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Linux vs Windows 7
Posted at 4:16pm on Thursday August 20th 2009
It's something of a tradition that we pit the latest version of Windows against our trusty
old operating system. This isn't because we want to raise the profile of Windows, or
ignite further flamewars on which is better or worse. It's about understanding the market
and understanding the competition. Microsoft Windows is by far the most dominant
operating system on the planet, and as Linux users, we need to keep on top of new
developments, new technologies and new ideas. This gives Linux the best possible
chance to grow and remain relevant.
So, if you read our benchmarks comparing Windows 7, Vista and Ubuntu and are
looking to find out more on what separates Windows 7 and Linux on the features front,
read on...
Both operating systems now occupy a distinctly different part of the market. Microsoft
has taken Windows down a purely proprietary route, forging relationships with content
providers and hardware vendors that keep full control from the user. Linux is completely
open. Out of the box, Linux even boasts better media format support than Windows,
and it can be the only way to run older hardware at its fullest potential, especially if there
isn't a new driver for Windows 7.
Forewarned is forarmed
Over the life span of Windows 7, public concern for privacy, digital rights management
and locked-in upgrades should help Linux to grow as an alternative when users want to
keep complete control over their own hardware and software. Microsoft is now operating
in a considerably different, and more technologically aware, environment than nine
years ago when Windows XP was released.
The European Commission has spent a lot of time, effort and money hounding Microsoft
for its alleged anti-competitive behaviour and this is going to have an impact on
Windows 7 in Europe, as well as the user's awareness of the issues surrounding choice
and bundling. Many average Windows users, for instance, were unaware that Internet
Explorer was only one option for browsing the world wide web. Thanks to the European
Commission, When Windows 7 is released in Europe it won't feature any browser at all,
and for the first time, Windows users will have to make a choice about what they want to
install. And making choices can get addictive.
Round 1: Performance
Much has been said about the various performance improvements in Microsoft's next
operating system. After the apparent gluttony of Vista hardware requirements, Microsoft
has tried to make sure that as many people as possible could attend the upgrade party.
Many benchmarks have put Windows 7 performance ahead of both XP and Vista, and
we saw some improvements over Vista when we initially benchmarked the open beta
earlier in the year.
But when we compared the 64-bit version of Windows 7 against its equivalent Ubuntu
release, Linux was faster on most of the tests we ran, including boot time, shutdown
time and most of the filesystem tests. The only test where Windows 7 was significantly
faster than everything else was the Richards benchmark of overall system performance.
Amount of time taken to execute the Python Richards benchmark. Measured in milliseconds; less is
better.
Four months later we performed some of the same tests again, this time pitting the most
recent 64-bit Linux distribution (Fedora 11) against the Windows 7 release candidate
(build 7100). The most dramatic results for Linux were seen on boot speed, which for
the final release of Ubuntu Jaunty measured around 35 seconds, with Fedora 11 close
on its heels taking 39 seconds from power-on to desktop. Windows 7, by comparison,
took almost twice as long, leaving us waiting 69 seconds from power to desktop.
We also found that a default installation of Fedora 11 running the Gnome desktop uses
significantly less memory than Windows 7, at only 233MB. Windows uses 458MB,
which is nearly twice as much memory.
Compatibility
But benchmarks and system monitoring is only a small part of the story. Every fresh
Windows install feels fast and responsive, and it's only after several months' constant
use that any weaknesses will begin to show. In the several weeks we've been using
Windows 7 alongside our Linux boxes, we found it to be much more stable than XP, and
snappier than Vista. We did have one problem with a corrupted filesystem while crash
testing the machine with a reset, but as this is pre-release software it wouldn't be fair to
criticise Windows 7 until the final version is available.
There's little doubt that Windows 7 is a solid improvement over its predecessor, and we
would guess that most Windows users who were previously reluctant to upgrade XP will
be happy with Windows 7 running on a new machine. Windows' greatest asset is the
variety of software available, and Microsoft is going to offer an XP compatibility mode as
an add-on to Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate.
This solution bundles Microsoft's Virtual PC virtualisation software along with a copy
and a licence to run XP. It's not native, so it's unlikely to run your favourite games, but it
will enable you to run essential XP-only software in a window on your desktop. This
stands in stark contrast to the cavalier attitude to backward compatibility that Microsoft
took with Vista, and it's a step that's likely to make Windows 7 an essential upgrade for
many XP users.
The same isn't quite so true of hardware, which still suffers from Vista's over-zealous
attitude towards hardware signing and backwards compatibility. Even if your hardware
is capable of running Windows 7 it's unlikely you'll be able to exploit its capabilities
unless the officially signed drivers are available for your device. With no DirectX 10
drivers for your graphics card, for example, you won't be able to enable the Aero Glass
effects on the desktop, which is one of Windows 7's best features.
Worst of all, you're locked into the resolution data provided by your screen. Our test
system uses two 191D cheap screens from Hanns-G. They're perfectly capable devices
that work well with Linux, but we wasted days trying every trick we could think of to get
them working with Windows 7, and in the end we gave up. If you found Vista's hardware
installation frustrating, you're likely to have the same problems with Windows 7.
Performance
Windows 7
• Better at synthetic benchmarks.
• Faster transfer of large files.
• Final version likely to improve.
• Suspend/resume works!
Linux
• Faster booting.
• Less memory usage.
• Smaller install size.
• Broader hardware compatibility.
Round 2: Desktop warfare

Despite the hyperbole surrounding performance tuning and increased efficiency, the
battleground for success is going to be the desktop. This is where we spend the most
time, and it's where small changes can make a massive difference in productivity.
Windows 7 promises big improvements, but at first glance you could be forgiven for
thinking that very little has changed since the release of Windows XP, which never
seems too far beneath the surface. The old device manager, for instance, is identical to
the now discontinued version and there are many aspects of the desktop that feel the
same. But to give the new desktop a fair crack of the whip, we'll take Microsoft's own list
of what's good, and compare that with what Linux has to offer.
New features, according to Microsoft

Top of the list of usability improvements is the new task bar and full-screen previews.
It's now easier to add your own applications to the task bar, using a process called
'pinning', and while this has always been possible through the use of the Quick Launch
tool, Microsoft is making a big deal out its new easiness, as well as another major
addition - larger icons. No, really. Another much-touted usability improvement is the
window thumbnail that appears when you hover your mouse cursor over a minimised
application.
Each one of these features has been part of the modern Linux desktop for some time.
And while features such as the thumbnail preview of an application were initially a
cutting-edge part of Compiz, we now take their inclusion on a modern desktop for
granted. In KDE 4.2, for example, you get exactly the same task bar functionality, and if
you use a cutting-edge distribution such as Fedora 11, you'll get all the latest
enhancements.
With the panel in edit mode, right-click on any menu option and you can choose to
either add an icon to the desktop or to the desktop panel, and once there you can drag
it into a location that most suits you. Adding full-screen preview to your Linux box is also
is easy. Either use Compiz on Gnome or enable the desktop effects in KDE to get
exactly the same feature, and either panel is far more configurable than the Windows
equivalent. The KDE one in particular can be resized, repositioned, re-aligned, set
vertical or horizontal and augmented with any number of plasmoid additions.
Both KDE and Gnome users have been able to 'pin' applications and media to the task bar for years.
Jump Lists
Let's see if Windows 7 can catch up in its next new feature - Jump Lists. These are a
way to expose certain parts of an application to a menu revealed when you right-click
on its launch icon. The most common example is right-clicking on an application to bring
up a list of recent files, any of which can be loaded by simply selecting them. There's
even an extension for Firefox.
This trick requires some communication between the applications themselves and the
window manager, and the non-standard nature of the Linux desktop makes it a difficult
feature to emulate. We can't honestly say Jump Lists are a paradigm shift in desktop
use, but they're a nice addition, and it can't be long until either the Gnome or KDE
developers come up with something similar.
Sticking with desktop usability, Microsoft is keen to show off the new window
comparison feature, something it calls 'Snaps'. This is a semi-intelligent window
snapping routine that can divide the screen into two and maximises two application
windows into each half. Drag a window into one of these snap points, either the top
border to maximise the window, or the left and right borders for a 50% view, and the
window resizes.
While the average Linux desktop doesn't have this exact feature, both Gnome and KDE
offer more comprehensive snapping options. From KDE's Window Behaviour panel, for
instance, you can set separate snap borders for the edge of the screen, the edge of a
window or even the centre of the display. And there are many more options for fine-
tuning your window management and geometry, even down to selecting the types of
window the options apply to.
Window snapping? We think KDE got there first.
Search tools
Another feature that Linux desktops have been threatening for a couple of years, but
have as-yet failed to deliver, is pervasive searching. Despite being a killer feature on the
OS X desktop and the iPhone, and despite several highly efficient implementations, a
simple search that can read documents, your email, and online communication with a
degree of intelligence is still some way off.
Windows embeds its search icon search in the bottom-left corner, just above the launch
menu icon. It feels very similar to KDE's launch menu, and will quickly find the content
you're interested in. Microsoft's version expects the user to define libraries of content,
and these are locations on your computer where you're happy to have the search
engine provide pervasive results, or not.
Windows 7 also promises to move file search away from local storage and on to the
internet. Searching for a photo, for instance, might take you from your local photo
collection and on to those you're interested in online, such as an associated Flickr
account or Picasa. The capabilities of this online search are dependent on an
appropriate extension for the media and the online resource that you're interested in,
but it clearly has a lot of potential.
The average Linux desktop needs to get its act together if it's going to to compete with
Windows 7 for search functionality. And whether you use it or not, it's a great feature for
newcomers. New releases of distributions like Fedora still package search tools like
Beagle, but that's a long way from being a single solution for the Linux desktop, and this
is what we're going to need. Developers are aware of these problems, but the KDE 4
team, for example, have put off discussions on integrating search until the 4.4 release,
which is likely to come long after Windows 7.
How Linux will look when Windows 7 is released

At the time of writing, we've still got a short while to go until Windows 7 is released. This
means there are several major Linux releases between now and then that could add
some significant updates to the Linux desktop. Most recently released is KDE 4.3, and it
seems the KDE team are finally getting on top of things. Rather than being a release
purely full of bug- and usability fixes, 4.3 added some cool new features and some nice
eye candy.
