Windows vs. Mac vs. Linux vs. Other Thread

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Threads like this: http://www.wrongplanet.net/postx59448-15-0.html have made me think overall it would be better to have a thread where you can argue about each individual OS. Where I stand in this is below:

MacBook Pro: Runs Ubuntu and OS X Leopard
Custom PC #1: Runs OS X Tiger and Windows XP
Custom PC #2: Runs OS X Tiger
Custom PC #3: Runs OS X Leopard
Custom PC #4: Runs Windows XP and Ubuntu
Powermac G4: Runs OS X Tiger
Thinkpad: Runs OS X Leopard

I don't exactly dislike any OS other than Vista in all honesty.. Though in general I prefer OS X.

My favourite OS is eComStation (the current version of OS/2 warp)

Thinkpad has 2 HD's 1 eCS and 1 WinXP
Have 2 apple with OSX
Have other machines running FreeBSD, Red Hat, OS/2 warp V4

Nothing else comes near for user interface, unfortunately newer hardware and up to date applications are a bit of a downer

Your thinkpad runs OS X? o_O

How's eComStation for everyday usage?

I am a big friend of Linux and free/libre/openSource software in general. I tried other OSes but stayed on Linux because it has the biggest hardware compatibility and a good selection of software (it doesn't matter how many programs it has but if it has the programs /you/ want). I never missed 3d games much, but under Windows, I miss my Linux programs (most severely, I miss a replacement for emerge or apt, it is such a chore to install many programs on a windows box).

I also use FreeDOS, which is very limited (since it is a DOS) but that is exactly the reason why I use it (taking notes in lectures requires me to use an OS where ace of penguins doesn't run under ). It is IMHO easier to use than MS-DOS since it has a very limited tab completion.

I am probably irrationally partial to HURD because I like its concept and its history. If only my old PC would decide to cooperate with my kvm-switcher.

I only run XP pro, which has had most of the bugs worked out of it now, not like vista which is total garbage, I won't even consider installing vista, its actually worse then win me. I personally will wait for windows 7 to come out, but I will only consider installing it after service pack 1. On these other OS's, linux sounds like a great OS, but its still not user friendly, I would never suggest it to newbies, who never read up on anything, (RTFM!). Linux is still lacking driver support, there is alot of hardware, ie: wifi chipsets, video, and most laptops that can't be run on it, also unbuntu has been known to fry some laptop hard drives. Now Ubuntu is great on some desktop pc's, but its still not as user friendly as win xp. I do like Mac's, but I find the lack of upgradability is what is stopping me from buying one, if they actually come out with a version of OS10 for pc's I may consider installing it, but for now I will avoid installing one of the hacked versions floating around the interweb.

Where did that bit of FUD come from?

I read something on slashdot about it a while back, heres the story.
http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl ... 30/1742258

It depends what your goals are:

Windows = awesome games
Mac = awesome multimedia environment and tools
Linux = awesome to play with

A clueless person cannot maintain Linux
A gamer cannot go Mac
A nuts-and-bolts person cannot stand Windows

Trying to sell an all-in-one solution doesn't make any sense to me! At least, not their current generation of each.

I would strongly beg to differ on that. This old MS FUD against Linux may have had some merit 5 years ago, but it is no longer the case at all. As a matter of fact, Linux can sometimes be much easier for new users than Windows. For example, I have tried many distros which auto-detect all my hardware whereas with Windoze I need to install drivers one by one and constantly reboot for the changes to take effect. Windows is also more prone to viruses and spyware and other headaches.

Linux still has some difficulty with obscure proprietary hardware for which drivers don't exist, but that's the only real problem. If a user sticks to basic hardware then they should find Linux extremely user friendly compared to Windoze.

I do agree that linux has improved quite a bit, not but for a lot of laptops compaq and Hp, there is no decent driver support. I have been looking at those Asus Eee PC's laptops with linux preinstalled

I'm not sure about frying laptop drives, unless the drive itself is pretty much already worn out. That being said, I did have problems configuring the tracking speed of a Compaq notebooks trackpad with an earlier release of Ubuntu. Also, I hated the fact that I had no priveliges with Ubuntu, and I hated using -Sudo.

That being said, Linux has always lagged behind Windows as far as hardware support. Whenever the 2.8 series of kernels comes out, there should also be full 80211 support.

I think half of the supposed user friendliness of Windows is that it comes pre-installed. It's amazing how few people are capable of installing Windows off a CD (I'd happily charge them £8/hour to sit in front of their computer and click the odd thing while windows installed), so it's no wonder they can't manage Linux.

I think it's fundamental to NT thinking that they're incapable of putting written information into their brains and making use of it. Most seem unwilling to read more than a paragraph or so, and only read books/magazines that don't have any thought provoking subject matter. I got thoroughly sick of teachers at school telling me I couldn't learn anything just from reading books.


I use whatever OS is best for the job.

I've got OSX Leopard on my laptop, as well as XP. OSX is used because it's a lot safer on the internet*, and it's just quicker for hopping around web browser/text editor/file manager windows, and ties into BSD/Linux/Windows networks better than any other OS I've found. XP is only on it because I want to play games when I get bored with programming/web editing (and a 17" MacBook Pro is a pretty good gaming system).

XP is on my gaming system, because there's no alternative. Linux only supports the hardware months after the Windows drivers are out, and doesn't get updates very often. Also GL is losing a lot of ground to DirectX. Vista came out in all these different options, except one for gamers. Far too much bloat from useless features.

I've got OpenBSD on my firewall and web server, because there's no OS that comes close for security. It's also really nice to work with, as in securing it the developers made all the code very clean and easy to work with, so it's harder to make mistakes that open security holes. They've also done an excellent job of documenting every command and config file. RTFM is quite literally said to list members who ask stupid questions. I've been using it for several years now, and have to say it's my favorite OS, because it does the job it's designed for exceptionally well.

