On MovieTome: Top Ten: Most Bizarre Twilight Merch
BNET Business Network:
BNET
TechRepublic
ZDNet
TalkBack 14 of 123:
Next »
« Previous
Point by Point
1. Full access vs no access

Sure, having access to source code is better than not having access to source code but this doesn't affect the average Joe at all and it also won't affect 99% of corporate users either. Yes, yes, I'm sure people will be able to bring up anecdotal evidence that they've taken advantage of open source and I wouldn't dream of disputing it, I'm only saying that open source is as useful to most people as the engine hood of their car: sure they can open it but most won't.

I have, on occasion, dipped into the code of one Linux application or another, and when all was said and done, was happy with the results. Could I have done that with a closed-source Windows application?

Huh? You could have dipped into the code of an open source Windows application and you couldn't have done it with a closed-source Linux application so I'm not sure what this has to do with Windows vs Linux.

2. Licensing freedom vs licensing restrictions

Agreed.

3. Online peer support vs paid helpdesk support

Agreed but: Why do so many say Microsoft support is superior to Linux paid support?

Who says this?

4. Full vs partial hardware support

Linux has better support for older hardware, Windows has better support for newer hardware. I'm still pissed that my Creative XFi sits useless while I'm booted into Linux. sad

5. Command line vs no command line

But for the end user, this is not necessarily the case. You could use a Linux machine for years and never touch the command line. Same with Windows.

Good, so we agree that this is not an issue for most people.

And if a user does get the Windows command line up and running, how useful is it really?

Wait, I thought we just agreed that the command line in both Windows and Linux is simply not necessary. Funny how suddenly it is!

Regardless, I totally disagree that the Windows command line is not useful. You've been able to build incredibly powerful scripts with vbscript for many years now and Powershell is a fantastically powerful tool. Finally, things like Perl are available for the Windows command line too.

6. Centralized vs non-centralized application installation

Agreed for end users. For the corporation though, Windows offers excellent centralized application installation tools. I'm sure Linux does too although I've never had cause to research this.

7. Flexibility vs rigidity

This isn't fair. You say that with Windows, you are stuck with the default desktop unless you go third party and then you say that Linux is fantastic because of things like Compiz. Um, you realize that Compiz is "third party" too, right?

However, one thing I love about Linux is that you have much deeper flexibility than you do with Windows. My MythTV box uses SUSE but instead of KDE/GNOME, I went with fvwm since it uses far fewer resources. My Linux server (an old, tired, "I refuse to die" PC) doesn't have a windows manager installed on it at all. There is a reason why XP and not Vista is the one installed on things like the Asus Eee PC!

8. Fanboys vs corporate types

Instead, Windows has a league of paper-certified administrators who believe the hype when they hear the misrepresented market-share numbers reassuring them they will be employable until the end of time.

Wow, I'm glad you don't generalize too much! Nice of you again to dismiss 90%+ of the computer using public. The funny thing is that I bet you that there are numerically more "smart" Windows administrators than there are "smart" Linux administrators. Sure, there are probably more "paper MCSEs" than "paper RHCEs" but that has more to do with the popularity of the OS and less to do with how suitable the OS is for the task at hand.

9. Automated vs nonautomated removable media

Think about it: on a multi-user system, if everyone had instant access to a disk that had been inserted, what would stop them from deleting or overwriting a file you had just added to the media?

Now you simply need to explain how Windows, a multi-user system for 15 years, manages to get around this.

10. Multilayered run levels vs single-layered run level

Yup, gotta love the flexibility here.