The whole KDE desktop and associated applications will now have general access to
geolocation data, which could be useful for laptop users. The task bar panel should be
able to distance itself even further from Windows 7 with the addition of spacers. These
will let you group a collection of icons together, rather than as a single glut, and the
system tray should also get better management functions. There are plenty more
Plasmoid desktop widgets too.
More Plasmoids are being added to KDE with every release, bringing fast feature turnaround for all.
Most importantly, considering the emphasis in Windows 7 on merging local and remote
data, the new KDE release resurrects the Nepomuk desktop idea - the so-called 'social
desktop'. This means creating a connection between local and remote data, and making
the desktop a seamless integration of the two. A lot of work has been done on the
Akonadi PIM framework, for example - Nepomuk can analyse and annotate the body of
an email automatically.
This means adding information like your location, people you're with and maybe events
you're attending - the kind of information currently found on sites like Facebook and
Twitter. There's also a new menu system, called Raptor, that attempts to guess what
options you're most likely to want based on what you're currently doing. It's a cross
between KLauncher and Gnome Do, and is a massive improvement on the current
'Lancelot' system.
Desktop innovation
Windows 7
• Desktop search is well implemented and can go online.
• Media libraries can be pinned to the start menu and task bar.
• Jump lists can genuinely help improve efficiency.
Linux
• Nepomuk blurs the border between local and online.
• Gnome Do replaces the task bar entirely.
• Google's Desktop widgets now on Gnome and KDE.
Round 3: Essential apps

The best example of a core application associated with an operating system is the web
browser. But thanks to the legal wrangling that has surrounded Microsoft's browser
bundling, Internet Explorer 8 isn't going to be as fatally intertwined in the operating
system as its forebears were. The European release isn't even going to include a
browser by default, which leaves users with the bizarre difficulty of not having a browser
available to download an alternative.
This may also be why Microsoft chooses not to create more powerful applications for
these core tasks, perhaps not wanting to risk the wrath of competing vendors or the
European Monopolies Commission. And while these restrictions may seem harsh in
today's online environment, it's a great opportunity for Linux to push integrated desktop
applications as a serious bonus.
In Windows 7, these essential tools need to be downloaded separately under the
Windows Live branding. Eight applications are selectable, and these include the latest
generation of Microsoft's Messenger, Outlook Express, Word Pad, a content filter and
Silverlight - Microsoft's competitor to Adobe's Flash. In Linux terms you might liken them
to Pidgin or Kopete, Evolution, Kate and Gedit, DansGuardian and Moonlight. But the
difference with the Microsoft offerings is that they feel very much cut-down, as the
company would rather have you pay more for the fully functional versions.
Instant messaging
Despite Windows ports of Pidgin, Windows Messenger is still the instant messaging
client of choice for most people on the Windows desktop. This is probably because it
offers Windows users a seamless way of communicating with other Windows users, and
as long as your contacts are using the same client, video and voice chat is usually just a
click or two away.
Over the years, there has been steady progress, but nothing revolutionary, and the
same is true of the version currently shipping with the Windows 7 release candidate. It's
the same version that was shipped as Windows Live Messenger 2009 at the beginning
of the year, and the first thing the average Linux user will notice is the embedded
advertising. You can't open the main window or a chat window without a small banner or
text fighting for your attention.
If you're chatting to other Windows Live users you do get the advantage of seamless
voice and video chat, but that's the only advantage that Microsoft's Messenger has over
multi-protocol clients like Pidgin and Kopete. Kopete in particular is a brilliant application
that can send messages to almost anyone and anything willing to accept them. AIM,
Jabber, Google Talk, Windows Live and even Facebook are all catered for through a
series of plugins.
The best thing about instant messaging with Kopete is that (unlike with Windows) there's no
advertising.
Photo management
Whether you choose Digikam or F-Spot, there's no doubt that Linux desktop users are
well catered for when it comes to photo management. Both apps can both talk to the
vast majority of digital cameras, enable you to organise your collection using tags,
comments and geographical data, and then upload sections of your library to a variety
of online photo repositories.
Microsoft's offering, by comparison, is far more modest, and a little creepy, as you have
to sign into your Windows Live account when you first launch the application. This is
because your library is closely tied to your online presence. They can be published on
to Windows Live with a single click, and Flickr, Facebook and SmugMug are supported
through third-party plugins. Google's Picasa photo hosting is a conspicuous absentee,
but that's perhaps because it's associated photo management tool is a better
application.
But Windows Live Photo Gallery is very fast, and it's an efficient way of getting photos
from your camera on to an online repository with the least number of mouse clicks and
CPU cycles. Like iPhoto, Digikam and F-Spot, it offers only bread and butter editing
tools such as colour, contrast, crop and redeye reduction, but there are some weird
usability errors. You can't drag tags on to photos, for instance, and photos that are part
of your Pictures library aren't imported into the application unless they happen to be
located under the My Pictures directory, which is confusing.
Online
Another aspect of Microsoft's new operating system that isn't quite so obvious is the
default installation of Silverlight. Silverlight is web browser plugin, and it's Microsoft's
attempt to unseat the dominance of Adobe's Flash, and it performs much the same
function. It helps web developers create accelerated and interactive online applications
for their users that plain old HTML just isn't capable of, such as YouTube or BBC
iPlayer, and represents the pinnacle of Microsoft's .NET framework, using it to both
develop Silverlight and as a method for creators to add program logic within its online
applications. Windows 7 is going to be the first Windows operating system to install it by
default, with version 3 currently going through a period of beta testing before its planned
release in July.
The interesting thing about Silverlight is that there's a Linux version being developed by
the same team porting .NET to Linux, and it's called Moonlight. Moonlight offers only a
subset of the functionality currently in Silverlight, but it represents an incredible effort by
the programmers. Since January 2009, it's been fully compatible with Silverlight version
1.0, and a beta version released at the beginning of May implements some features
from 2.0, as well as a few from the planned 3.0 release.
There's no doubt that Moonlight is a considerable way behind the Microsoft
implementation, but there's a bigger problem. For some users, Moonlight represents a
big chunk of Microsoft's intellectual property sitting at the heart of the Linux desktop.
This is why the inclusion of Mono on distributions like Fedora and now Debian has
proved such a contentious issue, and if Silverlight becomes as dominant on the
Windows platform as Microsoft hopes, it's going to become increasingly difficult to
ignore either its potential on the internet, or its potential as a patent time-bomb.
Touch me
One of the most touted features in Microsoft's new operating system is its new-found
ability to be controlled using a touchscreen interface. Microsoft has been experimenting
with touch technology for years and its implementation has been overhauled for
Windows 7, adding better hardware support and the ability to detect more than one
finger press. Touch also seems to be the primary motivation behind the overhaul of the
toolbar.
In its old incarnation, icons could be too small and their placement too unpredictable for
fingers. In Windows 7, buttons have been resized, and custom spacing options should
make it easier to hit the right target. This is also the first time multi-touch has been
included, which must have been quite a task for an operating system than usually has
difficulty if you connect more than one mouse, let alone 10 fingers. But Microsoft has
also put hardware behind the rhetoric, demoing a hefty piece of multi-touch hardware
called 'Surface'.
Until recently, multi-touch ability hasn't been a priority on the Linux desktop, despite
various announcements on the subject in 2007. The ability to keep track of more than
one controller on a standard desktop has been implemented by a project called Multi-
Pointer X (MPX), and this is due to be rolled into the main X.org server code for the 7.5
release, due in August 2009.
But there is one important difference between MPX and Microsoft's Surface, and that's
that multi-touch provides only a co-ordinate reference for each point. It can't interpret
the shape and the size of the touch, which could be a problem if Microsoft pushes its
advantage in this area. The most promising signs of progress comes from the netbook
sector, where touch capabilities look like becoming the next big thing.
Windows 7 makes it easy to resize all the GUI elements to accomodate touch devices.
Version comparison
Windows 7
• Starter: No Aero and no 64-bit.
• Home Basic: Developed for emerging markets.
• Home Premium: Standard edition including Aero and touch.
• Professional: Adds remote desktop and encrypted filesystem.
• Enterprise: Unix application support and volume licensing.
• Ultimate: As with enterprise, but for individual users.
Linux
• Starter: No Linux is this restrictive.
• Home Basic: Crunchbang or Ubuntu.
• Home Premium: For eye candy, try Mint or Kubuntu.
• Professional: Fedora offers encryption as an installation option.
• Enterprise: OpenSUSE should work well with Windows.
• Ultimate: No matter which Linux you choose, there's no
restrictions.
Round 4: Power users

One of the biggest criticisms levelled at Windows over the years has been its lack of
proper user access control. Despite the last few versions featuring user accounts with
different levels of authority and control, nearly everyone simply created an
administrator's account and neatly side-stepped any attempt to rein in what the average
user could and couldn't do. Windows 7 attempts to do things differently, upgrading
Vista's User Access Control to finally achieve what Microsoft must hope is a major
feature in an age where thousands of Windows machines run as zombies on the
internet.
The idea behind UAC will be familiar to users of Ubuntu and OS X. When a user's
application requires a higher set of privileges, a password requester asks for
authentication. In Windows Vista, this password requester could be a little overzealous,
appearing every other minute if you weren't careful, especially if you were configuring
hardware. This annoyance was even seen as an advantage by some, as it forced
software developers to avoid asking the user to elevate their privileges though UAC if
they wanted to remain usable.
By default, a standard user will have no administrative control over their system, and
neither will any viruses or trojans may have been inadvertently run by that user. Of
course, this is nothing new for Linux users, as this feature is embedded within Linux
thanks to its use of groups and permissions to restrict users and processes. It's our
main defence against wayward applications wreaking havoc on our systems.
Even if a user's account is compromised and a virus is able to run on that user's
desktop, a utility with limited privileges can do very little system-wide and network facing
damage, although your personal data isn't likely to be so safe. This is part of the reason
why there are so few Linux viruses, and why so few of us consider it any kind of threat.
User Access Control can limit what a user sees on the internet as well as the configuration options
they have access to.
PolicyKit
But the truth is that there's plenty of potential on the average desktop for any malevolent
coder with enough motivation. How many of us install third-party binary packages on
our desktops? And how many of us could check the source code if we had to? Even
riskier is the number of times we resort to typing sudo or launching a shell with
administrator privileges, effectively bypassing the security inherent in the normal/root
user system.
