Poll: Best Operating System for an x86 platform

[jtshaw]

ME has major disadvantages in how it handles memory. It doens't protect kernel memory in any way, shape, or form. What this means is if a program crashes it has the potential to not only crash itself, or any other program running in the process but the kernel also. Most all other OS's out there, including linux, bsd, any unix, WinNT/2000, ect. ect. protect there memory from these such occurances.

WinME runs very unstable on a lot of peoples machines. Stability is hardly an issue wiht any of the other OS's on this list with the exception of the other Win9x systems.

 

[JonJon]

looks like win2k is the clear winner...

 

[Sunner]

If there was a poll about worst OS, ME would definately get my vote.

I've installed in(tried at least) on a total of 5 machines.

On two of them, it plain refused to install, would hang during the setup process.
One was like the above, cept the third attempt or so was successful.
Two of them installed fine but are very unstable, one of them is my home computer, which will be reinstalled with Win2K/Linux/Win98 as soon as I have some time on my hands.

 

[UnixFreak]

My Vote has to be for Red Hat 7, of course I am biased as can be. But I still respect those who prefer windows. To each his own. This analogy sums it up for me (no, I did not make this up)

picture a 4 way intersection. On each corner you have a car dealership. At one dealership, the dealer only sells cars that look ok, but break down a lot. Most people drive them, because they are easy to get parts for, and run on most of the roads. This would be the win 9x platform. The dealer across the street sells cars that look great, and run great, hood is welded shut, but you wouldnt need
to open it anyway. Only runs on half the roads, and parts..well its
a Mac. Then you have a bunch of guys in monster trucks who cant drive on any roads. They can sell you the truck, but you are limited as to where you can drive it. And you better know how to work on it. that would be NT. Across the street from there you have a bunch of guys putting parts together, building tanks, and giving them away for free. They have a guy with a megaphone screaming

<< FREE TANKS!!! >>

They run good, but the guys are learning as they are going, working out the bugs. This of course would be linux.

works for me.

 

[JonJon]

very very good analogy Unix....i liked that alot

 

[JonJon]

a little factiod for all of you about my experience with ME....less crashes, more stability decent hardware support and the only piece of equipment that doesn't work well with it.....my ms intellimouse....gotta love microsoft.....

 

[UnixFreak]

from what I can see, with win2k, is another evil microsoft tactic in action. Just like 95 98(FE) Microshaft is pitching out another heap of dung, convincing you to buy it, then delaying a bit, and throwing you another load that smells a little less, and convincing you to buy that, too. Its almost like these guys want to see how many times they can get away with it. They revamp an OS, add new features, some of which are admittedly pretty cool (dual monitors comes to mind) and the rest is unstable and lacking, only to be corrected 6 months later at a price. look at WIN95- before it was released, it was the greatest. Never need another OS. 6 months later, it sucks, here buy this, that will fix our errors. on your dime. Win98? revolutionary first edition? read above. 2nd Edition, fixes our errors. Once again on your dime. those foolish enough to buy 2k right now are just installing the

<< base system >>

which they can fix later, at a price. Getting off the soapbox now.

Note:

*** Not so much a bash on the software, as the business practices. I actually have few complaints about win98SE. I can honestly be called &quot;semi-stable&quot; I am just glad I waited so long to buy it.
*****

 

[flabbergasted]

I know I'm about two days late and all, but I couldn't help but write. Next time you quote someone, you really should give them credit. The whole idea of the four way stop and the tanks etc was from Neal Stephenson's &quot;In the Beginning was the Command Line.&quot; You can read the whole article at Cryptonomicon.


Mark

If someone posted this already, please don't flame me.

 

[Dulanic]

Unix you cant really say that about Win2K.... its the first NT that a normal user can use and still have compatability for games etc... but keep the stability of NT. I got 98 for free (hehe) and wouldnt touch ME.... Why shouldnt I upgrade to Win2K? I mean seriously why shouldnt I? It gives me stability and compatability which was never before available in a MS OS.

 

[UnixFreak]

If you scroll up, you will read the text

<< I did not make this up >>

If you need to, get a grown-up to read it to you. I did not claim to come up with it, I was merely sharing it.

 

[UnixFreak]

dulanic, honestly I can not give an worthy opinion on the OS itself, because I havent worked with it. I am merely stating my opinion based on what I have seen in the past 10 years or so. My opinion on the OS admittedly isnt worth two beans, as I have not used it. If you are using it, and you like it, more power to you, thats great, you have no reason not to use it. I honestly hope MS does come out with a worthy OS, and quit porking the public like it does. On the other hand, I am happy linux is doing as well as it is with the public, because its progressing quite nicely nowadays.

