technology Operating Systems

[MelancholicMemory 2,025]

I run Windows 7 on my laptop and my home desktop, however my tablet is on Linux and I like it so far.

 

Basically all of the school computers here use Windows 7 (some use 8 and there is the occasional Mac) so overall I'm not exposed to many other OS' s.

[~Master~ Button Mash 2,307]

I use OSX Mountain Lion on my Macbook (I've been thinking of adding Windows for some programs). iOS6 on my phone and tablet. Windows 7 64bit on my Dell XPS.

Edited January 16, 2013 by StratoPegasus

[Abstract 832]

Running Mac OS X 10.4 "Tiger" on my eMac, Windows XP Pro SP3 on my netbook and desktop PC. I have a few Linux distro CD's lying around for fun, as well.

 

 

...I know, I'm quite outdated. I would upgrade my netbook to Windows 7, but I do not have the money to buy it, nor the reliable internet connection to torrent it. I still need XP on my desktop for a number of reasons, and my Mac is staying right where it is on the best version of Mac OS X ever, past, present or future.

[LMW-YBC 102]

I'm running Mac OS X 10.6.8 (the latest and last version of Snow Leopard). It works remarkably well! I've had no problems with it so far, except from the occasional application crash (which is virtually always the app's own fault rather than the actual OS').

[Guest]

I use Windows 8 on both my laptop and my desktop, and I love it!

 

It's fun for me to read through OS topics because I just know people will say something about Windows 8 - and then I can give my opinion because people tend to be negative about Windows 8. I don't blame them, I really hated the idea about Windows 8 and the new start screen and features like that - when I tried it though, I had to admit that it was better than Windows 7.

 

If I were you I'd keep to using 7 unless you don't mind that "Metro UI". Hated that. No good for any none-touch display monitors.

I must disagree, the new start screen (Metro was a codename during development) is not really hard to use with a mouse. It's just as easy as using the Windows 7 start menu. The new start screen is better than the Windows 7 start menu in my opinion. The 8 start screen makes it so much easier for me to launch programs faster and it also have more space for the programs, folders or whatever I want there than the 7 start menu had. When I had Windows 7 I used to have all my programs and such shortcutted to my desktop. There was only space for the most important stuff in the start menu so I  couldn't use it for everything. The annoying thing was that I had to press the button to minimize everything and then get everything up again whenever I wanted to launch a program or open some folder. Now when I got Windows 8, I can just go to the Start screen and I have plenty of space for everything I need. I don't even have any shortcuts or anything on my desktop any more because the start screen is easier to use.

 

Don't do it. Windows 8 is a horrible operating system. If you want a horribly over-friendly user interface I'd just recommend buying a Mac and saving yourself the frustration.

Windows 8 is hardly more user-friendly (maybe except the improved start screen) than Windows 7 is and comparing it to Mac is far off. Windows 8 hasn't really changed much from Windows 7 aside from a new start screen and a more minimalistic style (that I actually prefer).

[Harmonic Revelations 8,835]

I use Windows 8 on both my laptop and my desktop, and I love it!

 

It's fun for me to read through OS topics because I just know people will say something about Windows 8 - and then I can give my opinion because people tend to be negative about Windows 8. I don't blame them, I really hated the idea about Windows 8 and the new start screen and features like that - when I tried it though, I had to admit that it was better than Windows 7.

 

I must disagree, the new start screen (Metro was a codename during development) is not really hard to use with a mouse. It's just as easy as using the Windows 7 start menu. The new start screen is better than the Windows 7 start menu in my opinion. The 8 start screen makes it so much easier for me to launch programs faster and it also have more space for the programs, folders or whatever I want there than the 7 start menu had. When I had Windows 7 I used to have all my programs and such shortcutted to my desktop. There was only space for the most important stuff in the start menu so I  couldn't use it for everything. The annoying thing was that I had to press the button to minimize everything and then get everything up again whenever I wanted to launch a program or open some folder. Now when I got Windows 8, I can just go to the Start screen and I have plenty of space for everything I need. I don't even have any shortcuts or anything on my desktop any more because the start screen is easier to use.

 

Windows 8 is hardly more user-friendly (maybe except the improved start screen) than Windows 7 is and comparing it to Mac is far off. Windows 8 hasn't really changed much from Windows 7 aside from a new start screen and a more minimalistic style (that I actually prefer).

 

I like Windows 7 because it seems more professional. Something about the new start screen says it's jumping on the bandwagon of tablets and the like. I despise tablets because I cannot use them, I think laptops are superior and easier to use. Windows 8 is too up in your face.

I tried the Windows 8 Beta and my computer got a blue screen eight times. I've never blue screened once with Windows 7.

[Hansel 1,512]

I mainly use Windows 7, but I had XP on my home computer until some time last year. I've also used Windows 8, but I'm not too fond of it.

 

The PC's at my uni also run Linux, so I've used that a few times.

 

My old college only had Macs for some reason.

 

It was horrible. 

Edited January 16, 2013 by Hansel

[Kitty Cat Moonshire 629]

WARNING: Highly Controversial Topic!

