10 (Technical Preview) from next weekend. The desktop computer runs Vista, but it's never used anymore. My T30 and T23 runs Windows XP, while the older ones run a mix of Linux distros (Mainly Antix) and Windows 98, 95 and 3.1. The mint collectibles will keep their Windows OS forever, while the not so mint ones have already gotten or will get various Linux distros. With Linux they can be used for lighter tasks, to the extent their CPU and RAM allows.

I like to sometimes bring the 560Z on the train when I travel. CF hard drive, 1.5 hour battery time, wireless, USB mouse, etc. Most people don't spot that I use an ancient laptop, but a few has given it the odd look.

Posted: **Tue Dec 02, 2014 5:33 am**

See sig, I've added a T60 running ArchBang at 1440x1050 lately.

The T60 & Penryn X61 get the most use, the T60 for programming and the X61 for daily routine stuff.

Posted: **Tue Dec 02, 2014 6:57 am**

I'm a Windows person myself. I've done some work on Linux, but don't use it as a main OS on any of my computers.

It's "Vista or newer" for me. Primary home desktop is running Vista, primary work laptop Win7. My X220 acquired last year is dual-booting 7 and 8.1, but 7 is used 80% of the time. That and I have a bunch of old laptops on XP, but they are getting less and less usage as time goes by. My parents' house still hosts my ancient desktop from 2000, running Win98 SE. I think, on average it's booted 4-5 times a year.

Posted: **Tue Dec 02, 2014 7:53 am**

Windows all the way.
All our desktops (including my daily) have W7, my travel-X200s has W7, daughter's X301 has W7, wife's G560 has W7.
Only exception: my "Other services"-T23 runs XP, but never goes online.
For test-purposes I have a collection of spare drives with either XP or W7, suitable for either T4x/R5x/X4x, T6x/R6x/X6x, or newer.
No Vista or W8 or W10, and no Linux.

Posted: **Tue Dec 02, 2014 8:33 am**

Though Windows 7 is only my #3 favorite operating system (behind Vista and 8 ), it happens to be on my primary computer, an HP 8300 Elite minitower, simply because its COA sticker is for 7. Had I bought this computer without a COA, I would have put Windows 8 on it. The two laptops that I use most often, the Sony Pro13 and Panasonic CF-Y9, do have Windows 8.

BTW, according to http://www.netmarketshare.com/operating ... pcustomd=0 , these are the market shares of the different operating systems:

Windows 7: 56.41%
Windows 8+8.1: 18.65%
Windows XP: 13.57%
Mac OS X 10.9: 2.79%
Mac OS X 10.10: 2.66%
Windows Vista: 2.65%
Others: 3.26%

Posted: **Tue Dec 02, 2014 9:02 am**

Both on my daily-driver T520, and my custom gaming rig, I'm running Windows 7 Pro.

I also have a T43p running XP Pro, mainly for use as a "bridge" between my newer hardware and the legacy stuff in my collection.

Posted: **Tue Dec 02, 2014 1:14 pm**

pianowizard wrote:BTW, according to http://www.netmarketshare.com/operating ... pcustomd=0 , these are the market shares of the different operating systems:

Here's what you will find if you read the FAQ at their site:

http://www.netmarketshare.com/faq.aspx wrote:Can you explain the Net Market Share methodology for collecting data?
About our Methodology:
We collect data from the browsers of site visitors to our exclusive on-demand network of HitsLink Analytics and SharePost clients. The network includes over 40,000 websites, and spans the globe. We ‘count’ unique visitors to our network sites, and only count one unique visit to each network site per day. This is part of our quality control process to prevent fraud, and ensure the most accurate portrayal of Internet usage market share. The data is compiled from approximately 160 million unique visits per month. The information published on http://www.netmarketshare.com is an aggregation of the data from this network of hosted website traffic statistics. In addition, we classify 430+ referral sources identified as search engines. Aggregate traffic referrals from these engines are summarized and reported monthly. The statistics for search engines include both organic and sponsored referrals.

This data provides valuable insight into significant trends for internet usage. These statistics include monthly information on key statistics such as browser trends (e.g. Internet Explorer vs. Firefox market share), search engine referral data (e.g. Yahoo vs. Bing vs. Google traffic market share) and operating system share (Windows vs. Mac vs. Linux market share or even the iOS market share vs. Android) The data is made available free of charge on a monthly basis that includes monthly usage market share and trends for browsers, operating systems and search engines. An upgraded version is available that provides reports by geolocation, preview weekly data and other features.

