BBC OS comparison (vista, linux, OS X)
I have just read a BBC “users OS review”. BBC have selected two users to explain theirs opinion about Windows Vista, and by one user for Linux and OS X.
After reading that article, my final thought is that vista bloated too much. That was mentioned by both writers. No one of Linux distros requires a minimum of 512 megabytes of memory just to start an empty OS. The exact vista fan’s phrase was:
Whilst 512Mb is quoted as the minimum I would say that 1Gb is needed for a wait-free session.
How is it, to have 1Gb just “for a wait-free session”? Microsoft also did, in my opinion, a funny solution for those who have a not enough (I suppose less than 1Gb) memory. As the other writer sayed:
When you’re having performance issues due to insufficient memory, you can use a USB flash drive as an additional cache of memory to boost performance.
No one of users mentioned notning interesting besides the new Windows 3D Aero interface. To be clear, both articles are telling to buy more memory and new video card, just for a new Microsoft fetish interface. The completely different articles about the Linux and the Apple OS. The basic ideas from the article about Linux, as always, is about freedom:
- … it also gives more experienced users radical powers over their computer which are not available in other operating systems.
- Also there is a huge variety of high quality, free software available for Linux…
- Also it encourages programmers to be better people, working in the open…
I’am absolutely agree with this opinion. The same as the author of the first Vista article, I did all steeps following the Misrosift. I was faithful to it, and went through all popular OS versions: 3.11, 95, 95 osr2, 98, 2000, XP. But the real comfort came to me in 2004 only with Linux.
What is for the Mac OS X? It is a truely polished OS. It is much more stable than any Windows, and it is straight forward developed than GNU/Linux distributins with theirs tons of variants how to do the same task. But I think, it is not fearful Microsoft competitor, because it supports mostly own expensive Apple computers, and no possibility to set it up on any other cheap variant.
I’m a opensuse user, and I like windows xp a lot. My Mom, Dad and sister really like using computers, and windows xp does everything that they want them to do. I had to set mostly everything on their computers. I had to hunt down suitable torrents and download windows xp professional, ms office, antivirus, mp3 rippers … the list goes on and on.
The most wonderful thing about gnu/linux is the fact the one need not ‘pirate’ or ‘steal’ anything. It is all generously given away.
‘Freedom’ as in ‘beer’
‘Freedom’ as in ‘speech’
Two freedoms I shall no longer unwittingly forfeit.
I think you should have written a much longer blog. Include some more content, more opinions. I look forward to reading more.
-Felipe
I am an openSuSE/ Fedora user for past 4 years and I guess, the reason I like Linux OS is that, it’s extremely flexible enough to sneak peak into any sort of hardware you throw at it.
Excluding it’s hardware detection, I guess Linux is the BEST choice for innovation and security without the irritating UAL dialogs like Vista apart from Mac.
Though Mac is superior than Linux in many ways, the force behind Linux’ preference over mac over the years is it’s hardware compatibility, easy availability and free of guilt of piracy, less effective viruses and importantly, choices you have for everything.
It presents with multiple choices, treats you with respect, and lets you pick the best that suits you, instead of being right at face with limited choices and forcing you to go with those choices like other operating systems.
- Rhonald
as we compare xp & linux in case of hardware support xp is sometimes greater but in coparision with vista “corora linux is much better than vista”all the visual effects in vista are copied or based on linux effects then also vist could not don well it is my challange that if all companies who are supporting microsoft are coming forword for full hardware support and driver support for linux the kingdom will be won within a year because people belives in the best
Linux has come a long way and is now competing well with Windows and especially Vista. We have a support centre for Linux and our experience is that users start liking Linux after using it for a while.
If only the hardware manufacturers start developing drivers for Linux then definately Linux will outperform Windows Vista.
Its not the price that I am comparing, its the technical and operating stability and most important security that is considered here.
Some small enhancments like search is required in Linux but will come in the next releases. Its great for office work but as home PC it falls short of Vista due to unavailability of device drivers.