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DailyTech Poll Discussion Which operating system is on your primary personal machine?
Brandon Hill (Blog) - November 10, 2009 8:25 AM
Print E-mail del.icio.us 91 comment(s) - last by omglol.. on Nov 15 at 9:11 PM
While this isn't a complete list, this should cover the most popular options out there.

Which operating system is on your primary personal machine?
  • Windows XP (3,487 votes)
  •  
    23%
  • Windows Vista (2,257 votes)
  •  
    15%
  • Windows 7 (6,885 votes)
  •  
    45%
  • OS X 10.5.x (290 votes)
  •  
    2%
  • OS X 10.6.x (903 votes)
  •  
    6%
  • ubuntu (834 votes)
  •  
    5%
  • openSUSE (100 votes)
  •  
    1%
  • Fedora (167 votes)
  •  
    1%
  • Debian (80 votes)
  •  
    1%
  • Mandriva (44 votes)
  •  
    0%
  • Mint (46 votes)
  •  
    0%
  • PCLinuxOS (19 votes)
  •  
    0%
  • Other (list in comments section) (213 votes)
  •  
    1%

  • 15,325 total votes

Comments     Threshold


Curious
By Bateluer on 11/10/2009 9:06:21 AM , Rating: 2
Windows 7 Pro 64 on my desktop, but once I'm done with school, I'm debating whether to switch to Ubuntu more permanently on my desktop. Karmic was great on my laptop. Unfortunately, there are some Windows only programs that I need for school. There is the gaming factor, but there really haven't been too many worthwhile games recently, just half-assed console ports. Maybe its time to take the plunge completely.




RE: Curious
By jonmcc33 on 11/10/2009 9:12:12 AM , Rating: 3
Did you pay for your Windows 7 Pro license? If so why would you throw that license away and use something severely limited?


RE: Curious
By Spivonious on 11/10/2009 9:27:01 AM , Rating: 3
Not to mention that Ubuntu had real troubles with my wireless card and sound card, and took over 2 minutes to boot with the default config. I'll gladly pay $100 to run an OS that's fast and works with my hardware.


RE: Curious
By omglol on 11/15/2009 9:11:54 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
I'll gladly pay $100 to run an OS


Having tried Linux myself, I agree that 7 is an upgrade worth $100 over that pain. However, he said he was a student, so he didn't even have to pay $100 for 7; he could have paid just $30 for an upgrade license.
If $30 is too much to pay for a fast, compatible OS, please, enjoy your struggles with Linux.


RE: Curious
By The Raven on 11/10/2009 10:06:11 AM , Rating: 5
First of all, it doesn't matter if he paid for it. Windows 7 has value. Second, how do you know it is limited with his specific scope of use? I could say, "Why do you use windows? You can't use it with a multitouch trackpad." Well if you don't care about the multi-touch trackpad, then you don't need to worry about it. Obviously this guy doesn't care that Ubuntu is limited with regard to what you are talking about.

Ubuntu really isn't "severely limited" when it comes to the average joe. (Although said joe might not be able to get it working right out of the box on his own lol)


RE: Curious
By omnicronx on 11/10/2009 10:19:43 AM , Rating: 2
Are you seriously trying to imply that the common 'average joe' uses any linux variant let ubuntu?(obviously there are some, but not many) Ubuntu is great, I use it on my extra machine, but right now it's only on there because its free and it does everything I need it to do. That being said, I am with the second poster, if you've already bought a license, whats incentive is there to move to Ubuntu?

Now your argument would definately hold true if he had yet to buy windows 7, why pay for something if you don't have too, but if you've already made the plunge then whats the point?


RE: Curious
By The Raven on 11/10/2009 11:48:08 AM , Rating: 4
I am saying that the features of Ubuntu are sufficient for the average joe. Not that all the average joes are currently using it.

And the guy said that he bought 7 for school.

You are looking at it from the perspective of someone who is switching from win to linux. It sounds like the other way with this guy.

But for someone like me who loves XP, there could be several reasons to switch to Ubuntu. You want to give back to the community. You want off the MS teat. You love brown. You need the storage space of Ubuntu One. You think Shuttleworth is dreamy. Your dad forbade you to use linux. Whatever. Personally I have benefited greatly from OSS and i would like to give back. I also see that the reality of a OSOS on the common destop is fast becoming a reality in the form of Ubuntu, and others.


RE: Curious
By Spuke on 11/10/2009 2:45:06 PM , Rating: 4
The average Joe doesn't frequent DT. The average Joe goes down to Best Buy and picks up a $400 computer. He doesn't ask about Linux because he doesn't know what that is. Like the other poster said, if you have a valid license of Win7 just run with that one. Maybe run Ubuntu in a VM or something. Windows runs everything and you don't have to "worry" about figuring out the differences between kgnufish and kgnufsh.

