which operating system is better?

Question

which operating system is better windows, linux, osx ? and why?

Answer 1

Windows is the best all around for functionality. It is common, user friendly, compatible with just about everything, and easy to find help if you are having trouble. The big downfall is it's popularity. Since it is so common it is a big target for hackers. A firewall, antivirus, and antispyware are vital if you run Windows.

Mac OSX is user friendly, but only runs on Macintosh computers. It can be difficult to find compatible software and mac software typically costs $10-$20 more. Since they only own about 5% of the PC market viruses are rare so security is not a large issue.

Linux is not even remotely user friendly. It has limited hardware and software compatibility. If you are having trouble, and you WILL have trouble, it can be difficult to get help. Your options are limited to Linux forums, or mIRC chatrooms, both of which have 300 people asking questions and about 10 gurus trying to help everyone. There are also so many different distros that instructions for one do not always work with the rest. Because it is so rare viruses are not a threat. I don't even know if any linux viruses exist.

Answer 2

Mac OS by far. Linux is a good OS for servers, but it really isn't for end users. Windows is insecure and difficult to use. The Mac works with nearly everything (plug-n-play actually works on a Mac) and it's very secure, having been out for over five years now with zero viruses in the wild.

Macs can also run Windows, Linux, or just run Windows applications from within OS X! They can run more software than any other computer on the planet.

The fact is that Mac users are fanatical about their computers because they're so good. If Macs weren't as good as they are, Apple would have gone out of business. That's because people don't accidentally buy Macs like they do PCs. People who buy Macs know about PCs and choose the Mac despite the fact that "everybody else" has a PC. That can only be because they recognize that they're getting something more out of buying a Mac.

Answer 3

Ahh the ancient philosophical question which generalizes a group of more specific subjective ones which are undefined but nonetheless brings arguments from all sides advocating personal favorties.

My favorite happens to be Linux. Granted I have limited experience with osx and macs in general, but enough to provide basic support on them when I happen across them. Some of my reasons for this include the following:
It is open-source and available free of cost.
I find it to be the most stable and secure.
I can actually recompile the kernel of the operating system to be optimized for my particular hardware.
I like being able to do half a dozen things at the same time without one program being stupid and freezing up the entire machine.
I'm the old-fashioned classical hacker type and like Burger King, oh wait... that's - I like to have it my way.

The only reason I keep windows around is to play some games that can't run in WINE.

Answer 4

My advice is that both windows and linux have their strength and weaknesses. Windows is reknown all over the world and has a solid reputation to defend. So Microsoft cannot play with this "goodwill" and are nearly obliged to deliver high-quality softwares and operating systems. It also provides free upgrades and updates and as its cost is spread among millions of users, it is in a better position to be sold cheaper and is debugged more efficiently and more tested. However, linux too, has other solutions and advantages. One would be, for example its browser. As it is not well-known, there are a few hackers for that. So you are better protected since you are less at risk. Therefore, i would recommend you to partition your harddisk and install both operating system in each partition. So that you get the advantages of both and reject their inconveniences. Thanx. Cheers.

Answer 5

It will depend on your needs are. I personally prefer Linux, though I run a dual-boot Debian/WinXP Pro computer, as my multi-track recording from my POD Xt Live pedalboard requires Windows.

To those who say Linux isn't friendly, they simply don't know what they're talking about. If you haven't tried the new versions of XandrOS, Mandriva One (or PowerPack!), Ubuntu, Kubuntu, or SuSe (the new Enterprise Desktop 10 is great!) then you're missing out.

They're extremely user-friendly desktop OS's meant for those people that want to migrate away from Windows but think Linux is for techies only. You can update your system easily, have full office suites that are fully compatible with Microsoft Office documents plus have greater stability and security.

And contrary to some comments, they recognize most common hardware with no problems. I've installed ALL of the Linux distros I've mentioned on my 64 bit AMD system and not had a single problem with any of them. The problems usually stem from people who don't know what they're doing, whether they use Macs, Windows, or Linux. There are people running Linux servers that haven't been rebooted in nearly a decade! You won't see that with Macs or Windows boxes.

Plus, I love the ability to when I chose "print" for a document to print as a PDF file. Thus, you can save a text file as a PDF document. In Windows, you need to have Acrobat and spend hundreds of dollars to have that ease of use. Its free with Linux.

You owe it to yourself to try out Mandriva One at the least. It's a great starter distro as is XandrOS. The new SuSe Enterprise Server and Desktop deal with the enterprise stack quite nicely and is right up there with RedHat.

The whole idea of Macs being better for graphics is a popular misconception anyway. Macs used to have superior graphic editing capabilities...like a decade ago. The reason people still believe that's the case is that so many newspapers and print shops invested in Macs and are too cheap and lazy to invest in and learn Windows and its superior applications. Windows has had better digital graphic editing software for many years now. You just can't convince a cheapskate newspaper editor that he/she ought to toss their Macs and go with Windows, however.

The only point I will concede to Macs is that they're good for sound recording/editing, as you can mix more consistently from one Mac to another whereas on Windows systems, the soundcards drastically alter the sound of a mix from one system to another.

What it boils down to is what you believe you want to do, what your principles are, and what you're willing to learn or not.

Answer 6

OSX, it's the best because it is real unix, can run windows under it, and can run linux under it too.... all at the same time!

Answer 7

Windows. It is reliable and compatible with the rest of the world. Linux is completely unintelligible with little documentation and is beyond the average user. Mac has carved out its niche among specialty users, mainly graphic artists or digital video producers. Unless you're big into media and design, go with Windows.

Answer 8

windows. The reason: It is in 90% of the computers on the market. You can find someone to work on a windows problem, it is harder to find someone to work on other operating systems.

Answer 9

It depends on the usage if network then linux elsefor domestic usage then windows,

Answer 10

Depends on the ur requirement.
For home user Windows is gud.