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WINDOWS VERSUS LINUX

Last Updated: 10-30-16

(This article was written in 2005. With the release of Windows 7 in 2009, as well as later versions of Linux – especially Ubuntu – Windows and Linux have come even “closer together”! In other words, while Linux has always been an excellent operating system, Windows has finally come into its own. So, some of the comments made in this article are dated. Yet it still may contain some principles worth considering.)

MEANDERINGS

I, like the vast majority of computer users, work and play on machines using the Microsoft Windows operating systems. But, in recent years I have begun to teach myself Linux. As I have taught myself in the ways of DOS, Windows and now Linux, I have always been amused at the passion that many have regarding the various operating systems out there. It almost becomes a religion to many people. I suppose that it is sort of like what we do with cars or with sports. (Actually it is all rather silly in the scheme of things when you think about it in your saner moments.)

If you want to experience the religious fervor of some toward whichever operating system they worship, just go to some of the newsgroups dedicated to either Windows or Linux (or Macs) and do a little browsing. Even more fun is posting a little question here or there (i.e., baiting or trolling – not recommended though!) to see how soon someone turns the discussion into a debate. When I was first learning Linux I remember going to a Linux group and asking some basic questions and following up the post with various Linux matters. It was not long until some self-appointed Linux “guru” had to set me straight. About what, you ask? Well, he tersely informed me to quit “top-posting” like some kind of “Windows retard” and start “bottom-posting” like a real Linux user. (“Top-posting” is when you reply to a post by starting at the top of the post. “Bottom-posting” is where you reply under the previously posted comments.) You would have thought that I breached some Geneva Convention protocol the way he whined and carried on. He “put me in my place” and I am sure he made himself feel rather important as he made the world safer for Linux geeks, ridding the universe of “Windows retards” like me.

Well, as a follow-up I have continued to notice that in an unmoderated Linux newsgroup (alt.os.linux.suse) there are a few “Linux-gods” who take it all too seriously and have appointed themselves guardians and enforcers of the Linux way of doing things. They apparently scan the group continuously for any infraction no matter how trivial and quickly alert the offender of his or her “mortal sin.” It is rather funny if you are able to step back from it all and realize that many of their rantings are based in some rather provincial and petty dogmas. (Let me stress right here that the majority of Linux users are quite intelligent and wonderfully decent. It’s just the few who ruin it for the rest of us. Isn’t that always the way it is in life? If you want to have a fun learning experience go on the above mentioned newsgroup and see if you can find the Linux-gods who are full of themselves and have turned Linux into their religion. It would be interesting to do a study on the “sociology and psychology of newsgroups” don’t you think? There sure is a lot of material for such an undertaking available for free in most areas of Usenet.)

WARNING: If you are going to post to some Linux groups be prepared to be amazed at how quickly some of the posts degenerate into worthless petty diatribes. I frequently see great Linux questions from honest seekers used as an excuse to branch off into a hundred worthless directions just so the Linux-gods can make themselves feel important. And then there are the Trolls who love to start flame-wars. But, I don’t know who is worse: the Trolls or the Linux lovers who fall for the bait and love to keep the flame-wars going. If Linux users were as smart as a few of them seem to think they are they would simply ignore the Trolls and pretty soon the Trolls would skulk off to another arena. But, no, too many who fancy themselves as Linux purists feel that they must respond. And the stupidity goes on, and on, and on. Unfortunately the usefulness of the newsgroups is greatly diluted because of all the foolishness that manifests itself on the Usenet.

I also continue to be amazed that there are some few who apparently live in the newsgroups and insist on making their presence felt in nearly every post. I guess some people don’t have a life. Then there are those who speak Linux-lingo fluently and love to flaunt their prowess and their vast knowledge of the world of Linux. Others are quite happy at making fledgling Linux users look stupid. And, don’t even get me started on the Linux devotees who love to make their posts a platform for their politics – just look at the ever-changing signatures of some of them. I am forever in amazement at the hubris of those few who think that they are just so erudite. (Hey, I know that I am an idiot!) I am also rather startled to realize that those who think they are the most tolerant (i.e., liberal in their world views) are actually the most intolerant of all! For instance, there are a few Linux users who look down on anything not Linux. And there are those who even think that they are too good for anything other than the command line and text mode. Funny how we are all so easily biased and prejudiced and yet we love to delude ourselves into thinking that anyone who believes in Open Source is automatically very open-minded. Basically I only visit the Linux news groups when a new version of SUSE comes to town. I may ask a question or two, or make a comment about the latest version of the SUSE distribution. But I can always count on the same Linux gods to sooner or later comment on my post (and most everyone else’s!). And, yes, they feel they must ever critique or correct something as they show their typical disdain for those who aren’t the purists that they imagine themselves to be. Don’t get me wrong. These Linux gods are brilliant. (So, listen to them, but ignore their idiocy [and mine] whenever it manifests itself.) But, like all too many “experts” they lack the one thing that is sorely needed in a cultured society – grace. Nobody seems to know the meaning of that word anymore. (I am still trying to learn and live the meaning of grace.)