 

[todd_r]

I vote for Windows 2k. I have used all the MS OS's and this one offers (by far and away) the best combination of plug and play, ease of use and stability. Win 95 osr2 wasn't bad, but 98 and ME really haven't been drastic improvements. In fact, 98FE was a step backwards. I like Linux (I have Mandrake), but I'm not really experienced enough to offer an informed opinion on it. So, I vote for Win 2K.

 

[jtshaw]

Aside from the purpose of this tread I have to say I completely respect what you say Todd. Too many people talk big about how much better Windows is vs. Linux and such that don't have a clue how to use linux. See, linux users like me know it isn't as easy to use at first, and even I perfered Windows for a while...but then I learned the full potential and now I simply won't go back.

 

[UnixFreak]

well said, jt, I try to refrain from bashing windows users for using the product. If the OS does what you need it to, use it. I can respect that. I am in the same boat, Linux was hard at first, I felt like a new computer user again, and everything was unfamiliar, but when I got comfy I let windows go. Not everyone can or is willing to do that. Thats fine. I think it looks bad on someone when they say

<< Your OS sucks! Mine Rules! you are an idiot! >>

like we have all seen before. Shows an insecurity complex if you ask me.

 

[todd_r]

Like what Unix said, if it works for you--that's what counts. We just got a couple of Netras at work, so my Unix skills will be getting a workout soon.

 

[Supergax]

For home/workstation use: Beos
For server applications: Solaris/FreeBSD

Beos is a fairly solid OS, I haven't seen it crash yet. Installing it is cake, as well as configuring everything. It's kinda like a mix between Windows and Linux. It's little things, such as that you can restart the networking portion of the OS without having to reboot that make me fond of it. The biggest downfall to Beos at the moment is the lack of software for it, even though there is a BeWine project, it doesn't appear to be moving at a fast pace. I dont't think it helps that Be has kinda dumped Beos as it focuses more on its' BeIA for internet appliances. I was using personal editon 5 for a while, unforturnately my system specs arent' supported by it at the moment, so I'm using Win2k.

I haven't used Solaris for a few years, but when I was doing so I loved it, in both the workstation environment, and when I had to shell in. I'm currently working on a Solaris 8 box, want to dish web/ftp/shell/mail off it and run dns on it. I have been using FreeBSD at work for quite a while now, and don't have any problems with that either. I'd actually find it interesting to try to host all that off of a Beos box, but I'm not sure about the security of Beos, and I dont' know of any dns software available to Beos at the moment.

 

[yos]

Good question... I dig my 98se/2k duel boot... does the trick... and linux on my POS machine.

 

[jmcoreymv]

Honestly if your going to use X in linux, id say win2k is the most stable gui out there. Ive been able to crash X but never win2k.

 

[UnixFreak]

all this plugging of 2k almost makes me want to go out and buy it, so I can play games again, but then again, I think I'll wait 6 months or so heh heh still enjoying my Linux.

 

[UnixFreak]

BTW, I would never say any dist of linux is crash proof, I have locked it up, but I must admit, it happens less with than 98SE. From a medical standpoint, linux is better for me, because blue screens tend to incite anger in me, and get my blood pressure up!! LOL

 

[Dulanic]

I use Linux also but Im just not good at it But Win2K is the first GOOD OS MS has done. It is stable, its compatiable, its good with plug and pray, it has NTFS5 (probably the best thing MS has ever done). I mean its the first MS OS I respect, its innovative, its secure, its fast, its stable, its pretty much everything Ive asked of a OS. It multitasks better then NT4 and 98, and it runs SMP a hell of alot better than NT4. Whistler will also be rather nice, I use it I know It is too &quot;pretty&quot; for my taste but you can change that Although Whistler wont be as innovative as Win2K it expands upon Win2K.... Just adds more compatability but keeps the stability of NT. Whats really weird is all this coming from my mouth..... I hated MS, still have a dislike, but there you cant say Win2K isnt a good OS. I hate Windows ME, but I think Whistler will be a HUGE jump for the average PC user.

 

[XeonTux]

CP/M


yeah right. Linux of course!

BTW, I would not classify win <=3.1 as a seperate os. It was just a shell on top of dos.

 

[Mytv]

I like the fact I can get Win95 on a 20meg flash card to run a mp3 server but Win98se is right up there.

Win Whistler will reign when it debuts in a year.