I heard through the grapevine that anybody who knows anything about computers knows not to use a Windows OS.
Essentially, Linux is better and free and more user-friendly for anyone who wants to do more than "the basic stuff" on their computer.
And that Mac is just as good, but more expensive.
I figured this community was full of smart cookies, so I thought I'd drop by and get another perspective. I am having a few frustrations with Windows myself, so I am considering a switch.
Then again, this man is currently frustrated over the discontinuation of Microsoft Money, and the fact that Microsoft keeps all information behind their programs in secret, so I figured he is very biased.
I've always used Windows XP and had little problems with it. Although lately I've been using a Linux OS, Ubuntu, and enjoying it quite a bit. I'm debating whether to switch back at all actually. The only problem I have is that I can't seem to get emulators running very well on Ubuntu and I can't get my screen resolution to a setting that I like but I imagine those are my problems (due to stupidity), not the OS.
But I'm not a computer savvy dude really so I don't have any real advice for you. I'd be interested to hear the replies here as well...
My main computer was Ubuntu, until my mobo fried itself. For now I'm stuck with my dads old laptop that has XP on it.
Linux is capable of using most windows programs that I encountered though wine, and the rest could easily go though a virtualmachine. there are many friendly communities that help out new people happily and patiently. Well that's all I can think of saying for now.
Linux > Mac OS > Windows XP > Windows Vista
I was dual booting Ubuntu and XP right before my comp fried. Should start doing it again, but till then I am happy with XP.
I've used Ubuntu, YDL, Xubuntu, OS X, XP, Vista(premium and Ultimate) and Win7.
Ubuntu wins but Win7 brings back the feeling of windows actually being on top of the OS fuck fest.
Windows 7 and OS X on a MacBook Air. I don't have any serious headaches with either one, and while I could use Parallels or VMWare to virtualize Windows, I like running it at full speed, instead of hampering the performance of both while running it in a virtual machine.
All I can say is that there's no way in hell I'm going back to Vista or XP.
Using XP because I've had very little problems with it, and see no point to 'upgrading' to a different OS that doesn't support video games at all.
XP, because dial-up is nearly impossible to configure in Linux.
XP, 'cause I'm lazy and don't want to learn a new OS right now and vista is a piece of shit.
I think my main problem is that I'm running Vista, and it doesn't seem to like it when I customize anything. Mildly annoying. Or maybe it's just the fact that I pick some pretty crappy programs to run on it, like McAfee antivirus for starters.
I guess I can't complain though, it came with my free laptop when I enrolled at EZ university.
For anyone that uses Linux, which distribution would you recommend? Ubuntu? I don't know a whole lot about computers ATM, but I picked up Computer Science as my second major, so I'll be pretty computer savvy in at least a couple of years anyway.
Ubuntu for starters for sure, unless you want something faster then try Xubuntu (almost the same takes less resources though), anyway theres tons of community support for it. As for dial up settings I'm not sure as I personally never had the prob. Try Extending your wifi range and steal some signal.
Quote from: "Vanya"XP, 'cause I'm lazy and don't want to learn a new OS right now and vista is a piece of shit.
XP, I'm really want to use Mac Os, but for me that's too expensive.
rofl your sig Algus
jesus
Quote from: "Algus"XP, I'm really want to use Mac Os, but for me that's too expensive.
http://www.hackint0sh.org
hackers rejoice
Despite it's apparent unpopularity, I use Vista. It has yet to mistreat me. I'm not sure what everyone's disregard for it is, but I've only had it for a week, maybe I'll find out later.
Quote from: "Kuraudo Sutoraifu"Despite it's apparent unpopularity, I use Vista. It has yet to mistreat me. I'm not sure what everyone's disregard for it is, but I've only had it for a week, maybe I'll find out later.
Try to play games that are not emulated(like say starcraft). That's where I first encountered problems. The rest of them just sort of creep up on you.
Quote from: "Kuraudo Sutoraifu"Despite it's apparent unpopularity, I use Vista. It has yet to mistreat me. I'm not sure what everyone's disregard for it is, but I've only had it for a week, maybe I'll find out later.
It depends on your rig. I ran it for a little while on my laptop before installing Windows 7 and it gave me no issues either.
well OSX is the best OS that is why I use it ok
Quote from: "Voldemort"well OSX is the best OS that is why I use it ok
Lying Voldemort is lying.
Quote from: "Voldemort"well OSX is the best OS that is why I use it ok
Subjective comment is...
Well you know the rest. It is a good OS though.
Windows 98>2000>xp, wanna try vista
Quote from: "Voldemort"well OSX is the best OS that is why I use it ok
I agree with you. It's better than the other OS.
Can't stand Macs. People always say "You can just install Windows on your Mac, if you want." But that's ridiculous. Mac computers cost tons more for worse hardware. And loading a computer with tons of OS tend to slow them down. Since I'm in for gaming, I want to be able to play anything I buy, and Mac and Linux seem to have lesser compatibility than a Windows OS.
I'm happy with my Vista. I've had it for close to a year, and I haven't had a single problem with it. I wanted to try Linux, but honestly.. I'm too lazy to figure out with version to get, and my dad says screw the piece of shit. He's always been right before, and I'm not about to test his judgment right now. Especially if it's about computers.