Many distributions and developers think there needs to be an extra level of security, and
the closest we can get to the technology behind Microsoft's UAC is PolicyKit, originally
developed by Red Hat but now shipped as standard in Fedora, OpenSUSE and Ubuntu.
PolicyKit gives application developers (and distribution builders) a finer degree of
control over what an application can and can't do while it's running. It could enable a
user to mount portable storage, for instance, but not allow the same user to mount a
local filesystem, avoiding the potential hazard of sudo completely.
The impending KDE 4.3 includes PolicyKit integration, which means that many system
administration applications for the KDE desktop will be able to take advantage of
PolicyKit's finer-grained privilege control in much the same way that certain applications
request authentication on the OS X desktop. Gnome has had this functionality since the
beginning of last year, and its inclusion in KDE brings us a step closer to a unified
desktop on the Linux platform and a unified system for accessing administrative tasks.
Online security
Despite all these improvements to User Access Control, Windows is still going to be the
main target for hackers, and as such, a virus checker is always going to be necessary.
For the first time, Microsoft is going to bundle a virus checker and spyware detector with
the operating system. This is likely to raise considerable protest from manufacturers
who sell competing products, such as Symantec and McAfee, as they're making a tidy
living from plugging this lucrative hole in current Windows security.
But bundling a free virus checker with the operating system is a great step forward for
the rest of us who have to endure a constant stream of attacks from compromised
Windows systems. Microsoft's checker is going to be part of the 'Security Essentials'
download package, and it replaces Windows Live OneCare, a similar package that
Microsoft previously charged for on XP and Vista.
Microsoft's Security Essentials covers only the basics of online security: real-time virus
checking, system monitoring and download scanning. This should leave plenty of room
for the commercial solutions to fight over more advanced features and neurotic
Windows users. As Linux users, we don't need to run a virus-checker unless you're
receiving files from, and sending them to, Windows users. It avoids the extra CPU and
memory load of constantly running a checker and keeping it up to date. But there are
several checkers that are up to the task if you need them, including tools from
BitDefender and AVG, as well as the excellent ClamAV.
The Windows System Monitor app has been redesigned to show more information and show it more
clearly - it's actually very nice to use.
PowerShell vs Bash
Windows 7
• Integrated scripting.
• You can type ls to get a directory listing!
• Syntax highlighting.
• Remote execution.
Linux
• 30 years of refinement.
• Used by almost every Linux distribution ever.
• Plenty of online help and documentation.
• Can be used to administer the entire system.
Who wins?
As you should be able to tell from the scope of the features we've discussed, Windows
7 marks a significant point of maturity in the development of Windows, and is what the
much-maligned Vista should have been three years ago. There's still a distinct lack of
innovation, but the improvements to system stability and performance are what's going
to matter to most users. And most users of Windows are businesses. They're not
interested in eye candy, Twitter integration and hardware acceleration. They just need
Windows to be a sober working environment that doesn't get in the way of helping
people work.
And this is where Linux can make a big difference. There's nothing in Windows 7 that
Linux can't do, and in most cases, do it better. Our machines are quicker and more
efficient. Our desktops are more innovative and less static. Our apps are more powerful,
cheaper and less partisan, and Linux security has never been better. But best of all, we
have complete control over the future of Linux, and it's success or failure at the hands of
Windows 7 is in our hands.
First published in Linux Format magazine

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Your comments
Story
Anonymous Penguin (not verified) - August 20, 2009 @ 10:34pm
Windows 7 is a nice, well-rounded operating system; not a major step up from Vista, but
it works well. It has excellent program compatibility. I prefer Linux, but both function and
do their jobs in ways I appreciate.
While I dislike stories that attempt to "objectively" figure out which one is best, I feel that
for a fair and balanced OS market, more attention should be leveraged toward Linux.
Even Microsoft fans will realize that competition leads to innovation.
Let the games begin.
Re: Silverlight - on Linux there is HTML5, SVG & fast ECMAscript
Anonymous Penguin (not verified) - August 21, 2009 @ 2:54am
Using the W3C standards conforming with acid3 tests, in conjunction with HTML5, and
including a fast ECMAscript JIT compiler, browsers such as Opera, Chrome and Firefox
already come with as much functionality as Silverlight can provide, without any pligins.
Given the costs in preparing and serving Silverlight content, compared with zero cost for
open standards content, it would seem unlikely that Silverlight content would increase
much beyond its current level of being almost non-existant.
Just about the only thing
Just about the only thing that keeps me from using Linux is the fact that it was overall
poor game support. A few games I play support Linux but the rest do not.
Great comparison
I would have never thought I would read something like this in a Linux publication but
you did a great job of comparing Windows 7 to Linux. For me I am sticking to XP and
Ubuntu, Fedora 11 and AntiX. These run my older hardware the best.
No love for Arch?
Why not throw a different distro in there like Arch? There are plenty more out there than
just Ubuntu, openSUSE and Fedora! Seeing at least SOME performed on an Arch
machine would have been really nice
all well and good, but...
hi there
i am an average computer user - i have a work laptop and a Dell PC at home. nothing
fancy, not a high end user or anything...
i recently decided to try Ubuntu for my home PC, since the Windows XP install was
getting clunky and i thought it would be a good idea to run it more efficiently - the big
thing i had heard about linux systems.
the problem is, for your average user like me, it's just too much hassle. i don't know how
to run command line stuff in the terminal to fix this or that, and it's a little frustrating
trying to get stuff working with your PC... a lot of patience and time trying to get the web
cam and my scanner to work! and even when you get them to work, it just doesn't work
as it's meant to.
i know i will probably get shouted down for this, but if you know what you're doing with
linux and have some of the programming skills, it would be a fun, challenging way to
'stick it to the man'... but if you're just an average everyday user like me, i'd prefer things
to work the way they are supposed to, even if it's a little slower and costs more.
1 word... GAMES. Until
1 word... GAMES. Until Linux (and Mac) start supporting windows games (emulator?)
Linux will remain a business only OS.
Re: all well and good
TuxRadar - August 21, 2009 @ 9:11am
Please don't think you'll be "shouted at" for saying you had problems with Linux. It's a
big community, and most of us are really nice people - trying to pretend users don't
have any problems with Linux is really just denial!
It's great that you took the time to try Linux yourself, and it sucks the hardware
compatibility for your scanner and web cam just wasn't up to scratch. Hopefully that's
something that will get fixed soon so you can try it again and have more luck!
"Operating System"
Anonymous GNU (not verified) - August 21, 2009 @ 9:14am
It's GNU/Linux to be politically correct, but since you aren't...
"... help Linux to grow as an alternative when users want to keep complete control over
their own hardware and software."
Yeah, except Linux, the kernel, has binary blobs that restrict you, just as the entire
Windows operating system does. While GNU is fully free.
"Linux was faster on most of the tests we ran"
Actually, Linux, the kernel, doesn't perform all that well when you take away GNU Bash,
powerful scripting made to the kernel, GCC, Linus' compiler of choice, gLibc,
responsible for the kernel being able to run all that Free Software you call Open Source.
You are another person ignoring freedom, ignoring politics, and ignoring good will and
faith in the operating system, so much that you even had to try out Windows 7. Sad, as
always.
I invite you to read GNU.org, maybe, just maybe, if you read it slow enough, you'll
understand the importance of advocating freedom.
Finally something
Dark_tower (not verified) - August 21, 2009 @ 9:35am
Windows 7 has to be the best thing thats happened to us users in a while. Speed,
connectivity, and extremely good on laptops with 3 year old configs. Am all for leting
companies have control over software. As long as I can get the job done why would I
even want to know the back end. Let them do what they do best and I want to be able to
do what I do best:-)
Re:Anonymous GNU
@ANON GNU
Well.. to be more technically correct.. it should be
GNU/X11/[KDE,GNOME]/.../Linux.. come on!.. give it a rest already
Finally something
Dark_tower (not verified) - August 21, 2009 @ 9:35am
Windows 7 has to be the best thing thats happened to us users in a while. Speed,
connectivity, and extremely good on laptops with even 3 year old configs. Am all for
letting companies have control over software. As long as I can get the job done why
would I even want to know the back end. Let them do what they do best and I want to
be able to do what I do best:-)
Meat ball stew
It's articles like this cause some of the scorn that gets thrown at the linux community.
About as balanced as a 1 legged zebra.
Apologies...
I regularly use Win7, Linux (fc10), and mac osx (10.5.7) and found this article to be fairly
biased in both tone and content. I have titled this comment as an apology because I feel
sorry for speaking harshly of any article or blog post that has obviously had a lot of time
poured into it. There are many good points here, but this is far from an equal and
unbiased comparison.
In my opinion, the most common attitude in the community with respect to Win7 is that it
"has come a long way since the train-wreck of Vista, but is still a far cry from the latest
linux distro" which is a bit misleading as Win7, Linux, and Mac OSX are all fairly distinct
in their offerings (beyond the most basic of word processing and browsing). In fact, I
would argue that the current balance of operating systems is rather nice, and would
prefer that Windows continue to cater to the mainstream (and consequently retain most
of the market share), while linux remains in the power user, embedded, distributed,
research, and highly customizable space.
Anyone agree? :-)
This article really reads
This article really reads more like it's designed to stop Linux users switching to Windows
7. There's talk about average users near the beginning then by the end of the article it's
comparing Powershell to Bash.
And if control was such a big issue to consumers then I really doubt Mac OS X would
have gotten it's feet off the ground.
Ever used office apps on linux? They suck
Ever used office apps on linux? They suck compared to MS Office. I've used
OpenOffice and Google Docs & Spreadsheets for over a year, and can tell you that they
simply don't compare in functionality, usefulness, and productivity versus MS Office.
A better title for this article would have been:
"Reasons I feel Linux is better than Windows 7"
Nice try, but you're hella biased.
Linux with multiple screens is useless
"There's nothing in Windows 7 that Linux can't do"
Anybody who's tried to use linux with multiple desktop knows its a pain in the arse to do.
And when you do get it working, the OS and the apps can't cope with it. Windows will
appear randomly on either screen.
I can plug my Win7 laptop into any screen in the world and it will work first time , and
work well.