Don't get me wrong, I like Linux and I used it on a laptop to see if I could run it as a primary OS but found it a bit too user oriented (and clunky). So I tried out Mandriva and Suse and I liked Suse but it was still a bit clunky and my favorite app isn't supported natively not to mention I STILL have to compile some drivers. 2009 and I still have to compile a friggin driver. No thanks. I'll check back in 5 years to see if they've entered the new millennium yet.


RE: Curious
By iDarwin on 11/11/2009 12:44:22 AM , Rating: 2
It seems to me that if DT readers are smarter than the average Joe, they might be smart enough to compile drivers. People need to compile drivers in Windows too, it just happens to be that someone else does it for you. In my experience, many of the drivers have been compiled for me in Linux, and I have rarely needed to compile drivers. The exception being the latest ATI or Nvidia drivers, but they both mask the compilation as an installation script.

quote:
Windows runs everything and you don't have to "worry" about figuring out the differences between kgnufish and kgnufsh.


Does Windows run kgnufish or kgnufsh?


RE: Curious
By maugrimtr on 11/11/2009 11:03:57 AM , Rating: 2
"If so why would you throw that license away and use something severely limited?"

Linux is limited? A completely free open platform is...limited? I'm using Ubuntu here. I run a virtual instance of Windows 7 for the Windows tied-in applications if really needed.


RE: Curious
By Spivonious on 11/12/2009 9:35:58 AM , Rating: 2
And when was the last time you modified source code of one of your open source apps?

Windows is an open platform as well. Anyone can develop applications for it for free.


RE: Curious
By jonmcc33 on 11/11/2009 10:59:26 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
And the guy said that he bought 7 for school.


Okay, so he already (apparently) paid for something and decides that it would be better to throw that away for something free and limited?

If he (genuinely) paid for the Windows 7 license then he probably wouldn't be apt to just toss it to the curb, especially for any Linux distro.

Sorry, I purchased my Windows 7 Home Premium OEM license and even though it was only $109 I surely won't be throwing it to the side for anything...especially any Linux distro.

Yeah, I know all the hardcore Linux geeks out there will get upset because they can code 100,000 lines per day while blindfolded and I think their OS is limited. For geeks, stick with your Linux as it seems you do not want to pay for anything and you already know the gimps, sudos, greps, wines, etc of Linux.

But for the average user? Even some college kid? If you (actually) paid for a Windows 7 license what sense does it make to throw it away for something you won't fully grasp? Windows 7 is easy to use and although it doesn't have a rotating cube with 32 vitual desktops I think it's far easier to use and you have a wide variety of software that works with it.


RE: Curious
By iDarwin on 11/11/2009 11:21:05 AM , Rating: 1
Everything is easy to use once you learn how to use it. I'm sure at one point in your life, you found shoelaces difficult to use. Does that mean you should stick to velcro shoes the rest of your life?


RE: Curious
By jonmcc33 on 11/11/2009 11:58:39 AM , Rating: 2
Wait, you are comparing tying shoes to learning how to use Linux? In that case any 2 year old can become a Linux programmer, eh?

Different strokes for different folks when it comes to the term "easy" and that is why over 95% of the world uses Windows.


RE: Curious
By iDarwin on 11/11/2009 1:35:28 PM , Rating: 1
My point was about user interfaces, which are always non intuitive until you learn how to use them. If two people grew up learning two different operating systems, each would find the other operating system less intuitive.


RE: Curious
By Fox5 on 11/13/2009 9:10:32 AM , Rating: 2
I paid for 7 professional and still use Ubuntu primarily at the moment. Windows is for games, and maybe using Visualstudio.

I switch back and forth though, and most of the software I use is cross-platform. I use openoffice, Firefox/Chrome, and a variety of other little tools.
Windows just plain feels slower than Ubuntu and has odd performance issues when many firefox windows are open (issue exists on linux as well, but was fixed when ubuntu switched to a newer file system). Windows also freaks out sometimes when using virtualbox, and performance is lower than the Linux Virtualbox.
Windows takes close to 2 minutes to fully boot (including background activity to settle down), Ubuntu takes less than 30 seconds. I think this may be due to a hardware incompatibility of some kind with windows, but Linux handles it better without trying to troubleshoot it.

Ubuntu's built in file synchronization program UbuntuOne is awesome for someone who moves between multiple computers frequently.
I carry ubuntu on a thumbdrive because it's much easier to get the programs I need running on a computer from Ubuntu than Windows, most are already installed, and apt-get blows the traditional install methods out of the water.
I use Xournal to take notes on my tablet PC. It's rather functional, and even Windows XP doesn't run well on my old tablet (I wouldn't run windows on any laptop, those slow laptop harddrives can't take it! I guess a SSD laptop could handle windows), and windows 2000 doesn't have support for tablets.
And there's great mathematical/programming/latex software for Linux, much of which doesn't exist for Windows. Sure, I could use mathematica, but I hate mathematica.


