Linux is useless

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The main strength of the system is not running desktop software at all but in running server based applications. just because it may not be the best desktop system does not make it "useless" most of the internet runs on Linux or UNIX systems. and this is so for a reason, they are well suited for the task. its a bit better onthe desktop today than it has been in the past but I would agree that it isn't a great desktop for most people. i would certainly call it a great server platform though as that is where it excels.

I would have made some statement about generalisation, but I stepped back and thought about it, and I realise that you are right - numerous sources have taken Windows programs apart and have found structs, resources and all matter of crap in programs that aren't even used, resulting in bloat. The Windows C API is particularly notorious for this.

In the short term, a direct port would result in a quicker release, but with substantial performance and (in some cases) stability penalties. A do-over would take ages for a large package, but you can be sure of production quality, so long as you don't hire incompetent programmers.

The best bet for those with a Windows program they would like to port over to *nix is to do a direct port using WineLib and patch where (and if) necessary, then open a branch with Linux-specific code and work on that while supporting the direct port. Even better idea would be to take the approach that Innotek take - have a binary version with a special open source version with any trade secret stuff taken out, and let the FOSS programmers tackle it - that will get as many hands on deck as possible and ensure a native release in no time.

Seems great for embedded cntrollers.

Ya know, I consider myself a computer enthusiast, but I find myself in a very sad situation where I cannot relate to anyone else who is also a computer enthusiast because I become a target of immature remarks for preferring Vista as my operating system of choice.

I used Linux off and on for about 5 years. I remember when I first started using it and how it was such an amazing piece of junk. I couldn't get 3d support on my machine without spending hours setting it up, then doing it all again when a new kernel came out. I couldn't run any software I liked at all. Linux has improved a lot since then, and though I've given up using it as my primary OS for now, after years of frustration, I want to keep my mind open by continuing to watch for improvement. Once I can no longer fear any app failing to run through Wine, or any driver to not work, and once it is just as easy to do everything in Linux as it is in Windows, Windows is going to take the place Linux has now. Until then, I am content to run an operating system that is good looking, stable as hell (in spite of what everyone seems to think), can run all my programs (including all the open source ones Linux users like to brag about, like Firefox, OpenOffice, and now soon, KDE), and comes with my computer.

To those who prefer Linux, I think you are wrong. I do not attempt to hide my opinion from you guys because I enjoy mature discussion about which OS is better. The last two sentences do not imply I have to be an immature baby about it, nor do I think you are stupid or evil. At my volunteer job, I'm the only guy there who prefers Windows Vista, and there's only one guy there who prefers Windows XP, and he barely ever comes. Everyone else prefers Linux. I feel embarrassed to even bring my laptop in there. That's sad.

It's not possible to be wrong in preferences, as those are subjective. You like Vista. Great- go on and use it. I like Ubuntu, so I'll use that. Neither of us hurts the other by using a different operating system, so why make a fuss about it?

Do they hire? Sorry, I guess it really is a bad thing if OS discussions become too serious and risk professional behavior. I do not understand why someone likes Vista because it is against everything, I am for. I am an OpenSource zealot, an Open Standard advocate and a strict opponent of DRM. I like fighting holy wars, but like in the text editor wars, I prefer to keep it civil and not let it devolve into this kind of situation:

Because some don't really care.

I think if they compare, they do have to care. They just have to have warped (from my point of view) priorities.

Kamex, if you look, almost all the linux users here answer technical questions for windows people too. We dont tell people to dump windows. Or OSX. If they are interested in making a switch or just knowing more about computers, we are around to advise them.

For example, Orwell, a recent indulgent from the OSX world wished to try linux. IF you look back, he was actually advised NOT to discard his OSX partition. Likewise, I myself am fairly new to linux, about one year, and postpaleo and lau, who were my primary help, also gave me good advice on carefully partitioning my hard drive.

Here is the topic of my conversion.
http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt43970.html

I have dabbled in linux myself (I remember the good old Redhat days), but I still use windows. It's pointless trying to make me ditch windows because of "M$" being apparently a big bad corporation, why change something that isn't broken anyway? I have no problems with Vista so far and gets the job done well for me, I don't really care if it's not "open source".

Calling this a "holy war" is bloody ridiculous aswell, life's not all about what OS is superior after all. Just use your computer and move on.

The terms 'holy war' and 'theology' are intended to be sarcastic in this context.

I agree that wasn't the best choice of words, but you took my sentence out of context. The point I was trying to get to is that my opinion is at odds with Linux fans, but that my opinions are always going to contradict other people, and there's a mature way to handle it. Some prefer to just keep their mouths shut. I think that's a sad loss of opportunity for one to learn from someone else, but at the same time, I'm not for personal attacks or it getting ugly.

Linux is good for some stuff
Windows is good for some stuff,
and Gasp Mac os is good for some stuff.
No one os does everything equally well.
No one OS is eually easy to all people.
Linux is in a ton of embeeded devices that dont have the reasourses for full blows os, so is hardless usless in a absolute sense.
I personally have issues with Macs.
It would be nice if someone could combine the power of the supportedability of Windows, the no brainer of MAC OS and the hackability of Linux, allowing it to be used at all levels of computer literacy. Don't think that will happen soon. Maybe one day Apple and Microsoft will merge or both seklf destruct leaving a void to be filled.

I really don't know what Windows software you can call "good" that doesn't exist on either Mac or Linux or both. MS Office?? Come on! It's a piece of junk people have been tolerating for years because they convinced themselves it was necessary (it's not; I rarely touch an office suite, not even for writing tech documentation. There are far better tools out there). Anything else? I'm waiting!

No, quite frankly, Windows-only applications tend to be either really bad or they are games. Windows' best kept secret is that it's a gaming OS (not kidding: they moved some of the graphics routines into Layer 0 to appease the gamer crowd). DirectX was literally built to take over the OS. It's simply not a professional OS.

I code on a Mac, and I run everything on Linux. Haven't seen a Windows box in months. And I AM a pro.

Ever hear of Exact Audio Copy, Foobar2000, MirandaIM, Adobe Photoshop, DVD Decrypter, IMGburn, Emule, Media Player Classic, Utorrent????

Oh, I guess you haven't. Sorry.

Photoshop was originally a Mac program, and still runs on Mac; there's also the GIMP. Most of the other software you mentioned have other, mostly better equivalents on Mac and Linux (uTorrent?? There are literally hundreds of torrent clients for Linux). In fact, most are copies of software which originally started out on Linux.

Once again, every time I hear this rant from a Windows user, it's from someone who does not know what's available on Linux and/or Mac, and who does not know the history of the software they're using.

(oh and the audio tooling on Linux is far more powerful than the tools you mentioned; and the Mac is still by far the best audio platform; that was my main reason for switching. Windows audio software pales in comparison; even with a pro-grade soundcard or a top of the line FireWire audio interface, you STILL can't get away from latency issues on Windows).