What is it about Windows that everybody likes? (A rant)

[ControlD]

Ok, I have to bite here, what is considered serious gaming?

Good question. Not sure I know.

For me, that is anything like Borderlands, Dragon Age, Fallout 3, etc. Games that play better with the keyboard and mouse and don't require aim assisted thumb sticks. Also, a lot of the games I play (roguelikes) simply aren't available on consoles.

Mod support is another big reason I like to play on the PC. Look at Fallout 3 or Skyrim for instance. With mod support the experience is far superior on my PC than on my X360.

The Xbox is great for things like Disney Infinity, Guitar Hero, dancing games etc. when the family wants to have a good time. Actually, the Wii is even better for that, just getting a little long in the tooth.

Now, if someone was to give me a Xbox One I wouldn't turn it down. I would still use my PC as my primary. Part of it is because I am like a monkey and a football when it comes to using dual stick controllers.

 

[Mem]

Ok, I have to bite here, what is considered serious gaming?

A PC mainly used a lot for gaming including beta games testing for companies,something that I do now and then.

 

[escrow4]

Ok, I have to bite here, what is considered serious gaming?

Gaming like I do for 4-5hrs+ 4+ days a week. Spending hours looking at and reading about tech (daily). Etc. And no I don't work full time. :awe:

 

[Skaendo]

Gaming like I do for 4-5hrs+ 4+ days a week. Spending hours looking at and reading about tech (daily). Etc. And no I don't work full time. :awe:

4-5 hours is 1 zombies game for me. And I game on a PS3.

Oh yea, thats a Linux based console though.

 

[ControlD]

4-5 hours is 1 zombies game for me. And I game on a PS3.

Oh yea, thats a Linux based console though.

Do you mean you installed Linux on your PS3? I remember you used to be able to do that before Sony removed the feature.

I'm pretty sure the normal PS3 operating system is built on BSD, not Linux.

 

[MountainKing]

Stopped reading about the time I saw a flawed comparison:

windows with its GUI and debian with NO GUI. Talk about comparing like...

 

[Maximilian]

Well I doubt its worth mentioning that windows comes pre-installed... we all know that here anyways and its only a factor for the non technically inclined masses which tbh I don't care about.

The only thing windows has going for it for the technically inclined is effortless gaming. Gaming and a sense of familiarity. If Linux could game as well as windows id ditch windows in a heartbeat, there would definitely be teething problems and issues I would run into due to unfamiliarity but not having to think about whatever BS MS will pull next would be worth it.

Oh and photoshop, theres that too, dunno how many people are on windows for that though.

 

[Cerb]

Stopped reading about the time I saw a flawed comparison:

windows with its GUI and debian with NO GUI. Talk about comparing like...

Where? I even just searched the thread, and did not see that.

 

[sweenish]

4-5 hours is 1 zombies game for me. And I game on a PS3.

Oh yea, thats a Linux based console though.

And that relates to PC gaming how?

Oh right. It doesn't. At all. Unless you're telling me you can take those PS3 discs and play them on any Linux OS. Or maybe you did some backporting and have a flawless PS3 emulator working on your PC because Linux? Regardless of what base any console OS may be running, it has exactly zero to do with a PC OS preference as it relates to gaming. Gaming on a PS3 does not make you a Linux gamer. It makes you a console gamer.

I get that you have a preference when it comes to your OS. That's great. But the ways you go about justifying your choice as the only correct one are absurd and entitled.

 

[Skaendo]

I'm pretty sure the normal PS3 operating system is built on BSD, not Linux.

Yep, sorry about the mistake. It is CellOS (FreeBSD), still a *nix.

But the ways you go about justifying your choice as the only correct one are absurd and entitled.

I never said my choice was the only correct one. Merely made a comparison between the OSs that I use on my own PCs. I in fact use Windows and Linux both, on different machines and for different purposes.

I have to say that I prefer Linux over Windows on my daily driver because for whatever reason it currently seems to be the more secure, privacy protected OS. If that's because Windows owns 90 something percent of the computer market, good. Even with the current issues in the media about Linux, I didn't hear anything about a breach of security related to it. What I have been reading is that a security hole was found by a programmer, bug reports filed, and resolutions to the problem in progress, if not fixed by now.