Additional estimates about the website population:

76% participate in pay per click programs to drive traffic to their sites.
43% are commerce sites
18% are corporate sites
10% are content sites
29% classify themselves as other (includes gov, org, search engine marketers etc..)

Posted: **Thu Dec 04, 2014 4:18 am**

My thougth about the poll: XP is legacy

Anyway, Windows 8.1. On my Frankenpada, W500, Tablet and UMPC. My phone runs Windows mobile, but hope that it will be changed to W8 later: http://www.advancetc.com/w-quad-w4.html

Posted: **Fri Dec 26, 2014 7:24 am**

Primary - XP (+ 1 XP Pro x64) on all thinkpads. Secondary - Linux in dual boot or in VM. Very old desktop with P-III Win2k for SCSI scanner and printers. One test HDD with 32 and 64 Vistas.
PS
F... on fuel economy

F... on unsupported XP - backups and spare, ready to go Thinkpads works well for me.

Posted: **Sun Dec 28, 2014 8:10 am**

Posting this on my UXGA T42P running Xp. No problems with either an outdated OS or an outdated browser. I've ended up using this Thinkpad mainly for forums. I had a workload that had me working on so many documents at once that I moved my forum posting to a separate machine to free up memory on main work machine.

My T60s run Vista and Win7 mainly but dual boot to Xp. My T4X Thinkpads all run the OS they came with, XP.

I don't use Linux for anything but servers. I'm allergic to anything Apple makes. I do have an Android tablet and an Android phone.

Posted: **Sun Dec 28, 2014 10:03 pm**

Since this is a Thinkpad forum I answered and voted in that context.

My IBM Thinkpad G40 is loaded with XP Pro and will likely remain loaded with XP Pro.
Increasing Mr. Gates already obscene wealth is not a priority with me so I don't necessarily fixate on having the latest and greatest either in software or hardware.
If it ain't broke I don't usually fix it.
If I intended to migrate the G40 it would probably be to one of the subspecies of Linux.

In the big picture view I have a second generation Toshiba notebook running 32 bit Windows 7 Professional and a 2 x 2.0 GHz two processor (2 distinct and separate processors not dual core) Xeon processor desktop running 32 bit Windows 7 Ultimate that I built myself. The desktop is capable of running in 64 bit mode but I am too lazy to install it considering the ensuing search for Windows 7 64 bit drivers for all my peripherals. I have a Microsoft Surface tablet running Windows 8.1 RT and an Acer Iconia tablet running Windows 64 bit 8.1. My latest and greatest is an i7 core Toshiba notebook with a 2.4 GHz quad core processor, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB HD, 64 bit Windows 8.1.

Of all of them my favorite PC bar none is the G40 Thinkpad I'm using right now with the XP Pro installed.

Posted: **Tue Jan 20, 2015 3:50 pm**

Linux on just about everything.

R40 has Ubuntu Mate
G41 Ubuntu Mate (just got this up & running after having to buy a new motherboard for it)
X200T Ubuntu/Windows 7
E530 Linux Mint Cinnamon/Windows 7
600E Linux...Just can't remember offhand which version
T23 LXLE
Presario...Having issues finding a good Linux version for it
Z61t Elementary OS
Dimension 4600i Linux Mint Cinnamon
Dell Vostro 200 Linux Mint Cinnamon
Acer Rivo HTPC (Living room) Window 78
Acer Rivo 1600 HTPC Ubuntu (Bedroom)

Posted: **Thu Apr 02, 2015 12:13 pm**

Thinkpad Z61p x3 Win XP Pro SP3 x2 and Win 7 Pro SP1 32-bit
Thinkpad X61s Win 7 Pro SP1 32-bit
Thinkpad X60s Win XP Pro SP3
Thinkpad G40 x2 Win XP Pro SP3
Thinkpad G41 = Win XP Pro SP3

Desktop PC = Win 7 Pro SP1 64-bit

I've used XP since about 2004 and Win 7 since April 2012. I can live with 7 but I do not care for it much; I prefer Win XP Pro as I find it easier to navigate the folder structures and it is faster and has less eye candy when configured correctly.

Posted: **Thu Apr 02, 2015 12:24 pm**

Shredder11 wrote:I can live with 7 but I do not care for it much; I prefer Win XP Pro as I find it easier to navigate the folder structures and it is faster and has less eye candy when configured correctly.