RE: Curious
By logan77 on 11/13/2009 6:14:10 PM , Rating: 2
I'll answer for myself. It's basically that I feel like at home in linux (linux home user, winXP at work place). It's fonts, icons, powerfull shell at my fingertips, amarok, nifty top panel and that's pretty much it. I've got windows7 for personal use, but don't have the time nor incentive to take deeper plunge, though WMP recognising my PCI-E tv tuner and configuring it automatically at the very first try was very impressive.


RE: Curious
By jonmcc33 on 11/11/2009 12:29:03 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Ubuntu really isn't "severely limited" when it comes to the average joe. (Although said joe might not be able to get it working right out of the box on his own lol)


If the average Joe cannot even get a Linux distro working right out of the box then how is he not severely limited?


RE: Curious
By iDarwin on 11/11/2009 1:44:20 PM , Rating: 1
quote:
If the average Joe cannot even get a Linux distro working right out of the box then how is he not severely limited?


The average Joe buys a PC from a store in an already working state. The average Joe may not be able to install Windows or Linux from scratch.


RE: Curious
By dark matter on 11/12/2009 2:27:23 PM , Rating: 2
But then the average joe comes to install the usual software and he is at a dead end with Linux.

Familiarity is what keeps people coming back to Windows, hence why a lot of people hated Vista (apart from the nVidia drivers, but average joe probably didn't have an nVidia card)

Presently Linux has a bit of a reputation for being for geeks or worse, nerds. That is kind of going to put Average Joe right off.

And although it is not as common as it used to be, a lot of linux supporters have not helped their cause. Namely using Microshaft, and M$ in their posts and coming out with "Windoze sux". I kind of figured that these posts were from high school kids who want to be in that "scene" but most likely dual boot and spend 95% of their time in Windows playing pirated games and using the pirated software.

Just my 2 cents.


RE: Curious
By sxr7171 on 11/15/2009 10:03:20 AM , Rating: 1
Ha Ha! Well said. That Linux shit is for bragging rights. The minute I need to get stuff done I'm right in the middle of Windows taking care of my business.


RE: Curious
By Bateluer on 11/10/2009 11:20:40 AM , Rating: 1
I picked up the 30 dollar student license. It does what I need it to do, but there's very little reason for me not to run Linux outside of school.

My desktop doesn't have a wireless card, so that's a nonissue. If I have to buy a wireless card, Linux support will be at the top of the list of priorities.

Not sure how you can claim Ubuntu is severely limited. It'll do 99.99% of what most people use their PC form.


RE: Curious
By Belard on 11/10/2009 2:49:32 PM , Rating: 1
It won't play HALO2.... thats the problem!

:)

Yeah, this is something that MS needs to think about why they actively kill PC gaming. If there are NO games (AAA titles) for PC... what do we need Windows for? Especially for home.

Linux or mac:
- Browser, check
- Office software (Open office, yeah, it AIN't no MS-Office)
- IM, check
- Google docs and tools, check
- PDF, check
- turn on computer, check
- Adobe products = FAIL (linux) - but check for $$Mac.
- Quicken and Quickbooks = Fail

If/when PC gaming dies... I sure won't give a dime to MS for their OvenBox console.


RE: Curious
By jmurbank on 11/11/2009 5:47:16 AM , Rating: 1
quote:
Linux or mac: - Browser, check - Office software (Open office, yeah, it AIN't no MS-Office) - IM, check - Google docs and tools, check - PDF, check - turn on computer, check - Adobe products = FAIL (linux) - but check for $$Mac. - Quicken and Quickbooks = Fail


I prefer SoftMaker Office instead of OpenOffice.

Linux does have Adobe alternative programs. You have to work differently, but they are there. To just name a few GIMP, Inkscape, Flash4Linux, Scribus, Cinelerra CV, Zend, Amaya, Synfig, OpenLaszlo.

For Quicken and Quickbooks, try Moneydance, KMyMoney, GnuCash, Grisbi, jGnash, GFP.

quote:
It won't play HALO2.... thats the problem!

Any game can play in any OS. Developers does not care to use a multi-platform 3D API like OpenGL. Halo 2 could be ported to any OS, its engine have to first be converted to OpenGL. Then the developer have to worry about converting Windows code to Linux or Windows to Mac. This could be easily be done with Trolltech's Qt library, but this library costs around 1000 US dollars if the compiled program is not open sourced. Game developers have to first set a goal which operating systems to support. Since Halo 2 is only for Xbox, they have to support that is similar to the console. I think Microsoft has bribed most game companies to develop games for their OS and electronics.


