Small laptop

[arthurk]

If you plan to keep using Family Historian and are "not very techy" (your phrase), I'm not sure I'd recommend going for a Mac.

FH is designed for Windows, and while it can be run on a Mac (see the Family Historian User Group for advice and forum discussions), it always comes across as being rather fiddly, and there often seem to be a few features that don't work properly.

I have to admit that I've never tried it myself, but that's my reading of things on FHUG - and I'd consider myself to be moderately techy.

[Calverley Lad]

Will your current software run on Windows 10/11?
 Brian

[Deirdre784]

Will your current software run on Windows 10/11?
 Brian

Yes, Family Historian runs on windows 10 (my laptop and desktop are both w10 home), and plenty have upgraded / moved to w11. No app version though so not on my iPad or iPhone. My laptop has started coming up with a message to say it’s not compatible with w11, but it’s its size (more like a second desktop) that has prompted my search for a new small, lightweight device. Sadly though i am coming to the conclusion that i won’t find what i want so it’s a larger than desired laptop or a new iPad. Or stick with what i have 🤔

[Deirdre784]

If you plan to keep using Family Historian and are "not very techy" (your phrase), I'm not sure I'd recommend going for a Mac.

FH is designed for Windows, and while it can be run on a Mac (see the Family Historian User Group for advice and forum discussions), it always comes across as being rather fiddly, and there often seem to be a few features that don't work properly.

I have to admit that I've never tried it myself, but that's my reading of things on FHUG - and I'd consider myself to be moderately techy.

Thanks arthurk, not really looking to move to an apple Mac despite my iPad and iPhone, as i have been using windows for years, plus microsoft etc. so back to the drawing board.

Thanks to everyone for the advice and suggestions, much appreciated.

[roopat]

I've just been given a smallish Lenovo laptop bought from Currys a couple of years ago. Our main laptop is Lenovo & excellent. This 'new' one is VERY  slow, freezes, I've given up using it. It had all been cleared by an IT professional before I got it. Then I saw it has a Celeron processor and only 4GB Ram. No wonder..... 


Pat

[Deirdre784]

Cheers Pat, looks like a bigger / better laptop is winning (and i can keep the iPad for using on my lap!)

[Ian Nelson]

All Windows operating systems HOG resources and slow everything down.  Just take a look at Task Manager / Services and see the million and one things running and using Memory, most of which are unnecessary and many can be switched off but it will take you some research to know which ones you can STOP or DISABLE.
I gave up on the bloated updates to Windows 10 and downloaded Peppermint 10, a free open source Linux distro and after a brief learning curve have successfully converted away from Windows dependency.
I have an old ipad I use solely for Garageband.
I have a Lenovo Ideapad small laptop / notepad which has Windows 10 ( Repaired and Restored and Reduced) but it still takes up 24 Gb of my available 28 Gb. and thus prevents me from downloading the other programs and apps which I want to use.... So
Today it is getting ZAPPED and Windows will be trashed and minced.  I'm installing Puppy Linux and it will take up less than 2 Gb for a complete operating system and it will run at high speed. 
Windows no more ...!
cheers, Ian

[Deirdre784]

Thanks Ian, i have seen the millions of things running in task manager, most of which i have never heard of, but am not techy enough to disable them or move away from Windows (also use daily in work). Good luck with your non Windows endeavours.

[Ian Nelson]

There is a bare bones Windows operating system called Windows PE although I have never used it because I never buy new computers.
It is pre-installed on new computers to just do the very basics and allow the full version of Windows to be installed, then I suppose it melts into the background but I have read that it has been hijacked by developers and can be installed and run on old hardware.   You may have to use TOR ( anonymous) Browser and sail blindly into the DARK WEB to find a copy for downloading .... are you feeling adventurous enough ?
cheers, Ian