Windows XP Ends But You Can't Upgrade. Now What?

You already know that support for Windows XP ends a week after April Fool's Day, but then what? No, this isn't another YOU REALLY NEED TO UPGRADE TO WINDOWS 8.1 message. There are other options. If you won't upgrade to Windows 8 because the nay-sayers have convinced you it's no good and you won't upgrade to Windows 7 because it's outdated, what are your choices? Well, you could buy a Mac. Or you could install some version of Linux. Have you heard of Zorin?

If you haven't read any TechByter reports or listened to any of the podcasts for the past year or 18 months, maybe this is news. Here's the short summary: Microsoft has provided support for Windows XP for 12 years, but it's time to move on. If you choose to keep XP, it will be "unsupported". This means that you won't receive software updates and that includes security updates. And that's the end of that story.

Maybe you've tried Linux but found that even distros such as Ubuntu are somewhat hard to get used to because the interface is considerably different from what you're used to, assuming what you're used to is Windows.

Zorin OS is a Linux distro that's based on Ubuntu. It has been modified so that it looks and acts quite a bit like Windows. In the words of the developers, Zorin is designed for Windows users who want to have easy and smooth access to Linux. Basing it on Ubuntu makes sense because Ubuntu is the most popular desktop Linux operating system in the world.

Zorin OS 7 sits on top of Ubuntu 13.04 (Raring Ringtail). If you're not familiar with Ubuntu's numbering conventions, 13.04 means that the version was released in April (04) of 2013.

Zorin can be installed to replace the operating system or to run along side the operating system on your computer. On a Windows XP system, you may want to replace the operating system. I decided to install it on an older notebook for testing, but because that computer has Windows 8 installed, I wanted to keep it.

The installation was easy enough. Just be sure to read everything along the way and make the appropriate choice when you're asked if you want Zorin to replace the existing operating system. You'll also have to determine how much of the disk you want to assign to Zorin if you plan to keep the existing operating system, but there's no need to understand the various partitions a Linux system needs. The installer just takes care of all that without bothering you.

If you're installing on a notebook computer, you'll need to have the computer plugged in. And regardless of how you're installing Zorin, you need a wired Internet connection. You can set up wireless later, but for now, make sure that you use a network cable.

You'll define your account during the installation, but the first time you boot to Zorin, the Guest account will be active. Unless you know the secret handshake, that's how you'll log in and you'll find that you can't change anything. For example, I could see my Wi-Fi network, but I couldn't connect to it because I wasn't logged in with an account that had admin privileges.

Switching accounts is easy enough, but I had to use a Google search to find out how. Memo to Zorin: Provide a little help for users here.

Zorin includes what's called a "Look Changer" that lets you choose the look you prefer -- Windows 7, XP, Vista, Ubuntu Unity, Mac OS X, or GNOME 2.

You can run some Microsoft Windows programs in Zorin OS with the help of Wine ("Wine is not an emulator") but if you install Linux, you should probably plan to use Linux applications. The installation will include Chrome, Thunderbird, LibreOffice, GIMP, and a few applications that are unique to Zorin.

The Real Question and a Possible Answer

The real question might not be whether you should upgrade to Windows 8 or even Windows 7, but whether you need to be using Windows at all. If you're still using Windows XP, I think it means one of two things: Either your computing needs are modest or you are uncommonly patient. Maybe both. If all you need is an e-mail program and a set of office applications (not necessarily the one from Microsoft), then maybe you don't really need Windows at all.

Zorin attempts to create the appearance of Windows 7 or Windows XP in addition to the Gnome desktop. Choose the one you prefer. Possibly one of the key reasons that Linux hasn't caught on is related to its reputation as being difficult to use and to an interface that is considerably different from either Windows or OSX.

The primary differences are in the Start Menu — Windows XP style, Windows 7 style, or Linux style (which means no Start Menu at all).

There's also an option to change the theme, but the choices are limited: Like at KFC, you get the choice or dark or light -- and that's it.

Possibly other options exist, but I didn't see them. Truth be told, I didn't look very hard.

Linux installation worries have been resolved since around the turn of the century and many variants of Linux will happily install themselves to work along side Windows. When installed this way, you'll generally be able to see any drives that were available under Windows and to edit documents from Windows in OpenOffice or LibreOffice applications.

You can even continue to run some Windows application under Zorin by using Wine. There's a bit of confusion about what Wine actually is. The name Wine was an acronym for Windows Emulator. The developers wanted to differentiate Wine from traditional CPU emulators and fortunately Wine also lent itself to a typical Linux recursive acronym that means Wine is not an emulator.

Wine is what's called "compatibility layer" that duplicates functions of Windows. It accomplishes this by handling calls from Windows programs to dynamic link libraries (DLLs). In doing so, it substitutes itself for the Windows NT kernel. True emulators typically create a virtual machine to run Windows applications, so the distinction is highly technical and lends itself to techie flame wars about what is or is not an emulator.