Unfortunately linux doesn't do multimedia well. I use Linux when im developing and
Windows 7 at home. Allthough linux can play many different video formats.
Applications just don't cut it for me
JAmes (not verified) - August 21, 2009 @ 10:17am
I work in IT and unfortunately a windows environment. On my personal systems I would
dearly love to run Linux. I have tried and tried over the years with most of the major
distros and always come back yo the same problems. I use dreamweaver for work and
while I can run it in wine it is slow and crashes I have tried some of the alternatives like
blufish but they just don't cut it for me. Too much of my work is based in windows apps
and ie compatibility, I have run xp in virtualbox which is excellent but I find myself
wondering why I am just not running native. Of all the window managers I have tried I
have not found anything as usable as mac os, I am not focussed on eye candy but it is
nice when you are using a system all day. Most recently i was doing some work on
coldfusion and installed the server along with mysql running on apache and edited using
bluefish. It ran much slower than my xp version taking ages to display pages in ff. I am
very much a Linux newbie but feel it should be much easier to set up properly without
the need to investigate speed issues. But I do like Linux and admire the work done and
will continue to try new versions and distros as they are released.
Re: all well and good
Well, actually my webcam worked out of the box w/ Linux. I didn't have to install any
extra drivers.
Comparison breakdown
I think a problem with this article is you refer to two different desktops when you refer to
Gnome and KDE. For example, listing KDE window snapping and Gnome Do. They're
not available together really.
Equally, the article uses Ubuntu for speed comparisons, and then KDE for many of the
counter-points.
Essentially the article takes two desktop managers to compare to Windows.
While I enjoyed the article and thought it did well to compare Win7 features to available
Linux equivalents, it wasn't really a fair fight.
Of course that's not to suggest I'm going to run out and buy Win7 - I'll stick with
Ubuntu... I just wanted to flag it.
A proper list
Wax (not verified) - August 21, 2009 @ 11:07am
Ubuntu (and general linux) Flaws:
Poor compatibility with graphics cards particularly ATi
Poor compatibility with iPods
Poor performance adobe flash playback
Ugly including KDE, gnome, custom themes, compiz
Duplicated effort eg KDE vs gnome
Windows XP (and general windows) Flaws:
Poor file system - constantly needing to defrag
Requires a lot of nurturing to maintain performance
Over priced
Too many versions such as ultimate, home, professional etc
Having to find the right anti-virus software - free or purchased
Feels locked in
I spent 2 years running linux and have returned to windows xp simply because the
hardware I own is more functional under it. My iPod, DVD/flash playback, and graphics
card just work better under windows xp.
whoops
I've tried making the switch several times, and have gone back to windows every time.
This article is pure propaganda because it skims over the serious showstopping issues
that keeps linux from actually being ready for prime time. the lack of proper games
support, the well-documented inability to handle more than a single monitor for
extended periods of time, and the ridiculously fractured nature of the linux environment
which said community doesn't understand is not nearly as beneficial as they think it is.
directory listings
what they added 'ls' to the windows command line.
Genius. I'm switching. Wow, I've been waiting for this feature for years. The amount of
times in the past I've entered 'ls' instead of 'dir' on the windows command line has
frankly been quite embarrassing.
Games? Get a console
People use the excuse that Linux/Mac don't have the games that Windows does. That's
why there are PS3's and Xbox's.
maybe nitpicking, but this
maybe nitpicking, but this statement is not accurate:
"With no DirectX 10 drivers for your graphics card, for example, you won't be able to
enable the Aero Glass effects on the desktop, which is one of Windows 7's best
features."
I have an old P4 with an ATI Radeon 9600 with DirectX 9 drivers and it runs Aero.
There are even very few games today that require DirectX 10 given that DirectX 9 has
the largest installed user base.
baloney!
"My iPod, DVD/flash playback, and graphics card just work better under windows xp."
Those all work just fine under Linux.
You want a fair
You want a fair comparison?
Windows Pros: Runs all drivers, programs, and games.
Linux and Mac OS X Pros: Better than Windows in every conceivable way other than
the above listed.
And...that's it.
Does Linux have steps to make? Sure. Audio's a pain, drivers are slow coming, extra
monitor support is poor, and package management between multiple distros is a joke.
But what we have now is so much better than anything Redmond has plugged out, so I
can't say I'd bother using anything else.
Once I purchased a PlayStation 2 back in May, I stopped booting Windows entirely.
Other than gaming, I just never have a reason to.
I like the potential of Linux
Anonymous Penguin - August 21, 2009 @ 2:09pm
As someone who has dabbled with Linux many times over the last decade, it has
always been a frustrating affair. I really want to like it and use it but it is just so much
harder than using Windows. Until Linux is easier to use, it will forever be the OS of the
minority regardless of what it is capable of doing. Simply installing a new program in
Linux is a challenge in itself for the average computer user. You can see why Apple has
done so well in recent years - simplicity!
Money vs Windows
Most Windows home users don't buy windows... they copy it. They don't buy Office...
they copy. They don't buy games... they copy. No money!
Less assemblers buy windows, and many now charge it on PC purchase. No money!
The more successfull PDAs don't run Windows. No money.
M$ hardware sucks (except mouses). No money.
M$ Game console games... are "copied". No money.
Most companies are dropping windows to linux due to cut on costs. They are now using
web apps, cloning PC's, LOW BUDGET COMPUTERS, remote terminals and User
control. User doesn't know Linux... means less mess in OS. No money.
Most successfull ISP's on the planet run on Linux distro's. No money!
Most Cloud Computing Farms are made with Linux. No money!
Most T500 SuperComputers on Earth run on Linux. No money!
M$ gets money from braindead companies that pay for drivers certification,
compatibilities, and such, that pay for software development kits. M$ offers OS to
children and lobbies to make the children of the future M$ fans, like they did with many
of us.
Brainwash marketing is all they spend money on. Marketing, marketing, marketing...
And that, my friends, each one eats what it likes!
Let's be fair please
Saying that linux is better than linux is a careless and frankly rather stupid thing to say.
It all comes down to expectations and what one requires from one's pc.
If office work and general mucking about is what you need then windows wins, no doubt
about it.
If you're a gamer, windows wins hands down.
The only real place of dominance by linux is for servers.
In my view linux has some fundamental problems which until they are
resolved/changed, linux will forever remain the "other os for geeks".
These include:
1) Pathetic package managers.
2) Pathetic file system.
3) Really bad monitor,scanner,printer,camera,support.
4) Crazy situation with dependencies/libraries.
5) No standard executable format.
6) Really bad help.
And so on.
M$ may not have a very dependable or safe os but it's
overcome all the bad features of linux I've mentioned above and most people couldn't
give a rats a%#$ about free software, open standards etc etc.
They want an easy to use package to get the job done.
This is exactly one of the short comings of a lot of open source, they concentrate on the
technology and not on the user experience.
Who wants to mess about with make, grof, lib this that and the next thing.
Just download the executable with perhaps a lib or two and presto it's running.
No wonder M$ charges so much for it's software, it can as the man in the street is
concerned there ain't an altervative. (please don't mention apple, cause that is real
rubbish.Infact if it wasn't for the iphone and ipod I doubt very much if apple would be
trading today).
Flame me all you want, but at the end of the day I and billions of others will turn to M$ to
get the job done.
The only way forward for linux is to make a fresh start and leave all the luggage behind
and get some sanity.
a little change
....perhaps that change is coming in the form of Gobolinux.
Never tried it but it certainly looks like it's heading in the right direction.
Where is the Developer story????
Windows Developer (not verified) - August 21, 2009 @ 4:59pm
This article is just BS, the whole time it tries to give the impressions that it's fair but it is
VERY VERY biased to Linux, for example no one mentioned the developers story on
Linux vs Windows, with Microsoft great tools & technologies which make developers' life
much easier this whole thing makes a huge difference over the Linux story.
With Microsoft.net technologies performance on Windows and also the other non
Microsoft technologies such as Python & Ruby, PHP, ... are running way better on
Windows Client & Server than on Linux with better monitoring and manageablibity
options out of the box.
Linux is just a stage in the life time of a superuser, it is like being a teenager, you have
to go through it, but once you grow up and start working for money, Windows is no
brainer
Nuts and Bolts
These include:
1) Pathetic package managers.
WRONG! Good package managers... I ask this... which files doesn't a windows install
place on filesystem? I care about garbage on the FS. I care about trojans and that crap.
Apt is an AWESOME package manager, not considering the millions of packages and
files it indexes. In windows all installs comes with the dlls of MFC, ... that install on a
CRUCIAL part of the OS, with Admin permissions.
2) Pathetic file system.
WRONG AGAIN! Windows ONLY has FAT16, FAT32 and NTFS. Besides NTFS all
other are crap. Like NTFS Open Source FS's there are about 10 EXCELENT ones.
NTFS has very bad performance, is very prune to errors, has no cache engine, no
optimization method, no snapshot support, ...
Linux has ext3, ext4, Reiser (prison), BRTFS, Cachefs, LVM, ...
Either one of these surpasses NTFS by performance and features. I'm sure NetApp
would laugh reading your comments.
3) Really bad monitor,scanner,printer,camera,support.
Monitor WRONG, the rest you're almost correct... But Why is that? Because vendors try
to put those "gadgets" CPU inside your CPU, instead of developing good chips, they try
to pass that processing part to what they like to call the firm-crap-ware, that does not
work, makes a LOT of interrupts spending more power consumption. I understand
firmware... and that reads... LOUSY TESTS, HURRY TO SELL.
Printers... your lost on that... most what we call REAL printers are now supported even
better than windows... with transmission compression capabilities, client side notification
of requirement of toners, ...
4) Crazy situation with dependencies/libraries.
You must have had a bad experience with a distro... or you tried it more than 2 years
ago.
5) No standard executable format.
Why would you need one? This is called FREEDOM! The funny thing is that even with
LOADS of compilers, interpreters, executables, and crappy programs... the OS still
WORKS, without crapping all the other 35 users that use the same Server as a
Desktop.
6) Really bad help.
WTF? There is more help... than your brain can cope with!
If you tried Linux 13 years ago... You would be closing that mouth of yours.
And so on.
Another nice description of a "I have a problem!" and I can't make my brain understand
it, so "And so on." is a nice problem that everyone understands.
Mate... You should really try and learn something before coming here and posting
giberish about something you seam not to understand.
