linux vs windows vs mac,who is the best?

[RodrigoDavy]

I am a Linux fan and user, but I'll try to be neutral.

- Linux is not anywhere near perfect with hardware support. Nvidia and AMD (with the default open-source drivers), some WiFi cards, old LCD monitors and chinese usb gadgets might have some problems. Linux does have better support than Windows for older hardware.
- Linux is very safe. I honestly never got a virus or malware using Linux. Not even those toolbars Windows app tend to have hidden in their installers.
- Linux is not easy to use. But honestly I think it's a lot easier than most people think. Heck, I think it's way more difficult to use OS X, the first time I used it I could not even copy and paste a file. If you need help with Linux though, good luck finding a friend who also use it.
- Linux doesn't have as much apps and games. You will have to find alternatives. Some apps might work fine in a distro and not at all in another too, though this is rare from my experience.

- Windows have better hardware support overall. But it has shitty support for older hardware.
- Windows is incredibly unsafe and blaming it's immense popularity is somewhat naive. The biggest problem is that Windows just wasn't designed with security in mind.
- Windows is not easy to use. Seriously, the control panel and the Start Menu (for fuck's sake) nowadays is nothing short of a nightmare. However it's very easy to find a friend who knows how to use Windows (or at the very least Google) to help you.
- Windows has a great software catalog. Only some really old software might not run.

What version of Windows do you have? With the latest two versions, Microsoft rolls out a few updates every couple of days. They install quick. I also suppose it depends on how often you restart. If they build up (like how it is when you first install Windows), they take forever.

I used Windows 8.1. The problem may be that I only use Windows ocassionaly, usually for a specific game or software. I did update to Windows 10 recently and it seems the problem got better

 

[Monado_III]

I am a Linux fan and user, but I'll try to be neutral.

- Linux is not anywhere near perfect with hardware support. Nvidia and AMD (with the default open-source drivers), some WiFi cards, old LCD monitors and chinese usb gadgets might have some problems with windows. Linux does have better support than Windows for older hardware.
- Linux is very safe. I honestly never got a virus or malware using Linux. Not even those toolbars Windows app tend to have hidden in their installers.
- Linux is not easy to use. But honestly I think it's a lot easier than most people think. Heck, I think it's way more difficult to use OS X, the first time I used it I could not even copy and paste a file. If you need help with Linux though, good luck finding a friend who also use it.
- Linux doesn't have as much apps and games. You will have to find alternatives. Some apps might work fine in a distro and not at all in another too, though this is rare from my experience.

- Windows have better hardware support overall. But it has shitty support for older hardware.
- Windows is incredibly unsafe and blaming it's immense popularity is somewhat naive. The biggest problem is that Windows just wasn't designed with security in mind.
- Windows is not easy to use. Seriously, the control panel and the Start Menu (for fuck's sake) nowadays is nothing short of a nightmare. However it's very easy to find a friend who knows how to use Windows (or at the very least Google) to help you.
- Windows has a great software catalog. Only some really old software might not run.


I used Windows 8.1. The problem may be that I only use Windows ocassionaly, usually for a specific game or software. I did update to Windows 10 recently and it seems the problem got better

I have lots of 'friends' who can help me.
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-forums-50/
http://askubuntu.com/ (technically Ubuntu, but most answers work on any distro)
http://unix.stackexchange.com/
+ the quadrillion distro-oriented forums (http://fedoraforum.org/ http://forums.debian.net/ https://forums.opensuse.org/forum.php etc.).

 

[Duo8]

I have lots of 'friends' who can help me. [emoji14]
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-forums-50/
http://askubuntu.com/ (technically Ubuntu, but most answers work on any distro)
http://unix.stackexchange.com/
+ the quadrillion distro-oriented forums (http://fedoraforum.org/ http://forums.debian.net/ https://forums.opensuse.org/forum.php etc.).

Arch wiki as well.

 

[RodrigoDavy]

I have lots of 'friends' who can help me.
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-forums-50/
http://askubuntu.com/ (technically Ubuntu, but most answers work on any distro)
http://unix.stackexchange.com/
+ the quadrillion distro-oriented forums (http://fedoraforum.org/ http://forums.debian.net/ https://forums.opensuse.org/forum.php etc.).

You're absolutely right. The problem is the average human being is just too lazy to do a simple Google search.

For those that do search for a solution in these websites, I think having to use the terminal in some cases ends up being a deal breaker to many people. I love the Linux Shell, but since most of my friends never had any experience with DOS or a command line, I can see how this could be something alien to most users.

 

[Monado_III]

Arch wiki as well.

I can't tell you how many times the Arch wiki has helped me.

 

[Duo8]

You're absolutely right. The problem is the average human being is just too lazy to do a simple Google search.