It's an open source application that also includes Winelib, a software library, that developers can use to compile Windows applications when porting them to Linux systems.

When you install Zorin, the only application installed under Wine is a Notepad-like program. You can add more.

Those who are unfamiliar with Linux will find a large number of directories with names that seemingly make no sense, names like bin, lib, etc, mnt, and opt. Ignore these and head directly for "Home", which appears in both the left column of the file browser and, in the right panel when Computer is selected. Home is where all your files will be. Unless you know something about Linux, just allow the mystery directories to be mysteries.

If you've opted to install Zorin along side Windows, you'll find another item under Devices in the left column. In my case, it's called "136 GB Volume" because that's the size of the Windows partition. Drilling down, you'll find a Users directory, your Windows user name, and a Documents directory below that. You can open documents from these directories and save documents to them, so your old Microsoft Word documents, for example, will open in the Writer application of OpenOffice or LibreOffice.

When you're looking for applications to run under Zorin, the Software Center will be helpful. Select an application and install it from here. Linux applications aren't the monolithic constructs common to Windows. Instead, each application may have dependencies on dozens or hundreds of files that can be updated individually. The operating system watches for updates and installs them automatically.

The Software Center itself, though, seems a bit flakey in that every time I used it, it eventually crashed. This is less of a problem that it might seem. Just restart it and continue.

Many of the Windows programs you're familiar with have Linux versions. Some common Windows applications that also run on Linux (or maybe some common Linux applications that you may also have found on Windows) are listed on LifeHacker.

• Buddi: A financial management application.
• KeePass: Password manager.
• TrueCrypt: File and disk encryption.
• Thunderbird: E-mail program.
• Pidgin and Adium: Instant-message applications.
• Miro: Video player.
• 7-Zip: File compression.
• Firefox, Chrome, and (now) Maxthon: Browsers.
• Dropbox: Cloud storage.
• VLC Media Player: A robust player that will handle just about anything you throw at it.

Zorin has attempted to create a settings system that's similar to the Windows Control Panel. It's a reasonably good facsimile and most Windows users will be able to figure out which icon to choose when they want to change something.

In the past, Linux systems have frequently had problems making use of audio and video applications or other hardware, including Wi-Fi adapters. Zorin on an older notebook found and was able to use the mouse, Wi-Fi adapter, sound card, and webcam with absolutely no intervention on my part.

It's not Windows XP. It's not Windows 8 or Windows 7, either, but it may be what you need.

Don't confuse Linux with Windows. If you need a full Windows experience, you need Windows. But a lot of people would find everything they need in an operating system by using one of the many Linux distros and open-source Linux applications. Zorin makes everything easy and emulates the look and feel of Windows.
Additional details are available on the Zorin website.

Short Circuits

Everybody Wants a Part of the Wearables Game

Google Glass (more about that later), virtual reality goggles from Facebook (more about that later, too), and now wearable fitness monitors from Intel. More about that one right now.

Intel has acquired Basis Science, a company that makes a wearable fitness tracker. Neither company had anything to say about the price Intel paid, but Basis Science CEO, Jef Holove, will stay with the company and become general manager at what Intel has named its Devices group. The Basis brand name will continue to be used and the company's 60 employees will become Intel employees.

Basis is a top name in the wearable fitness monitor space with its $200 health tracker that monitors heart rate, perspiration, skin temperature, steps, and calories. The device tracks walking, running, biking, and sleeping automatically and sends reports to IOS and Android devices through a Bluetooth connection.

Basis says the device is intended as complement to and not as a replacement for chest strap-based heart rate monitors that are used during exercise.

Google Glass: Coming Someday to Your Nearby Optical Store

Google has announced a deal with the world's largest supplier of eyeglasses, Luxottica. By "large", I mean that this company controls more than 80% of the world's major eye-wear brands. If you've wondered why frames cost $200 to $300 for bits of plastic that are probably worth no more than $10, this may explain it. Luxottica owns brands such as Ray-Ban, Persol, and Oakley; it also manufactures those high-priced frames you find in optical stores. In fact, the company runs more than 5000 optical stores in the US.

This is the company that Google has selected to turn Google Glass into a retail product. On the Google blog, the company said that Glass is the next chapter in the 700 year history of eyeglasses. Instead of just looking smart, these glasses actually are smart.

Google picked Luxottica because the company "understands how to build, distribute, and sell" glasses. "They'll bring design and manufacturing expertise to the mix, and, together, we'll bring even more Glass style choices to our Explorers," says Google. Both companies are planning for the time when Google Glass is released for public consumption.

Facebook Plans to Bring Reality to Virtual with Oculus Rift

Oculus VR has garnered a lot of attention in recent months, raising $91 million through the crowd-funding operation, Kickstarter. They developed a virtual reality headset called the Oculus Rift. The company had planned to release a consumer version of the hardware late this year or early next year. And now Facebook has bought the company for $2 billion.

