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Windows? Why would anyone run Windows?

View Poll Results: What Operating System do you use
Windows - 100%	59	78.67%
OSX (any version)	9	12.00%
GNU/Linux (any Distro)	29	38.67%
Open Solaris (any Distro)	4	5.33%
BSD (any Distro)	6	8.00%
Duh, I don't know. It's what came with the computer!	1	1.33%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 75. You may not vote on this poll

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Join Date: Oct 2009

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R1pperZ

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#11

Oct 6th, 2009

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Originally Posted by scru

I can tell already that you won't have much luck with Linux.

Why because of my minor typos..?

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Ancient Dragon Ancient Dragon is offline

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#12

Oct 6th, 2009

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Originally Posted by The Mad Hatter

I'm curious. You seem so sure, but you don't say why, and your assurance is totally at variance with my own experience. In fact I'll state straight out that Linux is easier to use than Windows.

I tried two different distributions of *nix (Fedora 11 and Ubuntu) over a whole week and neither of them worked the way I wanted them to. I have a 64-bit computer with 5 gig ram and 750 gig hd, I could not get the sound to work right nor would it play movies on dvd drive.

Eveything worked straight away when I installed Microsoft Vista Home Premium. There were no additional packages to install nor did I have to tweek the os to make it work with my computer.

I still have my computer dual booting with Fedora 11, but I have Vista set as the default os. The only time I boot into Fedora now is so that I can test compile some programs on *nix. Otherwise I won't bother with all the hassle.

Don't PM me with questions -- you might get a nasty PM in response. If you have a question then post it in one of the forums.

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The Mad Hatter The Mad Hatter is offline

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My experiences have been different

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#13

Oct 7th, 2009

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Originally Posted by Ancient Dragon

I tried two different distributions of *nix (Fedora 11 and Ubuntu) over a whole week and neither of them worked the way I wanted them to. I have a 64-bit computer with 5 gig ram and 750 gig hd, I could not get the sound to work right nor would it play movies on dvd drive.

Eveything worked straight away when I installed Microsoft Vista Home Premium. There were no additional packages to install nor did I have to tweek the os to make it work with my computer.

I still have my computer dual booting with Fedora 11, but I have Vista set as the default os. The only time I boot into Fedora now is so that I can test compile some programs on *nix. Otherwise I won't bother with all the hassle.

First off, I don't need an anti-virus program. I don't need to worry about Spyware. And, everything just worked. So I don't know what you did wrong, only that you did.

I did a comparison one day - Ubuntu vs Windows XP. Ubuntu took 25 minutes, and all the drivers were there. Windows XP took over an hour, and then I had to hunt for drivers. And then I had to install Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware, a real Firewall (I don't trust the Microsoft one), an Office Suite (Windows doesn't include one), a good Video Player (Windows Media player is useless - Videolan is far better), and a decent music player (WinAmp). Total install time was close to two hours, as compared to 25 minutes for Ubuntu.

If you like Windows - that's your problem. I read an article a while back that compared Windows users to abused spouses who keep coming back.

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majestic0110 majestic0110 is offline

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#14

Oct 7th, 2009

Somehow I don't think my Grandmother would understand why she has to "sudo" everything, and I don't think a hardcore gamer would accept the limitations WINE offers... Windows is only vulnerable to nasties BECAUSE it is the most popular O/S. If Ubuntu had a larger user base than Windows, do you not think that it would be a target for malicious engineers? As far as drivers go, I use a dual boot, XP (for gaming) and Ubunutu (for development): I still have not found satisfactory drivers for my GPU under ubuntu, in XP the card performs wonderfully. I have seen many MS bashing posts, and this one is possibly the least informative.

Last edited by majestic0110; Oct 7th, 2009 at 5:21 am.

Computers are man's attempt at designing a cat: It does whatever it wants, whenever it wants, and rarely ever at the right time.

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Join Date: Nov 2008

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Grn Xtrm

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#15

Oct 7th, 2009

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Originally Posted by The Mad Hatter

As to your Linux lab - I note that you didn't compare the hardware. I saw one lab like you are talking about, where all of the Linux machines were old P3 units, and the Windows machines all Core 2 Duo. And yes, people were wondering why the Linux computers were slower!

How would you know what kind of computers are in the labs at my school? They are actually all the same but nice try.

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Originally Posted by The Mad Hatter

Oh, and a correction. I don't call people trolls because they like Windows. I call people trolls because of their actions.

OK, then you are an Anti-Microsoft troll... because of your actions, of course.

Check out my new band URL on facebook. I'm the bass player. :) Become a fan and leave comments if you like.
URL on facebook!

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jbennet

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#16

Oct 7th, 2009

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I tried two different distributions of *nix (Fedora 11 and Ubuntu) over a whole week and neither of them worked the way I wanted them to. I have a 64-bit computer with 5 gig ram and 750 gig hd, I could not get the sound to work right nor would it play movies on dvd drive.

its illegal to play copy protected dvds on linux in the US so fedora (as redhat is a US registed company) blocks you from easialy doing this.