This is why I like Vista SP2 more than 7. In Classic mode, Vista SP2 looks a lot like XP, but in terms of features and security, it's more similar to 7 than XP. Thus, Vista SP2 has the best of both worlds.

Now that XP is no longer supported, consider upgrading to Vista SP2. Your Z61p and X60s can run it reasonably well. The G40 and G41 would be too underpowered for Vista SP2, however.

(I emphasized Vista *SP2* throughout my post to make sure you realize I am not talking about the original Vista that you may have tried back in 2007. The original Vista was awful and I know of only one person who liked it, and this person left this forum long ago. Vista with SP2 is far superior.)

Posted: **Thu Apr 02, 2015 12:51 pm**

Thinkpad T420 - Ubuntu linux 14.04 LTS + Ubuntu server VMs.
Workstation (in signature) - Ubuntu linux 14.04 LTS + Ubuntu server VMs + 1 Windows 7 pro VM
Wife's desktop - Ubuntu 14.04 LTS
Home theater PC - mac mini OS X snow leopard

Posted: **Thu Apr 02, 2015 2:01 pm**

All of my computers run Windows XP. Simply because it's the best version of Windows ever, and also because my computers are from that era where XP is the best OS for them. Some even run the 64 bit version. I don't care much for Windows 7. When Vista came out, there were a lot of things I didn't like about it. Almost all of those things didn't change in Windows 7. Windows 8 through 10 and beyond are dead to me, just like Firefox after 28.0.

That's right. Not only do I use an old operating system, but I run an old browser on it. The way I see it, current/supported software or not, people will always install malware and viruses and whatever else on their computers, except those who know their way around things.

I must've tried every OS there was back when I had my T42. Everything from Windows 2000 through 7, Ubuntu and even Mac OS (!!), yet I always ended up back with XP.

Posted: **Thu Apr 02, 2015 3:19 pm**

MrMaguire wrote:When Vista came out, there were a lot of things I didn't like about it...

Like I said earlier today, Vista has changed almost 180 degrees since its inception, with performance and stability being the two most noticeable changes.

MrMaguire wrote:I must've tried every OS there was back when I had my T42. Everything from Windows 2000 through 7, Ubuntu and even Mac OS (!!), yet I always ended up back with XP.

Is XP stable in your hands? For me, both XP and 7 are reasonably but not perfectly stable. Better than 98, 98 Second Edition and Millennium, but no match for 2000, Vista SP2 or 8. Both XP and 7 give me blue screens at least once or twice a year. On my main desktop, 7 has even managed to give me a weird *purple* screen twice in the past few months. By contrast, I have gotten ZERO blue screens from 2000, Vista SP2, or 8.

IMO, XP and 7 are the two most overrated operating systems. The moment 10 is released, I am upgrading all my Windows 7 machines.

Posted: **Thu Apr 02, 2015 3:49 pm**

My problem with Windows Vista wasn't its stability, more User Interface, the way the OS behaves in general and driver compatibility. In those regards, Windows 7 is basically the same. I've been using Vista since late 2007, and 7 since late 2009, and I still haven't warmed up to either of them like I have Windows 2000 and XP.

Any stability problems I've had with Windows NT have been unrelated to Windows itself. Driver issues, results of my own tinkering with things that shouldn't be tinkered with, and malfunctioning hardware.

Thinkpads Forum

What OS are you using most of the time?

What OS are you using most of the time?

Re: What OS are you using most of the time?

Re: What OS are you using most of the time?

Re: What OS are you using most of the time?

Re: What OS are you using most of the time?

Re: What OS are you using most of the time?

Re: What OS are you using most of the time?

Re: What OS are you using most of the time?

Re: What OS are you using most of the time?

Re: What OS are you using most of the time?

Re: What OS are you using most of the time?

Re: What OS are you using most of the time?

Re: What OS are you using most of the time?

Re: What OS are you using most of the time?

Re: What OS are you using most of the time?

Re: What OS are you using most of the time?

Re: What OS are you using most of the time?

Re: What OS are you using most of the time?

Re: What OS are you using most of the time?

Re: What OS are you using most of the time?

Re: What OS are you using most of the time?

Re: What OS are you using most of the time?

Re: What OS are you using most of the time?

Re: What OS are you using most of the time?

Re: What OS are you using most of the time?

Re: What OS are you using most of the time?