 

For some reason...

 

So what do you think? Apples iOS, Microsoft Windows, or Linux?

 

Vote now, and (if you want to) leave a good reason below why you chose what you chose!

[Concord 1,982]

Hello!

 

So far, i'm a windows user, though i'm highly keen on converting to Linux. I've had experiences with Linux and i can say i loved it. My dad constantly uses Linux and he really brang me to realisation on how it's better than windows. I'm not a Computer tech or anything, but Linux seems to fit my style more. Plus, now that it runs Steam games, it got only better! Windows and iOs can hide.

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,632]

I am not going to vote because I have not been able to fully try Mac or Linux but I would love to try Mac. I do like Windows for what it is, but Windows 8 has been pretty terrible for me so far. Vista was bad, 7 was GREAT, and now we are back to bad again with 8. Maybe it is not Vista bad, but it is pretty horrendous. Linux, I have never even considered only because I know nothing about it.

[WhiteLightning 339]

I have tried Mac, not Linux though, but I'll go with Windows, always. Windows 7 to be exact, not Windows 8. Not only do almost all games run on a Windows PC, I'm so used to Windows' interface anyway that switching to another OS would be quite hard for me.

 

That, and I'm too lazy to set up a dual boot to try it. 

Edited March 16, 2013 by WhiteLightning

[--Eve-- 351]

I've never really had any experience with linux. I've heard that it's good for developing. In my opinion, Apple products are only ever meant to be used with apple products. It's either all Apple, or no Apple. I do however have an Ipod, but those are a bit easier to handle, considering you don't really need to connect to the computer much. One thing i don't like about Macs themselves are their lack of customization, from what i've seen though.

[Keypassion 232]

I have experience with all three, and I want three computers, one with each. I'm the kind of person that uses whatever OS. I use Windows because I was raised on it and know how it works the most. I want iOS because I took a movie-making class in high school and used the Macs that were available. I used Linux for a time after I had to wipe my laptop's hard drive twice.

And having used all three, I don't want to have to choose between them. Kind of like Console vs Computer.

[Sky Warden 2,243]

Some reasons why I love Linux :

• Linux doesn't hide what happens behind the scene, not like Windows. It's extremely important if you're learning advance computing like programming.
• Linux is more flexible. You can customize it as you like. You can set your network, services, and software exactly the way you like it.
• Linux has a better administration system.
• It compiles things better.
• The graphic is much more adorable than Windows, and it costs less resource. I like Ubuntu's interface more than Windows 7 or 8.
• Less virus. It can be both strength or flaw for Linux actually.
• Linux is free.
• Linux + Internet = Heaven. Seriously, I would have spent most of my time at school, stealing their Wi-Fi, with this Linux if the security pony didn't ask me to go home.
• There's a legend, that browsing with Linux is faster than with Windows. In my experience, it's real. It's because Linux doesn't use bandwidth for unnecessary tasks, not like Windows.

The main advantages of Linux:

• Stability. My Windows crashed every 15 minutes just because ONE application crashed. It crashed whenever I tried to uninstall it, which forced me to reinstall the OS and let my precious data go. In Linux, when an application crashes (very rare actually. That's why we call it stable) it usually won't harm the other processes or the Kernel. I've experienced having trouble with applications in Linux. Not because they were crappy, but it was because my curiousity to play with them. The application simply wouldn't run. It was all just that. It worked properly after I fix it, or reinstall it, and without side effects. It wouldn't harm the OS, or the hardware, while in Windows, when an application crashes, BSOD comes. Sometimes it hurts your hard disk, memory, PSU, or even processor.
• Free and Open Source. I think it's no need to explain this. You can't get Windows or Mac for free without the almighty piracy, or Bill Gate's generousity. Because it's Open Source, Linux develops faster than Windows or Mac. That's why it has better security than Windows and Mac now.
• Security. In many things. Directory system, user privileges, directory ownership, ports, etc. One simple reason, login with a user with administrator privilege in Windows, and mess with the system. See what happens? BLAM! Login with a user with administrator in Linux, and try to do any harmful thing to the system. See what happens? Permission denied. There's a super user in Linux which is heavily protected with magics and stuff. Unless you can hack the root, which is very hard, you can't destroy the system. Also, you can manage the work of services in your Linux. It's very good for security. An unnecessary service is a hole for viruses and hackers. For a record, how many unnecessary services run by default in Windows? Or unnecessary services applications in Windows run?
• Performance. This one is simple. Having it a try is better than explaining the theory. If you want a reasonable one, the previous factor has explained it. More services means more resources. Savvy?
• Flexibility. Try to expand a Windows and a Linux. Which one is easier? Of course the Linux. Not only because it's free and open-source, it's also because you can really see and do anything the system actually does. You can understand the system better, and due to its free attribute and repository, it's very easy to expand for various kind of works.
• Good for learning advanced computing. This is very important to me. Linux shows what happens in the system, while Windows doesn't. Imagine you read something in a foreign language, which you don't even understand the meaning (like Arabic or Chinese), and you're asked to understand the text and develop it. Can you or can you not?
• Some hardware reasons which will be explained better by not me.

