Linux Better Than Windows?
Published on 6 Jul 2005 · Filed in Musing · 214 words (estimated 2 minutes to read)A short while back NewsForge published an article comparing Windows to Linux. What’s so unusual about that, you may ask? This article, titled “Windows rapidly approaching desktop usability,” takes a look at Windows as if it, not Linux, were the upstart newcomer in the OS lineup. This is a viewpoint not often considered, and it is a valid viewpoint once you get over the presumption that Windows should be the default OS on your computer.
There are a couple of valid points made in the article. To quote:
“Microsoft Windows XP, Home Edition, with Service Pack 2, is a tremendous improvement over previous Windows versions when it comes to stability and appearance, but it still has many glitches that keep it from being competitive with GNU/Linux for everyday users, including a tedious installation procedure, lack of productivity software included with the operating system, hardware compatibility problems, and a price so much higher than any of the Linux distributions…”
Don’t get me wrong; I’m not advocating that everyone out there should suddenly ditch Windows and migrate to Linux. Are there situations where Linux is a better fit than Windows? Of course. Likewise, there are situations where Windows is a better fit than Linux. And, of course, there’s always Mac OS X to consider as well.