question for linux users please!!!?

Question

alright, i need an unbiased opinion - i have been using windows all my life and have a windows laptop and its ok but i would like a greater experience from using my computer. Now, my question is, should i upgrade to windows vista, or a mac? I really like the macs design but i hate apple with a passion for bashing on vista and the zune. i just hate their stupid cockyness but i guess macs are pretty cool but so is windows vista, its just so beautifull!! but i really dont know what would be better for me and im fifteen going on sixteen by the way. so the reason i want an answer from a linux user is because i dont want a windows user telling me vista because they are biased, and certainly not a blind ignorant mac user giving me a biased answer. so form your point of view, which would you get?

Answer 1

It's not like Linux users are unbiased. They may not necessarily be biased towards Macs, but they are definitely overall against Windows.



I always thought choosing between Macs and Windows was a practical business type of decision. For example, I use Windows because a lot of my necessary software works on Windows. Not macs or Linux. I am constrained by those requirements. Linux is used for development because of a practical requirement. All the development libraries, software, etc. that are needed works on Linux.



You can bash on Windows and Macs and Linux if you want. But the real world doesn't work on theories and opinions. It works on practicality. If you are a gamer, you are forced to stick with Windows. If you have lots of cash on hand, and you aren't forced to any OS, Macs are very good choices. If you want compatibility, Windows is practical. If you do a lot of development, especially internet based work, Linux is practical.



You are the millionth person to raise the Mac vs Windows question. What makes you think you'll get a better response than the others?



Take a look at your constraints, and just pick one.

Answer 2

I think it would be fare to say that most Linux users have a PC on the side just incase or for things they already know they can't do in Linux. There are also a good number of Mac users that have PCs on the side aswell. Having used Linux for a few years but mostly Windows I would recommend Vista for you. Simply because there will be for some time to come things you can't do with a Linux box. It will piss you off and you'll spend hours trying to find a way to make it work. Vista isn't perfect but certainly not as bad as some people make it out to be. Another option since Linux is free would be to buy a computer with Vista on it and dual boot it with Vista and Linux. Then you can just use which ever you like when ever you like.

Answer 3

The only reason Windows has such a market share is that it was delivered free (including the office programs) on the first affordable computers. It also had an inbuilt networking system, which had been unatainable at a reasonable cost up to then. Large companies having the resources bought thousands of machines because of this. Once this was achieved and the companies were totally committed, Windows changed totally. software which could have been bought for low double figure costs around the world suddenly became high three figure prices, and the office software was removed from the OEM distribution. Of course, once large companies are committed, nobody else has a chance and for any business to survive it had to follow the larger companies and use compatible software. MACS went a different route and the machines were far better for graphics work. Until recently this has been the case, although now their hardware has hit the wall, they are having to use Intel type machines. The previous (and more reliable and consistent) network system was Unix. This was out of reach for most people as it require super machines and was therefore very expensive. Linux is a development of this, and now so is the Mac OSX, as it is running a variation of free bsd. The biggest advantage of these is that they run a secure shell which locks our admin access to the machine in normal use, which Windows has NEVER done. In Vista they have finally concede this method works, but in the process have built a system which hogs resources. Current versions of Linux are as easy as Windows to run, unless you require non-standard additional software, and more software is appearing every week packaged for easy installation. It will be interesting to see the market share in 5 years time.

Answer 4

I'd go with the Mac.



And you do know that by asking for opinions from Linux users, you will not get an unbiases answer. MANY Linux users are using Linux as a direct result of the Microsoft lack of ethics.



If you think that Apple is cocky, then you have never really looked at Microsoft. They push their way of thinking on to everyone. If they can't push a company into changing to be like Microsoft, they either buy the company or better yet, just run that company out of business.

Answer 5

I use linux and windows XP.



Personally I do not know much about Vista but I know it has a lot of DRM built into it and stuff to prevent DRM music and ceratin apps from running. They say it is more secure but knowing windows it will probably be hacked up in no time. Macs are very cool but not compatible with the majority. But they offer a safe computing environment. Because of the Unix like kernel.

Answer 6

Personally, I think Mac is your best bet, seeing as Vista still has some flaws that need to be worked out.

Answer 7

I'm agnostic when it comes to operating systems, they each do something particularly well.



Mac is the best at graphics. period. it's also for people who don't want to have to think about their computer.

linux is for people that like to tweak their machines.it's infinitely tweakable.

windows is for people who don't know any better