Author Topic: Why you should drop Windows... (Read 21295 times)

Procession · « **on:** December 10, 2003, 03:06:04 PM »

In the vein of "Why you should drop IE...", here is why you should drop Windows and move to Linux or a BSD (such as Apple Darwin, FreeBSD or NetBSD). Why stop at IE? I've been using Linux since 1999 and it has now become excellent for desktop users.

1) Use Windows, support the Xbox
It is common knowledge that the way Microsoft funds the Xbox is through the sales of Office and Windows alone. Out of their 7 (I think) divisions those are the two that are profitable. By contributing money to Microsoft, you're propping up the Gamecube's competition. Remember, loyal Nintendoites, the more money Microsoft has, the more money Nintendo uses to fight them. PlanetGamecube's servers even run on Windows! Sort of ironic, right?

2) Open standards
Windows is closed software, meaning Microsoft don't let anyone play with or use the underlying code. In contrast, open source software can be modified, and sold by anyone, in almost anyway.

3) Stability
Although the odd application may be unstable, the Linux kernel (and the BSD kernels) are very stable. Generally, even when an application crashes, it won't bring the whole system down. No more blue screens (just kernel panics

, joking).

4) FREE!
Most Linux (and as AFAIK all BSDs) are completely free to download, legally. Plus there are thousands of fantastic free applications. Including The GIMP (Photoshop replacement), OpenOffice.org (Office suite), Mozilla (Web browser), K3B (CD/DVD Burner, Nero replacement), Rhythmbox (iTunes replacement), Bluefish (superb web design app), Evolution (Outlook replacement) and many, many, many, more - practically all free.

5) Secure
Never get hit by nasty Windows virii again. Even if someone decides to write a bunch a Linux virii, the impact is minimised by the sheer amount of different distributions and that damage should only be restricted to the account you're running, not the whole system.

Anyway, there is some food for thought. Mull it over. You can try Linux wih out even touching your hard drive with a live cd such as Knoppix or Gnoppix. Good distributions for your hard drive if you are a beginner include Fedora Core (formerly Red Hat Linux), Mandrake and Ark Linux, as well as many others.

Some good websites include

http://www.distrowatch.com
http://www.pclinuxonline.com
http://www.gnome.org
http://www.knoppix.net
http://www.linux-mandrake.com
http://www.debian.org
http://www.arklinux.org

manunited4eva22 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 10, 2003, 03:14:11 PM »

the only thing I have against linux is that most guys out there don't have the patience to get through installing linux. It took me a good couple of months of messing with linux to figure out how to really do much with it.

mouse_clicker · « **Reply #2 on:** December 10, 2003, 03:15:50 PM »

First off, Windows does not support the XBox- the profit Microsoft makes off of Windows goes back into Windows. Second, the biggest reason you should keep Windows in some way, shape, or form is the simple fact that nearly all PC games are made exclusively for it- it's a sad truth, but the truth nonetheless. Basically, if you value PC games in any way, keep Windows. If you don't, you're not one to be telling other people to drop it.

Also, to keep with my being bitchy, the plural of virus is viruses, not viri or virii- not all Latin words ending in -us are made plural with -i.

ThePerm · « **Reply #3 on:** December 10, 2003, 03:22:35 PM »

aye, theyve takin' the market...its a sad truth...one day though that will all change. I see upheaval in the future. For instance..iv gotten to really like macintoshes...sounds crazy...but its true. I used to be a guy who would support windows fanboyishly...but not anymore. I suppose in the next couple of years windows will be terminated by a competitor that just cares more...who will then act like microsoft after they become hella rich.

Ghost_of_a_Flea · « **Reply #4 on:** December 10, 2003, 04:05:16 PM »

There's probably a thousand reasons to drop Microsoft, but I like PC games as well. About half of the games I love comes to the Mac, but there's still a few games I can only get on a Windows machine. I would love nothing more than to switch to Linux and/or Apple (I'm considering getting a Mac on top of my PC eventually), but until then...

