What can Linux do that Windows cannot?

[BigToque]

The one thing people always say is that Linux is more stable/secure than WinNT. I can believe this because flaws in code are visible to anyone and can be reported and corrected quickly. The thing that gets me, is when people say they can do more with Linux than you can with Windows, and because of this, makes it a viable desktop OS.

To be a viable desktop OS (for the concumer market - which is where Linux is supposedly trying to move into), it has to be relatively easy to use. I've recently had the opportunity to install RedHat 7.2 and it was pretty easy to get up and running. I still however, could do nothing fancy with the OS that I couldn't do in Win2k (I'm not very 1337 with Linux yet)

Someone please tell me what makes this OS more productive then Windows.

 

[gopunk]

as far as the average user goes... i can't think of much. i view it as essentially personal preference... sort of like macs and pc's... they can do about the same things, but some people just prefer one or the other.

oh, i guess you can grep

 

[Adul]

remain secure

 

[pulse8]

<< as far as the average user goes... i can't think of much. i view it as essentially personal preference... sort of like macs and pc's... they can do about the same things, but some people just prefer one or the other.

oh, i guess you can grep >>

Exactly. As a server, linux may have the edge over Windows, but as a desktop machine, it's more just personal preference.

 

[Random Variable]

it can make french toast

 

[Spyro]

Flaws in the code?
Odd with Mandrake 8 I've have never had a crash that I didn't cause myself.

 

[Spyro]

<< it can make french toast >>



Yum Yum!

 

[CrazyHelloDeli]

I cant think of anything off the top of my head that Linux can do and windows cant. For the most part, Linux does alot "Better" than MS...thats where the argument lies, for the most part.

 

[Russ]

<< What can Linux do that Windows cannot? >>



Give the user a superiority complex coupled with the uncontrollable urge to constantly and repeatedly proclaim the wonders of the OS.

Russ, NCNE

 

[Descartes]

There isn't much inherent in the OS itself that makes you more productive. It is infinitely more productive for a /serious/ user, but not even close for an end-user. I'm a strong proponent of windows, but I lose a lot of flexibility when in a windows environment. This is largely due to the fact that windows lacks a lot of the more powerful tools that are targeted towards unix-derived operating systems.

For a programmer, unix-derived operating systems are simply more fun, more flexible, etc.

Btw, this is a flame thread. Bring on all the dogmatic responses!

 

[wyvrn]

Legally cost nothing?




edit: added legally

 

[Descartes]

<< Odd with Mandrake 8 I've have never had a crash that I didn't cause myself. >>



Odd, I haven't had a single crash on any of my windows boxen in years that wasn't directly caused by me. When an obviously capable Porsche capable of a sub-5 second 0-60mph clocks in at just under 10, do you blame the driver, or do you blame Porsche?

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

<< What can Linux do that Windows cannot? >>

The answer to that is the same as the answer to the question "what can't windows do?"

nik

 

[bandXtrb]

can Windows do windows?

 

[glenn1]

<< What can Linux do that Windows cannot? >>



Unlike Windows, provide no viable business model or profitability for the companies selling it?

 

[wyvrn]

<<

<< What can Linux do that Windows cannot? >>



Unlike Windows, provide no viable business model or profitability for the companies selling it? >>



Wasn't supposed to be profitable, since they give it away for free. Most companies charge for support, but then so does MS. I don't think those companies expected to make as much as MS either, that is not the point.

 

[777php]

At the moment there are no known viruses that can affect a linux machine...

While Linux is great, I still prefer the ease of use that comes with Windows. I do however love going on freshmeat and sourceforge scouring through all the cool poggies that people are working on for linux.

EDIT: Fine...I should have been more specific, there are no major viruses today that effect linux machines as there are with windows.

 

[Spyro]

<<

<< Odd with Mandrake 8 I've have never had a crash that I didn't cause myself. >>



Odd, I haven't had a single crash on any of my windows boxen in years that wasn't directly caused by me. When an obviously capable Porsche capable of a sub-5 second 0-60mph clocks in at just under 10, do you blame the driver, or do you blame Porsche? >>



You're either luckey, using a flavor of Windows 2000, or you turn on your box once a week. I have two wintel 98 boxes that crash atleast three times a day they even crash when they're not doing anything.

BTW a computer is not a car and a windows PC is not a Porsche.

 

[gopunk]

While Linux is great, I still prefer the ease of use that comes with Windows. I do however love going on freshmeat and sourceforge scouring through all the cool poggies that people are working on for linux,

i completely agree... one great thing about linux is that you can tailor it to your needs a lot more than you can do so with windows. however, with that power comes some drawbacks in ease... there are some things that are just easier to set up in windows than in linux. it's a give or take thing. personally, i don't have the time to configure linux to meet my needs, so i'm just using xp, which works sufficiently well for my needs.

 

[n0cmonkey]

<<

<< What can Linux do that Windows cannot? >>



Unlike Windows, provide no viable business model or profitability for the companies selling it? >>



Isnt that the fault of the companies and not the OS? Or are you one of the people that thinks buzz words are cool?

 

[gopunk]

BTW a computer is not a car and a windows PC is not a Porsche.

i think you're just trying to be a retard, but in the event you're not, it's called an "analogy".

 

[Russ]

<< At the moment there are no know viruses that can affect a linux machine... >>



Huh?

Russ, NCNE

 

[Gooberlx2]

Give the user a superiority complex coupled with the uncontrollable urge to constantly and repeatedly proclaim the wonders of the OS.

Russ, NCNE

Ah...the cold hard truth.

Yes, it's personal preference as far as regular desktop goes. Personally I like most of the average programs made for windows more. I like that there's alot more options, it seems, for DivX encoding/playback, Newsgroups, and some other things. K office is pretty good but I still like m$ office more. The one thing m$ has over linux, IMHO, is compatibillity and ease of use for the regular "joe" user.

For programmers I consider windows to be a PITA! I want all the tools that *nix gives, like grep, script, etc. Shell scripting is very cool. And there's definitely no substitute as far as servers go.

 

[n0cmonkey]

<<

<< At the moment there are no know viruses that can affect a linux machine... >>



Huh?

Russ, NCNE >>



Its FUD, deal with it.

 

[Spyro]

<< Give the user a superiority complex coupled with the uncontrollable urge to constantly and repeatedly proclaim the wonders of the OS.

Russ, NCNE

Ah...the cold hard truth.

Yes, it's personal preference as far as regular desktop goes. Personally I like most of the average programs made for windows more. I like that there's alot more options, it seems, for DivX encoding/playback, Newsgroups, and some other things. K office is pretty good but I still like m$ office more. The one thing m$ has over linux, IMHO, is compatibillity and ease of use for the regular "joe" user.

For programmers I consider windows to be a PITA! I want all the tools that *nix gives, like grep, script, etc. Shell scripting is very cool. And there's definitely no substitute as far as servers go. >>



Amen.
VIM Rulez!