Windows, Mac, or Linux

[CushtyFred]

Which do you use and why?

[ACtheTROLL]

Windows ..... it's easiest ....

linux IS good (and mostly free!!!!) ... but it's a steep learning curve for newbs and so is hard work .... it's for teckkies - you do need to know your way round before you even think about software - and the software ... is good ... but (arguably) is nowhere as polished as windows/Mac

Mac ... the choice of design pros - the sexiest looking machines ... pound for pound quicker than IBMs .... anyone can use their mac the same day you get it out of the box ... it's just not many do .... consequently everything is top dollar - google for software ... problems ...etc, etc ... and you'll get 99% windows replies ....

look on the highstreet and everyone and anyone will build you a windows machine .... where is your closest mac dealer?

[cascarelli]

Personal choice isn't it, whatever suits you best.

I use a Mac because it's easiest for me. Going back to a Windows computer now is a complete nightmare. Also, I don't have to worry about viruses, adware, malware, spyware etc etc.

The main advantage of Windows seems to be if you want to play games on your computer - there's a much, much bigger range. Most of the other software is the same.

[fo3nix]

I use a Mac.

[Llamatron]

I use Windows just because it's what I'm used to.

I'm sure I could use a Mac if I put my mind to it but as Troll said they're hugely expensive and most software out there is for the Windows platform. I'm also a gamer which pretty much rules out Macs.

I hate Linux with a passion. It's billed as this great free Windows beater when it is nothing of the sort. I installed YellowDog Linux on my PS3 and it took all day and three different media players before I was able to get my divx files to play. I daren't even imagine having to do anything meaningful with it.

Although with the advent of the Vista monster I'm seriously considering jumping ship. I just don't know what to - with a Mac I lose control of the machine and with Linux it's a herculean challenge to figure out how to do the simplest of tasks.

[CheekyChops]

I use Windows because that is what I use at work and because that was all they offered me when I went to PC World for my first PC. I know, I wouldn't go there now but now I'm used to Windows!

[boobesque]

i agree that linux is nothing like linux users say. It is not as simple as windows, sometimes peripherals just work, sometimes they dont. On some distro's certain files just work, on some they dont. It can take some hard work learning how to configure the machine and actually doing the setup, thats why linux is used mostly by people who enjoy learning about computers (you can learn a lot just from losing the plug and play functionality of windows).

I see on here all the time people suggesting dumping windows for linux. I believe that linux is not yet at that stage where just anybody can download a distro and just use it. Not everyone wants to take the time to learn new things and suggesting that everyone should get rid of windows for linux is irresponsible and just unfeasable.

I use Fedora core 6 because im into computing for computings sake and enjoy learning about computers, server systems etc. I also use windows because sometimes i just want something to work quick and easy

[ninja]

I use Mac & Windows for work - windows only for home.

Think that they both have pros & cons & both perform the tasks I need them for adequately - I don't really prefer one over the other.

[OBonio]

Dual boot system at home. XP and Slackware Linux.

I've played about with Linux quite a bit. Ubuntu is the current flavour of the month for 'newbies'. I installed this and it picked up all my hardware very nicely, but ran like a dog. Not entirely sure why, but I think it was the bluetooth USB dongle. So I went back to Slackware which I've used since version 8. It's pretty much a bare bones Linux and you need to be a bit techy to get it to do what you want. All in all, I'm with boobesque. It's not quite ready, but it's getting better all the time. Llamatron's experience is obviously of a very immature distribution of Linux.

That said, I still use Windows a hell of a lot more. It's what I'm used to. I program with it and for it (yes, yes, I know about Mono on Linux.. and it's ... not quite there... have never gotten MonoDevelop to run), so I'm kind of locked into using it for a while yet. Maybe one day, MS will go open source and we'll get the best of both worlds. Just after hell hath frozen over.

As for Macs... not really used one in angst apart from an A-Level project 10 years ago. I wasn't too impressed.

[whiffey]

At home, Windows XP for all except financial or confidential stuff, for which I boot the PC from a standalone SUSE Linux CD. The system booted in this way is guaranteed free of viruses/malware and as about as safe as it is possible to be.

I would not use Linux at home, but much prefer Unix systems at work for the power of the many utilities, and the eternal stability. I had one Unix system running without reboot for over 2 years.

[ACtheTROLL]

Everybody is right! - not much help were we?

one small niggle though ... the linux\mac virus free environment .... it's a fallacy. In the early days of mac (late80s-early 90s)... viruses were widespread (it's not that they don't exist .... it's just that by number users are not worth hunting by the script kiddies or fraudsters) - real hackers are still in there and with unix (so that screws the mac frat) and ... tom tom have just admitted their high end navs have shipped with infected software so linux is vulnerable also.

Intercept, spoof and spam is platform independent as is pfishing.

Once there is a market ... the hunters move in ....

[Mac70]

I use XP on the family pc and dual boot Ubuntu and Mandriva on my self build.
Depending on the distro Linux can be as easy as Windows. There are plenty programs that take out all the hard work.
Simplymepis comes with such pre-installed.