RE: Curious
By Spuke on 11/10/2009 2:49:13 PM , Rating: 1
quote:
Not sure how you can claim Ubuntu is severely limited. It'll do 99.99% of what most people use their PC form.
Except installing a driver without having to compile one in 2009. I found that to be the most annoying thing about Linux. Not to mention the annoying naming conventions that some developers give their apps. KgnuBeltBuckle? Oh, that's CD burning software.


RE: Curious
By maugrimtr on 11/11/2009 11:11:25 AM , Rating: 2
Install a binary. Linux variants have this weird thing where you can install pre-compiled binaries. Which you would know if you ever used Linux...which evidently you don't unless it's a self-compiled flavour.

The only time you really need to compile stuff is when you cannot use an existing deb package. This can happen with some hardware which I assume is the rare occurrence bothering you. In these cases Linux (and Windows incidentally) may not offer compiled versions since it would be a breach of the license. If your hardware manufacturer in such cases does no offer a Linux driver - then they are the only ones responsible. Nobody else can legally offer drivers on their behalf.

Naming of some apps really does suck. But what can you expect? ;) Linux was built by geeks.


RE: Curious
By jonmcc33 on 11/14/2009 1:26:42 PM , Rating: 2
LOL! Very true. Then there are the different package installers for Linux distros that don't work on each other.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_package_formats

Try to get the average Joe to figure out how to install any of those. Some require command lines, etc. Not everything is in a repository and Linux distros are different. OpenSUSE uses YaST. Ubuntu uses Synaptic. Kubuntu uses Adept.

Holy crap! You Linux geeks have made Linux so complicated to use that no normal person is going to think twice about it. You scared everyone away! Even I tried out Linux between PCLinuxOS, Fedora Core, Ubuntu, Kubuntu and OpenSUSE. Heck, I even gave Solaris a try too!

Linux is very insignificant niche community of only hardcore geeks that fear sunlight. It always has been and always will be. The last two Linux geeks I knew at work lived in Florida and both of them were pale white. Does that tell you something?


RE: Curious
By nafhan on 11/10/2009 1:15:07 PM , Rating: 2
If I ever stop playing video games or switch to a console, I'd be on Ubuntu in a minute. There's nothing on Windows (or OSX for that matter) I need or even want all that bad besides games.
Windows 7 is nice, though! I'm thinking the student discount upgrade version is going to be a major boon to Windows 7 penetration.


RE: Curious
By the goat on 11/10/2009 3:14:59 PM , Rating: 1
quote:
Did you pay for your Windows 7 Pro license? If so why would you throw that license away and use something severely limited?


Funny I would say, "You bought windows? Why would you pay money for something so severely limited when you can get an open OS like Ubuntu for free?"


RE: Curious
By mcnabney on 11/10/2009 6:27:11 PM , Rating: 1
I wasn't aware that Win7 was limited. I was aware that it is essentially Vista SP3, which makes having to pay for it a major detractor.


RE: Curious
By lecanard on 11/10/2009 6:47:44 PM , Rating: 2
Windows 7 is a lot more than Vista SP3 because of the UI and lower system requirements.

The new UI revolutionized windows, because it makes alt-tab obsolete. The dock-like functionality is cool, but it's really the win+# task switching that completely changes how fast you can multitask. The aero snap features and keyboard shortcuts make moving windows when you have multiple monitors much, much better.

These things, much like starting apps via the search bar in Vista, make the UI blow away that of its predecessor, yet no one notices.


RE: Curious
By dragunover on 11/10/2009 11:08:46 PM , Rating: 2
Wait, what? I thought it revolutionized Alt-Tab.

Apparently you don't use full-screen programs ( or PC games for that matter )


RE: Curious
By jonmcc33 on 11/11/2009 11:37:50 AM , Rating: 2
Your argument here is more like a closed vs open source debate and not based upon actual software capability and friendliness to the average Joe.

Linux is NOT user friendly unless someone wants to take the time to learn it properly.

Windows is user friendly right out of the box. That's why Microsoft implemented UAC. Windows is too user friendly.


RE: Curious
By PhoenixKnight on 11/11/2009 5:47:58 PM , Rating: 2
Linux is user friendly. It's just picky about who its friends are.


RE: Curious
By Etern205 on 11/13/2009 4:06:18 PM , Rating: 1
Would you please take your head out of your ass and face reality and stop sucking your own dick.


RE: Curious
By PhoenixKnight on 11/13/2009 11:46:45 PM , Rating: 2
It was a joke. Do you not know how to recognize sarcasm? Perhaps you should find a way to get that sand out of your vagina.


RE: Curious
By leomelo on 11/11/2009 12:41:18 PM , Rating: 1
GNU/Linux in freedom.Windows is slavery.Windows is limited.I can't run Brasero,the best burning application (to me) on it.Im using Ubuntu,wich i think is right now the best OS.


RE: Curious
By PhoenixKnight on 11/11/2009 5:49:36 PM , Rating: 1
I prefer K3B myself. Beats anything I've ever seen on Windows or Mac, hands down. Very user friendly, too.


