Operating Systems

[Briareos]

I would suggest that my current install is stable:

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jonny@alderaan ~ $ uptime
 14:35:11 up 113 days, 19:12,  2 users,  load average: 0.09, 0.07, 0.02


But as everyone else has said, it really depends on what you want to do with your computer, how much you like tinkering with things, whether you have any philosophical issues re FOSS, &c. I personally switched because I didn't want to use Vista, and because I started doing a lot more coding.

[Marz]

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jonny@alderaan ~ $

You are quite the geek. My uncle, a sysadmin (computing runs in the family), has also used Star Wars planets as a naming scheme for the myriad machines he owns.

As for the topic: if you want to learn about computers, swap to Linux. Programming on Windows kept me back for years. I only made the jump (albeit a complete one) a year ago, and already my knowledge of computers has increased exponentially. The very problem with Linux, that it shows errors and complications, expecting you to be a wizard, is the reason why it makes you into a wizard.

[Briareos]

My laptop is called coruscant.

[achan1058]

stuff

I disagree with this. Programming for a system without knowing its "feel" will contribute to UI that is inconsistent with the rest of the system, or simply horrible UI. One may say UI's are not for real programmers, but that's an elitist view, and it's 1 of the primary reason why *nix systems are not as popular as they should be.

Anyways, to OP. Stick with Windows unless you have some particular reason to use Linux. For example, using code libraries that are intended for Linux, or on a system that cannot use Windows (like PS3). The main reason for that is that if you want to troubleshoot anything, you are going to be a lot better off in Windows, as the problems are either:
a) Fixed.
b) Have extensive humanly readable documentation, as most normal software expect people to be running it under Windows.
You should see the trouble I had to go through to get Java 1.6 to work on my Ubuntu PS3 just a few weeks ago...... Because it is a powerpc, the normal java download will not work, so I have to search for a specific one that is offered elsewhere. (that is not directly linked, from Sun nor Ubuntu). Furthermore, somehow they pulled libstd5 from the Ubuntu distro (so I can't compile), so I needed to search the net quite a bit to find the right bits to get it to work. This will never happen with Windows, for sure. At least, they will put it in a convenient place, instead of having you wasting a few hours searching the net just to figure out what the problem is, then fix it.

And yes, XP hardly ever crashes, except for that time when I tried opening a 2G data file on notepad...... (Emacs handles it properly, regardless of OS)

[swanzilla]

I think the decision between Windows/Other is basically predetermined by your perception of what computers are used for. At work, we use PuTTy to access UNIX servers from Windows boxes. I have yet too find anyone who actually uses Ubuntu here, and few even know what it is. Pretty sad for a bunch of techies...

I have Ubuntu 8.10 both on my old RAM starved laptop and on my netbook. It works great on both. Being comfortable on a command line made setting up my wireless connection and stock control buttons painless. I find myself using my Vista (make some jokes) notebook far less...It boots faster and the gimp rules.

I sort of lost my focus here. Sorry. I guess basically if one has a level of curiosity or an objective reason, there will be a eventual migration away from Windows.

[Marz]

swanzilla, I'm not entirely sure someone who doesn't even know what the alternatives to Windows are can be described as a "techy" in any sense of the word.

[phlip]

Well, I had hopes that this would go somewhere interesting and CS-ey, but if we're going to rehash the same old arguments, then off to Religious Wars it is.

[OOPMan]

You should see the trouble I had to go through to get Java 1.6 to work on my Ubuntu PS3 just a few weeks ago...... Because it is a powerpc, the normal java download will not work, so I have to search for a specific one that is offered elsewhere. (that is not directly linked, from Sun nor Ubuntu). Furthermore, somehow they pulled libstd5 from the Ubuntu distro (so I can't compile), so I needed to search the net quite a bit to find the right bits to get it to work. This will never happen with Windows, for sure. At least, they will put it in a convenient place, instead of having you wasting a few hours searching the net just to figure out what the problem is, then fix it.

Erm, wow. What a stunning argument against Linux. You had trouble getting Java to work with Ubuntu on the PS3? No surprises there I gotta say. The PS3 is not exactly even close to a standard PC platform and if that's really your strongest argument against Linux (To wit, Java doesn't work easily on a PS3 running Linux) then I'd have to say I rest my case.

[hotaru]

You should see the trouble I had to go through to get Java 1.6 to work on my Ubuntu PS3 just a few weeks ago...... Because it is a powerpc, the normal java download will not work, so I have to search for a specific one that is offered elsewhere. (that is not directly linked, from Sun nor Ubuntu). Furthermore, somehow they pulled libstd5 from the Ubuntu distro (so I can't compile), so I needed to search the net quite a bit to find the right bits to get it to work. This will never happen with Windows, for sure. At least, they will put it in a convenient place, instead of having you wasting a few hours searching the net just to figure out what the problem is, then fix it.

so how long did it take you to get java to work on windows on your ps3?

[swanzilla]

swanzilla, I'm not entirely sure someone who doesn't even know what the alternatives to Windows are can be described as a "techy" in any sense of the word.

"...pretty bad for a bunch of people producing software"

[achan1058]

Erm, wow. What a stunning argument against Linux. You had trouble getting Java to work with Ubuntu on the PS3? No surprises there I gotta say. The PS3 is not exactly even close to a standard PC platform and if that's really your strongest argument against Linux (To wit, Java doesn't work easily on a PS3 running Linux) then I'd have to say I rest my case.

Well, to the thread where this originated, it is a very strong argument, since the OP of that thread appears to be a casual user. It's probably pointless now that the thread has been moved to the religious wars.

