When it comes to an OS, what should you choose? Each of the four biggest players; Linux, Mac OS X, Windows Vista and Windows XP all have their merits. So we've taken four experts and asked them to defend their chosen operating systems in an opinionated free-for-all.
Operating systems at war - but who wins?
Windows XP: The people's choice
David Ramel
The people have spoken. Windows XP rules.
Forget, for a moment, Mac OS X and Linux with their puny 8 percent combined market share. First, just consider how the ‘upgrade’ from XP to Windows Vista is going.
Microsoft gamely touts increasing Vista adoption, but the backlash against XP's successor is unprecedented. I would call it a near-disaster. When was the last time a petition was circulated that gathered more than 100,000 signatures to save an operating system?
Dell has caved in to customer demand and reversed its Vista-only policy for many of its computers. Earlier, Dell had pointed out to Microsoft several mistakes made with the Vista rollout, including confusing marketing, broken drivers, hardware compatibility issues and other problems, according to a class-action lawsuit about Vista marketing.
Internal documents brought to light in the lawsuit show that Microsoft officials themselves dissed Vista shortly after its release.
I could go on and on, listing articles about tests showing that XP is faster than Vista at some tasks, explaining to anxious users how to make XP last for seven more years and instructing frustrated Vista users how to downgrade from Vista. See a common thread there?
Security
Security has always been the favourite criticism of Microsoft operating systems in general, but Service Pack 2 vastly improved the safety of XP, with better network protection, memory protection, improved email security and safer browsing.
And do you really think Mac OS and Linux will be any safer if they gain enough market share to become relevant and get the full attention of hackers?
All the features you need
Of course, Microsoft will eventually force the migration to Vista. But for right now, you will get several Vista features, such as Network Access Protection, in the upcoming XP Service Pack 3. Other Vista components available for XP include Media Center, Internet Explorer 7.0, Media Player 11 and Windows Defender.
And there are plenty of sites that tell you how to get or at least simulate other Vista features in XP.
Mac or Linux - why bother?
I use Mac OS X occasionally and have dabbled in Linux, and I've found nothing that makes me want to switch to either. Even if I liked Macs, which I don't for mostly subjective reasons, there's got to be a good reason they have such a pathetic presence in the enterprise.
The operating system is okay, but as with most things from the Apple tree, it seems to be more about style than substance. Sure, it's cool when you hover over the little icons at the bottom of the screen and they get bigger. But take a look at those icons: iTunes, iPhoto, iDVD, Garage Band, etc. It's clear whom Apple is targeting, and it's not the run-of-the-mill cubicle stiff like me who's just trying to get work done.
The proprietary software/hardware marriage, the higher cost and the extra training needed all detract from the Mac's allure - unless you have funky facial hair and say, "Dude!" a lot.
As for Linux, I've been hearing it's 'ready for the desktop' for years now. Well, it's not ready. It's getting better (market share doubled recently to almost 1 percent) but there are too many distros, packages, ISOs, GNUs, Gnomes, awks, GREPs, flavors, kernels, KDEs, licenses and modules.
In other words, it's still too techie. It might be fine if you're the type of person who used to type 'debug' in the DOS command line to make hexadecimal changes to standard operating system messages just for fun, like I did long ago. But I don't have time for that anymore.
I recently installed Ubuntu Linux successfully, though I found the partitioning choices a bit confusing. But to simply play an MP3 file, I had to download and install a separate package. Wireless connectivity was a joke. Absolutely ridiculous.
