What Os?

[Trice]

Windows
Linux
Or
MAC..

Which one do you use?

I personally use Kubuntu and Slackware.
Mind you, saying that. I'm on Windows atm, due to needing to use my webcam which isnt linux compatible

 

[three-fingers]

Why give only one option in the poll? I dual boot XP and Ubuntu . Though I have no real reason for doing so other than just liking ubuntu.

 

[Trice]

Why give only one option in the poll? I dual boot XP and Ubuntu . Though I have no real reason for doing so other than just liking ubuntu.

Good point, didnt think about that..

 

[andywg]

Had to tick all three. I have to use micky mouse soft at work, use OSX for my laptops and then my server is on ubuntu with the games PC dual booting ubuntu and xp.

 

[SLC Flyfishing]

Had to tick all three. I have to use micky mouse soft at work, use OSX for my laptops and then my server is on ubuntu with the games PC dual booting ubuntu and xp.

Yup I should have ticked Winblows as well as OS X, but I only did OS X since that's what I'll use unless I'm forced into microsoft submission (which happens less and less every day). I'm interested in bootcamping Linux too though!

SLC

 

[xxBarneyxx]

I use Windows XP. Why? Because despite its faults its still the best option. Linux, Vista and OSX are not good enough to run as a "daily desktop use" OS (yet).

For server type use or for custom use where I'm not going to be changing the hardware or software around a lot I would go for Linux just for its lack or crapware included in it (although actually I would use Win2k because I find it easier to use and I can strip it down to take next to no system resources). However for a system where I'm constantly changing hardware or software it just because too much hassle and then there is a whole bunch of stuff that just wont work no matter how much you mess with it.

The same applies to OSX, although hardware and software compatibility is not so much of an issue as linux it still does not have the range of compatibility that Windows XP has. Also you have to consider that Apple is the spawn of the devil and there is the whole "burning in hell for all eternity" issue that comes with buying Apple stuff Again it is ok for a "setup and never change" type use where the application you use is compatible and you wont ever need to add more software or hardware but once you do it usally just becomes a big hassle (yes it has a compatibility mode and you can run virtulisations, I discount this for the simple reason that it is crap, especally if you are a gamer as it doesnt run DirectX).

Windows Vista at the moment is suffering from similar problems to OSX and linux. Add to that all the driver issues at launch, its insane default system requirements and all the other issues it has had I can't see any good reason to "upgrade" from XP.

So yeah Linux and OSX do have their uses (vista at the moment has no use at all) but for sheer lack of hassle XP is the way to go.

 

[Darkstar]

I use windows, 'cos I like to be different.

 

[SLC Flyfishing]

I use Windows XP. Why? Because despite its faults its still the best option. Linux, Vista and OSX are not good enough to run as a "daily desktop use" OS (yet).

yeah Linux and OSX do have their uses (vista at the moment has no use at all) but for sheer lack of hassle XP is the way to go.

Funny, I've been getting on for a year now without XP and I've got to say that I find OS X to be great for "daily desktop use". And I'll tell you one thing, in my experience, XP is the way to go if you want sheer hassle rather than sheer lack of hassle. I had to reinstall the OS several times because of malware and crap performance. That being said, if I was into games I'd be dual booting XP on the Macintosh, but since I don't play (outside of a dedicated gaming console) it's not a problem. I use my computer for Photography and digital production centered things and I don't think OS X can be beat for those tasks. There are things built into the OS that make my workflow so much easier than it was with Windows. I don't add a lot of software, but there is plenty out there, it's just that I can do everything I want with the Adobe creative suite and the included iLife suite. And with windows, 98% of the extra software was garbage anyway so I didn't add much when I was on XP either.


Just my 2 cents

SLC

 

[Bigpig]

Vista cos its mind blowing full of awsomeness

 

[andywg]

I use Windows XP. Why? Because despite its faults its still the best option. Linux, Vista and OSX are not good enough to run as a "daily desktop use" OS (yet).

Define "daily desktop use".

For most people that means being able to word process, access emails and browse the web. All of these are done just as well with OSX and Linux as XP and a whole lot safer.

If you have a top end gaming system you can see increased performance running WINE through Ubuntu rather than just on XP

 

[xxBarneyxx]

I mean the average user off the street wanting to install a game for their kid or an app of the internet to sync their calander to their phone. There is no way anyone could truthfully say that it is easier to do this with OSX, Linux or Vista then it is with Xp (or even win2k).

