The Inferior Nature of the Windows OS

    No, I don´t agree with that assessment. I think that Windows is the result of a great deal of compromise, and it´s still in control of the market because MS has gone out´ve its way to make things work for almost everybody. And it keeps getting better with each release, not worse. Each new version of Windows (with, I´ll be the first to say, the awful exception of ME) has been superior to the last, from 3.1 to XP. 64 will be yet another serious improvement, and I´m eagerly waiting to get my hands on it... and am glad that MS is taking their time in getting it polished up and as close as bug-free as they can before general release. Yes, Linux is more efficient in many ways, and is far more secure. No arguments there. But if that´s all you´re after... shoot, buy an Acorn Micro, with the entire OS built into a PROM. You can´t get much faster or harder to hack an OS than that <img src=smilies/icon_smile_wink.gif width=15 height=15 border=0 align=middle> I did not always think this way about Windows. For years, I was a hard-core Mac user, and I´ve had considerable experience with UNIX and other OS´s. But Windows 2000 convinced me that MS had finally begun to learn that customers needed stability and flexibility, and XP has pushed this further and further. Linux remains very rough for anybody who´s not a geek with free time and no other hobbies. Driver support may or may not exist for your camera/scanner/video card/motherboard/whatever. Programs frequently look like freeware... because they are. And, thus far, there isn´t any real equivalent to the Visual Development Suite, which has allowed programmers to deliver programs that adhere to common interface standards (which, if you deal with as much new software per year/month as I do, is a big deal- I don´t want to learn custom commands every time I sit down with a new piece of software, thanks) and run well with Windows. I was hoping that the Linux community would eventually realize that the primary problem with Linux is not that it´s bad... or that nobody will change OS´s if it makes sense... but that it´s not the same as Windows, in terms of its interface, and that the constant fragmentation of the Linux world is a problem, not a good response to users who all want different things from their OS. The interface alone is a huge obstacle for the 99% of computer users, who have huge problems learning an interface, period. I know how that goes... I work with non-geeks all the time, and have watched the pain and suffering most Mac users feel when they use a Wintel box <img src=smilies/icon_smile_tongue.gif width=15 height=15 border=0 align=middle> Lindows was a good stab at this problem, but it´s not good enough to really compete yet. If Linux distros ever get to the point where I can switch from a Linux machine to Windows and use the same command keys, find everything in the same places, and run the same software... I´ll use Linux on a daily basis. Otherwise, I´ll just use it, like I do at home, for specialized things (I have a tiny-kernal machine that I use as a file / music / video server, and a few other things). I´m not sure that the Linux community will ever get their act together, and unite behind a common front. None of the commercial distro companies (Red Hat, et al) have been able to establish enough market dominance to push things strongly in the right direction here- which, in my opinion, would be to make Linux as cross-compatible with Windows as possible. That´s the only way that most people are going to switch, and MS has been very, very smart about the whole thing. So, for now, I´m sticking with what works. It´s not that I´m a bigot about it- I think that Linux and BeOS and other would-be-contenders are getting better, and I really would rather have a free OS that is more secure... IF it actually served my needs better, and didn´t confuse the heck out´ve visitors to my apartment when they just want to check their email <img src=smilies/icon_smile_wink.gif width=15 height=15 border=0 align=middle>

    Oh! this thread is just going to cause trouble... All I´m going to say on this subject is: from VeriTest... Tests Show Windows Server Environment More Reliable and Easier to Manage VeriTest (April 2005): &quot;Microsoft Windows Server 2003 vs. Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS 3.0: IT Professionals Running a Production Environment.&quot; This Microsoft-sponsored study found that the Windows Server environment was more reliable and easier to manage, achieving higher levels of end-user service. And yes I have and do use both operating systems.

    Hehe, you´re probably right, BP <img src=smilies/icon_smile.gif width=15 height=15 border=0 align=middle> I was trying to be balanced about this- my opinion is based on over 20 years of using computers of various flavors at this point, so it´s not like Linux is some Amazing New Thing (the Amiga got that award, when I was like... 11). Anyhow, everybody should be nice and not flame, k? Both OS´s have their strengths and weaknesses... and, sadly, since they aren´t cross-compatible, we´ll never really be able to judge them purely by their merits.

