What is it about Windows that everybody likes? (A rant)

[kmmatney]

Check this out:

http://zorin-os.com/

I've never used it but it looked interesting. Windows GUI, Linux OS. Claims to support gaming as well (Paid Version).

This looks cool - I'm going to give it a try on my spare computer (currently running Windows XP Black Edition). The trouble is, it seems like there have always been promising Linux distros (The first one I tried was Mandrake over 14 years ago, then Ubuntu, and then Linux Mint) but I always hit a roadblock. This one looks to be based on Ubuntu, but with a "look changer" app to make it look like Windows.

The only thing I need it to run right away is Minecraft and possibly Roblox. If I can 't get those working - it's back to Windows...

 

[Skaendo]

The trouble is, it seems like there have always been promising Linux distros (The first one I tried was Mandrake over 14 years ago, then Ubuntu, and then Linux Mint) but I always hit a roadblock.

It keeps being said (by me mostly) that forks like *nbuntu and Mint generally have a lot of roadblocks.
Not that it will help with gaming but people need to get a straight-up distro. Like Debian for *nbuntu and Mint. It goes without saying that all OSs have bugs, but when you fork it adds a whole new set of bugs on top of the original ones.

 

[escrow4]

CLI is never needed on the "easy" distros. They work just like Windows, and one never needs to open a terminal. That said, ignoring the terminal is foolish. Any outlandish one-off task you may need can usually be done with a terminal and/or scripting. Some tasks have no hope of being made into a gui program by others; especially on Windows, and if you want it done, you do it yourself.

Using the terminal is foolish unless you are a linux geek using it. Why? Its 2014 not 1995. Even if you could learn, why bother? People have a whole lot of other things to focus their time and energy on. Cranking up a terminal and getting at it will never happen for Joe Blow. Ever. With Windows, I don't even adjust settings anymore, beyond the BSOD option and the taskbar and maybe one or two other checkboxes. A few minutes. Done. With Linux, meh. Its still a mess.

 

[ArisVer]

To answer the OP question, I really like the glossy aero thing of Windows 7 which I use daily.

When it comes to linux, nothing can beat it's usability especially with old hardware. I just fired up my old box (single core Athlon 1600+) with Zorin and Debian Xfce. Zorin is a little slow but usable. Debian is fast, very fast. And you don't have to use CLI, but just as lxskllr said, you can do things faster than using windowed applications.

 

[Red Storm]

The only reason why I still have a Windows desktop is PC gaming. If not for that, I'd be perfectly happy with just Android and Chrome OS.

 

[Dannar26]

Using Windows 8.1 here. It's smooth. It works. I can play all my games on it.

Running Linux may give me more street cred...but with a family/job/house to care for I don't want to add a computer to that list.

 

[WildW]

It's been over ten years now, and I've still never managed to see that penguin slide down the hill with 3D acceleration turned on. And not for want of trying.

 

[sandorski]

It's been over ten years now, and I've still never managed to see that penguin slide down the hill with 3D acceleration turned on. And not for want of trying.

hehe, ya, that brings back memories. Not memories of the Games that installed with the Linux version I tried, but memories of me not being able to play any of them cause they didn't work.

 

[Demo24]

LibreOffice opens, edits, and saves Office format files just fine.

Only sometimes and for basic documents as mentioned above. We have problems with all kinds of office documents sent around when trying to use libreoffice. Its kind of terrible really, and google docs seems to format better.

____

I think someone, op, is purposefully missing the point here. Linux has its place, and right now that's best fit on servers. In that realm Linux has a much higher market share ( I've heard the 60% of the web quote a lot, no idea if that's accurate) and in some aspects is growing. However, there are times you can't get around needing a windows server, such as active directory, and a variety of things that tie nicely into that.

Also, windows by itself is not inherently unsafe, but when there are billions of PCs running windows out there its not going to be very hard (comparatively) to take advoof that.

 

[Skaendo]

Linux has its place, and right now that's best fit on servers.

I don't think this is an accurate statement. Maybe 15+ years ago when it was underdeveloped, but now it has evolved to the point where it can be run on most computers with a friendly desktop environment comparable to Windows, and apps that can do everything that your everyday user needs.

 

[Cerb]

I don't think this is an accurate statement. Maybe 15+ years ago when it was underdeveloped, but now it has evolved to the point where it can be run on most computers with a friendly desktop environment comparable to Windows, and apps that can do everything that your everyday user needs.

The desktop got skipped. It's running in phones, tablets, and low-end notebooks all over the place.

(meanwhile, a Debian desktop ran for hours on a brand new AIO that's behind me right now )

 

[Skaendo]

It's running in phones

Sure, while Ubuntu is trying to make a real footprint in the smartphone market, I generally don't approve of Google owning the Android OS. While they have been recently making strides in the right direction with end to end encryption, I personally am tired of Google. Like MS with new Windows releases including Xbox related material and apps, Google has imprinted the Android with Google. I have a Samsung I200PP (Verison Prepaid) that I rooted and took all Google related material out that I could. Currently I don't use it, or any smartphone for that matter.