Anyways, yo me, a computer is a computer. As long as it is Turing complete, I am happy, and this clearly does not depend on OS. No reason to favour 1 OS to another except for ease of use, and both system has their easy and hard moments. To a casual user, Linux has hard moments more than easy, and that is the strongest and realist argument.

[HawkDesigns]

I have used Windows all my life. I currently have Vista, and I have pimped it to make it have sex appeal. Ooh yeah, those circuits make me horny.

[OOPMan]

Erm, wow. What a stunning argument against Linux. You had trouble getting Java to work with Ubuntu on the PS3? No surprises there I gotta say. The PS3 is not exactly even close to a standard PC platform and if that's really your strongest argument against Linux (To wit, Java doesn't work easily on a PS3 running Linux) then I'd have to say I rest my case.

Well, to the thread where this originated, it is a very strong argument, since the OP of that thread appears to be a casual user. It's probably pointless now that the thread has been moved to the religious wars.

Anyways, yo me, a computer is a computer. As long as it is Turing complete, I am happy, and this clearly does not depend on OS. No reason to favour 1 OS to another except for ease of use, and both system has their easy and hard moments. To a casual user, Linux has hard moments more than easy, and that is the strongest and realist argument.

Yes, but this is xkcd. Even the casual xkcd user is usually about 10% more geek than the average person

[b.i.o]

This will never happen with Windows, for sure. At least, they will put it in a convenient place, instead of having you wasting a few hours searching the net just to figure out what the problem is, then fix it.

You can't even run Windows on a PowerPC.

And the JRE is installed by default on the x86 editions of most mainstream Linux distributions.


This is possibly one of the worst examples you could have picked. I agree that Linux is not ready for the mainstream, but your difficulties in installing Java on Linux running on your PS3 are completely irrelevant.

[redhelix]

I think the decision between Windows/Other is basically predetermined by your perception of what computers are used for. At work, we use PuTTy to access UNIX servers from Windows boxes. I have yet too find anyone who actually uses Ubuntu here, and few even know what it is. Pretty sad for a bunch of techies...

Wholeheartedly agreed! At the moment, each OS has its high and low points for different applications; there are no absolutes when it comes to practical, day to day needs in IT. That's why I have XP and Unix boxen on my desk, with no personal bias towards either. Both are a necessity, and one gets it's respective job done just as reliably as the other.

[zerohero]

I have a question:
Do these "x OS vs x2 OS vs etc OS etc" "argument" ever stop? Seems silly to me.
Just use your damn OS of choice and stfu, ok? There, be a nice little girl and run along now. Tehe

(Psst, I'm a Debian Linux user)

[Marz]

I have a question:
Do these "x OS vs x2 OS vs etc OS etc" "argument" ever stop? Seems silly to me.
Just use your damn OS of choice and stfu, ok? There, be a nice little girl and run along now. Tehe

We are in Religious Wars. Without these arguments, this place would be empty...

[Berengal]

I have a question:
Do these "x OS vs x2 OS vs etc OS etc" "argument" ever stop? Seems silly to me.
Just use your damn OS of choice and stfu, ok? There, be a nice little girl and run along now. Tehe

(Psst, I'm a Debian Linux user)

Debian suxorz. Arch linux ftw!!!1!111!1!! Also, yo moma so dense her event horizon's outside her radius.

(What Marz said)

[zerohero]

I have a question:
Do these "x OS vs x2 OS vs etc OS etc" "argument" ever stop? Seems silly to me.
Just use your damn OS of choice and stfu, ok? There, be a nice little girl and run along now. Tehe

(Psst, I'm a Debian Linux user)

Debian suxorz. Arch linux ftw!!!1!111!1!! Also, yo moma so dense her event horizon's outside her radius.

(What Marz said)

Yo mama so dry the sahara desert actually sweats by comparison Tehe.

[phlip]

Also: How dare you question our God-given right to argue about completely pointless trivia? You do realise this means war.

[ash.gti]

I know, there really isn't any thing else to say here except that there is only 1 OS that people should use.

OS X

[redhelix]

I know, there really isn't any thing else to say here except that there is only 1 OS that people should use.

OS X

Seeing as how I installed XP over OSX within a week of receiving a Macbook Pro, I'd be inclined to disagree.

[ash.gti]

Seeing as how I installed XP over OSX within a week of receiving a Macbook Pro, I'd be inclined to disagree.

Well, you'll learn one day the truth. Well, you'll learn the truth one day.

*edit* I r fail english...

[Marz]

I'm considering buying a Mac Pro and running maybe OpenBSD. Anyone had any experience of the sort?

[zerohero]

Also: How dare you question our God-given right to argue about completely pointless trivia? You do realise this means war.

Your god is in fact a drunken, drugged-up junkie, who only uses you silently in order to buy more booze; I've also just found out where that junkie lives, and have managed to kill him. NOW I AM YOUR GOD, WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO TODAY?

[ash.gti]

I'm considering buying a Mac Pro and running maybe OpenBSD. Anyone had any experience of the sort?

I recently replaced my linux partition with FreeBSD and have been satisfied. As always with dual/multi booting mac hardware i'd suggest rEFIt instead of the default boot loader. It makes selecting the partition a lot easier.

Also I know with VMWare (and probably Parallels) you can boot your other partitions, which is nice cause you can run them without fully re-booting if you need something from them.

If you have any problems send me a message, I personally didn't have any that a simple google search didn't resolve.

[cmd]

Somehow the best mix of beauty, functionality, and speed has been vista using blackbox lean so far for me...windows annoys me sometimes but not all that much especially once the default shell is gone.

Quoted for truth.

Windows w/ BbLean is great.