RE: Curious
By jonmcc33 on 11/14/2009 1:32:15 PM , Rating: 2
There are like 300 different CD/DVD authoring programs for Windows.

http://download.cnet.com/windows/cd-burners/?tag=b...


RE: Curious
By n0nsense on 11/14/2009 6:00:30 PM , Rating: 2
No offense, but when I look at your post, I can clearly see only one "severely limited" thing. And guess what it's a brain of some human being.
Each OS has it strong and weak sides.
On Windows side, it's a lot of cash for PR and other promoting (and if my first statement is not correct, then you probably part of it).
I assume my use of computer is as far from "average joe" as it could be.
Guess what, I feel "handicapped" when I forced to use Windows.
Historically, I'm a legal owner of 3.11(yes, 3.11), 98, XP (pro and home), Vista and 7 business. And I do use them for gaming.
Why to choose Linux ? It's free, it's more customizable, it can be whatever I (and not some one at Redmond) want/need it to be. Desktop ? Server ? both ?
No security issues ...
No need to worry "will my settings make it to the next version" (hint, upgrade XP to 7 is clean installation). Or "What will I do when I'll by new computer"
I can switch back and forth from one distro to another. Form 32 to 64 bit and even ARM or MIPS or PowerPC without losing one bit of my settings and customizations.
It takes nothing to install OS. But those little nice icons, and shortcuts and the order of the things and my preferred views and settings for all those apps.
Sorry guys, I have life and other things to do with it than Install/Reinstall/Cleanup/Reconfigure and all other things you do with you average Windows installation.
My Windows is sitting on separate HDD, everything is stock since the only thing i do with it is launching game (depends on the mood which one).
BTW, i'd like to mention that 7 64 bit is not good for ATI owners. It crushes and crushes and then again... Crushes ! I can't blame the HW since it's perfectly stable under any load with Gentoo/XP/Vista (64).


What no W2K option?
By JediJeb on 11/10/2009 1:57:24 PM , Rating: 1
If this poll had been up a few months ago I would have needed that option. I still hate the fact that I could not find my W2K disk when my drive died last winter. I had to buy one of the last copies of XP that Staples had on hand when I replaced the drive. The only game I play is Star Wars Galaxies and to be honest W2K had way fewer problems running it than XP now does. One little thing that bugs me now is when you hover over something in the taskbar and the little tab pops up with the description the display freezes for a few seconds and you can't do anything until it goes away, never happened on W2K.




RE: What no W2K option?
By fatedtodie on 11/10/2009 2:12:30 PM , Rating: 2
When you catch up to 2003 atleast please let us know.

As an admin that currently works with Windows 2000 boxes now and then... there is NOTHING windows 2000 does that justifies its existance in my mind. Windows 2003 and XP do everything better, safer, and with the exact same hardware.

End of rant.

Please please please let win2k die like it is supposed to.


RE: What no W2K option?
By Belard on 11/10/2009 2:51:53 PM , Rating: 2
That is because there is something wrong with your computer or your tech is 8 years old.


RE: What no W2K option?
By JediJeb on 11/10/2009 5:13:21 PM , Rating: 2
Probably the latter since the video card is an X700 and the processor is a Mobile Athlon 2400XP. If I ever manage to save up a few hundred dollars I will be upgrading, for now have to make due with what I have.

As for letting it die, honestly XP, Vista, Win7 offer nothing to me that W2K doesn't in a home setting. I really didn't want Vista after my parents bought a new computer with it and every month or so I have to guide my mother over the phone how to re-install her printer because it keeps forgetting how to run it. Probably HPs fault with the driver, but still a big pain.


RE: What no W2K option?
By Belard on 11/10/2009 8:42:09 PM , Rating: 2
Well... vista is crap anyway. In case you havent notice.

Your hardware is very old and you're using a CPU that was made for a notebook, in a desktop. So your problems are not so much XP's fault.

Not sure why you spent $100 for XP+, when $300 would have bought you a whole new computer with a dual core CPU... but with (GAG) vista.


RE: What no W2K option?
By Silver2k7 on 11/12/2009 5:48:31 AM , Rating: 2
"Well... vista is crap anyway. In case you havent notice."

FYI its still better than XP :)


RE: What no W2K option?
By JediJeb on 11/12/2009 1:42:56 PM , Rating: 2
At the time I bought the CPU it was one of the best for overclocking that was made, low wattage and unlocked multipliers.

Was saving for a new build but when I had to spend the money on XP unexpectedly there went those plans, would have had to spend it anyhow since I can't find the W2K disk anymore.