Hostile Creation · « **Reply #5 on:** December 10, 2003, 04:19:22 PM »

Just get it illegally, and then Microsoft gets jack. But it'd be nice to have a different OS for a change.

akdaman1 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 10, 2003, 05:42:51 PM »

I just read the first reason and stoped , that is the STUPIDEST think I have ever heard . Windows is great and Microsoft deserve some respect .

ThePerm · « **Reply #7 on:** December 10, 2003, 06:00:04 PM »

huh microsoft retains market share if you have free windows

TOY · « **Reply #8 on:** December 10, 2003, 06:03:53 PM »

Quote
I just read the first reason and stoped , that is the STUPIDEST think I have ever heard . Windows is great and Microsoft deserve some respect .

Thanks Akdaman1, Im so tired of people bitching about Microsoft. Why would I wannt M.S or the XBOX to fail, I wouldnt. I dont have an XBOX, but only because I dont have enough time to play the games I have now. I LOVE Windows XP, It may not be perfect and ya I have to download patches because some A$$holes dont have anything better to do than create viruses but that sounds better than taking months to figure out how to install and use an O.S. Plus as already stated if you want to play most games or use most of the programs on the market you need Windows.

TOY

Grey Ninja · « **Reply #9 on:** December 10, 2003, 06:10:41 PM »

akdaman... you are somewhat less than intellectual. Whatever you might think, Windows is FAR from great.

Procession, you missed one very important thing. For those of you planning on buying an Athlon 64 in the near future, take a guess what the only 64 bit OS is right now.

But related to your first point, I always did find it kind of odd that PGC is run on an IIS server. I mean, what's the deal with that?

Bill Aurion · « **Reply #10 on:** December 10, 2003, 06:12:43 PM »

I couldn't care less for any OS...It's too bad I have to use one at all...*sigh*

DrZoidberg · « **Reply #11 on:** December 10, 2003, 06:34:59 PM »

well i won't get rid of windows off my gaming PC, but for my gateway i'm definatly going to install linux on my media box and gateway in the not too distant future, i'm allways up for trying new things.

Termin8Anakin · « **Reply #12 on:** December 10, 2003, 06:43:42 PM »

I don't care about which OS i use. I mean, it's taken this long for me to get used to Windows, i don't wanna have to get another one.
I'll get XP, cause it's 'new', but also something familiar.
I like the whole familiarity thing when it comes to WIndows, which is why i love Nintendo so much.

akdaman1 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 10, 2003, 07:20:52 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Grey Ninja
akdaman... you are somewhat less than intellectual. Whatever you might think, Windows is FAR from great.

Procession, you missed one very important thing. For those of you planning on buying an Athlon 64 in the near future, take a guess what the only 64 bit OS is right now.

But related to your first point, I always did find it kind of odd that PGC is run on an IIS server. I mean, what's the deal with that?

I have no idea what you are on about. I ammidtley no jack when it come to this stuff , but you dont go dissing a program cause of who makes it ...( Of all people I thought you would understand )

Infernal Monkey · « **Reply #14 on:** December 10, 2003, 08:48:01 PM »

No. Me dropping my easy to use Windows OS won't do shit all for Nintendo. Even if it did, I wouldn't change over. Messing around with the code doesn't interest me, getting a whole bunch of new junk to replace the programs I know well doesn't interest me either. Sorry.

Price doesn't factor in either. Seriously, how many people actually pay money for Windows or Office these days?

Ocarina Blue · « **Reply #15 on:** December 10, 2003, 10:34:26 PM »

Quote
I have no idea what you are on about. I ammidtley no jack when it come to this stuff , but you dont go dissing a program cause of who makes it ...( Of all people I thought you would understand )

People don't dislike Windows because it's made by Microsoft, they dislike Microsoft because they made Windows. The main reason there is a strong dislike for Microsoft though, is because they've used capitalism to form a pretty strong monopoly.

I predict Microsoft will be forced to adapt or just crash sooner or later. Open source is simply a more efficent development technique when it gets the numbers, and it's numbers are increasing.

akdaman1 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 10, 2003, 11:35:19 PM »

Ocarina Blue , take a look at reason 1 and you will understand where I come from .