That being said, if Linux is by popular belief a better OS for servers and such, why is that?

 

[escrow4]

Yep, sorry about the mistake. It is CellOS (FreeBSD), still a *nix.



I never said my choice was the only correct one. Merely made a comparison between the OSs that I use on my own PCs. I in fact use Windows and Linux both, on different machines and for different purposes.

I have to say that I prefer Linux over Windows on my daily driver because for whatever reason it currently seems to be the more secure, privacy protected OS. If that's because Windows owns 90 something percent of the computer market, good. Even with the current issues in the media about Linux, I didn't hear anything about a breach of security related to it. What I have been reading is that a security hole was found by a programmer, bug reports filed, and resolutions to the problem in progress, if not fixed by now.

That being said, if Linux is by popular belief a better OS for servers and such, why is that?

You mean Heartbleed and bash? How is it more secure? The source code is wide open and just because someone can easily fix it, someone can just as easily break it.

 

[imagoon]

You mean Heartbleed and bash? How is it more secure? The source code is wide open and just because someone can easily fix it, someone can just as easily break it.

Agreed. I am painfully aware of this issue right now. Everything that we have in the network that pops positive for ShellShock and HeartBleed is making my life a pain. Worse yet is seems like some of the companies that use this stuff don't feel the need to patch or just put out blank "Linux = impervious" when I am sitting at a root shell inside their appliance because I just shellshocked it etc.

Mean while Windows -> exploit? -> approve patch is WSUS -> Windows minions: Yes, master -> patched and rebooted in a window for 2 hours or less across a few hundred servers and 1500 workstations.

 

[RampantAndroid]

Mean while Windows -> exploit? -> approve patch is WSUS -> Windows minions: Yes, master -> patched and rebooted in a window for 2 hours or less across a few hundred servers and 1500 workstations.

This is kind of the point I made either here or another Skaendo thread - Windows is super easy to manage. Creating a custom install image is some DISM commands (or whatever replaced DISM) to generate a WIM in almost no time at all.

WSUS allows easy management of machines, too - while allowing admins to have a good amount of control over what patches go out to their org.

 

[us3rnotfound]

I agree with those mainly Windows users who dabble in Linux every 3 years only to uninstall and revert back to Windows. I will add, though, that using the computer in Linux helped me learn more how computers actually work than when using Windows which is my comfort zone (really started using Windows in '95 days, so have up until relatively recently been command line averse).

 

[Fardringle]

This has been pretty well beaten to death but I'll go ahead and flog the horse a little more.

I use Windows simply because Linux cannot do 90% (rough estimate) of what I need my computer to do. It can't run the remote management tools I use for work, it can't run most of the network and software diagnostic tools that I use for work, it can't run any of the games I like, it can't run Adobe Acrobat, Photoshop, or Lightroom.

Sure there are some Linux programs that can PARTIALLY do what those programs do, but none of them are anywhere close to being adequate replacements (they are equivalent to using a Prius to pull a big rig trailer - maybe possible but not ideal at all), and while WINE can sometimes let those programs run in Linux, they often get compatibility errors and are always slower than a native Windows environment.


If I wanted a machine that just did web browsing and email, Linux would probably work just fine, but most people want their computer to do a lot more than that.

 

[VirtualLarry]

This has been pretty well beaten to death but I'll go ahead and flog the horse a little more.

I use Windows simply because Linux cannot do 90% (rough estimate) of what I need my computer to do. It can't run the remote management tools I use for work, it can't run most of the network and software diagnostic tools that I use for work, it can't run any of the games I like, it can't run Adobe Acrobat, Photoshop, or Lightroom.

Sure there are some Linux programs that can PARTIALLY do what those programs do, but none of them are anywhere close to being adequate replacements (they are equivalent to using a Prius to pull a big rig trailer - maybe possible but not ideal at all), and while WINE can sometimes let those programs run in Linux, they often get compatibility errors and are always slower than a native Windows environment.