Besides... Linux has some good things that windows WILL NEVER had... for example:
- My Laptop automatically backups when I get to my home network, using a script with
NetworkManager, arp requests and a few lines of bash script.
- My Ipod automatically syncs when connected to my "Media" Server.
- My External USB Disk copies all content in a specific dir into itself on connection
All these features are used using the factory SERIAL number so that no "joker" can
"hack" the system. All this using HAL.
Besides HAL, you have DBus and its notification "system", full STATEFULL Firewall,
Soft RAID, and many many more systems that make Linux the Next OS.
Microsoft/Windows used to invent features... now they copy them. Linux is on the fast
lane... and Windows is on the same lane.
Optimizing and Performance
In windows you never hear about optimization of the OS.
In Linux you have the freedom to do it. Either by
- changing/tweaking filesystem mount options,
- making your disk pre-read blocks,
- using those 2 network interfaces has a "trunk"(bonding),
- having different routing tables according to firewall rules,
- using Jumbo Frames (MTU 9000),
- placing the SWAP (pagefile) on the faster outside of the disk platters,
- using better SWAP FS's, or tweaking the one you use,
- reducing power consumption by disabling USB devices on specific ports,
- tweaking the FS so that it doesn't write the last access time to a file
- optimizing your network IP settings,
- changing keyboard keys as you need them to be,
- using multiple workspaces,
- limiting (ulimit/apparmor/selinux) the user capabilities inside the system
- locking of a program/process to a given CPU
- disk, partition, directory or file realtime encryption
- support for User Space Filesystems (FUSE)
- using multiple remote Filesystems
- virtualization of other OS's
Most of THESE can be made with just the LINUX KERNEL. Without commercial
products, and without much trouble or time spent.
In Windows the solution to most performance problems is
"BUY BETTER HARDWARE!"
Thank you
Sassinak (not verified) - August 21, 2009 @ 5:41pm
Thank you for a great comparison. I don't agree with every point but it could just be my
user experience.
I wish MS users would realise MS doesn't contribute a single line of code for the drivers
of all it's supposedly "compatible" hardware. It merely provides the "secret keys" to
access it(funny how only the good guys pay for this. The bad guys have no problems
breaking in). The manufacturers deserve all the credit and some of them are getting
tired of having to fit inside such a tortuous OS. They have started to provide code for
Linux, or approve code allready written by the linux community. Geeks may not pay for
code, but they have to get their hardware somewhere...
No file fragmentation (and risky defrag) and security should be top of the list for any
computer user. Always being able to access your data, no matter when, being it five
years down the road, using whatever tools are at your disposition, rather than being
locked-out of your work by the "lastest, greatest upgrade", should be as important. Linux
(and Open Source) provides all that. Those who prefer games and utter simplicity are
just lazy children (or sheep. Love those lamb chops, I bet Bill eats plenty of those). I
think sheep shouldn't be allowed to drive cars.
Oh, and anyone calls Linux "ugly" can't change a backgroud image, or has poor
personal tastes.
I didn't mean to get nasty but it seems MS just brings out the worst in people.
Developer we are... NOT!
"... no one mentioned the developers story on Linux vs Windows, with Microsoft great
tools & technologies which make developers' life much easier this whole thing makes a
huge difference over the Linux story...."
Windows = Great Developing Tools... Agreed!
Do they tweak your code? Nope!
Do they teach you the inside of a TCP optimization? Nope!
Do they teach you how a browser renders a page? Nope!
Do they compress images to the "Web size"? Nope!
Do they compress your CSS's, Javascript and stuff? Nope!
Do they allow you not to care about previous points? YES!
They allow developers not to know what really makes your code rock! And I mean Rock
like "Velocity 2009" conference rock. Not like those ten billion same crappy sites. I mean
those guys running sites using S3 backends, using 256Mb servers and serving 1k
pages/sec.
It's always up to the developer to self teach more and more each day... but knowing the
"How things Work" makes you the best.
"With Microsoft.net technologies performance on Windows and also the other non
Microsoft technologies such as Python & Ruby, PHP, ... are running way better on
Windows Client & Server than on Linux with better monitoring and manageablibity
options out of the box."
Besides compiler architecture optimization, and interpreters support for +4Gb mem...
YE... I kinda agree!
But today its not the language that should make the code run faster... it's the developers
brain! The use of Memory caching (Memcache, ...), FS distributed cache (MogileFS,
GoogleFS, ...), Distributed BD engines (Hadoop, BigTable, ...) and the tweaking of the
all the parts from the webserver to the DB server, passing by the reverse proxies,
webcaching engines, ...
All these require knowledge that most Developing "GUI" don't teach. If you can attack a
script with a bastard web benching tool... you will know. Off course must websites don't
really care, they don't have enough requests... and when they do, they are willing to
loose an amount of money on selling, advertising, ...
Todays Servers are over powered, but that doesn't mean you can develop badly.
This is like having an F1 car!
Would you leave it for you private mechanic to tweak it?
Microsoft and browser
Microsoft went back on their decision and they will YES include a browser and that is
Internet Explorer, but seems like once you install windows it will pop out a windows
under internet explorer for you to download other browsers if you. My point of view is
that most users will probably ignore that window and continue with Internet Explorer.
Gobolinux and $HOME
(Can you please stop making the coffee so strong) ;)
I agree that Linux $HOME is a mess, full of "Application" configs, user options and lots
of things we don't really need.
But that doesn't make the Windows/Gobolinux way... The right Way!
Teaching time:
Most of you never read "XDG Base Directory Specification" or "Linux Standard Base" or
used autodir or FUSE customized $HOME.
These allow you to customize most of your HOME and get you into an "arranged"
home.
(Go Read)
Most distros respect them, and there are papers written about the "directory" structure
of Linux, and WAYS of the future.
There are some really nice ideas around, and most of them go by the "XDG Base
Directory Specification" as a "salvation" to your Home.
On the other side of things... Wouldn't you want to take your home and all your
browsers cache with you when you move it to another PC or Server? Why would the PC
have to take your browser cache in his TMP dir? It's your crap... deal with it. Save it on
your home.
Now lets see the Windows "Way"...
Windows roaming profiles is the WORST CRAP ever invented to this day. Especially, if
you don't use it in a centrallized way... that obvious goes against the Roaming "Way".
Why?
Because Windows users save TONS of Gigabytes on the Desktops, that get Sync'd via
Roaming Profile... that take a lot of time and BANDWIDTH to sync from the Roaming
Server to the new logged in "PC".
This is not a Windows fault... it's a lack of GOOD policies regarding Desktops. But why
should the SysAdmin care about how and where does the user saves its things... He
SHOULDN'T. He should only backup the HOME. But the server SHOULD NEVER
HAVE TO DEAL with users cache. NEVER.
When you discuss technology... be carefull about pointing fingers, cause if you point a
finger at someone... 3 are pointing at you... and 1 at "God"!
So I point 3 at Linux:
- We get lost in all the dirs... "which", "find" are your friends
- Being ALMOST all dirs Mountable from another place or partition... You just mount the
HOME central server. This does not work good with roaming "not always on" laptops
- When moving to a new PC... copying HOME is a charm. Excepth when you install a
new distro with different versions of software.
RE: Developer we are... NOT
Seriously you don't know what you are talking about, so just shut the fuck up, Windows
Applications run faster period, even FireFox which is built with no Microsoft technology
run faster on Windows.
slow down
Wow, what a reaction!
Stange how linux fanboys always get their nickers in a knot at the smallest of "attacks"
on their pet OS.
I never said that M$ is perfect, infact it does have a lot of crap in it and yes a lot of
peripheral manufactures pass on the processing onto the main CPU (winmodems and
latest generation of DVD-rom being two examples).
But overall for ease of use it still can't be beat.
Now before you start foaming at the mouth let me be the first to say that I wish linux was
better.
I don't like M$'s new business model and I have to admit that of late they have only
come up with rubbish like .net, office, asp and my absolute worst....Vista!
Gone are the days when they actually provided anything of value like MASM and
support for good old fashioned programming.
That is exactly why I want to change but the current state of linux is simply not
conducive to an easy switch over.
Now before you attack me over my brain/stupidity/laziness, consider the following:
There are only a certain amount of hours in a day, and when dead lines have to be met,
it's bad enough trying to iron out any bugs one has in their software without the extra
hassle of having to wrestle with the OS to do even the simplest of tasks.
"Windows Applications run faster period"
Yup they do! I never put that in question. But I never talked about SPECIFIC OS
applications.
But who cares about Windows Applications?
A smart company would use Web Apps and shit on Locked Servers, Maintenance,
SysAdmin and Management teams.
There are TONS of companies offering Application and Server Hosting...
I understand that for many Windows users... an Excel Sheet is a Database, I
understand, and M$ too, that most small companies, turning their Windows Apps into
Web Apps is not a solution.
Firefox is faster on Windows!
Quite Very unfortunately True! You should ask Mozilla is why? It should be the same
when run'd with a Native Nvidia drivers on "both" environments. Many people pose that
question, but I guess Mozilla doesn't. I honestly... recompile Mozilla to my arch... so I
don't care.
And I do understand your "crappy" point because I was a Windows developer, then
became a Web Developer and I'm now, and been for many years, a Linux SysAdmin
turning fucking rotting Windows Desktops into Fast Running Linux Desktops in a
procces of migrating an Insurance Company desktops to Linux.
I KNOW what I'm talking... when I talk about BAD, LAZY AND CRAPPY
PROGRAMMING. But I guess the hat fitted you nicely.
I was about to buy what you say but
@slow down (not verified) - August 21, 2009 @ 8:02pm
I was just about to buy your words but once I read that
"I don't like M$'s new business model and I have to admit that of late they have only
come up with rubbish like .net, office, asp and my absolute worst....Vista!"
I completely knew you are no where near a professional, just another kid of Linux
fanboy culture.
If .net & office & asp (or asp.net) are crap why do linux devs are screaming to support
Mono & Wine to run them, or you want Developers in 2009 write their apps in MASM :)
What a BS
I am both Windows & Web Application developer and I use C# and .net in both of them,
and I also use Windows Server which is still better, because whenever I need to run a
php or even a crappy old CGI stuff I can run them side by side with my AWESOME
ASP.NET applications, I can even extend the PHP applications with ASP.net modules
that runs on IIS level, Good luck trying to do something similar on apache"
go figure
If linux is so good and free and M$ so crappy and expensive, then why is linux not on
95% of the world's PC's?
