It depends on what administrator you ask. I currently administer 4 unix servers and 2 linux kiosks. Our main server that controls are whole casino floor has had a down processor since March. However it has still been marhcing along on one processor. I am sure that windows can not take that kind of load.

Some administrators are not aware of how linux works or have even played with a linux or unix machine. They are just too comfortable with the point and click environment that they have known for so long.

MY system detetcs MY router straight away, what makes you think your problems are typical of Linux and it's users? i have several hard drives windows won't detect, Linux will, yet you don't have these problems? it goes both ways

GRUB is a bootloader, required to boot more than one OS, i dont know if it is possible (and if it is, it's a pain) to make the POS windows bootloader thing to see any other OS

This will apply to anything, when learning something new, it is smart to do research, some background reading etc. not just jump in and expect it to work, a computer is simple, it takes input, processes and gives output, obviously if your system doesnt work, someone is giving it the wrong input.

They don't copy it, they add similar (sometimes very) functionality that users may require, would things like samba be implemented without the SMB protocol used by Windows? probably not, it wouldn;t be needed, but because of the vast amount of users needing to network with windows machines/files etc they include it, where is windows attempts to do something useful for its users in this (any?) respect?

I truly believe all OS' have their place since they all find some sort of market share, i see people who like windows, i see people who like linux, i see people who like mac, why people feel that these groups must be either a 0 or a 1 is beyond me, the world is about diversity, innovation, that's what makes things interesting, Linux obviously isn't for you, no biggie, the penguin has enough loving.

i am not trying to create a Linux vs windows debate, i'm just saying use what you like, why not?

Stop feeding the troll and pay attention to real users with real problems, please, gentlemen !

This made me laugh so hard I just felt the need to quote it.

Keep in mind that Macs are tailor-made to work with only a specific architecture. "I just works" because it is narrowly defined to work with only certain hardware. Come to think of it, I've never actually heard of anyone installing a Mac operating system. That does say something good about Mac stability, but also that Mac users prefer as much as possible to stay within their narrowly defined lines. I could be off on that, though, as I've hardly ever used on myself.

To say that a Mac user wouldn't spend 5 minutes with Linux is hardly a complement to Mac users.

In what sense does the Linux kernel try to copy MS Windows? In terms of instability or insecurity? How about in terms of inability to operate on a wide variety of systems?

Or were you thinking of the desktop environments? I'd say they come closer to copying Mac ideas.

Windows isn't all bad, it has its uses. Glad to know you have something you like to use.

I've found timbuktu's post fairly comical, yet I do remember that 1-2 years ago when I decided to try Linux all the trouble I ran into though not nearly as bad as timbuktu's experience. Hell, I still run into troubles more often than not and I still consider myself a n00b. Why do I even bother using it at all if I still have issues with it? Because for my needs - general computing (ie- surfing the web, checking email, etc.) it works fine. I get the stability and security I want that I can't get from Windows. I save Windows for my music production environment, gaming, and VMware stuff.

Moved windows advocacy thread to General for the merge with the
great unwashed.

If various isn't the same as "about 30" it obviously raises the
question WHY you had to (re-?)install it around 30 times...

That said: I had about 10 failed attempts at windows installs
over the last 6 months. XP and win2k both suck, big time. Stupid
things like requiring to be installed on the first partition of the
first hdd. Give me a break :D


Cheers,
Tink

Well, about sportcars. I would say a racing car sometimes. Rally car maybe. You know, they are less comfortable. You do need to understand what do you do just not to go off in the first turn. But you control it. And you know when it will and when it won't break - after a one-meter-high jump from trampoline, I mean.

If you compare with Mac - tell a Mac user (now, after Intel switch) that you have random problem installing Mac OS on you computer. Don't forget to tell them Mac OS X is crap. Never tell them exact model of any piece of hardware if they are interested. You'll get a lot of credit.

About copying Windows - come back when it supports chroot normally. What I mean? Well, imagine you want to try Vista (if it releases - I'm not sure..). Maybe you love to guess which apps will require changing settings (and upgrading also) with full install Vista - I don't. So please tell me how to evaluate and configure Vista little by little and at the same time have running exactly your old XP install, well, probably with Vista core (which is certainly more compatible). Well, preferably without buying extra software which takes noticeable amount of memory just for itself. Or, about WinFS - I want simple ability to place stickers (tags, labels - any metaphore, any realisation) on files and have a folder where all the files with some sticker are virtually collected. It's the main feature of WinFS, right? But I want it today. Yes, I do have it, in Linux, as I tuned and installed RelFS.

Yes, some interface features are copied from Windows. It's bad, really - it's more reasonable to copy from MacOS, where all the reasonable UI ideas come from.

And exactly in return for hardware support: why Windows XP doesn't have generic USB2.0 driver in it?

then by all means, keep using the most broken OS in the world called Windows. Vista will take 100% of your digital rights away from you as the EULA states flat out that MS can disable ANY SOFTWARE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE TO THE USER so by all means give your life away to Microsoft and the next gen of mega spyware/viruses call Vista.

Four letters for you buddy, R-O-F-L

No kidding windows has one CD, you just basically get no software (notepad doesn't count). Why does SuSE have a full DVD? Lets count how many word processors we get, how many different network servers we get, how many different compilers for every imaginable computer language (I'm sure you see where I'm going with this).

Last time I checked to get a lot of hardware working in Windows you have to install drivers (network card, video card, sound card, etc...)

Just because you installed Windows on 30 computers in the last six months doesn't make you a computer genius, expecially when all it takes to install windows is clicking a few boxes that says 'next'.

I'd say I get more from one good linux CD than from Windows install CD - out-of-the-box, I mean.

By the way, I can't even understand where to look for usb 2.0 capable driver for Windows XP.. You still say it has good driver support?

Good to see that someone is keeping the fine art of trolling for newbs alive.

I don't mean to offend, but if you really want some good suggestions sarcasm and rants usually don't work. When people get defensive they start to get less than helpful. Simply asking tends to work better.

I've never personally done anything with speech in Linux so I don't know much, but I bet there are some mailing lists that might be able to help you out. I don't know if you're vision impaired at all, but either way maybe the BLINUX lists have some good suggestions for you.

As for something comparable to soundforge, I've heard good things about audacity. Again, no experience, personally, but I know a lot of people find it satisfying.

@ timbuktu,

why even bother ranting if you dont want to use linux? nobody is forcing you to anyway, so what your problem? if you are happier with windows, then use it.

although, you might like to think about why linux is growing so fast, and being adopted more and more often, not only in the corporate world, but at home.

i hope you like waiting for ms vista to come out, and i hope you are looking foreward to a big hardware upgrade. all i can say is that we linux users already have ALL and more functions that vista will ever have...transparency, widgets, 3d desktops, already arround here for ages.
take a look at my desktop: http://clientes.netvisao.pt/alynnsut/ss1.png

dont waste your time trolling arround here. find something better to do, like chess for example.

have a good life