-------------------------------------

I think in the end, Linux wins on flexibility every time and if my post seems down on Linux, it isn't, it is down on those who slam Windows with lies. There is plenty of stuff to slam Windows over so I really don't understand why people need to make stuff up or exaggerate the problems that do exist. I would love to see Linux be "the" OS that is installed on the Dell you just bought from Best Buy. I guess I just look around my life right now and I'm pretty pleased with what I'm able to accomplish with a mix of Vista, Linux, XBox, and Windows Mobile. Isn't that what is important in the end?
Posted by: NonZealot   Posted on: 09/04/08 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
Reply to Story Reply to Message

Alert moderator to an offensive message

Subscribe to this discussion via Email or RSS

Support  rpmyers1 | 09/04/08
And, the OEMs to do all of the support. MS only supports retail versions.  DonnieBoy | 09/04/08
MS also supports Windows after service packs.  mrlinux | 09/04/08
This was dev support  rpmyers1 | 09/04/08
How was it that much?  eb276 | 09/04/08
Shouldn't this be titled  ye | 09/04/08
Re: Shouldn't this be titled  mKind | 09/04/08
Re: Shouldn't this be titled  mKind | 09/04/08
You classify three of ten specific to Windows but...  ye | 09/04/08
All it takes is one  jasonp@... | 09/04/08
RE: Ten key differences between Linux and Windows  Heenan73 | 09/04/08
Huh?  b.bob | 09/04/08
I thought it was.  Socratesfoot | 09/04/08
Point by Point  NonZealot | 09/04/08
Excellent post......  daMan25 | 09/04/08
Maybe he was considering Vista?  Socratesfoot | 09/04/08
I disagree with what you're saying.  jmiller1978 | 09/05/08
Lies?  Richard Flude | 09/04/08
On your point 3  eb276 | 09/04/08
RE: Ten key differences between Linux and Windows  Loverock Davidson | 09/04/08
Are you for real?  Jim Blaine - Bellingham WA. | 09/04/08
One of those Corporate types  nucrash | 09/04/08
Yes I am  Loverock Davidson | 09/04/08
Re Fanboy Corporate Type  Daschmi | 09/04/08
Go to what website for packages?  fr0thy2 | 09/04/08
@Fr0thy  Daschmi | 09/04/08
For once I almost agree with you Loverock ...  fr0thy2 | 09/04/08
Good points..  eMJayy | 09/04/08
One extreme to another  Socratesfoot | 09/04/08
Linux is just taking off?!  jmiller1978 | 09/05/08
Windows didn't start in a monopolized market  GoPower | 09/05/08
RE: Are you for real?  richdave | 10/09/08
I don't knwo if I should laugh of feel sorry for you  Stuka | 09/04/08
Why would you do either?  Loverock Davidson | 09/04/08
And when...  Stuka | 09/04/08
MS pushing forward  jsanko | 09/04/08
Recently  Loverock Davidson | 09/04/08
10/10. That was brilliant.  fr0thy2 | 09/04/08
Color me sheepish  len_480@... | 09/10/08
Re: No it is not  Daschmi | 09/04/08
Only Microsoft employees tells lies of the scale you do ...  fr0thy2 | 09/04/08
Go play with your code and leave the chatting to the adults.  klockheed | 09/04/08
Copying files in Linux...  jasonp@... | 09/04/08
Even easier than that...  Jim Blaine - Bellingham WA. | 09/04/08
Not true...  eMJayy | 09/04/08
Hmm  Richard Flude | 09/04/08
I guess that means you work for them as well...nt  USTechHead | 10/09/08
Pushes foward?  todbran@... | 10/09/08
Amazing isn't he?  eMJayy | 09/04/08
Don't feed the troll...  jasonp@... | 09/04/08
Excuse me?  oneshallstand@... | 09/04/08
WHY DO YOU FEED THIS IDIOT TROLL???  itanalyst2@... | 09/04/08
Ummm.....  todbran@... | 10/09/08
Nobody using Windows can say that?  dch48 | 10/09/08
Loverock is 100% wrong  thezorch@... | 10/09/08
Key Differences?  nucrash | 09/04/08
you better be called telemarketer  jk_10 | 09/04/08
an ant to an elephant  jk_10 | 09/04/08
re and to an elephant  Daschmi | 09/04/08
Fair statement  John L. Ries | 09/04/08