    <font size=1 face="trebuchet ms"><BLOCKQUOTE><hr size=1 noshade>Oh! this thread is just going to cause trouble... All I´m going to say on this subject is: from VeriTest... Tests Show Windows Server Environment More Reliable and Easier to Manage VeriTest (April 2005): &quot;Microsoft Windows Server 2003 vs. Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS 3.0: IT Professionals Running a Production Environment.&quot; This Microsoft-sponsored study found that the Windows Server environment was more reliable and easier to manage, achieving higher levels of end-user service. And yes I have and do use both operating systems. <hr size=1 noshade></BLOCKQUOTE></font><font face=´trebuchet ms, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica´ size=2> Can´t say I actually have an opinion on this having never tried Linux yet, but quoting a Microsoft sponsored study into the merits of Windows vs. Linux is not exactly the best way to back your case up.

    ---------------------------------------- I am the signature virus! Copy me into your signature so that I can take over the world! Moohahahee! [img=http://www.anchoredbygrace.com/smileys/dance2.gif][img=http://www.anchoredbygrace.com/smileys/dance2.gif][

    it all boils down to this. Linux, yes its stable, yes its efficient, yes its secure. Who the hell uses it for anything useful outside of business/technical? Hardly anybody because there are vurtually no apps written for it, and quite often no drivers. Every home and school PC that people actually use is Windows, and lets be fair, most of the time XP is good enough for the vast majority of home users. I run Linux on my own rig. I also have a 2K Server with XP pro clients. what do you think most of our home PC usage is? email and eBay for Mrs Taw, MSN for the Tawette, games for mini-Taw. and XP is fine for them because its easy and tells them what to do, and for me too because i have so little to do to keep it all running ok. I had to look afetr our work network for years. Linux order receipts and developement machines, Sun box running Unix, 2K/NT4 servers, but everyone used XP/2K for the bulk of their work. Ran Unix emulators on Windows PCs. everyone was happy. horses for courses. great, have a thumping Linux system thats rock solid stable - and then what? what can you do with it? can your mum/wife/girlfriend/sister/daughter easily use it to talk to her friends or go shopping online? probably not. can they play the Sims on it? No. and if the issues security, well, anyone who can put in the effort with a Linux system could spend a lot less effort making a Windows PC secure. so, inferior? from a purely technical point of view, but Windows is good enough for most uses and its what people are familiar with. And its a lot easier to manage. especially server side. no not kidding, i´d rather manage a Windows system nayday than a Linux, because its so much easier. You can *wing* it with Windows, ie you dont actually have to know what the answer is, you can usually figure it out. Linux requires a lot more knowledge, which is fine until the people with the knowledge aren´t around. And with the general high-standards and low-prices of pcs and components these dyas, Windows is a lot more stable than it ever used to be and the *bloatware* issue isn´t anything like as important. and Microsoft paying for me to go on a sailing holiday the other week has nothing to do with anything, ok? <img src=smilies/icon_smile.gif width=15 height=15 border=0 align=middle> Edited by - Tawakalna (Reloaded) on 9/14/2005 4:59:46 AM Edited by - Tawakalna (Reloaded) on 9/14/2005 5:31:30 AM

    "for once, i`ll actually tell you what i was thinking; but maybe i won`t have anything to say.."

    I hate Microsoft, and I agree, game devolipers don´t have much support for Mac or Linux. However, I can´t stand Mac, and in my opinion, Windows is easier to use.

    __________________________ Okay, since someone who will remain nameless was offended by my last sentence, I`ve changed it. For those of you who just can`t wait, I`ve finally started a new fanfic, The Holocaust! __________________________ 4 8 15 16 23 42 Twenty bucks to whoever can tell me what the deal is with those numbers. I`ll give you a hint: They have somthing to do with a guy named Hurley. (Congrats to Taw, he was the first to get it right.)

    i keep telling my sister to let me replace her ME piece of crud when she complains about it i use xp pro with few problems (that better hardware couldn´t fix) personally i´m getting sick of fixing that paper weight of her´s. i haven´t used linux but i have used 2003 server in a classroom had very little trouble (until we set up active directory anyway <img src=smilies/icon_smile_angry.gif width=15 height=15 border=0 align=middle> ) would i use it personally, no. it was way too slow for me.