As far as OSs go, we finally got rid of our last Win3.11 box this year. Still have a couple Win95 ones running too. But when the equipment they are attached to cost 100K to replace, and the vendors only have interface cards and software that work with older systems you are stuck with them unitl the equipment just dies. Almost impossible to find a motherboard with an ISA slot that will run W7. And probably difficult to run DOS based software on W7 I would imagine. There really is a lot more of the Legacy stuff out there than most people realize, just go into any Laboratory or Manufacturing facility and you will see it. Drives the IT guys nuts trying to sync production equipment with what they want to use in the office. The office systems running Vista and now W7 are making it so we now need to generate Data on our lab equipment and print it out then hand enter it into the new LIMS because the networks just won't communicate any longer, and getting vendors to write new software for equipment they don't want to support is like pulling teeth. We are to the point that if one computer dies, we will need to spend about 250k to replace it, because you just can't find a replacement computer that will interface with the rest of the system. I like progress, but sometimes it really bites.


Arch
By Furuno on 11/10/2009 9:36:05 AM , Rating: 2
Dual booting Arch Linux for work and Windows 7 for gaming...




RE: Arch
By maveric7911 on 11/10/2009 10:15:11 AM , Rating: 2
Arch here too with vista for gaming.


RE: Arch
By stmok on 11/10/2009 12:54:17 PM , Rating: 2
Arch Linux here as well. But not a dual boot.


RE: Arch
By kmmatney on 11/10/2009 7:48:08 PM , Rating: 2
Dual booting Window XP for work, and Windows 7 for personal use.


RE: Arch
By PhoenixKnight on 11/11/2009 5:51:58 PM , Rating: 2
Triple booting Windows 7 for gaming, Snow Leopard for Photoshop, and Gentoo Linux for everyday use and some gaming.


RE: Arch
By freeagle on 11/12/2009 6:12:53 AM , Rating: 2
they should really put check boxes rather than radio buttons for us dual/multi boot users. I have kubuntu, windows 7 and mac os x ( just for testing some multi-platform code )


LINUX
By Soulkeeper on 11/10/2009 3:10:52 PM , Rating: 2
There should just be a "Linux" option
the distros are too numerous to count ...




RE: LINUX
By drycrust on 11/10/2009 5:02:32 PM , Rating: 2
I think the way they have done it is good because there are huge differences between distributions, so by doing the survey the way they have reflects people make choices upon those differences. It also shows that Ubuntu is getting close to where it can be considered as serious software and the others aren't. If they had just used a generic "Linux" that we wouldn't have known this.

When I looked at the pole, Fedora and OpenSuse had about 1% of the total votes, OS 10.5.x = 2%, Ubuntu and OS 10.6.x had 5%, and the Windows versions had 23% (XP), 16% (Vista), and 45% (W7). While this can't be considered representative of internet users in general, with Ubuntu level pegging OS 10.6.x, it does show Ubuntu is getting close to the point where people will start to write not just a Windows and Mac version of their software, but also a Linux version written mostly with Ubuntu in mind.


RE: LINUX
By jmurbank on 11/11/2009 4:55:37 AM , Rating: 2
That is not true at all. There is not a huge difference in GNU/Linux distributions. They basically run the same kernel, same program to handle Windows files/printing shares, same program for printing, same program for web server, ftp, The main difference is the tools to install programs. Really Ubuntu is not any easier than Fedora, Mandriva, OpenSUSE, and other pre-compiled distributions. The reason why people are using Ubuntu more than other distributions is their friends and co-workers are using it, so they can get a sense of help when they need it. IMHO, from reading multiple posts at Ubuntu forum, Ubuntu users are mostly technically illiterate which shows that they whine about something that is easy to fix for them, but they prefer letting someone else fix it for them.

I have tried many distributions and have settled on Gentoo. It compiles every program compared to other distributions. Other distributions uses pre-compiled programs which can hurt the setup and gives you no sense if the program is stable or reliable for your configuration. Gentoo does this by providing a stricter package management that surrounds it self with true stability and reliability that can be used in production systems.

The polls should not list every distribution of GNU/Linux. They should list only GNU/Linux and stated "all distributions" in parentheses. Also there should not be multiple versions of MAC OS X. There should be one. The poll states operating systems and not their versions or flavors. Though I would put an exception for Windows since Windows XP is not the same as Windows Vista and Windows 7 is not exactly the same as Windows Vista.


Holy Cow!
By Griswold on 11/13/2009 7:52:47 AM , Rating: 1
Still so many fools using XP? Amazing. I'd use any given choice over this piece of shit OS.




RE: Holy Cow!
By jonmcc33 on 11/14/2009 1:35:55 PM , Rating: 2
RE: Holy Cow!
By sxr7171 on 11/15/2009 9:59:16 AM , Rating: 2
Yeah XP is terrible. There I said it. The damn thing doesn't even let you merge a folder's contents. Now that is primitive. You have to overwrite the entire folder. That alone puts XP in the doghouse for me. Not to mention how many friends complain about not finding the device manager or the right driver. In 7 the device manager is right there in the control panel. Most drivers are included with the OS and if not Windows Update intelligently finds them for you.