RE: go figure
Reality Shocks (not verified) - August 21, 2009 @ 8:14pm
Can't agree more
Linux is for free if your time is for free, otherwise go with Mac OSX or Windows
Windows Rocks!
After my posts on how good Linux is.
I think, that Windows deserves a chance in a Linux "Website".
This time I will defend Windows to my best.
Major Windows OS advantages are the drivers support, UI usability and stability when
used with standard Microsoft distributed drivers.
But this is where it ends. We are comparing the OS itself, not the applications, not the
distros, and specially not commercial applications. Its the kernel and drivers that make
the System work.
When compared in pair, both OS's are good in usability, f.e. when comparing an Ubuntu
9.04 to a Windows Vista. These are the OS's I have installed on this laptop.
I prefer Linux, for the previous stated reasons. And I honestly only use Vista to play
games.
I'm not an average Windows Desktop User, and have not been for many years. But my
work forces me to know the core of both OS's. And to that I say... Linux is absolutely
faster, better and more stable, has more drivers supported in the kernel than Windows.
Comparing Natively!
With external drivers put on the mess, well, like windows supports webcam's, etc ...
Linux supports other ISPs like features. But these are the features a Desktop User
doesn't want or need.
When we start putting applications to the comparison:
This is not an "even" comparison, either because Windows has a major codebase of
developers, more years spent on windows application development, either that Linux
has more development tools inside the distro than Windows has of Help's.
But Windows is definitely the winner on applications! Most of them just work, most of
them don't even exist on Linux, and when they do exist it is as a "low level one".
If you compare the GUI, it's no even fair when placing Compiz, Emerald, KDE 4 on the
stand. Windows as a distro... looses gravelly, either because its dumb and dull, either
because it offers almost no "native" freedom of exchanging of f.e. Window Manager. But
it sure works, and that is what most users want... a working, stable, and long lasting UI.
Basically and honestly... Linux is used on FULL LOCKED, old hardware and working
"Enterprise" desktops. Windows is more "Home" having a possibility of use in Enterprise
when you add products like AntiVirus, AntiSpyware, a good Firewall, Encryption
Technology and another tumble of things that Linux doesn't need or it supports for many
years.
The article brings nothing but the obvious to "glare" and focus not on the main benefits
of both... or this wouldn't be a "TuxRadar" but an "OS News".
Bare no dreams... I'm defending Microsoft... or I wouldn't now have this job of
converting Windows Desktops to Linux.
Thanks Microsoft! Windows Rocks.... bottom!
consider this analogy
30 kids get onto a school bus and the teacher says "right kids we have the whole day to
go places, please tell me where you would like to go first".
The result, chaos, mayhem and bedlam.
Now another 30 kids get onto a diffirent school bus and the teacher says "right kids first
we going to the museum then to the library then lunch and after that for a nice run in the
park".
Now that itenary might not be the most efficient but hey 3 hours later the second bus full
of kids have actually gone places and had some fun, discovered and learnt new things
whilst the first lot are still parked on the side of the road deciding where to go first.
Get my point? the first bus is linux.
Too much freedom ain't always a good or productive thing!
It's high time a group of people sat down, set some guide lines stick to them and
actually produce a good distro and leave out all the extra garbage and luggage.
And of course you would still have your freedom of choice, don't like that distro? no
problem get another one.
Les Benchmarks, More Meeting needs
Kevin Dean (not verified) - August 21, 2009 @ 9:02pm
I've been a long time Linux fan and advocate. However, most distros have seemed to
actually get worse for me over the past 18 months. I'm literally at the point where
installation of fglrx on any distro newer than 12 months works but doesn't display
anything viable.
Windows 7 enables 3D acceleration by default.
Also, depending on the kernel, wifi has been extremely retarded for me. If it can
connect, it's got weak signal strength. If it's got decent strength, it can't stay connected
long.
Windows 7 includes working drivers for my chipset on a default install.
Unless the various distros can pull a working spin out of their butts in the next few
months, Microsoft might well get a Home Premium license of out me until my hardware
needs replacement in a few years.
benchmark
linux does'nt even feature as a contender to Win7.
The real comparison most people will make will be with XP.
captive
The most frightning thing is the fact that there exists no viable alternative to windows for
the average man on the street.
Are we all doomed to forever be tied by the M$ shackles that bind us?
Perhaps if linux was more cohesive and distos standardised on more things then more
vendors would write drivers for it, there would be a greater uptake and things would be
looking up, but until then I'm afraid that the boys in Redmond will continue to call the
shots.
There's a lot of whining about the Orwelian style of M$ but the linux Czars are no better
by refusing to listen to what people want and need.
The real meaning of ....
LINUX = Leave It Now Unless Xpert
WINDOWS = When In Doubt Order Windows Seven
nearly forgot....
MAC = Make Another Choice
SOLARIS = Surely Only Loads After Running Immense Script
Analogy
Anonymous Penguin - August 22, 2009 @ 3:14am
Funny thing the kids analogy... especially when kids can't play games in their OS.
If the lesson was about learning and teaching... some kids learn more alone than having
a full time private teacher.
Many people are sheep and are guided by dogs... others have own motivation,
dedication and brains! They self teach, read books, and discover things for themselves,
kinda like learning a new OS.
Life gives you paths and choices... some pick the easy ones, others pick the hard ones.
Whatever the choices one thing is always a constant... arguments about choices and
others questioning your choices and methods.
While they question methods... others take actions... guided by their instinct and brains.
Sometimes good things come out of those actions... other times... a top notch product.
Analogy
You make a few good points about self teaching but what you seem to forget is the fact
that learning should be fun.
Now that's exactly what the M$ platform offers, an easy entry point for further
exploration since the learning curve isn't so steep.
Some will never progress, but that's fine too as it provides a market and oppertunities
for others to make some money helping them.
The whole PC revolution is down to M$ like it or not.
Linux is too clunky, unfriendly and puts most people off.
Sad state of affairs really as I want free software to dominate but no chance of that in
the foreseeable future unless linux undergoes some radical changes!
Ubuntu not always the best advert for desktop Linux?
Fraxinus (not verified) - August 22, 2009 @ 9:25am
I hesitate to mention this, as I know that Ubuntu has many adherents in the Linux world.
And with good reason!
However, many newcomers to Linux - even Windows and Mac power-users - will be
seriously put off by the need to use the terminal for many configuration tasks. For
people making the switch, I'd strongly recommend distros such as PCLinuxOS and Mint
which can be configured and driven almost entirely from a GUI if the user choses to do
so.
Like it or not, this issue can make a HUGE difference to the learning curve. New users
who have never encountered the CLI before can soon feel in control of their new
systems, and can go on to discover the power of the commend line - if they choose to
do so - as and when they need to.
Bunnies
spaceyjase - August 22, 2009 @ 3:42pm
I killed a cute and fluffy rabbit each time someone typed "M$". vim says that's 16,
including mine.
and I kicked a penguin up
and I kicked a penguin up the jack everytime someone mentioned linux.( I didn't even
bother to count, I just took it out on 40 penquins)
first bit of good advice
Windows Penguin (not verified) - August 22, 2009 @ 4:47pm
Thank you Fraxinus.
I am considering taking the plunge into the murky waters of Lake Linux and your advice
about Mint is very helpful.
Can not compare Oranges to Pineapples
Matt K. (not verified) - August 22, 2009 @ 6:29pm
To compare 'Linux' to Windows (any version) is like comparing a car to a human being.
The software architechture is designed completely different (single/multi user
permissions)
The Way the software is built (Monolithic Corp vs Global Corps and Individuals)
Open vs Closed source
You simply can not compare the two... they are in two totally different bubbles.
Same Universe, by different Galaxies...as if a different species was creating each one.
Night and Day is the difference.
Windows will dominate until ISV's start to port their software and write software to
include the *NIX's. Like games and major editing suites like Adobe and 3D rendering
and CAD and on and on and on... Until than Windows will be the de facto standard (on
the desktop)
But, who care? When Google OS comes out and Chrome Browser supports WebGL
(openGL for 3d accelerated graphics within the browser along with faster Javascipt and
the coming HTML5 canvas and SVG standards )
THAN you will see Linux as a 'Brand'. It will be called Google OS or Ubuntu and others
that want to come play in the Desktop areana.
The Desktop Operating system SHOULD BE transparent... it shouldn't get in the way of
the user at all... it is the applications that run on top of the OS that matter in the end.
So, the only place the desktop is to go, is to transparency, using the Web as the new
super platform, as well as having Local running apps and storage which the Desktop
can allow the user to access.
It will turn into two worlds. Online and Offline worlds.
The Online world is growing at a massive pace, which Microsoft is still stuck ( and
always will be ) in the Desktop business. This will be Microsoft's down fall, unless they
adapt and offer things online. Which is why Yahoo! partnership and Bing and all that is
happeneing. MS is not stupid to this 'Internet Tidal Wave', as Bill Gates observed with
Netscape/Java emergence in the early-mid 1990's.
SO my point is... in a decade or so, after Google OS is out, and Chrome and other
browsers are so powerful they can run 3D games and other important Apps inside them,
while having an X windowing system for Local computer...the Operating system will
become a commodity. Something you will NOT have to pay for, nor the OEM (dell and
hp).
The OS will end up like the Web Browser, something that everyone uses, and will
become free of charge.
How the software business will make money is with SERVICES that software allows,
but the direct sales of software will slowly die and dry up, including the Operating
System.
Redhat will prevail as they sell a SERVICE to Linux and Open Source Enterprise, they
do not SELL software.
Are you serious?
Blast Hardcheese (not verified) - August 22, 2009 @ 7:53pm
I've seen more fair and balanced comparisons on Fox News.
Inspiration and new ideas in Linux
If you are only using Linux, like I am, then it is difficult to know anything about the
features of M$ Windows.
The developing pace of Linux is huge, and inspiration and new ideas is seen all the time
in the Linux society. This article contributes to this.
Very good article (though a little long) :-)
A few notes...
Silviu C. (not verified) - August 22, 2009 @ 8:19pm
Windows Live Photo gallery will happily add all photos included in the "Pictures" library.
