-- Posted by marshmellowman at 7:51 am on May 4, 2009 To try and clear this forum of clutter, I have decided to create a Mac vs Linux vs Windows sticky. All further non-specific discussion topics like this will be deleted. In here please feel free to share your views on which OS you think is the best (and why) and of course debate this with the other members, sensibly that is. Do not just attack other members or insult them without due cause. -- Posted by 187 at 7:52 am on May 4, 2009 apple but i use windows -- Posted by GEEraffBby at 7:52 am on May 4, 2009 Mac because it's so easy to use with my iPhone and iPod. -- Posted by barnabas at 7:52 am on May 4, 2009 Windows. Although I have thought about trying a mac. -- Posted by audibleSIN at 7:54 am on May 4, 2009 I'm very much enjoying Ubuntu 9. -- Posted by umbinc at 7:54 am on May 4, 2009 Windows - gaming. My fav games are windows-only, or came to other platforms from windows pcs. -- Posted by Darkane at 7:54 am on May 4, 2009 I'm going to say Windows because it's what I'm most familiar with. I've tried OSX and a few Linux distros extensively, but I find that Windows suits all my needs. OSX is fine, it just doesn't offer any advantages over Windows to me. The only thing holding me back from Linux is a lack of commercial software which is recognised to an international standard such as Photoshop and Illustrator. I know there's GIMP and Inkscape but it's not the standard. -- Posted by Tubbz at 7:55 am on May 4, 2009 Windows or linux, can't see myself ever using a mac -- Posted by Jesus66 at 7:59 am on May 4, 2009 OSX, I want to try Linux though. I don't like Windows very much, but I have to deal with it. -- Posted by Narfled the Garthok at 8:07 am on May 4, 2009 Coming from a Mac user. I love OSX but Linux is even better, it is a close battle. Ultimately I prefer Linux due to the freedom of the O/S. Virtually there are no bounds and everything is part of your control. You are not watered down by a restrictive GUI (unless you choose to be), you have complete control of everything that happens. However the cons to this, which is why I am not using Linux full time is, compatibility and ease of use. Currently I don't have time to use Linux because I need a quick out of the box solution which Linux USUALLY is not (minus ubuntu, etc), and I have a lot of software compatibility issues that I don't have time to overcome. Also I do not recommend Linux to novice computer user (maybe ubuntu sometimes). I am an MCSE, I know the ends and outs of Windows and I must say I don't know if I will ever like a Microsoft O/S. Hopefully whatever they come up with next may sway that mind set. -- Posted by Angie14 at 8:09 am on May 4, 2009 i'm just used to using it -- Posted by USCGstud at 8:10 am on May 4, 2009 Mac -- Posted by Sqi 8000 at 8:13 am on May 4, 2009 i choose windows, mainly cus its the only one i've ever tried. and i'm not one to try new things when the origional doesn't need changing lol. -- Posted by allsmiles at 8:13 am on May 4, 2009 Linux. I find a unix shell much easier (read: more convenient) to work with than a GUI. Linux has countless variations, most of them purpose built to a specific task or area of tasks. Failing that, the entire thing is Open Source so you can tailor it to your own requirements (that's what I expect I will be doing if I progress in my studies far enough - our uni has developed its own distro for its more powerful robots, and I would likely be helping improve it). It obviously beats all the competition on price. I have windows for gaming, and I don't do any of that artsy bullshit; I use linux for pretty much everything else. -- Posted by RIMHfire at 8:17 am on May 4, 2009 Apple is the best. But I use Windows because it's what I'm used to and everybody else mostly uses Windows, but they suck. -- Posted by libertine at 8:48 am on May 4, 2009 i'm pissed off i can't choose other unix platforms not that i want to, i just like whining -- Posted by marshmellowman at 10:26 am on May 4, 2009 Quote: from just another kid at 4:48 pm on May 4, 2009 i'm pissed off i can't choose other unix platforms not that i want to, i just like whining I didn't want a huge poll with tons of options, so I kept it simple by having 3 main options. I know it can never really satisfy any user that fits into the other myriad of categories that are different from Linux (such as Unix, Solaris, BSD, etc) but I had to stop somewhere. -- Posted by rand0mguy at 5:48 pm on May 4, 2009 i choose linux... altho with me using windows 7 now, windows is at least bearable -- Posted by Sector Corrupt at 6:03 pm on May 4, 2009 Ii think this poll will be ridiculously skewed since most of the people voting will never have had in depth experience with all of them and will just vote whatever they use, but regardless. Having used all 3, I find Linux to be the only one I found worthwhile to use on my computers. Windows is tremendously crippled when it comes to doing anything on its own, and seeing as getting third party software actually winds up being easier on a Linux distro, it doesn't really have third party applications going for it. It's mostly useful if you want to play games and don't feel like mucking about with a virtual console to run it. Mac is at least Unix based, so it comes with a lot more functionality out of the box. Besides, Apple Computers has spent years honing the whole "make it so even complete novices can use a computer" thing so it's got