If I wanted a machine that just did web browsing and email, Linux would probably work just fine, but most people want their computer to do a lot more than that.

And Microsoft wants to ditch that entire software ecosystem, to create "One OS to rule all devices", and sell "apps" out of their store. (I'm talking about the "Metro" app API here.)

http://www.zdnet.com/microsoft-cfo-klein-were-ready-for-devices-of-all-sizes-7000011261/

http://www.zdnet.com/microsofts-windows-future-one-core-many-skus-7000023892/

 

[imagoon]

And Microsoft wants to ditch that entire software ecosystem, to create "One OS to rule all devices", and sell "apps" out of their store. (I'm talking about the "Metro" app API here.)

Actually I am pretty sure they mentioned the goal was to offer an app store that allowed apps to be cross platform.

I am sure they wouldn't complain if it took off and became a primary source but contrary to what is being implied here, they know they can't force that to do that. Windows has far to much history and as mentioned a few times, would be like killing off the golden goose, otherwise known as Enterprise and Business.

 

[Skaendo]

Mean while Windows -> exploit? -> approve patch is WSUS -> Windows minions: Yes, master -> patched and rebooted in a window for 2 hours or less across a few hundred servers and 1500 workstations.

Maybe, but in the Windows world it generally takes more time for the security holes to be found, patches to be made and deployed to the masses. If this is not the case then why was Dairy Queen, K-mart & others hacked just a day or so ago? Are they using a different exploit to get in? I doubt it.
I wouldn't put money on it but I bet that it is one entity that has breached all the businesses recently, and more than likely all in the same way.

And no one has given me an answer to 'If Linux is by popular belief a better OS for servers and such, why is that?'

 

[escrow4]

Maybe, but in the Windows world it generally takes more time for the security holes to be found, patches to be made and deployed to the masses. If this is not the case then why was Dairy Queen, K-mart & others hacked just a day or so ago? Are they using a different exploit to get in? I doubt it.
I wouldn't put money on it but I bet that it is one entity that has breached all the businesses recently, and more than likely all in the same way.

And no one has given me an answer to 'If Linux is by popular belief a better OS for servers and such, why is that?'

Dairy Queen etc were almost certainly using (probably some unpatched systems to boot) XP. Their fault for using a trash obsolete OS. I work for a huge corporation over here, the store cracks a million plus a week. They STILL STILL STILL use XP SP3 PC's for the staff and what looks like some old DOS custom app for payroll/store support (HA! Support!) office - its all black and greenish and multi-lined like 1995). Apparently, there was a "glitch" a while back that broke a lot of the stock on hand, as in there were 50 units on the shelf, but the system reported -1. Oops. I wonder why?

As for servers, no one cares. I use it on my server because its free. And it generally works fine. I wouldn't go near it on my desktops. Face it, what the vast bulk of people use, will continue to use, and will stick with, is Windows.

 

[Skaendo]

Face it, what the vast bulk of people use, will continue to use, and will stick with, is Windows.

That's just fine with me. Like I said, I use Linux and Windows both, and honestly I can't wait till Win10 is released. But Linux will always be on my daily use PC.

 

[sweenish]

Yep, sorry about the mistake. It is CellOS (FreeBSD), still a *nix.



I never said my choice was the only correct one. Merely made a comparison between the OSs that I use on my own PCs. I in fact use Windows and Linux both, on different machines and for different purposes.

I have to say that I prefer Linux over Windows on my daily driver because for whatever reason it currently seems to be the more secure, privacy protected OS. If that's because Windows owns 90 something percent of the computer market, good. Even with the current issues in the media about Linux, I didn't hear anything about a breach of security related to it. What I have been reading is that a security hole was found by a programmer, bug reports filed, and resolutions to the problem in progress, if not fixed by now.

That being said, if Linux is by popular belief a better OS for servers and such, why is that?

Only you could reply to a post I made speaking about gaming and respond with server security. What a crock. That's the majority of your problem. You don't actually respond. You just talk. There is no discourse. You're not debating merits, you're just evangelizing.

