Off-topic: Apple

[erchess]

Gretel

Gretel asked why it is recommended to put security software on a VM since every time you turn it off you erase any malware and since to date there is no way for an infection on a VM to reach your hardware.

I don't actually know the answer so I want it understood by all that I am speculating. Note that malware can still steal info you have on the VM and I would think that you would want some protection against that. Also a lot of people run the VM a lot while away from computer and who knows what havoc the malware could do to the VM. Finally, I do not know why an infection of a VM cannot reach the system hardware but I expect that we simply have not yet figured out how this is done. The baddies will be the first people who figure out how it is done. In the long run there is no un stoppable invader and no shield which cannot be breached.

[David1980]

I hear, see and know of people buying new PC's all the time. My confusion most of the time is WHY!??

Why not? If I can buy a computer that not only meets the required specifications, but also the recommended specifications of all my software, (even high resource software like Tax Works), for all of $200 or $300 at the local Walmart why wouldn't I buy a new one every year? Especially if I can get a deal for the computer that comes with 1-year support or something like that.

Yes, I can clean up the computer after each tax season, do upgrades, make sure everything is up to date, etc... But then again, maybe I'm not very technical and need to pay someone to do that for me.

And if you start calling geek squad for computer cleanups, upgrades, etc... You're going to spend more than the $200 or $300 to replace very quickly. I always wonder why people are using such old computers in tax businesses. Something that barely meets the minimum requirements for their software, that's slow, has tons of adware, perhaps viruses... when they're spending $1000+ for tax software plus whatever other software they use every year? It just doesn't make sense.

[DTS]

...Before I switched to a new computer with Windows 7 at the beginning of the year, my son and I did some brain storming for the necessity, since he also said all you need to buy is a new hard drive and upgrade your memory. I decided against it because of the speed and my first argument above.

Plus switching to Windows 7 is a big chore including replacement of of other hardware and maybe software, depends on what you use. I surely wanted to be in control of when to tackle this. I still have my old (4 years) XP computer and will keep it as a backup. First I thought I would sell it since it is a real good machine, but exactly for that reason I better keep it.

Dennis, you are lucky that your computer is still working at that age. New computers are so inexpensive nowadays. I encourage you to jump into Windows 7.

Gretel, you did with your son what I'm doing now, which is trying to figure this out. I'm weighing the cost of upgrading parts and software vs all new pc. I have not called Dell, but my guess is I would be limited as to what and how much my machines could be upgraded. I just quadrupled my RAM, but I noticed little by way of performance. I will get online with Dell and see what upgrades I can do and make a decision one way or the other. Having 8 year-old machines is pushing me toward new. Like you said, I would just save the old ones as backup.

Again, thank you all for sharing.

[Gretel]

I hear, see and know of people buying new PC's all the time. My confusion most of the time is WHY!?? If you bought a computer and it did the job why buy new?
Tired - AGREED! After a few years it's always good to refresh your PC from a software perspective. Now, don't get me wrong - The new PC's have faster EVERYTHING. So that's a good reason to switch. Reload the operating system and programs and you will swear you have a new machine!!

Besides of speed, another good reason to buy a new computer is that all professional software is use, are resource hogs. They expect computers to have plenty of resources nowadays. Yes another reason is to not all of a sudden have the hard drive die or something else and be forced to switch.

Before I switched to a new computer with Windows 7 at the beginning of the year, my son and I did some brain storming for the necessity, since he also said all you need to buy is a new hard drive and upgrade your memory. I decided against it because of the speed and my first argument above.

Plus switching to Windows 7 is a big chore including replacement of of other hardware and maybe software, depends on what you use. I surely wanted to be in control of when to tackle this. I still have my old (4 years) XP computer and will keep it as a backup. First I thought I would sell it since it is a real good machine, but exactly for that reason I better keep it.

Dennis, you are lucky that your computer is still working at that age. New computers are so inexpensive nowadays. I encourage you to jump into Windows 7.

[MAJ]

Old Machines...

I hear, see and know of people buying new PC's all the time. My confusion most of the time is WHY!?? If you bought a computer and it did the job why buy new?
Tired - AGREED! After a few years it's always good to refresh your PC from a software perspective. Now, don't get me wrong - The new PC's have faster EVERYTHING. So that's a good reason to switch. Reload the operating system and programs and you will swear you have a new machine!!

