djarrum
New Member
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2009
It's clear that there are people here that have input on this topic, so rather than derail other topics any further, I thought it would be appropriate to start a thread just for this.
I'll make the first post in a pro and con format, feel free to coment no matter what side you take.
Windows
Pros: Familiar, wide hardware support, platform of choice for most major game titles and professional applications such as AutoCad and Photoshop.
Cons: Expensive, unstable, often requires faster machines, depends on profitability to improve, poor file system (fragmentation), Difficult to identify cause of malfunctions, resource hog, poor support for a commercial product, UI Not very customizable. Still relies on DLLs and a registry (frequent cause of conflicts). Target of viruses, spyware & malware.
Linux
Pros: Price, Free is the best possible price. Stability, runs well on older machines, Not dependent on profitability to improve. Reliable file system, Resistant (though not immune) to Viruses, Security requires very little user intervention. No DLL files, no registry, Basic functionality largely the same for since it's introduction. includes very powerful development/programming tools. Highly customizable. Updates include installed software. Command line interface is a powerful feature.
Cons: poorly adopted by game developers. sometimes hard to find support for third party hardware. Unfamiliar to average PC users. Requires users to relearn tasks on equivalent open source applications (Photoshop to GIMP). Command line interface usually a deal breaker for average PC users.
Feel free to add your opinion. What would it take for you to dump Windows for Linux? Assuming Linux offered you everything you needed, would you be willing to learn a new OS if it meant saving money? Do you think schools should make more effort to introduce Linux to students? Do you think Linux could save tax payers money if local state and federal government agencies made more of an attempt to use open source software?
I'll make the first post in a pro and con format, feel free to coment no matter what side you take.
Windows
Pros: Familiar, wide hardware support, platform of choice for most major game titles and professional applications such as AutoCad and Photoshop.
Cons: Expensive, unstable, often requires faster machines, depends on profitability to improve, poor file system (fragmentation), Difficult to identify cause of malfunctions, resource hog, poor support for a commercial product, UI Not very customizable. Still relies on DLLs and a registry (frequent cause of conflicts). Target of viruses, spyware & malware.
Linux
Pros: Price, Free is the best possible price. Stability, runs well on older machines, Not dependent on profitability to improve. Reliable file system, Resistant (though not immune) to Viruses, Security requires very little user intervention. No DLL files, no registry, Basic functionality largely the same for since it's introduction. includes very powerful development/programming tools. Highly customizable. Updates include installed software. Command line interface is a powerful feature.
Cons: poorly adopted by game developers. sometimes hard to find support for third party hardware. Unfamiliar to average PC users. Requires users to relearn tasks on equivalent open source applications (Photoshop to GIMP). Command line interface usually a deal breaker for average PC users.
Feel free to add your opinion. What would it take for you to dump Windows for Linux? Assuming Linux offered you everything you needed, would you be willing to learn a new OS if it meant saving money? Do you think schools should make more effort to introduce Linux to students? Do you think Linux could save tax payers money if local state and federal government agencies made more of an attempt to use open source software?