One can add any folder to this library on any drive/partition.
DirectX 10 for Aero ? Hmm, my 7600GS card handles aero just fine. Last time I
checked this card had accelerated DirectX 9 and OpenGL support.
Install: Everything just worked when install was done doing it's thing. And this is a rather
new rig. New mobo and CPU and 4GB of RAM.
Windows Security Essentials vs. no antivirus. On this rig I just don't feel the antivirus.
No penalty for me on WoW, Runes of Magic, Quake 4, Doom 3. However, from the last
round of testing on Phoronix, seems that gaming on Linux would take a higher
performance hit from not so great drivers than Windows gaming would get from running
an security product.
Messaging: Well, voice chat is almost all we do nowdays. Almost. Tell my 60+ mom she
needs to type in messages to her nephew in the US because Linux has whatever tech.
advantages over Windows, I dare you, tell her that after she just spoke to him online via
Live Messenger.
Despite all the above, Ubuntu is so fun to use on my Centrino 1.6Ghz lappie.
Seems to be a question of using the right tool for the job after all.
almost forgot one
Silviu C (not verified) - August 22, 2009 @ 8:29pm
Windows Backup in W7 is just one fine utility able to create an image of the partition(s)
one wished to backup.
I too happened to deal with weirdness after one app gone ape started to spawn
windows like crazy until windows gave up the ghost and BSODed on me. Upon restart it
would not go further than the login screen. After running some diagnostics from the
windows install dvd and not being able to fix the problem I decided to restore the system
from an earlier image created with windows' backup tool. In less than 10 mins I was
back in biz.
To be honest, I have no idea how I could easily recover from a major disaster with any
Linux flavor available at this time.
Who said Linux doesn't work?
Fluke Airwalker (not verified) - August 22, 2009 @ 8:57pm
I am not a programmer. I am not a power user. I do work in an office but it's the type of
place I can't take work home from. And up until six months ago I had an immense fear
of a command line. Then I took the dive and bought a System 76 laptop because I was
sick of my "gaming laptop" being barely able to run Guild Wars and a browser
simultaneously.
And I haven't looked back.
Webcam worked from the moment I plugged it in.
Mic worked too.
Wireless keyboard and mouse worked right out of the box.
Projector worked once I figured out I had to push Fn+F7 to switch monitors.
My laptop syncs with my digital camera and iPod.
I run Skype and Second Life natively.
I watch movies, DVDs, web shows, and listen to music without issue. The internet
seems to run native on Linux for me.
I like that when I do have a problem, I just go to the Ubuntu forum to ask it, and I get a
reply in a day. To me copy-pasting a command is way easier than fishing through
obscure GUI menus.
Aptitude is the best idea for safe and reliable computing I've seen... well, ever.
Oh yeah, I run Guild Wars on WINE at max graphics.
Who are all these people having issues with Linux? Why can't they figure this out? If a
regular joe like me armed with nothing more than a willingness to read and experiment
can figure out Linux, why can't anyone else?
Tired
I'm just tired of Windows. People ask me about their Windows problems and I just shake
my head and say "I have no clue".Sheep.
Why do I use LInux
A lot of us forget that Linux offers many a choice. However there is a learning curve, just
like any operating system. People grew up with Windows as their operating system.
Many of the students today are growing up with Linux. I recently installed Mint Linux 7
KDE version on an older system that what I have at work. This system is at least 3
years old and runs better than my work system running Vista. Am I going to bash Vista,
no I am not. I hate to say that after SP2 Vista is a great operating system. I really can't
see why people bash Vista after sp2. I think they just belong to the bandwagon of
bashing operating systems. However as my choice of OS I choose Linux. Why because
it does everything I need to do. While $300 isn't too bad for me to pay, I prefer Linux.
They provide a great deal of innovation and quite frankly I haven't run into anything that
I can't do with it. For those of you, who bash Open Office. Have you ever seriously tried
to use it. I use it a lot. I prefer to use this over Word any day. It's because that's what I
am use to also it provides a means of editting PDFs which I can't serious use that
abomination called Adobe Acrobat. I honestly can do more with Linux but YES I had to
learn how to use it. Being an IT professional I understand the need of teaching most
people simplicity, so we stay with what they know.
By the way I don't like paying for software, so tell me why will people go to the internet
and purchase their services. Come on people, people want freedom and they sure as
heck don't want to be paying a lot for doing so.
dunno
I mostly run windows xp as my copy of win 7 does not have an ati driver for my x800
series video card. Today I was about to wipe my win 7 away and put linux on that hd, so
that when I am bored I can perhaps learn some linux.
Well I haven't wiped win 7 yet, as its just too damn good. So much faster than my XP
(sure 7 uses more ram on my system but thats ok with me as I have 2GB and would
rather have more performance). My video card is a bit old and am thinking of upgrading
anyways.
I have played around a bit with linux over the years in short time segments for various
reasons:
1. Installing flash under ubuntu a few years ago required(I mean, I had to do this,
perhaps some would not copy and paste) copy and pasting some code from a forum
that I had to look up. I did not understand the code that I copy and pasted as I am not
into computer programming. I hope the issues with flash are less pathetic now.
2. If I wanted to play a game (a good game, a game that is commercially available and
no I did not buy it, I used a little thing called utorrent), I had to reboot my pc into
windows. After doing so, I found myself wondering why I even have linux.
3. I do play games less now and use office software more. Openoffice is not as good as
MS Office 2007. Will it ever be? Probably not, but maybe eventually the difference will
be much smaller.
4. The main concern I have with the linux community is the false argument used against
windows. The argument I speak of concern the importance of free (as in beer) software
being important to the end user. Most people that I personally know, have no problem at
all in downloading software (the kind that is supposed to eb paid for) for free. Now it is
good to state that GNU/Linux is free (as in beer), but don't assume most people care (its
a slight perk). The point on free (as in free speech) is a much better point to state.
A lot of the problems with Linux wrt to a desktop user, are not really the fault of Linux or
it's developers. It would be nice for hardware developers to better support Linux. Oh
well, life is not fair.
wake up and smell the coffee
A lot of you still don't get it.
Windows is dominant not because it's better but simply because dear old Bill had a
vision, dumb down software and people will use it.
It's no good looking at any software as a power user and saying "what is so difficult
about this?"
To you and I it's not difficult but to the average man on the street, an O.S., word editor,
whatever it may be is simply a tool like a screwdriver or hammer to get something done.
The harder it is to use, the less people will like it no matter how good it may be.
People are inherently lazy (well most anyway).
Linux developers are mostly out of touch with the average population by thinking that it's
ok to type a whole bunch of obscure "words" into the command line to get something
done.
People relate better to pictures, hence the popularity of the GUI and in this regard
windows can't be beat.
I take my hat off to what has been accomplished with linux but it's just too difficult for the
average user.
you must be joking
Why expect hardware vendors to support linux when there are no standards and it's
such a mish mash of code.
Companies expect a return on investment, and as linux stands now, it's simply not a
good deal to invest a whole lot of time and resources into a "fringe" operating system.
"Why expect hardware vendors
"Why expect hardware vendors to support linux when there are no standards and it's
such a mish mash of code."
That's a BS excuse. All hardware support is handled by the kernel. There are no
standards or mish mash of code to worry about.
RE: go figure
1. People don't know of it.
2. People are afraid to switch. (FUD)
3. People don't know how to use it.
There are quite a few
Alan (not verified) - August 23, 2009 @ 2:09am
There are quite a few whiners in here! Here's my setup, I'm running Linux Mint 7
(GNOME) with Swiftfox as my browser. Instead of running Wine, I am using VirtualBox
OSE and have that setup with multiple OS's. One of those is XP, use it for gaming and it
works well! Instead of saying, "this doesn't work, that doesn't work," sob, sob, sob, look
for alternatives. They are out there and they work REALLY well!
Windows is yesterdays news
I use Windows and Linux at work. Linux is simply better. It's less expensive ($0). It takes
a lot less futsing with to get it to work well and look nice than Windows. All of the
applications are free. The package management systems, yum and synaptic are almost
too easy. If you think Linux is hard you simply haven't tried it recently.
I helped my daughter in law set up Kubuntu last weekend. I told her to go on and chat
with company since this would take a while. I had to call her back in a couple of minutes
because the install was done. I couldn't believe how fast the full install went. I have
installed Linux for a 70 year old lady who knows practically nothing about computers
because her Windows was so crapped up with internet debris that it would hardly run.
She is now a happy Xubuntu camper. Her computer is no longer slowing down week by
week. It simply works, well.
Windows is yesterdays news. Linux is the future...
The only thing that saved Microsoft in desktop
Is Directx! Bill Gates really won the developers hearth more than 10 years ago with
integrated API for game development. The free contender, OpenGL was, and still is too
broad for serious support from the game industry. Sure we have SDL, but there's no
major player advocating for it. I would love to play game INDEPENDENTLY of OS. That
would be a revolution!
Linux is a very moving target
"There are no standards or mish mash of code to worry about."
So why does almost every module from earlier 2.6 kernels require major structure and
code changes? I would expect only minor changes within a series and major additions
requiring rewriting of drivers and modules should go into the 3.x series.
I'm glad things are being worked on and improved, but it shows poor or no planning
when major changes happen midstream.
I for one would LOVE to see several of the Linux camps quit fighting and join forces,
make some plans and get developing together rather than fracturing and competing.
Two people get way more done on a job than two people doing two jobs which are the
same. Any time you look, the two separate guys are at least 50% behind.
!Not saying Windows 7 its not as a good product as Linux!
Locoxella (not verified) - August 23, 2009 @ 4:14am
"Why expect hardware vendors to support linux when there are no standards and it's
such a mish mash of code."
Come on... ¿No standars on Linux? You got to be kidding here. Linux IS by definition a
plataform of standars. Furthermore, OPEN STANDARDS. Hardware vendors can do
drivers for inux or simply let some other people to do it for them because of this (this is
the case several times).
Had you tried to plug new hardware (like printers) on old Windows systems. You wont
get drivers for that. This is because Windows does not have a Standard for its drivers.
Drivers for Windows 7 will differ from drivers For Vista. Same Way Drivers for Vista
differ from Drivers to windows XP.
Really... calling "STANDAR" to an OS that need a new driver development with each
new version its not serious at all.