It seems like just last month that Facebook announced another huge deal. Actually, it was just last month that Facebook announced another huge deal, buying What's App for $19 billion. At $2 billion, Oculus VR was a bargain.

VR devices are considered the next step in online games, military training, and pornography. That last part is often omitted from accounts dealing with virtual reality devices, but trust me on this. And maybe "sexting". Consider sexting in relation to what Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said about the new technology: "Imagine sharing not just moments with your friends online, but entire experiences. This can change the way we communicate with our friends, family, and colleagues."

What is "sexting"?
A 2005 article in the London Sunday Telegraph Magazine seems to be where the word was first used. The portmanteau of "sex" and "texting" refers to the act of sending sexually explicit messages or photographs, usually using mobile phones. The term was added to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary in August 2012.

Oculus has shown off an impressive, but rather clunky, prototype. Sleek design will come later, but the technology itself has gained a lot of buzz for the company.

How does something like this fit into Facebook's operations? Zuckerberg has said that VR is poised to be the next big thing in computing. That doesn't quiet the skeptics, who say that what works for multi-player online games or military training might not have much appeal for individuals.

I think they're forgetting the pornographers.

Turkish Court Says Twitter is OK

Finally -- something that doesn't concern wearable computers. A Turkish court has ordered the country's telecommunications agency to restore access to Twitter. The government previously had blocked access to the social network.

Saying that Twitter had been a conduit for links to anti-government messages that accuse his administration of corruption, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had threatened to "rip out the roots" of Twitter. That sounds painful.

Government officials say they will abide by the court order, but will also appeal the order.

The Turkish telecommunications agency blocked Twitter and said that it had disobeyed a court order to remove the offensive content. Memo to the Turkish prime minister: The president of your country, Abdullah Gul, used Twitter to oppose the government's actions.

I see an opportunity for someone to do a reprise of Abbott and Costello's Who's On First.

Why Can't Companies Get Support Right?

Several weeks ago, I got a new TV. There was a problem with it, so I called Samsung. Later, I received a follow-up call regarding the support call. I had spent about 40 minutes on the phone with a level-1 tech and another 20 minutes with a level-2 tech. Both of them were completely baffled by the problem. When I was passed on to a level-3 tech, I described the problem once again and she said "That's a known problem and I can fix it." She did. The person who called seemed a bit surprised that I felt the level-1 technician and the level-2 technician should have been made aware of the problem.

The level-3 techs are the only ones who are qualified to connect to the TV, download the new firmware, and install it. If Samsung would make the information available to level-1 or level-2, they wouldn't waste customers' time and Samsung wouldn't have to pay so many l-1 and l-2 techs to have the customers try things they've probably already tried.

At least when it comes to computers, it works like this:

• Level 1: Able to breathe unaided and read a script. Unable to understand the words "I've already performed all of the tasks you're going to ask me to do. Could you please escalate this call to level 2?"
• Level 2: Will follow a script, but will have sufficient insight to diagnose and resolve most problems.
• Level 3: These are the technicians who don't have a script. They will listen to the description of the problem, ask insightful questions, and know how to resolve most thorny problems. It's rare for me to deal with anyone beyond level 3, but they do exist at some companies.

Technicians for today's TVs seem to fit this mold.

That's the way tech support works. From a computer perspective, companies know that most problems are PEBCAK (problem exists between chair and keyboard) errors and questions such as "Is it plugged in?" will resolve them. Most problems actually are solved at this level and I have no problem with companies using a triage system, but it is frustrating when a "known problem" isn't communicated to level 1.

What was the problem? This is a "Smart" TV, which means that it connects to the Internet. Before the first use, the user must accept the terms of use and the TV didn't display those. Until the terms are accepted, you can't log on to the Samsung server. The L1 tech spent about 40 minutes having me jump through the same hoops I had jumped through on my own (confirming the network connection and such). The L2 technician was considerably faster; she needed only 20 minutes to confirm that I had a good network connection and that something else was the problem. When I got to L3, she identified the problem in approximately 5 seconds; it then took half an hour or so as she logged on to the TV, downloaded new firmware, and installed it.

Public Service Reminder

The annual Internet cleaning is scheduled for this coming Tuesday. Mark it on your calendar. During the day, you should place duct tape over any open network outlets to eliminate recycled electron spills.
If you forget to do this and later find piles of electrons on your desk, take appropriate precautions in cleaning them up. Although the recycled electrons may be safely discarded with your regular trash, they should be collected using an extra-strength paper towel that has been only slightly dampened. Using too much water can lead to a nasty shock if you wipe up more than a Coulomb.
In some cases, you may find it easier to push these electrons back through the router and onto the Internet. To accomplish this, obtain a can of compressed air (or use a reversible vacuum cleaner). Create a funnel using a piece of standard paper that has been folded in half and create a funnel by rolling the paper and then spreading one end.
Place the small end of the funnel in the router outlet and use the compressed air or vacuum cleaner output to blow the electrons back into the outlet. Complete instructions are located here: techbyter.com/2014_internet_cleaning.html