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I have mixed feelings about Linus Torvalds, I disagree with many things he says and agree strongly with other things. Linus once said: " ...Microsoft makes ter

I have mixed feelings about Linus Torvalds, I disagree with many things he says and agree strongly with other things. Linus once said: " ...Microsoft makes terrible operating systems". Seriously?.. Forget marketing for a second, if you compare the best Linux Desktop with Windows 8.1, in almost all technical aspects Microsoft Windows 8.1 is vastly superior, it boots faster, applications run smoothly and pretty much everything you plug in works immediately. Don't get me wrong, I am a Linux Administrator and all our servers run either Debian or CentOS, I would not use anything else unless I am absolutely forced to by a client. but as far as desktop usage is concerned and after using Ubuntu for 2 years (which is a really good OS), Windows is just better (and I can play games while drinking a glass of wine instead of spending 30 minutes tweaking "Wine"), much more refined and in tune with every day use.

AceJohnny2 12y ago
Note that Windows gets a huge benefit from being the effectively monopolistic system that dictates the terms for software and hardware (thanks to huge investments, granted. DirectX or the CLR didn't pop out of Zeus's forehead fully-formed). So HW "just works" with Windows because that's what (and most of the time all) it's been tested against. For example, remember that the Linux ACPI coders have resigned themselves to "Windows is the Standard" whenever they have to deal with buggy hardware that doesn't follow the specs. As for software, well, it's actually an amazing technical feat that Wine even exists. Amusingly, people don't have that complaint on OSX. Linux has its share of flaws, but those you cite are unfair.
rukittenme 12y ago
Just to provide a counter anecdote. I boot Gnome 3.12 in less than 9 seconds. Windows takes 30-45 seconds. Linux has got driver support for days. My ethernet to usb adapter required a CD on windows, whereas linux recognized it instantly. I do agree that applications perform better on Windows. My Firefox 31 has been seeing performance regressions on Arch. I'm not sure if its my problem or Firefox's but I occasionally have trouble refreshing localhost. Windows has more eyes and recieves more attention. Don't miss out on Steam. It's available on Linux now so you no longer need to run Wine. There's about 500 games available today!
davexunit 12y ago
>and I can play games while drinking a glass of wine instead of spending 30 minutes tweaking "Wine" Wow, Windows is better at running Windows executables than a compatibility layer? Who knew!
collyw 12y ago
Have you tried taking a step back in the desktop world? I got pissed of with all the shiny nonsense and started using Xfce. Simple, fast effective. Doesn't try to push new paradigms on me. And they keep the window buttons in the correct place. (I guess it was Windows 8.0 I got with a new laptop around a year ago. That was barely usable. It had all sorts of nonsense gestures set up, so half the time I would try to do something and it would switch me to the start menu / screen.)

AceJohnny2 12y ago

Note that Windows gets a huge benefit from being the effectively monopolistic system that dictates the terms for software and hardware (thanks to huge investments, granted. DirectX or the CLR didn't pop out of Zeus's forehead fully-formed). So HW "just works" with Windows because that's what (and most of the time all) it's been tested against. For example, remember that the Linux ACPI coders have resigned themselves to "Windows is the Standard" whenever they have to deal with buggy hardware that doesn't follow the specs. As for software, well, it's actually an amazing technical feat that Wine even exists. Amusingly, people don't have that complaint on OSX. Linux has its share of flaws, but those you cite are unfair.

rukittenme 12y ago

Just to provide a counter anecdote. I boot Gnome 3.12 in less than 9 seconds. Windows takes 30-45 seconds. Linux has got driver support for days. My ethernet to usb adapter required a CD on windows, whereas linux recognized it instantly. I do agree that applications perform better on Windows. My Firefox 31 has been seeing performance regressions on Arch. I'm not sure if its my problem or Firefox's but I occasionally have trouble refreshing localhost. Windows has more eyes and recieves more attention. Don't miss out on Steam. It's available on Linux now so you no longer need to run Wine. There's about 500 games available today!

davexunit 12y ago

>and I can play games while drinking a glass of wine instead of spending 30 minutes tweaking "Wine" Wow, Windows is better at running Windows executables than a compatibility layer? Who knew!

collyw 12y ago

Have you tried taking a step back in the desktop world? I got pissed of with all the shiny nonsense and started using Xfce. Simple, fast effective. Doesn't try to push new paradigms on me. And they keep the window buttons in the correct place. (I guess it was Windows 8.0 I got with a new laptop around a year ago. That was barely usable. It had all sorts of nonsense gestures set up, so half the time I would try to do something and it would switch me to the start menu / screen.)