ease of use. That said it annoys me to all hell and if I want to get anything done on it I retreat to the command line and refuse to leave. So really, that just leaves Linux. It has a huge advantage over Mac in that not only is it cheap, and open source, but it's got all of the advantages of being a Unix based system and more. Most Distros come with a good package manager which make it absolute child's play to find a good third party application to suit your needs, and it's a programmer's dream system for customizing to your liking. So, as can clearly be seen, I much prefer Linux, but I've laid out my reasons why here so you can analyze them as you will. -- Posted by Stormblazer at 10:02 am on May 8, 2009 Windows and Linux - they both have uses. OSX isn't terrible, but it just isn't as versatile or flexible as Windows and Linux, like a compromise between the two that in the end doesn't prove terribly useful over the other options. Sure, some things it does better than Windows- but for those things, Linux would frankly be better. Sure, some things it does better than Linux - but for those things, Windows is better. -- Posted by Trendz at 2:38 am on May 20, 2009 Mac OS X. I used to be a Windows person. (Even a Mac hater at a point.) But that changed when I got fed up with Windows and gave Mac a try. It turned out far better than expected and I'm very happy I made the switch. It's much more reliable than all of my previous Windows computers and it satisfies every need that I want in a computer. Plus, it's sexy. -- Posted by loldslol at 3:49 pm on June 21, 2009 Windows for gaming, Linux for productivity and basic web browsing, and OSX for...well I can't think of a good use... -- Posted by Schwarzy at 10:02 am on June 22, 2009 deff mac os x -- Posted by lyfsux420 at 2:19 pm on Aug. 9, 2009 I've also used all 3.  Out of all of them i'd say OS X is my favorite OS.  Its GUI is easy to use, very simple and uses barely any system resources unlike the "bloatware" OS called Vista.  Also OS X is much more stable from my own personal experiences than Windows.   XP was fairly stable but I've still had the occasional crash a few times a week.  Also, you have to constantly have your anti-virus software up to date and run it a few times a week to get rid of the countless number of viruses that always seem to reappear.  Not dissing on windows or anything, I still use XP every now and then, but I have yet to even download an anti-virus program on my mac. I'd have to say linux comes in 2nd IMO and windows as a last choice.  Linux is an excellent choice for computer experts.  Its open source, so its the most customizable OS out there.  Many distros are also free.  The only thing I find windows useful for is for gaming.  There are a lot more games out for windows, but slowly that is changing.  With more and more people buying macs these days, a lot of game titles are being released for the mac as well. -- Posted by loveboy 18 at 3:56 am on Aug. 16, 2009 windows xp is the best, -- Posted by scathe710 at 4:38 pm on Aug. 19, 2009 love my macbook pro. OS X is where its at -- Posted by handsfree at 2:16 am on Aug. 23, 2009 xubuntu distribution all the way -- Posted by Macropiper at 4:01 am on Aug. 31, 2009 I was going to go for "no opinion" based on the idea that what ever suits you best is the best thing for you. But then, I started thinking  bit more, and I am going to go with Linux based systems based on the ideas and parts of the software in it, the way it does things like managing software, with package management, is far superior to how Windows and OSX do this. I like that nearly all my software is tied into the same system, and is kept up to date using the same tools, is much better than having each application do this its own way or not at all. The way drivers are handled in Linux is very nice also, for the most part, you plug something in, and it works, no fussing around needed (at least, that is how things work for me).  There are exceptions to this, but that is mainly because the manufacturers of the hardware that does not work have refused to allow open drivers to be made, resulting in these drivers not being in distributions. I find that Linux works with more hardware out of the box than either Windows or OSX, and it does so reasonably seamlessly. I bought a web camera last week because it was cheap, had no real idea if it would work or not (though I assumed it would), got to the office, plugged it in, opened an application to see the output of webcameras, and within moments I was waving at myself. The driver CD for windows is in the bin. Also, another thing, many distributions come with Network Manager, which is the best GUI tool I have ever seen for setting up networks. It beats what is available in Windows and OSX, and looks like it is only going to get better. Currently, from the one menu, I can connect to whatever networks are available from whatever cards are in the computer with a click. If one wireless card isn't connecting, I plug in a USB one, it shows up seperately in the list with its own list of wireless networks, I click on the one I want, it connects. Same thing with GSM cards and suchlike. Anyhow, this may not be entirely coherent, is late, but I think that Linux based distributions already provide a better user experience than anything else in several areas  and it is probably only a matter of time before they provide a better user experience in all or nearly all areas.