Because Shiny Things Are Fun - The New New Windows v Linux Thread

I do not have permission to read that.

Whose permission do you need?

it is really very user-friendly, most people get used to click-and-install, click-and-run.

You mean, check for virus, check for malware, click-install, reboot, check that everything else works properly ..

most engineering softwares run on Windows.

Yeah, I hate Windows, but we can hardly get along without it. Everyone else who would use our documents needs them in Word, or Excel, etc. Hopefully Linux eclipses Windows.

Originally Posted by bluegospel Yeah, I hate Windows, but we can hardly get along without it. Everyone else who would use our documents needs them in Word, or Excel, etc. Hopefully Linux eclipses Windows.

Actually ... there are open standards, too, which people could
quite happily use; the problem is the existing pile of documents
people sit on, and the lock-in into the spiral of downward
incompatibility of MS document formats. Ah well. Why hasn't
this been merged with the mega-thread yet, I wonder ...



Cheers,
Tink

Windows is not the best, but for ordinary people, it is the most popular.
In Asian countries, almost 90% people are using windows and its MS Office.

Originally Posted by TigerLinux Windows is not the best, but for ordinary people, it is the most popular. In Asian countries, almost 90% people are using windows and its MS Office.

Yah. And 99% of those haven't paid for it ;D

yes, why pay more when you can get it free?
but Microsoft never mind it, do u know why?
When the students are using MS when they are students, after graduation, when they join job market, they will use Windows/Ms Office too,
and they will ask their companies to buy windows/Ms Office,
and MS will continue to penetrate people's lives forever.
To microsoft, prevalence of its products piracy is actually a GAIN in the long term.

windows application has more aesthetic design

it is really very user-friendly,

I feel that, when people say Linux is easy to use, it is because Linux (certain distro) has imitated the way how Windows works.

Most of what you say is your own opinion, which is fine.

You are also not wrong when you say Windows is the most widely used desktop OS.

You say Windows suits your needs better so that's why you use it. Again very sensible - you would be a fool to use a hammer when you need a screwdriver.

What you say about Virtualbox is due to your specific hardware, or lack of ability to configure it.

However, please do not presume that your own experiences are the same as everyone else's. There is a large number of people who don't use Microsoft, or use Microsoft for a small percentage of their computing activities.

I would also like to point out Microsoft are making efforts to thawte piracy with their genuine advantage stuff, so they do mind. I can't remember the source, but I believe income from domestic/end user sales of software licenses is a small fraction of Microsoft's total income. They could give Windows away freely for personal use and their bottom line wouldn't be affected significantly, even if there was no piracy.

Originally Posted by TigerLinux yes, why pay more when you can get it free?

I hope the owner of your local store isn't reading this, or you can never go shopping in future without being watched all the time. Theft is not justified only because many people do it.

My conclusion: You can't say that Ubuntu is more user-friendly, or a different distribution is less user-friendly. User-friendliness doesn't depend on the distribution at all. It depends solely on the user. Not more, not less. And users change over time.

I disagree, user-friendliness means a general user with limited computer knowledge is also be able to use the OS to achieve maximum output.

Originally Posted by TigerLinux I disagree, user-friendliness means a general user with limited computer knowledge is also be able to use the OS to achieve maximum output.

There is in reality no such thing as a general user, all users a re different. If you mean the users that are only doing some multimedia stuff, a little bit of office work and surfing the net/using social networks, the ones I have set up a standard Debian system for are perfectly able to do that with Debian. I could have chosen any other distribution, it would make no difference. just because they are open minded users that are not limited to a Windows mindset. In fact, one of the users that now has gotten a new computer (Window pre-installed) has asked me to install Linux on it because she finds Windows awkward, and she had no computer experience at all before using Debian.

As said, it depends on the user.

Originally Posted by TigerLinux I disagree, user-friendliness means a general user with limited computer knowledge is also be able to use the OS to achieve maximum output.

http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm

If you don't want to read the whole thing, scroll down to "Problem #5".

Originally Posted by TigerLinux I disagree, user-friendliness means a general user with limited computer knowledge is also be able to use the OS to achieve maximum output.

There's no "general user" and there is no such operating system.
In my experience, any user can use any operating system, as long as there is a system administrator doomed to maintain that machine forever (and explain how to do something to the user). Without that system administrator, no operating system is suitable for everybody.

To make operating system "perfect", you'll need to replace "human administrator" with AI assistant (enabled by default) with perfect voice recognition capabilities and human-like intelligence (it should be capable to maintain conversation and explain functions of the OS). Such system will be user-friendly. Unfortunately, it will be also extremely expensive, and we probably won't see anything like that any time soon.

Originally Posted by TigerLinux yes, why pay more when you can get it free?{...}

/facepalm Windows is exception that is not worth stealing. Yes it is worth using but only if legal because this way it will pay for damage it does to usual people(which it does a lot for ordinary people) and you won't get any crapware from torrents or w/e else source. Also if you know where to buy it it is cheap. And if you can't afford it at all just go opensource(or ask parents).

I can do without Windows...I work with it so I have to use it on the job, but at home, I use Linux. I dual boot with Windows for work purposes.