I 100% agree that XP and other versions of windows are bloating, buggy and only really runs smoothly if you reinstall it every 12 months (and vista, at the moment, is the worst thing since windows ME). Linux (and to a degree OSX) do give better results in terms of not using as many system resources but still they are a pain in the #### for the average user. For company use unless the whole company is using them (unlike unless you are in a design company that still thinks mac's are the best thing for grpahic desingers since the pen) they are completely useless.

Like I said if you have the apps that you want working and dont ever want to do anything else linux or OSX are better.

If you have a top end gaming system you can see increased performance running WINE through Ubuntu rather than just on XP

Yeah but again its a pain in the #### for the average user. I'm getting lazy in my old age and while I used to enjoy setting things up and tweaking things to get them working now I just want to turn my computer on, install the game/app I want to use and then use it.

 

[SLC Flyfishing]

I'm not trying to argue Barney, but I've never (well perhaps not never but you get the idea) met anyone running Macs or Linux for that matter that thinks they're a pain to use or install software on. Quite the opposite actually, it's usually just stubborn Windows users who make that assertion and it's based on opinion rather than experience most of the time. Many people I talk to are fed up with Windows, but stick with it because they've been taught to think it's the only way to get everything done that they want to do, in reality those who have switched to Linux and OS X now claim that they are able to be far more productive at the computer than they were before.

Yeah games are a problem for OS X, but bootcamp has taken care of it so you can always dualboot into XP if you need to get your "Halo" fix. Or you could just do what I do and get a dedicated gamin system and reserve your computer for the things computers were meant to do. Again it's a personal call

SLC

 

[xxBarneyxx]

I'm not trying to argue Barney

Why not? A bit of a friendly "debate" is good for you

Yeah games are a problem for OS X, but bootcamp has taken care of it so you can always dualboot into XP if you need to get your "Halo" fix.

Which is exactly my point. If an operating system is ready for general use by the mass market you shouldn't need to be having to run another operating system to cover what it cant do. Its not only games that are an issue. If you want to download a freeware application or a lot of other things from the internet a lot of the time its only available for windows. Yes there are sites that are specifically for Linux and OSX app's but you are very limited to what applications you can use.

Or you could just do what I do and get a dedicated gamin system and reserve your computer for the things computers were meant to do.

Actually my main home PC is built for gaming (and video editing/3d rendering) computers are no longer "just for work".

Again it's a personal call

And that the main point that often gets overlooked whenever techies get together to discuss operating systems They are have their pro's and there cons but people will always have their own preferences and normally for totally emotional and not intellectual reasons. This also means of course that it becomes next to impossible to sway someone from their own views (you would never get me using an apple OS, ever. Not just because I dont think its good enough but because I have an unreasoning dislike for Apple as a company).

 

[SLC Flyfishing]

You're right Barney, a lot of people are emotionally attached to their computer of choice.

But the game thing is more of an issue with the software developers, not Apple. Believe me, there's nothing out there that a fully equipped Mac Pro can't do very easily, but sadly not that many games are made compatible with the Apple OS. It's probably a matter of what demographic uses the platforms, most Apple users are not really into gaming so it's not really profitable for a game company to release a game for Apple computers when it won't sell like it would on windows. It's not that OS X can't handle gaming at all! And contrary to what you might think, I've had an easier time tracking down freeware for the Mac than I did with Windows, and the apps are much higher quality. It probably has a lot to do with it's Unix roots.


SLC

 

[Arfie]

I've got 5 machines running at the moment all on windows, one on 98, one on 2000, two on XP and one on Vista. Vista is a big drain on resources, 98 is still good enough to do much of what I want, but Xp seem to be the best overall option.

I have tried to load Linux several times on several different machines and have so far to date not managed to get any version of Ubuntu, Red Hat, Suse and another one I can't recall the name of to actually install. I'm certainly not computer illiterate in fact I did study computer programming at college, but I really can't be bothered to mess about for any more of my life trying to get an alternative OS to load, when I can get Win98 loaded and setup in under an hour.

Windows is the only option for me at work though as the various professional software packages that I need to use are not compatable with linux or mac.

Arfie