I know my tech and I can get by with XP just fine, but why deal with all that extra hassle anymore? I bought my computer to get things done not to troubleshoot the damn thing.


Losing vista on the laptop soon.
By check on 11/10/2009 12:22:40 PM , Rating: 2
XP Pro on my desktop, but I'll be installing Win7 Pro on my laptop sometime with the free upgrade I received. Can't wait to get rid of vista on the laptop.




RE: Losing vista on the laptop soon.
By Spuke on 11/10/2009 4:03:24 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
XP Pro on my desktop, but I'll be installing Win7 Pro on my laptop sometime with the free upgrade I received.
Did mine last night. Worked like a champ.


Win 7 Pro 64 bit...
By callmeroy on 11/13/2009 8:42:45 AM , Rating: 2
..and I have to say with honesty in 25 years of using computers, its well on its well to officially being my favorite OS of all time.

(I skipped over Vista completely btw)




RE: Win 7 Pro 64 bit...
By callmeroy on 11/13/2009 8:43:57 AM , Rating: 2
ugh typo .... should have read "its well on its WAY...."


Other for me
By djc208 on 11/13/2009 4:22:17 PM , Rating: 2
XP is currently on my primary desktop machine, but I'll be going to Windows 7 64-bit once my SSD arrives next week. So XP may be the right answer, but not for long.




RE: Other for me
By xaders on 11/13/2009 10:47:42 PM , Rating: 2
ill buy windows 7 on all my PC in my household which are all running windows XP now. ill prefer windows 7 pro then home premium one.

now, only have one laptop with windows 7 RC on it. also brought windows 7 student version. it sucks because the direct download doesnt allow create a separate disc. have to pay for it. it is an upgrade. the upgrade terms sucks. microsoft need another way to upgrade. vista was like ME was and windows 7 is what vista is suppose to be or some people called it vista sp3.


This dirty son of a $$***...
By Boze on 11/10/09, Rating: 0
RE: This dirty son of a $$***...
By Boze on 11/10/2009 4:42:05 PM , Rating: 3
gah, mod please delete this... I fail at looking at two articles at once and replying to the right one! :O


FreeBSD
By pcfxer on 11/10/2009 9:12:27 AM , Rating: 2
PC-BSD 7.1.1 and PC-BSD 8.0-Alpha for testing.




Server
By lagitup on 11/10/2009 9:16:23 AM , Rating: 2
Windows Server 2008 R2. I got the license off dreamspark and run it as a proxy server when I'm not using it as a workstation or for gaming.




A House Divided.
By ksherman on 11/10/2009 9:34:56 AM , Rating: 2
well my laptop is a MacBook Pro, which I use both OS X (10.6.2) and windows XP (Parallels) used for work and occasional play. Then my Desktop is a windows 7 x64 machine which is for intense video editing and games... So I'm pretty well split. I wish I was home more often to use my desktop. As it stands, I work 14hrs or so a day so I don't get home until bed time :)




Windows 7
By Cr0nJ0b on 11/10/2009 10:01:49 AM , Rating: 2
Windows 7 ultimate 64bit on the home,
XP on the work laptop
Vista Ultimate on the wife's laptop
Vista business on the kids PC
Ubuntu 8.04 on the backup server
ununtu 9.10 on the main fileserver
OS/x in a VM on the main system




No option for multiple OSs
By johnbuk on 11/10/2009 10:46:55 AM , Rating: 2
Dual booting Vista and XP on my primary PC.
Ubuntu on my old PC which shares my monitor, keyboard, and mouse with my primary PC via a kvm switch.
7 on the HTPC I just built and haven't had the time to do anything with other than put it together and load the OS- plan to add Linux on this PC for MythTV at some point.




OS
By tabbiez on 11/10/2009 11:20:49 AM , Rating: 2
Mac OS 10.6.2 on my MacBook Pro
My Asus Eee PC 904HA used to be an Ubuntu 9.04 machine but it's now running Windows 7 Ultimate.




DOS USERS REPRESENT YO!!!!!
By SiliconAddict on 11/10/2009 11:51:33 AM , Rating: 2
Kidding. Its Windows 7 all the way on everything.




Slackware
By walmartshopper on 11/10/2009 2:24:22 PM , Rating: 2
Slackware 13 64bit. I've tried most of the other Linux distros out of curiosity, but I always end up going back to Slack. Windows 7 is nice, but I only use it for gaming.




Can't use W7
By Director on 11/10/2009 3:37:19 PM , Rating: 2
I have W7 on a different HDD but am still using Vista as my Netgear EVA8000 wont see (or stream) W7 shares but works fine with Vista. This is annoying and a heads up to anyone thinking of getting a netgear streaming device.




