Windows Mac Or Linux?

Question

All have their pros and cons, what do you recommend for someone with moderate computer ability. If LInux, name the distro

Answer 1

Overall a Linux based platform can perform most of the tasks equally as well as a proprietary platform using the likes of Ubuntu and its derivative distros. However Linux does have its limitations with some applications and in particular gaming. For example I retain a dedicated Windows partition to run specific applications such as Office 2010 etc.



I thoroughly recommend Linux Mint 9 LTS which is built upon Ubuntu 10.04 LTS its easy to install and easy to use plus it comes with much of the software you are likely to need preinstalled



Linux Mint 9 LTS Download

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=52



How To Dual Boot Linux Mint and Windows 7

http://www.linuxbsdos.com/2010/12/08/how-to-dual-boot-linux-mint-10-and-windows-7/



Linux Mint 9 LTS Release Notes/User Guide

http://www.linuxmint.com/rel_isadora.php



You download the ISO. image of Linux Mint 9 LTS then you need to create a Bootable LiveCD for installation

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BurningIsoHowto



Linux Mint 9 LTS can also be run straight from the LiveCD from Boot without touching your Hard Drive



Once installed I recommend updating to Firefox 5 as Firefox 3.6 comes as default with Linux Mint 9 LTS



How To install Firefox 5 on Linux Mint 9 LTS using the Firefox Stable PPA

http://www.webupd8.org/2011/06/firefox-5-lands-in-firefox-stable-ppa.html





LUg.

Answer 2

I simply love these answers bias and unbars. I basically use all three. But for Windows I dual boot it with Linux. I like mainline distributions like the free edition of Mandrill 2010.2 Very simple to install, allows you to choose which Desktop Environment to install. Despise the new KDE 4 version of the Desktop. Really having person issues with the ones running the system Unity, it is alpha development and not perfected yet.



Running Windows and Linux dual boot, I believe I have the best of both systems. I can't say too much about the MAC, since the one I have was made in 2005 and uses Tiger OSx 10.4 and has all the i** programs installed and standard with Tiger, but not standard in the newer versions of OSx. It's fun to play around with and try to figure out how things work and how to install and remove software. Mine is the G4 iBook, really don't like the desktop Environment all that well. but to get the best answers for a MAC you really need to use the MAC Forum's.



Windows: For Gaming and virtually installing every kind of software and hard ware you desire.



MAC: An investment not an expense. has a purpose. Best of Video, Audio and Graphic Productions (reason, the software is directly related to the hardware installed and therefore will creates less errors than a Windows computer) Stable, secure and reliable.



Linux: An operating system that you can virtually install the software you want and make it customized to the way you use a computer. It is also Stable, secured and reliable.

Answer 3

Pros, 3 Each



Microsoft Windows = Compatibility with almost every application out there; Cheaper than a Mac and can be installed on almost any computer, even a Macintosh; More customizable than Mac OSX



Mac OS X = Simple and easy to use; UNIX-Based and a very good user interface, and it's Finder is pretty good as well; More stable on average than Windows PCs on average since the hardware it can be placed on is *alarmingly* limited



GNU/Linux = Can vary from very easier *Easier than Mac OS X and Windows in some cases like Linux Mint and Ubuntu* to extremely hard and complicated *Like Gentoo and Linux-From-Scratch*; Free and it's repositories are loaded with free software; Can be installed on any software, and it is the king of old software.



Cons 3 Each



Windows = Prone to most malware, viruses, and trojans out there; Blue Screen of Deaths and the performance of the machine normally deteriorates over the years; Can only be installed on one machine at a time



Mac OS X = Very limited to what you can do, and almost no third-party support; Price, most expensive, normally have to pay over a thousand dollars to run it on a Macintosh; Kernel Panics are ambiguous and impossible to troubleshoot



GNU/Linux = Compatibility with software, requires other software to run it; No proprietary driver support, so they make open source drivers which aren't as strong a proprietary; No warranty so if you mess something up, or it messes something up, you're SOL unless the community has an answer.

Answer 4

please say OSX or mac os, my computer has osx but its not a mac



but anyways the only use for windows is games but even then i would dual boot

with moderate ability i would recommend a linux distro or osx if your feeling the hackintosh

don't really know what distro to reccomend i use arch though and its pretty nice but the rolling release can be unstable

if you want an easy distro go ubuntu

Answer 5

Linux, I run Linux Mint 11. If you have a descent computer ability then you'll be bored with Windows. Especially since you spend more time trying to keep them running and virus/malware free then using them.

Answer 6

I have a Macbook Pro it's awesome!!! and also a windows desktop :P



Pros of a Mac:

- it's a lot faster

- it doesnt get viruses

- it's just amazing



Cons of a Mac:

- can get really hot

- not the greates battery life

- most places have windows so emailing someone who has windows can be a hassel...





if you used to have windows transitioning into macs can be difficult...

if you aren't very good with computers or adapting i wouldn't suggest a mac...

BUT in my OPINION Macs are the best :D

Answer 7

hehe i use windows. i cant say anything bad about mac or linux because i've never seen/used em.

Answer 8

i have a mac. it's so nice and is really easy to use.