 

[Mem]

That's just fine with me. Like I said, I use Linux and Windows both, and honestly I can't wait till Win10 is released. But Linux will always be on my daily use PC.

I'm not sure what you are really trying to say,everybody knows Windows has been around for a long time and is very well established in office and general/ gaming use,a lot of people look forward to a new Windows OS, I do all the time and it will also be the same for me for Win11,12,13 etc..

I like Linux but fact is it has a long mountain to climb to compete with Windows on one to one daily basis in more then just gaming(another weak point of Linux),end of the day you have Windows and Linux users and those like myself that use both(I won't bother talking about mac users).

Every type of OS has both good and bad points,but Windows in general is very easy for the average user out there,availability of software and supported hardware ,well established etc..

Market strong hold as well,when you buy a new PC most times it has Windows preinstalled.

 

[imagoon]

Maybe, but in the Windows world it generally takes more time for the security holes to be found, patches to be made and deployed to the masses. If this is not the case then why was Dairy Queen, K-mart & others hacked just a day or so ago? Are they using a different exploit to get in? I doubt it.
I wouldn't put money on it but I bet that it is one entity that has breached all the businesses recently, and more than likely all in the same way.

And no one has given me an answer to 'If Linux is by popular belief a better OS for servers and such, why is that?'

Shellshock has existed for 5+ years? The OpenSSH was unpatched for more than 2 years? In addition the hacks on Dairy Queen, Kmart and others has been demonstrated to be a combination of lack of patching and social engineering. Target was exploited when the HVAC guys gave away their access codes. Stupid that HVAC was tied to same network as transactions and POS terminals. Home Depot hasn't really announced it yet but they word seems to be that someone plugged right in to a self checkout register and the system used auto run to start the tool. Amazing if true since 7 (embedded and desktop) requires configuration to do that automatically.

 

[Skaendo]

Only you could reply to a post I made speaking about gaming and respond with server security. What a crock. That's the majority of your problem. You don't actually respond. You just talk. There is no discourse. You're not debating merits, you're just evangelizing.

This thread isn't about gaming and everyone knows gaming sucks on a Linux box. Continuing to talk about gaming is getting off-topic.

I'm not sure what you are really trying to say,everybody knows Windows has been around for a long time and is very well established in office and general/ gaming use,a lot of people look forward to a new Windows OS, I do all the time and it will also be the same for me for Win11,12,13 etc..

I'm just saying, I know the majority has Windows, thats great. That just makes my obscure Linux distro a little safer, so to speak.

Shellshock has existed for 5+ years? The OpenSSH was unpatched for more than 2 years? In addition the hacks on Dairy Queen, Kmart and others has been demonstrated to be a combination of lack of patching and social engineering. Target was exploited when the HVAC guys gave away their access codes. Stupid that HVAC was tied to same network as transactions and POS terminals. Home Depot hasn't really announced it yet but they word seems to be that someone plugged right in to a self checkout register and the system used auto run to start the tool. Amazing if true since 7 (embedded and desktop) requires configuration to do that automatically.

We're talking about 2 security holes in Linux. You wouldn't believe the number of them that have been reported and fixed in a expedited way. And how many have you actually heard of, or heard of being breached on a Linux system? I agree that because Linux is not so widely used that it is not as big a target as Windows, but as long as these holes in Linux have been around, how many breaches have you heard about in direct relation to them? None. Everyone has just found out about them because no one has (theoretically) attempted to, and once they were found they were reported the way things are reported on in Linux (public bug reports) and someone said, 'Wow, thats a big hole.' Then everyone jumped on the wagon and the news spread like wildfire.

If the latest breaches on the 'Superstores' are in fact due to a lack of patching, social engineering and misconfiguration, I would think that at least a bunch of people should be fired, and publicize that.

 

[RampantAndroid]

Maybe, but in the Windows world it generally takes more time for the security holes to be found, patches to be made and deployed to the masses.

Last I knew the turnaround time once found was quite fast (and faster than the responses for the Linux Kernel - and heaven forbid you need to wait for a new kernel version to hit your distro...) One might add Microsoft didn't have the SSL bug, and Heartbleed took what, 2-3 years to be found?