Which is the Better Alternative To Microsoft’s Windows, Linux or Mac?
Filed under: Computers, Software | By: Ryan
Posted on: August 2, 2007 | 9 Comments
If you’re disappointed with the latest attempt of an operating system by Microsoft and think your Linux distro or Apple OX is superior, then tell us why. The transitition from Windows XP to Windows Vista is seen as the ideal time to steal some customers and so Linux and Apple really have taken advantage of this fact, by making their OS’ as appealing as possible.
Linux has gone from being a small and insignificant project for open-source geeks enthusiasts to one of the most influential and powerful software companies in the world. Quite simply, huge thanks are due to the effort of both the volunteer community that steadily work hard on the OS and the companies that are investing in Linux aiding them in their development.
Buying a Mac has become a very interesting and ‘old-school’ concept, with Apple providing the hardware, the operating system OS X, key, first party applications such as calendaring, e-mail, and address book. Macs can be bought from a myriad of places, but most prefer to buy it direct from the Apple Store. This individual and solo approach from the big fruit has seen a more stable, secure and profitable company, proving successful with Macs selling faster than ever.
Whether you’re are a Mac fan or a Linux fan, let us know. Why do you feel your OS is the better alternative?
CLICK HERE to keep updated with the latest news, share a comment or problems with products and services. Follow us on twitter or read more news.
Well this is very intresting. Someone post something because I want to know too. I have looked at the Macs but I can’t fathom spending the money for something i can get in a PC. Is that extra money for a virus free machine?
It’s very much worth it. Sure, it’s fairly secure, due to the majority of people being on Windows, most hackers don’t care to write a virus for Macs. Macs are beautiful, there is no question about that. They are ridiculously user-friendly. The bundled software is great. I personally love garageband with a passion. The built in camera is great. The main reason I’ll always recommend someone a Mac, is because you know what you’re getting. They make the hardware AND the software. It works, plain and simple. I mean, look at the iPhone. It’s the first version, they’ve never done a phone before, and look at it. It’s gorgeous, easy to use, and doesn’t really have all that many problems. Also, the resale value is amazing. A powerbook from way back when is still going for $1000 on ebay. A PC with the same specs, go for around $400. New iMacs on the 7th.
I’m excited.
That is a nice remark you made but there is one flaw. Mac has not invented any of their hardware. The software is great though.
Personally, I’ve been using linux for about year, and I love it. its not quite as user friendly as a mac, but its free. and because its open source, its really the os to use if you want to learn more about computers. You can do what ever you want to your own computer, which I find refreshing. I’ve mostly used Ubuntu, but I’m trying to make the switch to sabayon (absolutely beautiful), once I get past some hardware issues. let’s not forget that osx and linux are related (osx is basically a modified free bsd kernel with the mach3 micro kernel on top, per apple’s website. freebsd and linux are both opensource interpretations of unix) Just as secure, more nerdy.
I love linux as well. It’s great for hacking :). The possibilities of things you can do greatly increase when using linux. And you know, it’s free, which is definitely a plus. I think the main reason Windows is still the most used OS is because people just don’t know their options. They don’t know about mac or linux, and when they get their computer, it comes with Windows. So when they upgrade, they stick with Windows. There really should only be two main ones. OSX and the many versions of linux
I use a Mac at work and Linux at my house. About three months ago I made the plunge and removd all installations of Windows from my house systems. I’ve haven’t been this happy with computers in a long time, if ever.
Plus and Minus
MAC
I keep hearing people say Macs are super user friendly, I disagree to some extent. Window management on Macs is not very intuitive. Pages, for instance, has some formatting elements in the inspector, and then some from the menu bar…why not just put all of them in one spot? It can be frustrating. But from a pure Email-Internet-Document printing stand point it’s super easy. Also, I’ve found that setting up devices like my bluetooth cell phone on my Mac is also super easy.
Linux
Gnu’s Not Unix. It’s free, not like free beer, more like free speech. What a fantastic concept! As far as a system for simple tasks, once again Email-Internet-Document printing, it’s perfect and just as easy, if not easier, than Mac. Where Linux gets geeky is when you want to start doing tings with newer or just released technology. For instance, using my cell phone as a modem took me a few hours of work…where on my Mac it took me 5 minutes. But, on the flip side, GIMP (a free image editor comparitive to PhotoShop) is easily installed in Linux (in fact it comes with most distro’s) but is a pain to install on the MAC (requies MacPorts, which isn’t free, and has the user editting enviroment varibles). The Samba network (the Linux equivalent of the Windows network) works 100 times better than any Windows network I’ve used.
My bottom line:
Mac is great, but I choose Linux. I’ve even installed Linux on my mother’s computer, gave her a 1 hour training, and she has been doing her Ebaying like never before (I think she’s addicted). She loves it. And for awhile I was having to make a trip out to my folks house about once a month to repair a broken or virus infected Windows machine. So far no issues with Linux.
If you are not a “Power User” you can use Linux. If you ae a “Power User” you should already have it.
I’ve been installing Fedora.
There are 3 categories of Linux users:
1. Complete novices.
2. Intermediate fiddlers who think they are experts.
3. Genuine experts.
#1 and #3 both get on very well with Linux. The #1s just use it and it doesn’t let them down; they don’t know enough to fiddle with things that they don’t understand so they never get into trouble.
The #2s are the problem: They think they know what they are doing, they fiddle, they break it and then blame the OS or distro. They either need to get humble or educated, or stick to Microshaft.
I agree with Peter Shaffer. I would love to afford to buy an AppleMac as it is the superior build to Windows and more secure - think of the money people would save in a life-time not having to subscribe annually to Anti-Virus vendors! You don’t hear a Mac like a PC - just silence! For those who can’t afford a Mac, Linux is the obvious choice and having played on a display model of a Mac, Linux would be easier to transit to from Windoze.
I agree with Kevin up there, but except for macs. I just dont know anything about them. What I do know is that linux is great. Ubuntu has to iron out a few creases, and then it will be completely ready for prime time. The only thing I can think of for Ubuntu to fix now though, is flash support (and it may not even be their fault).
I have been an Ubuntu user for about a year, and I have fallen in love. What keven said about linux being great for “Power Users” is absolutelly true. I am a web developer, and definitelly a power user.
Its about the little things. I dual screen, and If I have a maximized window in one screen, I can drag it out of maximazation, and drag it to the top of the next screen to automatically re-maximize. Why cant windows do that?
If you highlight text with the mouse and middlemouse click in a text area, that is copy and past. If you hold down ALT and drag the middle of a window, the window drags. Virtual desktops allow you to keep windows open without it getting in the way of frequetn ALT+TABing. Virtual desktops keep things organized. Its all these little things that make windows so great
The applications are great, Evolution is TEN TIMES BETTER THAN OUTLOOK will ever be. I absolutely love evolution. Firefox…. thats all that needs to be said, great of course. Openoffice is productive and complete. There are enough IDEs and text editers to choke a horse (eclipse PDT for PHP is best for that)
I thoroughly believe that Linux is the OS of the future.
And about Fedora, Fedora is uninspiring, but ROCK SOLID. That distro is as solid as Debian, but just about as inspiring. It lacks some cool features that make ubuntu great, but if it is pre-installed on a machine, than fedora is excellent.