If i am helpful, please give me reputation points.

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Join Date: Apr 2005

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jbennet

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#17

Oct 7th, 2009

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I tried two different distributions of *nix (Fedora 11 and Ubuntu) over a whole week and neither of them worked the way I wanted them to. I have a 64-bit computer with 5 gig ram and 750 gig hd, I could not get the sound to work right nor would it play movies on dvd drive.

its illegal to play copy protected dvds on linux in the US so fedora (as redhat is a US registed company) blocks you from easialy doing this.

If i am helpful, please give me reputation points.

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Tom Gunn

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#18

Oct 7th, 2009

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Well, real geeks don't run Windows. Real geeks don't run any Microsoft products, because we understand enough about operating systems and application programs, to know that Microsoft products are total, absolute, pieces of garbage.

I guess you can tweak your definition of 'geek' to mean what you want, but in my opinion a real geek would not limit his options by making generalizations. There are Microsoft products that are garbage, but there are also Microsoft products that are very good. The only company I know of that has been completely successful with every production so far is Pixar.

Many of us 'geeks' are IT professionals, and banning Microsoft products would put us on the fast track to being out of work. Only hobbyists can afford to be extremist about these kind of things.

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Even Microsoft admits that Windows was not designed to be secure.

Windows was also designed in the mid 1980s, when OS security was not exactly the buzzword that it is now. Couple that bad decision with the good decision of maintaining extensive backward compatibility and it is easy to see the dilemma of securing Windows without breaking functionality. I am not defending the insecurity, just putting things in perspective.

Maybe Windows 7 will be their successful attempt to hit that mark. I have not tried it yet, but soon my PC will be upgraded at work and I will also move to Windows 7.

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I could continue - but you should have gotten the idea by this point.

I get the idea, but not the logic. If millions of intolerant rants like this over the years have not killed Microsoft or caused a mass exodus to Linux, what makes you think one more will tip the scales? People will choose the software and platform they want regardless of your hateful attacks on anything you do not like, so your post strikes me as a complete waste of time.

-Tommy (For Great Justice!) Gunn

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The Mad Hatter The Mad Hatter is offline

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Your Grandmother

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#19

Oct 7th, 2009

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Originally Posted by majestic0110

Somehow I don't think my Grandmother would understand why she has to "sudo" everything, and I don't think a hardcore gamer would accept the limitations WINE offers... Windows is only vulnerable to nasties BECAUSE it is the most popular O/S. If Ubuntu had a larger user base than Windows, do you not think that it would be a target for malicious engineers? As far as drivers go, I use a dual boot, XP (for gaming) and Ubunutu (for development): I still have not found satisfactory drivers for my GPU under ubuntu, in XP the card performs wonderfully. I have seen many MS bashing posts, and this one is possibly the least informative.

First, since she would never have to use SUDO, she'd not need to understand it. My mother-in-law is about the same age as your grandmother - late 70's. She adapted to XUbuntu over a weekend, and had no problems after (on the same computer that was a disaster with Windows).
Second, since the 'Nix platforms are built differently than Windows, viruses are virtually impossible to write for them. Popularity has nothing to do with Windows vulnerability, rather the problem has to do with defects in the Windows design philosophy, which can't be removed with out breaking backwards compatibility (of course considering how badly Vista messed up backwards compatibility they might as well have just gone for broke).
Third, if you can't find drivers for your GPU blame Microsoft, they use contractual limitations to prevent hardware makers from writing Linux drivers.
Glad you think it was uninformative - but that you still responded.

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The Mad Hatter The Mad Hatter is offline

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#20

Oct 7th, 2009

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Originally Posted by Grn Xtrm

How would you know what kind of computers are in the labs at my school? They are actually all the same but nice try.

Usually, at least in the schools I've been in recently (graduated high school in 1975 - my youngest graduates from the same school this year) Linux is used most often on donated computers, where the school can't prove that they have a legitimate Windows license for the computer, so that if the BSA audits them, they don't get in trouble.

If the Linux computers actually are slower, that's a good indication that there's something wrong, just like I would think that there was something wrong if I saw an XP install on a Core 2 Duo run slow.

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Originally Posted by Grn Xtrm

OK, then you are an Anti-Microsoft troll... because of your actions, of course.

Heh. Of course I'm anti-Microsoft! I have seen the light children, and the light is FREE SOFTWARE! Protect us from the EVILS of the Proprietary Software Manufacturers WHO SELL US OUT TO THE RIAA and install SPYWARE (Windows Genuine Disadvantage) on our COMPUTERS!

Seriously though - do you trust Microsoft? Do you trust Apple? You shouldn't. They are working towards their own best interests, which quite probably are not your best interests.

Of course you can trust me, I'm a paragon of virtue, and would never mislead you.

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