What is your opinion about the best operating system for desktop/laptops ?

[mjserv]

Basis of your opinion on


Reliability
Scalability
Ease to use
Easy to administer
Security

Indeed, it does depend on the purpose.

I'd love to see people's opinions

 

[lemon-tree]

Despite being an avid Mac user, I don't believe that it is suited to all applications. At home or for graphic work etc, I believe that it is very good. However, put it in any industrial workplace and it would fail pitifully.
Windows, on the other hand, is good for mass market as it is relatively cheap and has a few options.
The final OS category, Linux, is really for specialised applications, where a huge level of customisation is needed. For example, it is perfect in a serving and hosting position as it is very reliable and extremely secure.
Really, the best OS really depends on your needs at any one time, as you stated above.

 

[garrettroyce]

Ubuntu Linux is terrific and really doesn't require much command line knowledge. But, at the end of the day, probably about 75% of software is for Windows only which can be a huge problem with interoperability and convenience.

 

[taha116]

Windows is widley available cheaper, easy to hack, easy to use, has more apps.

Mac is kooler and is growing faster then youd expect and deserves respect for (to my knowledge) being the actual first creater of the computer. Its got better graphic editing potentioal (So i hear) .

Linux.. I dont understand why there are like 500 types so dont know (WTH am i supposed to say...)

 

[garrettroyce]

Funny you mention it, Windows, Mac, and Linux were all nearly identical at one point.

I don't understand how any computer can possibly be better at one thing than another. Maybe if a Mac has better hardware, but that's not an OS comparison. Speaking of which, check out the price of a Mac first. And then, see how much it will cost you to add anything to it later, even something like RAM and if it's even possible, because a lot of cases, it isn't.

*Not a Mac/Apple fan*

 

[merrillmck]

Funny you mention it, Windows, Mac, and Linux were all nearly identical at one point.

I don't understand how any computer can possibly be better at one thing than another. Maybe if a Mac has better hardware, but that's not an OS comparison. Speaking of which, check out the price of a Mac first. And then, see how much it will cost you to add anything to it later, even something like RAM and if it's even possible, because a lot of cases, it isn't.

*Not a Mac/Apple fan*

Or if you decide to buy a Mac Mini and then need to plunk down $80-$100 for a mouse and keyboard.

By the way, this thread is similar to "Mac or PC" that's out here somewhere. The Linux users are active on that thread also so everyone is represented. Except maybe Sun Solaris ...

 

[zen-r]

No-one's choosing DOS then?

It couldn't do much, but at least it was compact.

I remember when you could get the whole operating system on a 1.4MB floppy disk!

 

[alexandgruntz]

DOS apparently is still used for theatre lighting :biggrin:

For most businesses, Windows would be the obvious choice due to its flexibility, familiarity and compatible.

 

[Linkz0rs]

Windows = Eww
Linux = Eh.. Not Bad
Mac = Eh.. Not Bad

It'd be better if you created your own Operating System.
From there, you can customize exactly what you want in an OS...
I've been working on an OS of my own for quite a while actually, along with the help of a bunch of good friends.

But if I were to choose which OS to use (other than my own), I'd use a Mac.

 

[alid1712]

right now i'm using my ubuntu desktop for non serious matter such as checking facebook, chating and downloading easy stuff. or even watch movies.. got a large screen for this desktop.

but when i'm doing serious documents, graphic designing and web editing, i switch to my heart Mr. Acer Ferrari 4006 which is apparently a windows vista ulti. hahahah

I used to be a gamer, thats why im very close with windows, but now.. i seem to loose interest on games.. thats why ubuntu is fine for me.

I wish to go to mac world someday.. I do have several iPod models but that doesnt count it right haha.

 

[garrettroyce]

I guess you'd like it if we answered the questions, eh?

Windows
Reliability - 8/10 Yeah, there are a lot of viruses, but way too many good scanners
Scalability - 10/10 If you have a windows server and domains, 7/10 for workgroups
Ease to use - 10/10 If you can turn on a PC, you can use it
Easy to administer - 8/10 Can be tricky to find just the right setting, but I don't think anyone can say otherwise for any OS
Security - 7/10 With 98% market share, people are going to try and hack Windows to scam more people. Why even bother making a Mac or Linux virus? Windows has probably thousands of people on the security team and billions of dollars in income, they're gonna fix the problem. Quickly. Period.

 

[ichwar]

Actually, I'd put it this way:

Linux
Reliability - 9/10 I switched to linux a couple of years ago because it would run smoothly and reliably on my machine that windows was constantly crashing and BSODing on.
Scalability - 10/10 Combine the ability to remote login with a seamless integration with network services and you get a scalability that can't be beat.
Easy to use - 11/10

If you can turn on a PC, you can use it

Easy to administer 10/10 If you have basic knowledge of terminal commands. If you don't then you have to go to many of the great forums and have someone who's been using linux for more than a day give you some code to cut and paste into the terminal. That would reduce the easiness down to 9/10.
Security - 10/10 This thread speaks for me: http://thevistaforums.com/index.php?showtopic=33698&st=0

 

[alid1712]

Windows is far easiest user friendly, well from my perspective.

Since I don't have a real computer science education experience, not a techy expert, i find ubuntu at 1st very awful. Talk about the code for the terminal, and installing a program haha. Thank god internet was there; to surf for my solution..

 

[merrillmck]

Actually, I'd put it this way:

Linux
Reliability - 9/10 I switched to linux a couple of years ago because it would run smoothly and reliably on my machine that windows was constantly crashing and BSODing on.
Scalability - 10/10 Combine the ability to remote login with a seamless integration with network services and you get a scalability that can't be beat.
Easy to use - 11/10
Easy to administer 10/10 If you have basic knowledge of terminal commands. If you don't then you have to go to many of the great forums and have someone who's been using linux for more than a day give you some code to cut and paste into the terminal. That would reduce the easiness down to 9/10.
Security - 10/10 This thread speaks for me: http://thevistaforums.com/index.php?showtopic=33698&st=0

Not really a marketing strategy to the masses, eh? I think my mom and dad would rate that about a 0/10 on ease of use.

 

[Sharky]

Well said.
ichwar: Did you investigate why it was crashing? Most likely, not Windows itself
"remote login with a seamless integration"? You mean SSH?

 

[alexandgruntz]

Effectively domains are remotely logging in: at school, I can log into any PC and have the same (non-changeable) settings presented to me. Programs available depend on the PCs main use, however.

 

[Sharky]

That's still technically 'local', not remote, as you're logging in to the PC itself, and it's looking up your credentials and copying your user settings from the Windows server. (Active Directory, I think it's called...)
I guess Terminal Services would be remote login, but seamless integration? I don't get that...

 

[garrettroyce]

I think you should also consider resource usage. Windows is a notorious hog by default and linux is very efficient by default. Depending on how you configure either, you can change the final numbers a lot in either favor.