At the moment I'm setting up a game server that's going to be colocated at a datacenter. Initially I was installing FreeBSD on it, but it turns out that the Linux emulation isn't up to date (only 32bit Linux support). I think FreeBSD has got too bloated, as they're trying to cater to too many markets, and aren't updating things as much as they should in order to keep ahead as a high performing server OS. My server's a PowerEdge 1950, which has been out for a good few years, and is a very widely used server, but there's no definite claim of compatability for it in the hardware lists, and there are still a lot of unsolved problems with it, despite it being the kind of thing FreeBSD is supposed to have good support for. DragonFly BSD is a new branch off from FreeBSD that's really focusing on performance and modern server hardware. They're even including highly optimized virtualization in the kernel.

In the end I decided to go for Gentoo Linux for my game server, as it looks like it can have a sufficiently stripped down install, and right from the get go was as simple to use as OpenBSD (simple for me means having a good selection of shell/prompt/editor, and having a working network with ssh as soon as possible so I can go and do all the work from my laptop and a comfy seat).



* Why is it that people say Linux/OSX are just as insecure as Windows? 10 years ago there were loads of viruses for Windows computers, and not enough Linux or Mac computers for anyone to bother writing viruses for. Now there are far more OSX/Linux computers than there were Windows ones 10 years ago, so why aren't there any viruses? There are loads of people who go on about how bad Apple/Linux boxes are, and how they've actually got bad security, but have any of them actually written viruses for an Apple/Linux? You'd think with the amount of hate they have for non Windows systems they'd be inclined to make things difficult for the Apple/Linux users they seem to hate so much.

The link you give confirms that it is FUD.

It says that manufacturers have set an overly aggressive default, on some drives.

Why Ubuntu should be accused of being at fault is beyond me.

Admittedly, Ubuntu could attempt to override the default, and quite probably will. The "problem" has to recognised, first.

I quoted "problem", because it just makes me wonder... is this a new MS trick?

Linux had problems with winmodems (now mostly solved), whereby MS had deals with the manufacturers - MS would build the drivers into Windows, provided the manufacturers did not produce code that worked under anything but Windows, or release information enabling that to be done.

The same thing later happened with printers.

Is this another MS deal? That the manufacturers sell hardware that, by default, will self-destruct, unless Windows is installed to change from those suicidal settings.

I do agree with you that alot FUD is put out there by microsoft, they don't inspire alot a confidence these days. I still don't think linux is great for people who are just getting into computers, only because I used to work in technical support for Hp Pavilion, we would always get someone who had loaded linux and now their new PC wasn't working, and all their holiday pictures were in windoz, so its not funny telling Bubba from the Ozarks its all gone, we would have to tell them that its just not supported by Hp.
Now I do like to use linux myself and have been using Open Suse for about a year, but only dual booting with xp pro since I still have to use it to work with the office. Presently I am not at all happy with Vista, just from reading all the shite going on with that piece of crapware, and I think in the end, I will stop using microsoft, and just use linux or god forbid a Mac, Not that there is anything wrong with them.
Linux and Windoz are like 2 warring religions

Windows- Well i might Consider Vista after Microsoft Releases SP1.[Overall Reliable OS for IT Professionals and People Running It on Nothing lower than 2GB Memory and a Dual-Core Processor.] Vista may sound like a Memory Hog but once newer hardware is released Vista is going to fly with Speed.[Already does w/ 2GB Memory and Core2Duo Processor.]
The Prices of computers are lowering Greatly so buying a new Rig won`t be such a pain in the @$$ like it was back in the Windows 95 Days.

Linux- One Of my favorites one it comes to Functionality, User-Friendliness, and Low-Memory Usage. However i hate the Fact that Linux doesn`t have support for WI-FI. [Had to Install Win98 on a bunch of 300-600Mhz Machines due to Ubuntus Good For Nothing functionality w/ Linksys Wireless Cards.] However if you using anything but wireless cards or Winmodens you should be fine with Linux. However Linux does never Crash and is Great for People running off Wired Networks, Running Servers, and doing Buisness/ School Work on.[It is easier to use Linux in a Large Buisness Environment than Windows.]

Mac- Macintoshes are Pretty Good when it comes to ease of use and Graphics Compatibilities. However Macintoshes are Non-Upgradable[You have to buy new computers every 1-2 Years as opposed to 3-6 Years w/ IBM-Compatiable PC`s to stay up to date in the IT/Buisness World.] Adding on a 56K Modem, Wi-fi Card, Video and Network Card is also a pain. So if your old parts burn out or you want to Upgrade you VC your screwed.[Unless you buy another Mac.] Macs are also the computers that you see the Rich Kids and Yuppies how don`t know a thing about computers Use due to The High-Price of Macs. [Rich People like High- Priced Possessions due to the fact that it makes them feel powerful.]Macintoshes also give IT Professionals very little power when it comes to Messing with the OS to increase speeds and functionality.[As opposed to all the scripting tools that Windows/ Linus have in there OS`es.[I make VBScripts that i use under Windows.]

Have Used XP and Vista (Use each)
Have Used Ubuntu (Dual Booted with XP however, didn't want to start after trying to update to Fiesty (Edgy) with kubuntu-desktop package used Kubuntu Edgy Live CD to fix that updated fine and then couldn't get multi monitors to work so reinstalled Edgy although install Ubuntu takes literally no time)

Studying Debian and its capacities (Samba Server, as well as general desktop system)

Howtoforge.com is very useful for Linux tutorials

NTs can read the manual (At least this one does) but alas some don't