Tim Douglass wrote:
On Wed, 25 May 2005 11:18:29 -0400, Robatoy
wrote:
Before everybody takes their shirts off, I only toot the Mac horn when
the topic has presented itself. I NEVER start threads extolling the
virtues of the vastly superior, crash-worthiness, viral immunity,
functionality and blazing speed of this obviously better platform.
The whole Mac/Unix/Linux thing really torques me because those who
tout it so heavily never seem to consider that it is darn hard to come
up with commercial applications to accomplish real work on them.
I think it just depends on your version of commercial. Been in hi-tech a
long time. UNIX had most of the PC apps long before a PC was around -- a
lot more expensive tis true... But cost per user is now in the cellar...
I
have 40 some apps on my Windows XP box, of which only 3-4 are
utilities. I use them all on a regular basis. They are all commercial
applications with support available. They all installed the first time
w/o problems and most have been upgraded w/o problems. I have been
running MS operating systems since 1986 on my personal computers at
home and have never had a virus. I buy cheap hardware from God only
knows where and plug it in and it works - every time.
Been using MS since 1979 -- C-BASIC days. Used Seattle DOS -- oops I
mean MS DOS 1 (1981). Used Cybers, IBM, Honeywell, GE and Datapoint
before that. :-) Forgot the rest... :-( Too many...
Since many commercial mainframes /mini / grid PC/ systems have thousands
of users they are cheaper per user than your software.
I despise Windows for many reasons - security included - but it works
when you need to get work done - something I never found to be true
with Linux apps. And there is software out there for just about
anything you want to do - unlike either Linux/Unix or Mac.
Many would beg to differ. I have used mainframes, minis, PCs Linux,
Apple, CPM, Seattle DOS etc etc etc. What irritates me is when my
current system is not like the OS I just got used to. :-)
If the Linux community would go after commercial software developers
so that there were some real applications available it might make some
inroads, but Open Office just doesn't cut it.
Think it might be comfort level. We switched here. There was pouting and
whining. Now nobody remembers we switched they are so similar in
function. Training was 10 minutes -- so go figger.
If I could get a CASE tool (one user) that I could afford personally we
would switch most systems.
Right now I am using XP -- but all but 2 systems are dual boot.
Likewise if Apple were
to blow the box open so that I can slap in cheap off-shore upgrades
when I want to then open up their software licensing rules and re-work
that horrid user interface they would be worth a look.
Wait for the secret (shhh) negotiations to end....
But for now, in
the real world of people who need to do lots of different tasks,
Windows XP is the clear winner in terms of usability and
functionality.
Again. In my experience it's what you are used to. :-)
It's about time for my semi-annual Linux trial, so this opinion is
subject to change if the conditions have changed.
Got Slackware, Linux and Suse here as well as XP.
Shut down our Win2000 server. Running Linux Mandrake 10 64 bit on AMD
Athlon now. Almost never reboot -- less I wanna change something. The
Windows server was a constant trial. Ate a _lot_ of my time. The Linux
server is boring. Nothing to do -- unless I wish to do something. It
just keeps working.
Good luck with the virgins. If you ever have a spare I'll head over and
set up the Linux for you.
--
"We need to make a sacrifice to the gods, find me a young virgin... oh, and bring something to kill"
Tim Douglass
http://www.DouglassClan.com
--
Will
Occasional Techno-geek