XP is nice and all, but I couldn't stand the drop boxes for icons on my desktop. That was my only problem with it. 98 was ok, fast, but I can't stand the look of it anymore. I like smooth, sleek. Vista has that.
For me, Vista/XP>98>Linux>OS X
Macs, from an engineers standing point, have better hardware. It is crap because none of the software or anything wants to support it. (i can give you the msn address of an engineer who actively pieces these things together.)
A standard rule to go buy is: "Mac for development, Windows for actually doing shit"
Mac is great with photoshop, and tablets are more compatible with it on a mac, then it is on windows. But Windows does everything else, including games. Alot of MMOs JUST released the mac compatible clients. Its really odd that its so far behind in compatability. Given the support, Mac would outdue windows in everything. But the drivers windows uses are unsupported for mac hardware and such.
informed SB is informed
Quote from: "Voldemort"informed SB is informed
Yea, i do that sometimes. Granted, not usually as graceful as that.
Most of the time my knowledge flows out of me like Paste does from a kindergartners orifices.
Quote from: "SentinalBlade"Quote from: "Voldemort"informed SB is informed
Yea, i do that sometimes. Granted, not usually as graceful as that.
Most of the time my knowledge flows out of me like Paste does from a kindergartners orifices.
tooting horn SB is tooting horn
tooting horn?
Have you ever seen a kindergartner ooze paste? its not a pretty sight xD
No, no I have not. Nor do I ever wish to.
IMO macs are for the flash and glam, yeah you can get better hardware on a mac for a price but you can buy or build almost near identical specs for windows. I say near because I've yet to come across a non-server mobo that supports two processors, four gfx cards, and 32gb of ram. But it costs as much as a new car.
Yea, Macs are expensive. The only reason i would get one in the future, is if i got a 75% discount by working at a tech store(which i am now, so yay).
If your not making 60,000 a year to spend on computer parts with no discounts, your better off with windows. Even though the "near" specs arent as reliable as a macs, it still so much cheaper it makes up for it.
Thanks SB, very informative.
Quote from: "SentinalBlade"Macs, from an engineers standing point, have better hardware. It is crap because none of the software or anything wants to support it. (i can give you the msn address of an engineer who actively pieces these things together.)
A standard rule to go buy is: "Mac for development, Windows for actually doing shit"
Mac is great with photoshop, and tablets are more compatible with it on a mac, then it is on windows. But Windows does everything else, including games. Alot of MMOs JUST released the mac compatible clients. Its really odd that its so far behind in compatability. Given the support, Mac would outdue windows in everything. But the drivers windows uses are unsupported for mac hardware and such.
I've heard this summed up in anology before: Macs are like fuel-effecient cars with great performance and little to no maintenance, but they can only drive 1/2 of existing roads.
I would agree with that
but here's one thing to think about:
more and more devs are releasing their programs in dual-format (Diablo 3 and SC2 kekeke) and mac does have it's own mac equivalents of alot of things that are Windows only, + Parallels
Slightly off-topic, but related to this, since it is about operating systems.
Apparently, the developer builds of Snow Leopard (upcoming version of OS X) display HDD capacity in base 10 instead of base 2. What do you folks think of this?
Isn't base 2 binary? How could a hard drive show anything besides on or off? It must not use the disc format that we have grown to know and love.
What I mean is, for example, 1,024 bytes is current displayed by the OS as 1 KB. Under Snow Leopard, 1,024 bytes will be displayed as 1.024 KB instead.
as long as it runs everything fast and smoothly, I don't care if it tells me that 1,024 bytes displays as 99999
I'm currently running Windows 7 (on a mac, though it doesn't belong to me). I wanted to try out the new flavor of windows, which I do use as a primary operating system.. pretty much for the software developed for it.. both commercial and non. Mac OS X might be the superior operating system, but the programs I believe to be superior just don't run natively on it.
If we're going to count the GUI as part of the operating system, I prefer Explorer over.. uh.. whatever Mac OS X is packaged with. I just.. don't like docks or minimized windows being shoved off into their own little corner.
As Macs get more and more marketshare, they will start getting better programs (access to the linux side of things also helps a great deal).. though Blizzard wasn't the best example of a developer, they've actually been really good about releasing for both Windows and Mac for a long time now.
Edit: Though I do wonder if the whole 'we can run Windows programs too' thing is going to hurt that and give a 'just boot your windows partition' mentality.
I use Linux Ubuntu because its much faster and more reliable than windows, and not many people make viruses for linux. The Gnome desktop is great, a lot like osx, but you can completely change everything about the OS or any program to make it your own.
OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) and [s:3pcu7cn9]Touch OS X[/s:3pcu7cn9] iOS 4 (iPhone). I keep Windows running in its little virtual sandbox (and, I can't wait to get rid of it forever someday). Once you have switched, you can't go back. I am far more productive on a Mac with not just the OS features, but some of the most amazing apps that I couldn't live without (Coda, CSSEdit, Transmit, Transmission, so many...). I also have several windows boxes at home, mostly collecting dust.
I have used a variety of Linux builds before... I honestly rather use Windows 7. For work and everything that I do, Mac OS X is all I use. Most of my friends have been switching over.
Exposé > you.
A stripped down Windows XP SP3. Pretty decent since Its full of PC games mostly.
Mac OS X 10.6 and Windows 7 Pro (on the Boot Camp partition) on a MacBook. I can't go without either one, which is why I prefer Apple's notebooks now.