Windows Vista Vista vs Linux

As far as I can tell, the main reason for the average (unsophisticated) user to upgrade to Vista will be the improved security. (There are other minor improvements, but none of them matter very much to the average user who hasn't even used the more sophisticated features of XP). But upgrades are always buggy and annoying, with various incompatibilities, to say nothing of the learning curve simply to learn how to use the new system. If that's the case with Vista, why not simply upgrade to some version of Linux instead where the security problems apparently don't exist and future upgrades (I assume) will be cheaper than Windows. I am a Windows user, not a Linux enthusiast, but I am also very tired of having to deal with major (and buggy) Windows upgrades every few years, and I have the impression that Linux upgrades (if necessary) are easier and cheaper. This is just an opinion, but I do wonder if a Linux upgrade would be better, cheaper, and less work in the long run. I would appreciate any comments from more knowledgable users.

 

Hi Roger,

If an "average (unsophisticated) user" chooses to change from using Windows and tries Linux instead, I think that they are in for a lot of frustration! If they are content to buy a machine with Linux installed and working, or get an expert to install it for them, and then just operate without changing anything, trying to install a game, or a new programme, then OK. BUT!!

In Windows it is all so easy. Download the programme or game, double click on the downloaded file, and 99 times out of 100, it will install and be usable.
With Linux it's not so easy! Soon will appear the dreaded message "no such file or directory ", and the first attempts at using the command line for tar files or suchlike must have deterred millions of people and sent them back to Windows post haste! The help files in Windows are usually just that - a help - the man pages in Linux might just be written in ancient Greek for a Linux wannabe. RTFM quickly becomes to mean Run To Friendly Microsoft.

I have a second machine on which I try to learn the secrets of Linux, through many distributions, some better than others, and I would advise any MS user wishing to try Linux to try a Live edition first. At the moment I am running Suse 10, a very easy install, it even picked up XP and added it to the boot choice in Grub, but it prevented Vista from booting when i tried to install with Vista. The annoying thing about this Suse 10 is that it is unable to find a driver for either of my printers, a Canon i850 and a Canon i9950, whereas as Vista had no problem at all and found all my hardware.

In my opinion Linux is superb for servers, or business networks who can employ a full-time systems engineer, but for a casual or solely pleasure user -
stick to Windows, it's user friendly!!

Roger

 

For my two pennies worth:

Yes, Linux would have more vulnerabilities evident if it was subject to as much attack as Microsoft Operating systems. The question is, would there be as many as Microsoft OS get now?

There are MS OS decisions that make Windows more vulnerable - for example, making the easiest way to run the system be for users to have admin rights and no password. I don't think you can get away from the conclusion that up to a couple of years ago, far too many decisions were made to make things easier for the user rather than secure.

The good news is that Microsoft is sorting out the problems and the OS are getting more secure. I think Vista is a step forward.

As for updates, my experience with Linux is that the ease of updating is very dependant on which distribution you use. Fedora and Suse are fairly easy, some small distros can be a pain.

I definitely agree that the biggest headache with Linux is drivers for new devices, and installing new applications.

I use Linux irregularly and play with new distros because there is a lot I like about Linux and I want to keep abreast of how it is developing. I still prefer Windows.

However, of all the new Operating Systems in the pipeline it is the Mac OS Leopard that look most tempting to me! Linux core with Apple's pedigree. Continual process of regular updates rather than irregular huge upgrades, and an interesting GUI. Have a look at this preview of their backup utility. It is the first time any 3D OS utility has made me say "wow ".