Procession · « **Reply #17 on:** December 10, 2003, 11:37:51 PM »

Some interesting points raised so far.

Couple of additions and responses...

"The main reason there is a strong dislike for Microsoft though, is because they've used capitalism to form a pretty strong monopoly."

More than capitalism - some questionable business practices indeed. Netscape (huh? what's that! I can hear some say) was crushed after Microsoft bundled their competing browser, IE with Windows. Before that, in 1995 Netscape had over 80% of the browser market. If you used the WWW, you used Netscape. Then there is the Java fuss, the Windows Media and RealPlayer fuss etc...

"Messing around with the code doesn't interest me, getting a whole bunch of new junk to replace the programs I know well doesn't interest me either. Sorry."

Messing with code? This isn't 2000, things have changed. Leaps and bounds.

I agree with games - Linux is rubbish for games at the moment, especially since Loki went bust. However there is still Quake 3, Enemy Territory, America's Army, Unreal Tournament 2003, MOH:AA, Serious Sam among a few others. As well as WineX to play Windows games (including GTA:VC, Warcraft III etc.), and promises of Doom 3 and UT2004. No good if you're a PPC owner like me though.

In all seriousness though - if anything does rock the Microsoft boat, it WILL be open source. Keep in mind there is a fair chance you could be posting from a Linux PC in 5 or 10 years time. But it is a pretty big if.

Mario · « **Reply #18 on:** December 10, 2003, 11:40:26 PM »

Quote
1) Use Windows, support the Xbox
It is common knowledge that the way Microsoft funds the Xbox is through the sales of Office and Windows alone. Out of their 7 (I think) divisions those are the two that are profitable. By contributing money to Microsoft, you're propping up the Gamecube's competition. Remember, loyal Nintendoites, the more money Microsoft has, the more money Nintendo uses to fight them. PlanetGamecube's servers even run on Windows! Sort of ironic, right?

Wouldn't stronger competition force Nintendo to be more competitive and help bring out their best? Thus giving us better games and products? Windows all the way

This whole topic is stupid. I have Windows XP, it works. Nothing about it has required effort from me to fix or examine anything. I have had no problems with it. The end.

Procession · « **Reply #19 on:** December 10, 2003, 11:44:17 PM »

Oh yeah, and with point no.1, I don't use Windows predominantly because it isn't very good, at least in my experience. My Windows-friendly friend recently bought a new PC and wanted me to set it up - it was hell. The DVD-Writer only read half the CDs he put in under Windows, it crashed, the Activation gave us total misery to the point he had to ring up Microsoft and verbally abuse the poor girl at the other end, to get it fixed. Installing new driver made it want us to activate again - then told us we couldn't because we already had.

Ocarina Blue · « **Reply #20 on:** December 10, 2003, 11:44:20 PM »

I completly agree with you about the open source thing. I still have serious concerns with how user friendly Linux is generally considered to be though. If one thing will really help popularise open source, I think it will be advancements in KDE or GNOME.

Regarding your Netscape comment, I think it's worthy of note that Mozilla Firebird is gaining alot of popularity. Of course it's not riviling IE yet in terms of usage, but it's growing fast. It's at least a step in the right direction.

Akdaman1: Sorry, I guess I took the quote out of context.

Procession · « **Reply #21 on:** December 10, 2003, 11:48:22 PM »

"This whole topic is stupid."

No-one forced you to post, in all fairness. The point of a discussion board is to provoke, well, discussion. Offering an alternative viewpoint, that's all. If you want to keep using whatever your PC manufacturer sticks on and you're happy with it, good for you.

EDIT: OcarinaBlue, KDE and GNOME, agree 100%. If you see the progress GNOME in particular has made in the past year and a half, it is truly mindblowing. I can't even begin to fathom where the two projects will be in 2005 at this rate. KDE 3.2 will be another huge step. They're not perfect, but they're definately getting there. Kernel 2.6 + KDE 3.2/GNOME 2.6 will make a powerful argument for the desktop in a couple of months. I think Firebird is brilliant - I see it as sort of a gateway (trojan horse, perhaps

) for closed-platform users to be introduced to the idea of open source.

