First of all, this isn't some battle between the OS's, why one is better than another. I'm just curious on what information out there is true, and who to go to for that matter.
I may take classes in computer. If I do this, I may end up in computer business, and would like to truely know the facts the best I can.
Even if this falls through, I'm still curious about linux, if it will uprise, or stay strong, fall apart, or whatever.

I'm reading on the net, some companies switching to linux from windows.
I also see such topics as "RadioShack Saves Millions Choosing Windows Over Linux"; "Rayovac Chooses Windows Over Linux for Lower Cost of Ownership, Less Risk" & "CheckFree Chooses Windows over Linux for Lower TCO". Funny, yet true, guess who sponsers this "linux reference center that says: Get the facts you need to make the choice between Windows and Linux. Just click on the whitepaper of your choice to download"
Give up? Sponsored by: Microsoft.

Speaking of Microsoft, I heard Bill Gates plans to choke out Linux.
It'd be nice to know what's up, but like people, they'll say good things about what they support, negative things about what they don't.
I have been that way with linux VS windows.
If windows takes too long to load, I blame it on their software, if linux does, I feel it's just because of a lot of data.
So, what is up with Bill Gates? How is Linux doing? Where is the best or at least good source to go for information on this?

www.osnews.com

That's a good site - the name says it all.

The best judge will be yourself.
It may sound obvious, and it is.
Most of the test/reviews/casestudies/researches are made from a certain point of biased ideas they want to prove in the articles. You however can do your personal testing/researching etc etc, for your own situation(s). i mean it's the same thing as with the "wich distribution" questions. Try it yourself to know if it fails on you for e.g. difficulty/ease of use/size/performance etc etc.

That's kind of a loaded question. Will this convince you?
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserv...s/default.mspx

I think linux is alive and well in the server market, windows is the king of the user like it or not.

I hope this is intended as a joke!

Microsoft and honesty in researches for comparisons with the OTHER OS? Nah, not in your life!
They hired those research companies in some way (maybe sponsoring). They even have admitted this.

Like anything it will take some researhc, common sense and a good nose for BS.

You can never rely on one source, or even 2 for accurate facts, you need a whole plethora of sources, confirming facts to even begin to consider it is true.

Alternatively use both, work out what is fact and what is FUD, we could tell you whats right and wrong but then who's to say we aren't sponsored by one side or another?

linux vs windows doesn't mean anything. It's like apple vs banana. The banana is longer but the apple is rounder, unless the banana is a small one.

If you want to reach an actual conclusion, please compare a specific version of windows with a specific set of linux+tools for a specific task. golden apples are less calorific than plantin banana and therefore do better at keeping weight down.

Facts:
Microsoft is an American Corporation
Linux is the name of an open-source operating sytem
Open Source is a world-wide movement changing how SW is produced
People use proprietary software for lots of different things
People use open-source software for lots of different things
Most computer users would not know all of this

From here, you can go into all kinds of detail---about applications, projects, people, governments, document format standards. The facts that are important to you will depend on what you want to do.

Microsoft's "Get the Facts" campaign is a paid advertising campaign, with Microsoft itself funding/sponsoring the "studies". While the individual companies mentioned in the ads may in fact have gone with Microsoft, the entire TCO argument is speculative at best -- case in point, how much of the Microsoft TCO corresponds to dealing with the latest Blaster, SoBig, MyDoom, etc, etc, etc virus?

With respect to your original question, the best answer is to regularly follow multiple news outlets. That's the only way to really "get the facts"

Thank you all for your advice, suggestions, links.
It's not like I'm after articles that say "linux rules" and "microsoft sucks". There are good things and bad things, or maybe a better way to put it, something that separates the two, or three if we include MAC.
I understand that you'll hear negative things and positive things about each OS, the ups and down, etc.
But it's like politics. They can twist things around, and make one appear bad and the other good.
One of my concerns are, if and when I get into my own computer business, people will ask questions. which OS I recommend, is this OS better, "I heard this about this OS, is that true?" I hate to steer people in the wrong direction.
but I'll do what you guys mentioned, just look at various articles, use my best judgement and all.

Yes, I believe Microsoft is the king so to speak, but that's okay. The good thing is, we at least have other OS's, in case we want to use that instead.

thanks again for your advice, feedback, the sites. much appreciated.

My

Bill Gates was in the right place at the right time in 1981. Rather than concentrating on the operating system for their new "home computers", IBM elected to concentrate on hardware, leaving the operating system for this hardware outside of their top priorities.

When the "clones" started to hit the market, Gates and his crowd already had the market cornered by this time. But even then he knew that someday an alternative would come along and Microsoft's dominence would end (he said so himself.)

In 1998, after only five years in existence, Linux was already being seen as threat by Microsoft, as is seen in the now famous Halloween Documents. For any average home user who used, or tried to use Linux in 1998, it was not hard to see that this was NOT a home users operating system. Yet, the visionaries at Microsoft soft saw the writing on the wall even then. Linux was going to someday be a problem.

Fast forward to 2006. If Linux was seen as a threat to Microsoft in 1998, what are they thinking now? Not only is Linux now a credible home system for the average user, but its advantages over Windows in stability and security have been proven undebatably. Forbes magazine recently estimated that Microsoft with spend $20,000,000 over the next five years in advertising campaigns in an effort to hold on to their desktop dominance. If Linux was not ready for the home desktop, would Microsoft see this as a necessity?

While it is true that software vendors continue to ignore Linux, that is gradually changing. Even now Linux is capable of most, if not all, of the desktop capabilities of Windows even without commercial software vendors, relying almost completely on open source software.

It will be an extremely interesting thing to re-visit threads like this one five years from now. I believe in my lifetime I will see threads like:

"Will Windows ever be as good as Linux for Home Desktop User?"

Bob

if your going into the computer industry, working with them then learn both...if its to sell them, sell both... if its to promote them, then promote both...either way its to make money and either one will suit the end user if thats what they choose...
there is no better over the other when a customer walks in with an idea of what they want, or a boss is looking for a techo to maintain a system, if you have skills in both then you can cover both needs...and while your at it learn the other os's so you got the bases covered...
comparisons are like chalk and cheese...

You can't compare the two so easily.

Windows is as good as linux in many fields, sometimes even better.
Windows has a bigger user base and has more software in some fields, like games.

So, you can't say linux is better for everything.

If you had read my post clearly you would have noted that this was a comment about futuristic possibilities, not a comparison comment.

Bob

That's pretty much what I feel is best. I want to know both, MAYBE even Mac, that way, I have more knowledge in various OS's, and can get more customers.
No offense, but if I was just limited to one, a linux system, or just one linux distribution, I wouldn't get as many customers if I say, knew Mandriva, Red Hat, Suse, etc, plus Windows XP, Vista, the older OS's, MAC.
It's a lot when one thinks about it, but I feel I can get somewhere.
The more you know, and can sell, and if you're good with what you do, good with customers, you will be well liked and appreciated.


As for this comparison between windows and linux, they both have their good points and bad points.