I happened to buy a new PC just as Vista came out. At first I had no end of trouble. I was getting downloads at the rate of 2 or 3 times  a week and gradually everything came right. We've still got XP on a little Asus we use when we're travelling, but I must admit that I really need smaller fingers for that, convenient though it is!

It is not a case of being clever Doreen I just like working on them and getting things to function if I can.

The different OS available is a good talking point though.
There are Pros and Cons for all of them and really it is a matter of choice and what you are wanting to do with them at the end of the day.

Microsoft Windows is probably the most used, it does have the largest library of programs and applications. Some commercial apps work only with Windows and DirectX and I would guess that most hardware has drivers which are compatible with Windows.
The downside is the vunerability to attack from the virus writers and others and it does need to be maintained to keep the 'brand new' efficiency.

Business IT folk will generally look for an inexpensive Windows based computer system that is easy to use and staff will not need the ability to use Linux

A Mac OS X on the other hand has a simple and intuitive interface with many advanced features and unlike its main competitor is not generally virus or malware prone.

There have been reports of a small number of trojans which have been known to take effect through applications running in Mac OS X, though they are almost always found on dubious web sites.

Apple boast the second largest selection of software and generally the system is reported to be stable and a high performer.
There are a few cons, in that one is limited to Apple manufactured hardware.
I have never tried but it may be difficult to do cross-platform network hardware sharing for a Mac OS X based computer in a Windows network or vice-versa.
For example, a printer's Mac driver may not support cross-platform printing to a Windows-connected printer, and replacement drivers may or may not exist.

The Linux or other UNIX-based OS have a low number of viruses and other malware, similar to Mac OS X but that may alter if they take a bigger share of the user market and attract the attention of the authors of these nasty products.
The systems themselves are usually free.  
There is a large amount of free and open source software equivalents to commercial Windows and Mac software.

It is said to be reliable with good performance and low requirements but I am also told that advanced use and installation of some software may require more detailed knowledge than is required for use of Windows and Mac.
I also read that as yet many commercial programs do not support Linux but that may change.

doreen said:

They said I should go into Cache and  and clear it out.

Does that mean get rid of all the cookies and is this a good idea.?

It will not do any harm to clear them out Doreen and it is often the only way to purge the system and start again.

In any case Session cookies are only temporary and are erased when you close your Browser.

The Persistent or stored cookies will remain on your hard drive until they expire or you erase them yourself. This type of cookie recognises that you've visited a site before.

To use Online Banking Services, you will need to have cookies enabled on your computer. 

They cannot create a virus or harvest any, what they will do is help keep your online transactions secure. This is done by storing your sign in details temporarily using a session cookie and enable you to access previously saved quotations.
They should also automatically sign you out of the service after 10 minutes of inactivity for security purposes.

To make life easier you may choose to have your username saved on your computer so that you don't have to enter it every time you use a service, forums like this often do.

By selecting the option 'Remember my username', your username will be automatically entered every time you access the service. In order for the site to remember your username, they need to store it on your computer using a cookie.

It goes without saying that one must never use that facility on a public computer.

HTH

Lucy, the windows-7  is an improvement on Windows -home/office and Vista and much safer.

Spend an hour trying it out and reading the Handbook, sort of learn by doing.

It isn't more difficult to use than the old programs.

You could of course join both computers together with a  ?-Router- …or a USB cable ask your “Help mate” or computer shop.

You can also find a lot of help when you ask Google a question.

thanks a lot for that Hammer.  Of course, I'm using the Laptop but have copied and pasted the above information into a Word document and will now send it to myself via an email.  This involves me pushing the 'Send' button and turning off this machine very quickly, otherwise it arrives on here.  I shall put this info through Steven's door so that he can digest it before he comes over here to put XP on the desktop machine.

I really don't like Windows 7.  I can't work out how to File stuff (well I can file it, but can't find it afterwards) and it isn't happy to accept my Excel Spreadsheets which I use for the household accounts.  Admittedly I use an old version of Office (again, because I like it) and just can't get away with the latest version of Office.

I shall discuss it with Steven.  I know that he won't be happy, as he thinks the 7 Version is brilliant.

thank you

Well Hammer, it looks like I will have to persevere with the Windows 7.  Here is what young Steven had to say:

…. i will put xp on for you but generally think its a bad idea as xp is coming to end no more microsoft support on it .. windows 7 is the way forward , but its entireally up to you 

I'll just have to make time to mess around with it.  I even got the book entitled “Windows 7 for Dummies” (or something like that) and it was unreadable!  I shall bow to the higher knowledge of my superiors

Turning this topic a little (blame Hammer, not me), I don't know what's happening to me.  We have a General Election coming up and for the first time in my adult life, I don't give a sh*t who gets in.  We've had a Tory Government in all but name over the past 13 years so if we get another one, but with a different name this time, what difference will it make?  I'm not one to say that I won't bother to vote, I shall vote for one of the 'minor' parties merely as a protest which I have been doing for the past few years

Now, back to Windows 7.

I use Excel and Word a lot.  I'm used to both of these packages but Microsoft have put alsorts of new symbols on the Toolbar and removed or reshaped them to such an extent that I don't know what I'm doing.  Filing!!!   Don't ask me about the Filing system.  I've had lots of letters to send recently which I dutifully file as requested ….  but goodness knows where they go to. 

Here's an example of what I mentioned previously “if it ain't broke, don't fix it”.  I applauded this attitude elsewhere on this Forum, but this seems to be not just a tinkering for improvement, but a wholesale decimation of a good product just in order to make some more money.

However … I applaud Bill Gates' charitable endeavours and wish there were more like him.  It's just a shame that he's using my money but giving me an inferior product to do his good work with.