Shift Key · « **Reply #22 on:** December 10, 2003, 11:51:07 PM »

First of all, I have been a Windows user since 3.11 for Workgroups, so Windows has been my native OS for years. I've seen the system in most of its forms, and am currently using 2000 Pro, with the classic 98 on this PC.

In response to Procession's points:

1) Buying Windows does not support Xbox. Buying Xbox supports Xbox. Admittedly, Windows and Office are two of the best-selling products on the market, but the majority of their income does not come from consumers like the general public - it is from the contracts for large businesses and institutions to use these products.

The gradual move away from from closed-source software will grow in the future, loosening the grip of MS on the industry. They seem to be focussing on making Longhorn something huge, so it can only be win-win for the consumer. Already the Australian Government is introducing a bill to encourage "open-source software" wherever possible.
The bill can be found here as an rich text file: http://scaleplus.law.gov.au/html/bills/0/2003/rtf/03160b.rtf

3) I would like to dispute this point. Unless you like to run twenty applications at once, the Windows systems maintain their stability under much activity. I haven't had any problems with 2000, and XP (based on the 2000 architecture) is similar. So for casual users, this point is wasted.

5) Viruses are the user's fault, no matter how ignorant MS are. A good virus program, a popup blocker (or IE alternative) should be a given for every computer, especially in this day and age.

Saying this, I am very interested in the Linux OS, and as soon as my computer is up and running smoothly again, I'll install Linux alongside Windows and it can be one big happy family...

Quote
Originally posted by mouse_clicker:
the profit Microsoft makes off of Windows goes back into Windows

*falls off chair, laughs to death*
Wow, another Windows upgrade. Oh look, the colours *forks out money for essentially the same OS*

Quote
Originally posted by akdaman1:
Windows is great and Microsoft deserve some respect .

*continues to fall and laugh*
Sorry, but they are not the most respectful of companies... Their virtual monopoly of the desktop software and operating systems markets, their abuse of power, their lack of ingenuity or originality with upgrades, they don't get no respect from me.

Quote
Originally posted by Grey Ninja:
For those of you planning on buying an Athlon 64 in the near future, take a guess what the only 64 bit OS is right now.

Longhorn is at least four years away, and Apple are off sniffing daisies and hugging trees.

Quote
Originally posted by Toy:
but that sounds better than taking months to figure out how to install and use an O.S. Plus as already stated if you want to play most games or use most of the programs on the market you need Windows.

For some, me included, the ability to customise an operating system, no matter how little or how much, is too tempting to ignore.
And you can emulate many Windows though Linux, as well as all the free alternative programs.

Mario · « **Reply #23 on:** December 10, 2003, 11:56:31 PM »

Sorry, i shouldn't have said that, its just that... i should really not say anything here.

And thank you for conveniantly quoting only that part of my post. Ok, im gone. Sorry if i interfered, or whatever.

Procession · « **Reply #24 on:** December 11, 2003, 12:03:30 AM »

Last post for the night on this, I swear.

"the profit Microsoft makes off of Windows goes back into Windows"

Wrong. I can't find an URL right now (I think an old news.com story) but Microsoft could sell Windows for $50 and still make a profit. So for every $150 (?) box, they put well less than $50 into R&D and manufacturing, marketing etc. Although Longhorn is an unusally big investment for Microsoft, by then they'll only be up to where Apple is now.

"3) I would like to dispute this point. Unless you like to run twenty applications at once, the Windows systems maintain their stability under much activity. I haven't had any problems with 2000, and XP (based on the 2000 architecture) is similar. So for casual users, this point is wasted."

Agreed from my admittedly little experience with 2K/XP, things have got much more stable than 9X series. But that isn't saying much. I honestly don't know anyone who hasn't had problems even with XP. Microsoft could still do better in this respect.

News:

Author Topic: Why you should drop Windows... (Read 21295 times)