I'm a Slackware linux user and i'm happy...
about i dont having to endure viruses or system crashes and power of my system do what I want, what is your opinion?

Linux Server 05 R2 SP1 -Server

Windows Xp professional-Desktop

SuSE Linux or Ubuntu seem to be pretty good. There are even anti-virus and anti-spyware programs out for various distros now, too.

As far as Windows goes, XP is probably the only choice to make for the time being, as Vista still sucks. Just be aware that XP will be a bigger target for spyware/malware attacks though.

Friend,
I think that W2K was the best thing that made microsoft(with the word forgiveness).

Linux running VM or clone <for the games> otherwise Open Source. no bloat!!

I actually taught a course on Linux once. I had a copy and tried it out for a while. The only problem that I found with it is that it wasn’t compatible with a lot of stuff I already had. So I decided to just stick with Windows.

Four of my computers are networked together. People always talk about systems crashes with Windows but I have never experience any such problems. I’m thinking that most of those problems are probably software related to applications they are trying to run and don’t really have anything to do with the OS at all actually.

Three of my computers are running XP and I’m still running Windows ME on one that is at least 10 years old (the one I’m typing on now as a matter of fact). I never had to reload an OS system yet. Recently I was having a problem with Windows ME not recognizing freed up disk space. But for some reason it finally did. All on its own.

I have hardly ever been bothered by virus. However, I was attacked by a virus on my XP system just a few days ago. But fortunately I was able to make a full recovery from it without a lot of hassle. I think that was actually my own fault for not being careful enough with my security measures.

Personally I think all the hype about system crashes and virus threats to Windows OS is way overblown from what it actually is. Most system crashes are due to operator error. We don’t hear about them with Linux simply because not enough people use that OS. In fact, most people who use Linux are pretty computer savvy to start with anyway. If the general public used Linux we’d probably be hearing a myriad of complaints about it, just like we do with Windows.

Same thing goes for viruses. The people who use Linux, and Macs for that matter, have the abnormally high volume of Windows users to thank for their virus protection. It’s not that Macs and Linux are virus proof. It’s just that no one bothers writing viruses for them because there just aren’t enough systems out there worthy of the effort. So you can thank the Windows users for the nonexistence of viruses for Linux.

They said windows vista was good.. now look at it, lots of bugs and problums XP is the way to go! least till they fix Vista.

Yeah, I heard the same things. Fortunately I'm running mostly XP.

i thought Linux was great UNTIL i started using it.some distros won't install and some you feel like you have to be a damn computer genius to use them!

Yeah. Some Linux distros can be positively maddening with their complexity and not-so-user-friendliness. On the other hands, other distros can appear to be WAY too easy to operate... almost like OS X dumbed down even further.

Ubuntu seems to be the current choice for the "easy Linux" crowd, as is Red Hat Linux. SuSE Linux is a little harder to understand, while Debian and Slackware seem to be positively difficult to master.

But this is all a matter of personal preference, as what works for some won't for others.

<--- Linux fan

Currently using Xandros only because it boots in seconds on my laptop.

Debian has an awesome package library. LinuxMint was pleasant to use.

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To fairly compare Linux and Windows you must remember that neither refers to a particular operating system. Just as WindowsXP is an OS, but a completely different OS than Windows Vista, so are all of the linux distributions different, and the quality of a distro (good or bad) reflects on that distro, it doesn't reflect on the "Linux" kernel.

To really solve the "ease of use" problem I think we need Linux-based OSes to be pre-loaded before the hardware is sold - that way the buyer will know that everything works correctly before they buy it. This is -finally- taking off in the newly invigorated "inexpensive UMPC" market (where a lean, efficient OS is a must) in a big way - so much so, that MS has been forced to promote XP again!

I think we'll continue to see an increase in pre-loaded linux - and these pre-loaded systems will be easy to use.

that is a non-discussion. First look at the software you are going to run. Then pick the operating system.

Fact is that 99% of the software out there is still made for windows.

I run Xp , Ubuntu (LAMP server) and Solaris at home.

My everyday pc runs windows. Simply because none of the software i use exists for linux , or the stuff that is out there is opnly half finished, has no support, or doesn't work) i use photoshop , adobe premiere to edit HD video, office ( microsoft , openoffice is incompatible because the macros don't work.) some CAD software ( schematic , board layout , simulation) , i program in visual basic and c# which don't exist on linux (except for a half-ass mono project). i write code for embedded processors (8051 , ARM) for which the devtools are almost all pc only. i design FPGA using verilog with Quartus for PC ( The linux version only runs a specific version of red hat that costs more than win xp ... )

If i deal with stuff from work i run solaris (on Pc) because i can remote connect to the software i need and control it. All our development tools run exclusivly on solaris.

And for my own central storage server at home and webserver i run ubuntu. its a no brainer to install and just works.

each operating system has its place in the world. just analyse what software you want to use and then select.
you can always make a dual boot machine or run vmware or wine ( i can't use wine. some of the software i use can not run in it ) Besides, an OEm of XP is 99 $ , who cares.

current quote for oem xp on newegg is actually about 139, but not much difference.

Have one Ubuntu machine, and one Vista machine. The vista Machine is in the living room hooked up to my 32 inch flat panel lcd and is used primarily as a Tivo type unit. I also keep it around for IE and the sites that won't accept an alternative (Netflix's watch it now option, viewing my paystub online, etc.) Theoretically I also have it to play games, but since it's started refusing to play Civ IV again, and plays Catch-22 when I try to reinstall or uninstall, I'm not playing many games on it right now.


The Ubuntu machine is what I use to access the internet, email, most of the stuff I do on a computer. I have a few windows programs I use that do run under wine, and I'm considering getting a copy of crossover to try some other games.

I'm probably going to buy a laptop in the next year, and I'd prefer to have Ubuntu preinstalled, but I'm buying a copy of XP now to put on it as a dual boot. I just can't live yet without Windows completely.