That's all. I think that's enough.

[Creamy Arty 6,252]

 

Just wanted to let you know that I merged your thread on operating system preferences with an older one. Please use the search feature to look for existing threads before starting new topics.

 

Thanks.

[Kitty Cat Moonshire 629]

 

Just wanted to let you know that I merged your thread on operating system preferences with an older one. Please use the search feature to look for existing threads before starting new topics.

 

Thanks.

I searched like 5 different things! Nothing came up!

I was just getting a bunch of picture threads and such.

Welp, I tried. And failed :c

[Creamy Arty 6,252]

 searched like 5 different things! Nothing came up!

I was just getting a bunch of picture threads and such.

Welp, I tried. And failed :c

 

No biggie. Sometimes that happens due to incorrect tagging (or not tagging at all), misleading titles, etc. We're trying to clean things up to make the search results more accurate. I always include a statement like that when merging threads because often times people don't use the search.

 

 

It's more of a request for everyone than an imperative directed specifically at you (or whoever made the thread that was merged).

[TwilizzleFoShizzle 95]

I have linux ubuntu 12.10 on my main computer, a couple older versions of linux on some older computers I have laying around, and I am going to dual boot my main computer with backtrack pretty soon (for obvious reasons)

[Red Diamond 549]

I have Windows XP on my computers. One is a desktop(I sold it), and on my laptop. I am thinking about upgrading it, but I do not have the cash to get Windows 7(or 8)

Edited March 17, 2013 by Box of Donuts

[Betez 1,734]

I'm a Windows user. I've used Windows 98, XP, and 7. I'm using 7 right now. I've been hesitant to get 8, and I think I'll be waiting for the next version of Windows before considering getting a new OS.

[~Scootaloo 440]

I'm a Windows user. I've used Windows 98, XP, and 7. I'm using 7 right now. I've been hesitant to get 8, and I think I'll be waiting for the next version of Windows before considering getting a new OS.

Well I hope you weren't to fond of the power bar menu - it is still there it is just more of a pain in the butt to use.

 

It is an operating system designed around touch screen devices. It is garbage for a laptop/desktop user even if you have a touch screen it still doesn't make it worth it.

[The Symphony of Discord 43]

I use Windows Vista on my old PC, 7 on my gaming PC, and have a MacBook Pro. All my older computers have XP and Linux. Though, I rarely use them.

[Luna's Husbando 61]

I use Windows 8 on my laptop. Not my decision; it came installed on the laptop my parents got me on a black friday sale. If it were up to me I'd be using Windows 7 since 8 is just more tedious to navigate through and has a bunch of crap pre-installed on it that I have no need for whatsoever. 

 

I might look into Linux at some point, mainly so that I wouldn't have to worry about viruses/malware. I'm not the most tech-savvy person so I'd probably go with something like Mint. If anyone can give out any recommendations for Lunix OS's that'd be great.

[chukker 3]

I have a soft spot for OpenBSD.  The documentation for the BSDs is so much better than linux, I think - the man pages actually contain useful information, and aren't just references to info pages (which contain exactly the same information as the man page - no, not bitter at all).  And I prefer BSD-style rc startup.  It's hard to beat the convenience of apt-get, however, so mostly I stick with Debian (and Centos at work - not my choice, but it's functional, and I won't argue with that).

 

edit:  Oh, and FreeNAS for my file server.  I <3 ZFS.

Edited March 18, 2013 by chukker

[uuunph 288]

I use Windows 8 on my laptop. Not my decision; it came installed on the laptop my parents got me on a black friday sale. If it were up to me I'd be using Windows 7 since 8 is just more tedious to navigate through and has a bunch of crap pre-installed on it that I have no need for whatsoever. 

 

I might look into Linux at some point, mainly so that I wouldn't have to worry about viruses/malware. I'm not the most tech-savvy person so I'd probably go with something like Mint. If anyone can give out any recommendations for Lunix OS's that'd be great.

Well, viruses and malware still exist for Linux. Just remember than whenever you run a command as root (as in, the superuser with permissions to do anything), that you know what each part of that command is doing. The good thing is that usually, Linux distro's package security updates with their main release, so you don't need to worry about a standalone antivirus like in Windows. That might have been what you meant though.

 

Mint is good to start with. It's based off of Ubuntu, which is also good to start with. I'd agree with Linux Mint though, it uses Cinnamon as it's desktop environment, which looks Windowsy enough to adapt to.

 

I have a soft spot for OpenBSD.  The documentation for the BSDs is so much better than linux, I think - the man pages actually contain useful information, and aren't just references to info pages (which contain exactly the same information as the man page - no, not bitter at all).  And I prefer BSD-style rc startup.  It's hard to beat the convenience of apt-get, however, so mostly I stick with Debian (and Centos at work - not my choice, but it's functional, and I won't argue with that).

 

edit:  Oh, and FreeNAS for my file server.  I <3 ZFS.

I don't often see people talking about BSD a lot in these threads. And apt-get really is nice. Heh. I don't know much about this stuff though, may I ask why you prefer ZFS?