RE: Ten key differences between Linux and Windows  jsanko | 09/04/08
Reading comprehension not your strong point?  Jim Blaine - Bellingham WA. | 09/04/08
U lit ...  n0neXn0ne | 09/04/08
re:reading comprehension  jsanko | 09/04/08
Desktop  jsanko | 09/04/08
You missed something there.  Letophoro | 09/04/08
Neat enough...but  laura.b | 09/08/08
Which 99 percent are you referring to?  Letophoro | 09/08/08
desktop enviroment choices.  pfyearwood | 09/20/08
RE: You missed something there.  richdave | 10/09/08
And your point is?  Jim Blaine - Bellingham WA. | 09/04/08
Not in Vista(n.t)  Daschmi | 09/04/08
Major omission  Yagotta B. Kidding | 09/04/08
RE: Ten key differences between Linux and Windows  mKind | 09/04/08
RE: Ten key differences between Linux and Windows  nebraska401@... | 09/04/08
Very well said  fr0thy2 | 09/04/08
So you're not a developer?  tonymcs@... | 09/04/08
Thou shalt develop how we dictate ....  fr0thy2 | 09/05/08
11. Owning the OS V Being owned by the OS.  whisperycat | 09/04/08
You are right  NonZealot | 09/04/08
Personally  happyharry_z | 09/04/08
I don't even trust Intel.  NonZealot | 09/04/08
Little militant, overdramatic, & not totally true...  Socratesfoot | 09/04/08
Uh... what are you smoking?  Jim Blaine - Bellingham WA. | 09/04/08
Seriously mis-titled  RobertDLewis | 09/04/08
RE: Ten key differences between Linux and Windows  mark.beauchamp@... | 09/04/08
3. Online peer support vs paid helpdesk support  techboy_z | 09/04/08
fantastic reply. (nt)  klockheed | 09/04/08
RE: Ten key differences between Linux and Windows  nealedowling | 09/04/08
POWERSHELL  jjworleyeoe | 09/04/08
POWERHELL  storm14k | 09/04/08
You missed the most important difference  jackbond | 09/04/08
No, wrong again!  Jim Blaine - Bellingham WA. | 09/04/08
RE: You missed the most important difference  richdave | 10/09/08
Delusions  tonymcs@... | 09/04/08
"Windows has a variety of development environments, Linux's is a joke."  fr0thy2 | 09/05/08
Again, Wow......  todbran@... | 10/09/08
Does it matter? And even if it does matter, does it matter that it matters  BooleanMattock | 09/04/08
That 60%  at78rpm | 10/09/08
RE: Ten key differences between Linux and Windows  sdfgdsffgfgsdfgfgsdf | 09/05/08
Monopolist  kurio99 | 09/05/08
RE: Ten key differences between Linux and Windows  ZDNET_guest666 | 09/06/08
RE: Ten key differences between Linux and Windows  CrisCross | 09/07/08
Nothing scarier than a Unix zealot  philstil | 09/08/08
I've used ....  todbran@... | 10/09/08
Clinton News Network versus Fox News  theusernameiselected | 09/08/08
Agreed  jbuturff | 09/09/08
RE: Ten key differences between Linux and Windows  Yetr2 | 09/09/08
RE: Ten key differences between Linux and Windows  len_480@... | 09/10/08
Available Software applications!  Dark_Knight | 10/09/08
conservitive Debian has only has 20,000 + programs and applications  cyfaill | 10/09/08
10. Multilayered run levels vs single-layered run level  Cisco-SA | 10/09/08
RE: Ten *geeky* differences between Linux and Windows  michaeljpastor | 10/09/08
RE: Ten key differences between Linux and Windows  LinuxEnduser | 10/09/08
Same Old, Same Old  isemmel@... | 10/09/08
RE: Ten key differences between Linux and Windows  cyfaill | 10/09/08
11th Key Difference:  Seamus O'Brog | 10/09/08
RE: Ten key differences between Linux and Windows  Shimmey | 10/09/08
Only ONE difference matters in the end  Drakaran | 10/11/08
My 6 personal differences  tom123_z | 10/12/08
Windows PCS disabled by rootkit malware  perspectoff | 11/06/08
RE: Ten key differences between Linux and Windows  lilyk | 09/21/09
RE: Ten key differences between Linux and Windows  oldfart111 | 10/26/09

What do you think?

SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads

advertisement
advertisement

SmartPlanet

Click Here