    ME &lt;shudders&gt; fond memories? well the overheating laptop was probably good for warming your sandwiches. any other uses for ME? the cd made a good coaster. what a piece of tat.

    "for once, i`ll actually tell you what i was thinking; but maybe i won`t have anything to say.."

    Weeeelllll... Time for my other two cents. It all really boils down to this: Macs are suited for those who want a clean interface, and for those who like a powerful graphics development tool. Mac are the absolute BEST when it comes to graphics. Linux is great for a hardcore geek or programmer. I´m not as 1337 as i should be to use linux, but im learning. It takes a lot, but it starts to remind me of the DOS days. ahh, the memories. Windows is for everyone else who is too stupid to use linux, too uncreative to use a mac properly, or wants to play all the latest ´blockbuster´ games, which are hard to get running on linux. (I got Quake and Unreal running quite well.) I would also like to point out that most viruses and trojans are designed for windows users. -:- You wanna revolution?

    <font size=1 face="trebuchet ms"><BLOCKQUOTE><hr size=1 noshade>Windows is for everyone else who is too stupid to use linux <hr size=1 noshade></BLOCKQUOTE></font><font face=´trebuchet ms, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica´ size=2> Can linux run all the applications that most people want to use, right now? Has it got such a massive selection of programs, applications and games as Windows has? Is it designed specifically so that even the biggest retard can get what they want, whilst others can be provided with everything they need? If not, then saying your above statement is rather shortsighted isn´t it? And inconsiderate - indeed typical of the type of person who has just learned about something, and is still riding on his own high about it. Most don´t bother because they can accept both the strengths and weaknesses of both operating systems equally for what they are. They don´t have the &quot;snobbery&quot; as you may call it. As for &quot;DOS&quot; - I thought dos could only run one application at a time, no multitasking or background stuff, hence why it was made redundant as time moved forward. A random fact for you to enjoy on linux though - X2 is being &quot;ported&quot; (or whatever its called) to linux, so I guess some games devs are going to cater for the widest audience possible - got to be beneficial hasn´t it? Will others follow suit? However, when I need to know about Linux, I´ll learn about it I am sure. I don´t think I will have the attitude to then post a thread about how much better it is, and call everyone else stupid though......

    akshuly there were DOs multi-tasking programs - how the hell they worked I dont know but I can promise you Ive seen them, an event management firm i did some work for once had such a thing. I didnt think ti was possible but with clever programming i suppsoe anything can be done...

    "for once, i`ll actually tell you what i was thinking; but maybe i won`t have anything to say.."

    ahhhh Windows Me (AKA Windows Mistake Edition) Like Taw I deal with or have dealt with Unix Linux Mac Wintel and a whole lot of mainframe nonsense. For work there is no &quot;inferior OS&quot; Just ones that play to the strength (hopefully) of the Co. For home use I use xp pro for alot of the reasons stated previously Its easy it plays my games I rarely have to go beyond basic troubleshooting before I´m right as rain again. as to the *remind me of DOS <img src=smilies/icon_smile.gif width=15 height=15 border=0 align=middle> I love DOS just recently I set up a DOS box for some good old gaming goodness....but it is a bit frustrating remembering all the minutiae that makes it a decent gaming rig. For those who still Love DOS I recommend setting one up from scratch to remember what the OS was rather than the nostalgia associated with the years of the best gaming ever <img src=smilies/icon_smile.gif width=15 height=15 border=0 align=middle>

    For those who are interested, this thread is all about me taking the piss. It lasted longer than my experiement wanted to, so yeah. I still think linux rocks, but yeah, windows is okay.... i guess. -:- You wanna revolution?

    funny, bp always gets replies like that after he posts a quote. I was thinking of installing a linux distro on my other hard drive to see how it is...i probably should...

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