thesheesh
Banned
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2009
- Messages
- 28
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- Gender
- Undisclosed
- Political Leaning
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I have used Windows, OSX and many distributions of Linux extensively. Here is my take on them:
OSX is useful if you prefer their compatible multimedia software. For me, the hardware and software combination is just too expensive to warrant purchasing, especially since I need a lot of useful Windows programs/applications that cannot run on a Mac. When I tell my Mac friends this they all tell me about the options of Boot Camp and such. My response is simple, I am not paying up to 250% more for a computer to then have to go out and purchase another operating system to run the software I need. Forget that.
Linux is always an interesting operating system choice. I know a lot of people who run a Linux variant as their primary OS and they keep trying to convert me back since they know I used it exclusively for quite some time. To be honest, that was some of the most unproductive time I have ever used a computer. It was a constant hassle of setting up the kernel just right, playing with drivers, finding workarounds to perform basic Windows tasks. At the time I was using it mostly for programming which it did an OK job at. But it still wasn't a Windows environment which made it difficult to test and although it worked fine for coding/text editing, it didn't perform the function any better than Windows. Unless you're completely broke and can't afford an OS or you need Linux for your work field I find it a complete waste of time.
People always say the above operating systems are so secure, you don't get viruses, etc. They often cite the Windows flaw that the default user account is an administrator and that is a security risk. Well no ****, if you're smart enough to know this and smart enough to compile a Gentoo installation are you not smart enough to set Windows permissions? Personally I run my Windows as an admin account and I don't get viruses. Most viruses come into your computer due to torrents, clicking on pop-ups, navigating to seedy websites or quite frankly your own stupidity. And even if you do get a virus on your computer it truly isn't a big deal.
So in short, OSX is good for people who prefer their multimedia software or aren't very tech savvy and/or don't mind pissing away their money for ease of use. There is also a trendiness/elitist factor involved that I personally don't understand... it's just a computer, get over it.
And Linux is good for a small niche of developers/network admins who wish to practice their craft. The majority of people I've noticed who use it lately run to Ubuntu because of its ease of use and decent driver support. They tend to all spell Microsoft with a dollar sign and are either anarchists, anti-capitalists or trying to feel like they're techies. Ubuntu is a great means to get started in Linux, but it isn't a distro that's widely used in servers. If you really want to learn Linux use a variant that will give you training for a the job market.
All that said Windows Vista is a garbage operating system and Microsoft completely dropped the ball. Windows XP or 7 is the only way to go if you're using Microsoft. And the travesty that is Windows Vista rightfully turned people off to try out other operating systems.
OSX is useful if you prefer their compatible multimedia software. For me, the hardware and software combination is just too expensive to warrant purchasing, especially since I need a lot of useful Windows programs/applications that cannot run on a Mac. When I tell my Mac friends this they all tell me about the options of Boot Camp and such. My response is simple, I am not paying up to 250% more for a computer to then have to go out and purchase another operating system to run the software I need. Forget that.
Linux is always an interesting operating system choice. I know a lot of people who run a Linux variant as their primary OS and they keep trying to convert me back since they know I used it exclusively for quite some time. To be honest, that was some of the most unproductive time I have ever used a computer. It was a constant hassle of setting up the kernel just right, playing with drivers, finding workarounds to perform basic Windows tasks. At the time I was using it mostly for programming which it did an OK job at. But it still wasn't a Windows environment which made it difficult to test and although it worked fine for coding/text editing, it didn't perform the function any better than Windows. Unless you're completely broke and can't afford an OS or you need Linux for your work field I find it a complete waste of time.
People always say the above operating systems are so secure, you don't get viruses, etc. They often cite the Windows flaw that the default user account is an administrator and that is a security risk. Well no ****, if you're smart enough to know this and smart enough to compile a Gentoo installation are you not smart enough to set Windows permissions? Personally I run my Windows as an admin account and I don't get viruses. Most viruses come into your computer due to torrents, clicking on pop-ups, navigating to seedy websites or quite frankly your own stupidity. And even if you do get a virus on your computer it truly isn't a big deal.
So in short, OSX is good for people who prefer their multimedia software or aren't very tech savvy and/or don't mind pissing away their money for ease of use. There is also a trendiness/elitist factor involved that I personally don't understand... it's just a computer, get over it.
And Linux is good for a small niche of developers/network admins who wish to practice their craft. The majority of people I've noticed who use it lately run to Ubuntu because of its ease of use and decent driver support. They tend to all spell Microsoft with a dollar sign and are either anarchists, anti-capitalists or trying to feel like they're techies. Ubuntu is a great means to get started in Linux, but it isn't a distro that's widely used in servers. If you really want to learn Linux use a variant that will give you training for a the job market.
All that said Windows Vista is a garbage operating system and Microsoft completely dropped the ball. Windows XP or 7 is the only way to go if you're using Microsoft. And the travesty that is Windows Vista rightfully turned people off to try out other operating systems.