For those that do search for a solution in these websites, I think having to use the terminal in some cases ends up being a deal breaker to many people. I love the Linux Shell, but since most of my friends never had any experience with DOS or a command line, I can see how this could be something alien to most users.

Literally copy and paste.

 

[Taleweaver]

Tough choice here. I voted linux, though I seldomly use it on a PC.

First things first: an OS is used for more than just a desktop PC. On servers and super computers, linux is a force to be reckoned with (or doesn't even have competition). And let's not forget the mobile market: android is in essence linux, so that's to be taken into account as well.

Now...microsoft is certainly no slacker. They sort of have the tendency to release every other OS as somewhat of a "testing the waters" ground (ME, vista, 8), but the progression is certainly good.
Which, in a way, is almost too bad, as it puts me in a dilemma. I know the advantages of linux, and when it works I'd say it's better than windows...but the fact that not all software works is an important one. I'll certainly make the switch once wine runs everything flawless (which I doubt will happen soon). But until then, I'll just keep with what works.
(and I'll be honest: the things I encounter in windows helps me deal with them at work as well...and I doubt they'll switch to linux on desktops soon).

EDIT: something else to consider: remote desktops and browser based programs using the cloud are getting more common in the business markets. While the trend is noticeable, it's hard what'll happen in the business future. Except perhaps that the choice of the actually used operating system becomes less important (if you work from a browser or connect to a remote PC, the OS on your PC is hardly important). And since linux is free...it could be that new companies and established companies without too many OS dependencies could go for linux to save costs somewhere in the near future...

 

[RodrigoDavy]

I'll certainly make the switch once wine runs everything flawless (which I doubt will happen soon).

I don't think this will ever happen. The best bet for a Linux user would be to use a Virtual Machine with Windows installed, that way you have true 100% compatibility. (Not an ideal solution if you want to run games though)

 

[sarkwalvein]

I don't think this will ever happen. The best bet for a Linux user would be to use a Virtual Machine with Windows installed, that way you have true 100% compatibility. (Not an ideal solution if you want to run games though)

I think the best bet is to use Linux software.
Right now the only thing that is really really missing is many AAA games.
But many things are also missing in windows and present in Linux. Specially things that make scientific work and development easier, and the beautifulness of package managers.

Below, tl;dr:
For scientific work, everything is easier in Linux.
MATLAB goes great there, you also have a programming environment or if the box.
You have all kind of software available through your package manager, a lot of scientific software.
Even latex and friend feel right home there.
Development in general is more comfortable in Linux.

PS: and with some windows apps that are not available in Linux like AAA games you should actually use real windows, because they eat resources and perform terribly in a vm.

 

[Flame]

Android Linux...

Here is why cause..

I'm flamesus.

 

[jonthedit]

Android Linux...

Here is why cause..

I'm flamesus.

But apparently not enough holes
My Verizon S5 still has no root available thanks to Verizons locked bootloader shit.

To that, I say 'Verizon'

 

[Vipera]

Mac is the best.

 

[RodrigoDavy]

Mac is the best.

I would say Mac's greatest feature is BootCamp

 

[FAST6191]

use a Virtual Machine with Windows installed, that way you have true 100% compatibility. (Not an ideal solution if you want to run games though)

Servers are increasingly using graphics cards these days and with server virtualisation being probably the main driving force of development there it is leaking into the desktop side of things. I do not know when we will see it in virtualbox, much less as developed as the network or USB passthrough options virtualbox provides, but I am going with sooner rather than later.
When combined with the remote desktop options of said desktop virtual machines I reckon something very special could happen, doubly so in countries with decent uploads.

 

[Flame]

To that, I say 'Verizon'

To that, I say you should root it yourself.

To that, I say you shouldnt have not got a Verizon phone.

To that, I say you should have got a root friendly phone. Say a nexus.

 

[Pleng]

"This is not so much the case now. You can grab a PC (or laptop) and most likely get one or more Linux distributions to install and work nearly 100 percent."

Yea because when I install an OS, what I really look forward to is having it work nearly 100%. I also like raincoats that are almost 100% waterproof, and drinking water that is pretty much 100% safe to drink

Having said that, that 'nearly 100%' did come in handy when I needed to fire up an old laptop. The previous Windows XP install was totally broken. On any new hardware I'd just install Win 7 or 8, and enjoy the hardware just working out of the box. Unfortunately the machine wasn't up to running Windows 8 (I did actually try - it installed but was in no way useable), and I didn't fancy going through the nightmare process of finding WinXP drivers for everything, so an XUbuntu install got the machine into an operable state.

 

[Dr.Hacknik]

I like Windows...But my current OS's are Ubuntu & Mac OSX Yosemite (Both on my desktop's) and Windows 10 & Ubuntu on my Laptop.

It's just that playing games on Ubuntu is Hell!