Sounds like I should just stay with my pc or get a new one. Probably, a new one is the way to go, as my current pc and Office programs were purchased in 2004, so my guess is they are tired.

Appreciate your input.

[DTS]

Apple

Sounds like I should just stay with my pc or get a new one. Probably, a new one is the way to go, as my current pc and Office programs were purchased in 2004, so my guess is they are tired.

Appreciate your input.

[JohnH]

Not to mention all the cool apps you discover, at $0.99 to $4.99 each.
Pretty soon you're wondering how you ever got this far in life without an iPad.

[JoshinNC]

Apple is like CRACK!

I bought my wife an iPod Touch for her birthday, liked it so much she bought me a Touch a few weeks later. Then I got a hankering for an iPad, so she bought me one for my b-day. Then, we bought our daughter a Touch for a gift. Then my wife got an iPad2. So, in the span of about two months I dropped $2500 with Apple after going to Wal-Mart just to buy an iPod for a b-day gift.

Again, Apple products are like CRACK!

[JohnH]

I can't speak to the issue of running tax software on a Mac, because I still use a pc for tax, excel, word, qb, etc. But I will put in a good word for the iPad for virtually every other reason you need a computer. It's a fantastic little device, and even more useful if it's used in conjunction with an iPhone.

[Gretel]

The website says that they have versions for Linux and for the Mac.

Gretel when you run a virtual machine that machine getting infected is really no problem because the bad stuff can't get on your hardware. It goes away for good when you turn off the virtual machine.

Thanks for the clarification, Erchess. I have a virtual Windows XP on my Windows 7 computer. If indeed, viruses etc. go away for good, why do they recommend getting a separate Anti-Virus for your virtual machine, do you know?

[erchess]

TRX Tax Exact

The website says that they have versions for Linux and for the Mac.

Gretel when you run a virtual machine that machine getting infected is really no problem because the bad stuff can't get on your hardware. It goes away for good when you turn off the virtual machine.

[Gretel]

Apple and QB

The MAC version of QB is quite different than the PC Version, number of features are not available. However, Windows can be run on a MAC (not on every MAC special program needed) BUT this defeats the purpose of using a MAC.

As long as Windows is used on a MAC it is subject to the same security risk as a PC.

[DTS]

Apple

Thanks to all for the opinions.

[MAJ]

WIndows on Linux?? Isn't that what Apple is?

Linux is the best - technically what Apple is these days - A modified Solaris / Linux host.

Anyway.. Yes. you can run windows on linux. You can use VM software and create Virtual PC's running anything you like. There are various FREE versions.
VMWare, Citrix, etc....

My one PC is running VMWare. There I have a Windows Domain controller (VM) and one other server to enhance my work skills....Just put a decent processor & MEMORY behind the system and you can run 4 PC's within one PC. Why? MONEY! Some small companies (and idiots like me) may need a few servers to run their company. BINGO! One decent system gets you 4 -- Lots of other things to do too..

TAXMADMAN (sorry couldn't help - wanted to do that for a while) - It's Friday!! Shhh!
if you need an assist and would like to learn more drop me an PM and I'll give you my email. Unless others here want to learn more??

Anyway - it's easy to spin up an extra Virtual PC so you can try new software or test a program on another computer before you pollute your own. Then, delete it just as quick or more importantly ROLL it Back to the PC it was right before you did the software install. Lot's of great usues. For me it's a lab at home to learn from - Both the Technology side of my career and the Tax Preparer portion.

I loaded a Linux system on an old laptop and have been wondering if it's possible to use a Windows tax system on a Linux platform. Any experts know if or how that can be done? I read about programs to run Windows programs, but so far I can't figure out how it's done. I like the speed of the Linux for surfing the web and other things I can get it to do, and of course even less of a problem with viruses, etc. Just thought it might be an alternative to all the updates and fixes for Windows that seem to come in daily.

[taxmandan]

While we're talking operating systems.....

I loaded a Linux system on an old laptop and have been wondering if it's possible to use a Windows tax system on a Linux platform. Any experts know if or how that can be done? I read about programs to run Windows programs, but so far I can't figure out how it's done. I like the speed of the Linux for surfing the web and other things I can get it to do, and of course even less of a problem with viruses, etc. Just thought it might be an alternative to all the updates and fixes for Windows that seem to come in daily.