NEXT PAGE: The bottom line when it comes to XP
- We put Linux, Mac OS X, Windows Vista and Windows XP: head-to-head
- Why Linux is best
- Linux: clean, friendly and powerful interfaces
- Apple's attention to detail
- The security features of Mac OS X
- Vista's tweakability and extras
- Why Vista beats other operating systems hands down
- XP's security features
- The bottom line when it comes to XP
Comments
Taife32 said: It is very said that people think devices work out of the box with windows cause they dont All that makes ms windows seem to work well is that devices arrive with drivers on their package If you cannot install linux on your drive and I mean any version then you are not a power user and should not play around with making partitions as you will cause a lot of damage to system For the comparisons on OSes Mac OS X seems to be the best due to the fact that one company programs and assemble the hardware now this might seem brilliant but if Red Hat and other linux vendors or Microsoft were to do the same then the world would be a poor place as people would have to work for these companies to earn a living doing what they or else go kill themselves this is called monopoly and it is the reason we do not like Microsoft
Joe said: WellListening to all you guys or gals - we never know these days anyway all great fun as they say must be a good clean fight no kicking or biting or gouging pleaseFinally getting to my bitUnbuntu very interesting to play with BUT trying to get it off a hard drive almost despairedIf having to resort to using Hiren every time compares to the now rock steady XP Pro I will reluctantly stick to the latter AND If you knew me you would know I am definitely no fan of the arrogant Mr GatesIm currently involved in trying to sort out the mess with SP3 oh you havent heard that the original beta complaint of messing up IEOutlook Express has not gone away in the full offical version on Windows Update
Pedro said: To the guy who wrote about VistaFirst of all you have to buy the anti-virus software which you speak of improves VistaThe free ones Im disregarding since you seem to be talking about the official Microsoft oneLinux has Compiz Fusion which has much much more desktop effects than VistaAll those extra apps are bloated and they just slow down your Vista systemUbuntu is a Linux distribution focusing on installing Linux easier Its four times faster to install Ubuntu than WindowsMac OS X Leopard which just runs Windows from boot screw that crap about Parallel Camp
Deringer said: HuhLinux-a so much distributionits not correctAnd with a GNOME or KDE desktop D more funand where is Solaris or BSD Its not professional to ignore this super OSVista is easy to hack from flash playerMac - into Safari browser And now how to hack Linuxunix systems D Commercial minds are created this postPeace from Bulgaria
Thomcarl said: Fox for your info Leopard is a certified UNIX OS I only wished some of you people would do a little research before posting and that includes the guys who wrote the Vista and XP arguments
fox781 said: I am so truly sick and tired of listening to the whining about the different OSs Its a very subjective thing If youre a tech savvy person who knows unix than be my guest and go for Linux If you like ease of operation including downloads and games than go for Windows If youve been brought up with the Mac than stay with it But for goodness sake stop knocking each others OSs If you try another system and dont like it than go back to your very own system you love so much and stop acting like babies in kindergarten
destroyerkernel said: linux and windows are good choices but only when the user is a conscient users if user have a low IQ like tygertop i dude vista win9X or linx ll be the choice
PICCORO said: jejeje linux is for inteligent people maybe this is the reason that ubuntu try to set like GUIN-dows for mediocry stupid userswin-buntu is user friendly this is nice but win-buntu is NOT the best linux solution as guindows is NOT the best choice of OS the problem of niux bsd and mac OSs is that make it think make use the braind jajaja
Ken said: I must admit that if skype video were available on Linux Id never use another OSAlas I am stuck with windows until that day dawns
Tiger said: TigertopWhat a pity you never bothered to learn about the different filesystems Microsoft do not recognise the linux file format I wonder why Run a live linux cd and use gparted to unformat the hard drive or format back to fat or ntfs
Tiger said: Linux rules I have been using fedora for the last 3 years Actually an article in PC advisor opened my eyes Fedora is not really a viable out of the box linux it does require some setting up and is a development linux distro giving a great sense that you are part of something that every day is getting better and better Yes for this one you will need to get your hands dirty but once set up unlike xp and blister sorry vista my experience is that even the developmental fedora is rock steady Besides when the easiest way to rescue a wndows box data or even the windows os itself is a live linux cd that must say it all
Merlin_Magii said: I still work with W95 W98 W2K and XP machines and have succeeded in ensuring a stable sound platform in each case I have no experience of the laughing penguin or OSX so withold judgement However I HAVE had a lengthy look at Vista and my opinion pretty much tallies with the subdued whispers from inside Redmond It is a white elephant The only reason so many copies have been purchased is the bully boy OEM tactics of MS Dell got the message just as that clown Brown did with his arrogant This man is not for changing stance on the 10p tax rate Yeah Right The bottom line is only just becoming clear to the Greys at Redmond You MAY have achieved a dominant market share with your products through sheer muscle and shinnanigans but you know what - us peasants not only distrust you intensely we also quietly loathe anything branded Microsoft and will stick one on your glass jaw at any opportunity we can