 

[denis280]

This looks cool - I'm going to give it a try on my spare computer (currently running Windows XP Black Edition). The trouble is, it seems like there have always been promising Linux distros (The first one I tried was Mandrake over 14 years ago, then Ubuntu, and then Linux Mint) but I always hit a roadblock. This one looks to be based on Ubuntu, but with a "look changer" app to make it look like Windows.

The only thing I need it to run right away is Minecraft and possibly Roblox. If I can 't get those working - it's back to Windows...

Yes it is a good Os.got it install on few old pc.and works like a charme.and the new version is compatible with games

 

[Remobz]

Until they want to change Software/Hardware. I have tried Linux 3 times over the past 15ish years, each time I ran into a headache with something. I just don't want to dick around with something that should just Work as a Base for Hardware/Software and not require my ability to input Commands to make it work.

That's why I and most others prefer Windows over Linux.

Exactly. Sad but true.

 

[Skaendo]

Hardware issues are a big factor in it as well, I blame this on the hardware manufacturers. I can also see where they are coming from, since they are all about making money and there is no money in supporting free software. Thus Linux users have to develop their own drivers and software to support hardware. I know of some manufacturers that will flat out tell you that they wont support Linux. AverMedia, for example. They have one product that they have Linux drivers for, and upon further reading on their site I found that they wont support anything else that they make with Linux drivers.

 

[bbhaag]

This looks cool - I'm going to give it a try on my spare computer (currently running Windows XP Black Edition). The trouble is, it seems like there have always been promising Linux distros (The first one I tried was Mandrake over 14 years ago, then Ubuntu, and then Linux Mint) but I always hit a roadblock. This one looks to be based on Ubuntu, but with a "look changer" app to make it look like Windows.

The only thing I need it to run right away is Minecraft and possibly Roblox. If I can 't get those working - it's back to Windows...

Getting Minecraft to work on any OS shouldn't be a problem. On a Linux based system you should be able to dl the latest JRE once you have that go to minecraft.net dl the installer then right click and make it executable.

Roblox on the other hand is a little more difficult. At the current time there is no out of the box way to make it work as they do not support Linux based systems at this time.

 

[Raduque]

You are prob using some fork of a distro. It's pretty well known that forks suck. Intel wireless is VERY well supported. You have to have firmware-iwlwifi_0.43_all.deb on USB during a Debian install, then it gets installed to system, because it is non-free software.

I don't know about any forks. Is the latest Ubuntu from their website a fork?

I don't bother trying anything else because I just get frustrated with it not working and having to do arcane CLI jiggery-pokery to get shit to half-work, that I just wipe it and reinstall my W7 image.

 

[bbhaag]

That depends on who you ask and what terminology they find appropriate.
Most people would probably consider Ubuntu a fork of Debian.

 

[Skaendo]

Ubuntu is indeed a fork of Debian. Debian has been around since 1993 and has many, many distros forked from it. Including Ubuntu, Mint, Xandros & Knoppix to name a few of the more popular. An easy way to tell if a distro is forked from Debian is that it uses .deb packages.

*Debian was built from scratch (minus the GNU utilities, but even then they were repackaged specifically for Debian) around the Linux kernel and is the first in relation to those forked from it.

 

[KeypoX]

multimonitor support, video support, drivers and lack of software kill linux for me. Its a great server os tho. GUI linux is not very stable in my experience.

osx is a good compromise, solves multimonitor, video, and somewhat the driver problem. But the lack of software hurts it still.

direct x keeps linux and mac in single digit. Get games to perform as well in open gl and people would start moving.

 

[Skaendo]

multimonitor support, video support, drivers and lack of software kill linux for me. Its a great server os tho. GUI linux is not very stable in my experience.

osx is a good compromise, solves multimonitor, video, and somewhat the driver problem. But the lack of software hurts it still.

direct x keeps linux and mac in single digit. Get games to perform as well in open gl and people would start moving.

I actually use my laptop monitor and a DLP projector as a second monitor, works great with Debian. And I still have a S-Video out that I can use on my laptop.

And I just have to question, why are people still gaming on their computers? I mean even if you like MS that much, go get a Xbox. Miss the keyboard? USB keyboard.

 

[ControlD]

And I just have to question, why are people still gaming on their computers? I mean even if you like MS that much, go get a Xbox. Miss the keyboard? USB keyboard.

No. Just .... no. Nope. No.

 

[Skaendo]

No. Just .... no. Nope. No.

Honestly, what is the difference? They are both computers.

 

[ControlD]

Honestly, what is the difference? They are both computers.

Sure. A Mac is a computer too. I wouldn't buy that to game on either.

A full discourse is outside the topic here but I'll take the flexible, upgradable, and mod friendly Windows PC every day of the week over a closed box console. We have a Xbox 360 for family gaming and that's fine. For serious stuff, it's PC or nothing.

 

[Skaendo]

For serious stuff, it's PC or nothing.

Ok, I have to bite here, what is considered serious gaming?