Server 2008 R2
By LazLong on 11/10/2009 4:49:46 PM , Rating: 2
I have Server 2008 R2 on my desktop, and Win 7 Ultimate on my Thinkpad W500....

Still wishing for the speed of XP, with perhaps a few of Win 7's features....




XP x64
By mattclary on 11/10/2009 8:19:32 PM , Rating: 2
should have been broken out




Gentoo Linux
By eegake on 11/10/2009 10:30:05 PM , Rating: 2
Windows XP in a virtual machine is the last Windows I will ever need.




4 XP and one Windows 7
By random2 on 11/11/2009 4:09:57 AM , Rating: 2
Run Windows XP home with a back up bootable image and also Windows 7 Ultimate. These are all on my main puter on two different drives. Laptop runs XP home, and sons comp runs XP Pro. All XP versions have SP3




Dual Boot
By mattscottshea on 11/11/2009 12:07:25 PM , Rating: 2
I have clean installs of Windows 7 Ultimate x86 and openSUSE 11.1 x64 installed on my laptop. I use both about evenly (7 for work, SUSE as first time linux user). They both run very well, but still tinkering with drivers and functionality due to age of laptop (Using some longhorn beta drivers with 7 and Yast saved me in SUSE). My laptop also had issues with overheating sometimes under XP, which has yet to happen under 7 or SUSE.

Athlon 3700+ (2.4GHz)
nForce3 150
2GB PC-2700
GeForce4 440 Go 64M
15.4" WUXGA
DVD Burner
Broadcom miniPCI 802.11g
========================
D-Link PCMCIA 802.11n (no Linux drivers)




op sys
By peterpun on 11/11/2009 4:49:25 PM , Rating: 2
I still use MAC OS 10.4 on both my macs. I am going to put off moving to the intel system, 10.5 and above, as long as possible. The $1000 software I use to make my living isn't yet available for 10.5. And when (or if ever) it is available, who knows when there'll be another $1000 for software?




Dual-boot
By strikeback03 on 11/11/2009 5:03:30 PM , Rating: 2
I dual-boot Windows 7 and Ubuntu on both my desktop and laptop




FreeBSD
By BobBB on 11/11/2009 8:53:03 PM , Rating: 2
FreeBSD-6.4-STABLE, with KDE3
(and FreeBSD-8.0-RC2 to play with)




By CharonPDX on 11/11/2009 10:41:54 PM , Rating: 2
Even though I have an X58/i7 desktop, and a Xeon 5500 workstation, my primary machine is still my Core Duo MacBook Pro running Snow Leopard.

My i7 desktop, Xeon 5500 workstation, Atom netbook, and Core 2 Quad media machine and son's machine are all running Windows 7.

My Xeon 5500 workstation also dual-boots Windows Server 2008; my i7 desktop also dual-boots Vista; and my server dual-boots Windows Server 2008 and FreeBSD.




Vista and ubuntu
By akse on 11/12/2009 5:45:13 AM , Rating: 2
Running vista business x64 at home right now. Haven't bothered to make a new clean install of win 7 yet, it takes some time to backup stuff and fix things so I'll do it later.

On my other computer I'm running Ubuntu 9.10, which so far has been a quite nice experience. It runs very smooth even with such an old computer (Athlon 2200+).

At work I also have Ubuntu 9.10 dual booted with Vista ultimate x64(rarely have to use windows tho).




amazing
By Silver2k7 on 11/12/2009 5:45:21 AM , Rating: 2
im kind of amazed that so many people have migrated to Win7 already.. according to this sites polls.

but im even more amazed at how many are still on XP.

Im still on Vista for the moment.




All windows
By Uncle on 11/12/2009 12:33:33 PM , Rating: 2
I use all three windows versions. xp, vista and win7, each have their own hard drive.Cutting it short some programs just install and run better on one or the other. I have kept xp in 32 bit mode and the others in 64. Compatibility mode just doesn't cut it. As an example I use a sensor for vehicle computers and the manufacturer will not up grade the drivers past xp. For my needs I don't need to buy a new sensor.




Fanboism
By Etern205 on 11/13/2009 4:15:00 PM , Rating: 2
I see lot's of fanbois in here.

Supporters of Windows with rated down comments are most likely done by a linux user.

And vice versa




Another Gentoo/Sabayon
By n0nsense on 11/14/2009 5:27:39 PM , Rating: 2
OK, let's list them:
Main machine: Gentoo and 7 (as a toy ... you know ... for gaming :) )
HTPC: Sabayon - Gentoo way of Ubuntu, but ... it's not Ubuntu.
Notebooks (x2) - Sabayon
And i'm really impressed with combined Linux percentage :)




Ah! Vista death is beginning!
By Belard on 11/10/09, Rating: 0
"I modded down, down, down, and the flames went higher." -- Sven Olsen









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