AGAIN, as stated on y title. I think Windows 7 can be a fair product. Just as Linux is it
now. This is just a recovery from the total dissaster that Vista was, not the even yet to
come "final" blow of Windows over Linux. Windows fans might no be aware of this, but
Vista let Microsoft at an underdog paper in front of Linux. This is just the recovery to
catch up with Linux and MacOS. And Microsft seems to had do it really well.
Being funny already?
Locoxella (not verified) - August 23, 2009 @ 4:27am
"I for one would LOVE to see several of the Linux camps quit fighting and join forces,
make some plans and get developing together rather than fracturing and competing.
Two people get way more done on a job than two people doing two jobs which are the
same. Any time you look, the two separate guys are at least 50% behind."
Now, you are not being serious, or you really don't know what Linux is.
Theres only one Linux Kernel. And several people from all over the world contribute to
it, and already (and keep doing it) achieved a goal: To have a stable OS running over
several flavors of hardware. Windows will never run on some devices where Linux
kernel can run.
You have a missconception of what Linux is sice day one: when Linus invited any
developer to contribute with it. You might be confused with some other concept like
developing two applications that do the same... like developing two applications for web
design. But you know what? this is also the case of windows... several companies
develop different applications which happens some times to do exactly the same. But,
they cannot contribute to each other because they source is closed mst of the time. So
you have Adobe making an application like Dreamweaver an other several companies
(like microsoft) making other web developing applications that are having the problem
you just described. On the Linux case, the same happens, but the applications are able
to share the code (95% of the time) if they want to.
Command Line FUD
Fluke Airwalker (not verified) - August 23, 2009 @ 5:47am
This is some nonsense I'm reading about the command line. As I stated before I'm not a
power user by any stretch of the imagination, just a guy with a willingness to research
and experiment.
I would much rather copy-paste a code I get from the Ubuntu forum that I know will fix
my issue than search for some obscure GUI menu that may or may not solve the issue.
Sure, I don't know what I'm putting in there, but one copy-paste and a password later,
the problem is solved.
I switched my wife's computer and a friend's computer to Ubuntu and they both agree:
copy-pasting into the command line is *way* easier than GUI.
Why use Linux or Windows?
So, why using Linux?
a) it's free, no strings attached
b) it's free, costs you no money
Why are people still using Windows?
a) Games
b) OEMs
I'm using my computer every day, mostly for software developing and I never ever
missed one application for my work or at home on my Linux box. Well, except Skype
maybe for chatting with some friends.
Linux is becoming the best OS for business. You have free updates, you don't need to
pay licenses fees, it's secure. Of course it's bad if you company depends on Windows
applications, so you have to pay double (Windows license and app license).
If the OEM market wasn't so locked down, Linux would be also best for consumers, for
the same reasons. Well, hopefully it will be more choice in the
netbook/nettop/smartphone market.
But I guess, the Linux ecosystem isn't so friendly for third-class developer. I mean,
antivirus, winzip/winrar, media player, audio player, office, chat/messaging, all the small
helper applications are all for free on Linux. If Linux had a dominant market share, than I
think that Symantec wouldn't had such a big office building in my city.
Linux always the loser
Given the multimillion pound/dollar advertising that will be used to promote Windows7
then Linux will be the loser. It doesn't matter how good the operating system is, it is all
down to money.
The Fact
Windows Developer (not verified) - August 23, 2009 @ 8:24am
The Fact is, when Windows Vista disappointed the Windows Customers for some
incompatibility of drivers and applications, the customers didn't go to Linux, 99% of the
complaining customers switched back to Windows XP, and 1% moved to Mac OSX,
Linux is not even a choice for a customer his #1 priority is backward compatibility, which
Microsoft excels in it, and their customers expect that from Microsoft, for example you
can see a crappy DOS game still plays on Windows 7, and with Windows XP mode in
Windows 7 even the crappier applications designed only for XP will work just fine.
Linux is a completely different world, and most consumers are either unaware of its
existence or don't care, however because the Linux community loud crowd we keep
hearing about the year of linux everyday, while on the other hand if Windows croud
were half as loud, Linux crowd would have been blown away.
the real world
The more I read these postings the more I wonder if linux supporters are from planet
earth.
To say every kind of app is available for linux is just madness.
I'm an electronics engineer and getting decent cad packages for pcb's with proper
gerber file support is like looking for rocking horse droppings.
As for circuit simulation software well these wont exist for linux for the next 50 years.
And what about compilers and programmers for microprocessors such as the 8051
family?
The same situation exists for mechanical engineering and I'm sure all other aspects of
engineering.
Even in the production enviroment such as the company that produces our pcb's and
metal housings guess what they use for their automated machines? no sign of a
penguin there either.
Bottom line linux grew out of a hobby project and it's quite remarkable what has been
achived, but windows is in a completely different league.
The execption being vista, which is absolut crap.
At least Microsoft accepts this and quickly released win7
to rectify the problem unlike the linux lot that keep bashing on and finding riddiculus
patches to overcome shortcomings in linux.
Get your heads out of the sand and write proper code then people might actually
consider linux.
re: the real world
Nobody will say that all apps are available for Linux. I for myself only had the statement
that I didn't miss anything yet in Linux. And Linux isn't so much a hobby project either.
Over half the embendent, server and super computers runs Linux or *BSD.
Furthermore, 3/4 of the codebase of Linux is from companies, like intel, sun, ibm, amd,
and so on. As you can see here:
http://www.linuxfoundation.org/publications/whowriteslinux.pdf
1. Red Hat: 12.3%
2. IBM: 7.6%
3. Novell: 7.6%
4. Intel: 5.3%
5. Independent consultant: 2.5%
6. Oracle: 2.4%
7. Linux Foundation: 1.6%
8. SGI 1.6%
9. Parallels 1.3%
10. Renesas Technology: 1.3%
Linux for big computers
kcph (not verified) - August 23, 2009 @ 12:57pm
LINUX is a clone of Unix. Where Unix is made for CPU's in mainframe computers, then
Linux can run on an ordinary pc's CPU, like Intel, AMD or similar CPU's.
Linux has thus inherited the qualities of Unix: excellent networking, multiuser ability with
protection of each users data and not least protection of the programs on harddisk(s).
So Linux was borne for big and fast computers and for using the computer in a
networked environment.
When the IBM Personal Computer was borne, its operating system was DOS, an
extension of the primitive CPM operating system. The first pc's had less than one
MegaByte of ram - rather they had something like 64 kiloBytes of ram. The file system
was the insecure FAT, and the (floppy) disk size was around 360 (?) kiloBytes pr.
floppy. And by the way, DOS was developed for IBM, who outsourced this little project
to a company named Micro Soft or something like that. This company was allowed to
sell DOS for itself, so for many years you could by both IBM's PC-DOS and the similar
MS-DOS.
MS Windows grew out of DOS - for example the file system in Windows95 was the
aforementioned FAT and its bigger version VFAT.
Some people think that Linux was created as a hobby system. But SO VERY NOT! Yes,
the porting of Unix to an ordinary pc's CPU started as a hobby project, but the
fundamental principles, qualities and tools of Linux stem from the UNIX-world!
To continue the history: the Linux kernel quickly joined forces with the GNU free
software movement, and today we have a huge and excellent software system called
Linux/GNU or in short Linux - ready for super computers and networking and the
Internet !!!
Let's be fair and not forget that there are other Unix-clones that can run on ordinary
pc's: the BSD-versions and OpenSolaris and probably some more operating systems :-)
But speaking about growing out of a hobby system ...
holey winblows
I helped my daughter in law set up Kubuntu last weekend. . I have installed Linux for a
70 year old lady who knows practically nothing about computers because her Windows
was so crapped up with internet debris that it would hardly run. She is now a happy
Xubuntu camper. Her computer is no longer slowing down week by week. It simply
works, well.
Thank you for that information ........
I for one will be giving linux a try ... within the next few weeks .,, it may not be for you ,
however im going to be like the 70 y o lady an have a bebris free computer ..
well thats my aim ... :)
.
Nobody uses Linux
Face it everyone uses Windows.
That includes of course:
* All of you air travellers who watch movies on.... Linux
* You Googlers who search the Internet using.... Linux
* You web users who get served up pages, at least 60% of the time from.... Linux
* You Tom Tom users who navigate home using.... Linux
Seems to me the Linux is actually quite a powerful platform for businesses to deliver
products to their customers. The only common thing with the above is that they don't
need the concept of a desktop OS to work.
Anything that needs a 'desktop', thanks to the OEM market, is pretty sewn up. Not
because Windows is better, just because it's what you'll get when you buy a computer.
Pity us all as we're paying a very high premium for this in all of our traditional computer
technology.
Why so divided?
I've never had a religious attitude to operating systems.
For me, I use a Linux box for internet, word processing and accounts, gaming, watching
films etc.
I have a Windows box for Cubase. It never connects to the internet, so it is reliable, and
I never install any other software on it.
This works very well. I have found Windows can work perfectly well if you only install a
single program and minimal drivers on it, and don't use the internet so you don't need
the firewall and antivirus stuff that makes it run slowly. This seems to avoid the 'rot', and
a single install will run fine for ten years or so.
Linux works perfectly well if you buy compatible hardware, and then you can do pretty
much what you like with it and it stays reliable. But, if there is a single Windows program
you really need that won't run in Wine, a separate clean install computer off the net
keeps Windows reliable beyond even experienced Windows users expectations.
Theres plenty of games for Linux
To those posters whining about no games for Linux etc. Thats getting way old. Quit
living life with your heads so far up Billy Boy's rearend that you smell the lunch he had
yesterday. Try educating yourselves. The no games for Linux myth is dead and has
been for a long time. If you want to play specific "Windows" games in Linux quit blaming
Linux and get off you're butts and contact those lamer game companies who also seem
to be sniffing Billy's lunch and ask them to support Linux. Otherwise start exploring
Linux games,There are plenty of them and more all the time.
Windows won, as per usual.
I didn't even read this article, I just scrolled all the way to the bottom to the "enter a
comment" section and started typing. Of course I know that Windows 7 is the winner, I
don't even have to read the dumbass article to know this. I've tried linsux: it sux. No
sound, no support for video capture or web cams, slow as molasses, no applications, no
games, no nothing. Why does anyone bother?
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