Again, take for instance the “top-posting versus bottom-posting” issue. Who cares? But, they do! In fact they take such umbrage over it that they arrogantly assert that if you don’t learn to “bottom-post” like they do you will never learn to do Linux. Huh? I find this hilarious for several reasons. Most Linux users originally started out as great iconoclasts who railed against “The Man” and “The System.” The funny thing is, now they have simply conformed to “the man” of their own silly systems. Another thing, if you read through the posts you will find that even the Linux-gods do an occasional top-post or two! And sometimes these Linux-gods will point miscreants to the almighty newsgroup FAQ and chide them into reading their enshrined and proscribed traditions. If you actually take the time to go and read the Linux-etiquette FAQs (which, by the way are usually very good!) you will begin to wonder if the guardians and enforcers have ever bothered to read them! Most of these FAQs talk not only about how to properly post questions in the newsgroups but also how to properly (i.e., respectfully) answer questions too. Some of these FAQs while focusing on the accepted style of the newsgroup also mention things like intelligent, grammatical and properly spelled discourse. Some of the petty Linux-gods would do well to read the very tomes they always tout. (Alas, it must be said that some of the very same foolishness is found in Windows and other newsgroups as well. But I must say that the hubris of some on the Linux groups seems to go way beyond the fanaticism of any Windows group I have ever frequented.)

I have thus decided that if I were to have a “signature” at the end of any postings that I might do, it will read: “The first thing that you need to do as you go through life is – ‘Ignore the idiots!’ (And yes, sometimes the idiot is me!)”

Like I said, in the overall scheme of things most of the stuff we fuss and fume about does not matter. We tend to turn mountains into molehills and molehills into mountains. And we major in the minors and minor in the majors. What a royal waste of time and energy. We need to save all of that for more important matters. Well, enough ranting and raving! Let me get to the heart of this article. What is all of this fussing and fuming over Windows and Linux really all about? To answer it succinctly, “Not much!” I bet my saying that didn’t make very many people happy.

Okay, let me explain. It is sort of like cars. All cars, no matter whether they are Chevy or Ford, pretty much do the same thing and get you to the same place, and that is all that really matters. An oversimplification? Perhaps. But, Windows and Linux are just two different “engines” that basically help you get something done. Yes, they are different under the hood and they both have their bells and whistles. But, when all is said and done that really is about all there is to it. So, why all the fighting between the two or three computer communities? It’s simple. People like to feel passionate about something in their lives and they like to fight for what they believe in. And they do all this “foolishness” in the computer world especially when they don’t have anything better to believe in.

If we can just cut through all the foolishness and lay aside all of the hype and hostilities between the world of Linux and the world of Windows we just might learn something. (Oh, yes, I keep slighting all the Mac users. Sorry. Don’t mean to. It’s just that I have not yet cared to get into Macs. Let me just say right here that Macs are more expensive than most PCs but for serious graphics and media work they probably beat Windows and Linux to pieces. At least that is the “general consensus” of quite a few “experts.” Of course as time marches on, there is more and more of a “convergence” going on between all of the Operating Systems out there. After a while they start looking and acting more and more alike. It is hard to know who is copying whom. Mac devotees would love to have us believe that they were first with the Graphical User Interface and that Windows is just following in the footsteps of the true leader – Mac. All I can say is, “So what?”) Again, it all comes down to pragmatics. It is all about what works and what does not. And it is all about what works for most people.

MORE TO THE POINT

Here are the plain and simple facts: Windows is Number One! More people use Windows than any other operating system in the world. Now you can get into all kinds of “conspiracy theories” as to why this is the case, but bottom line … it does not really matter. Windows is still Number One. You might at this point think that I am a cult follower of Bill Gates and his world dominating mega-monopoly, but I am not. I am not a fool. I don’t think for one moment that the Redmond Empire is as pure as the driven snow. Quite the contrary. But, anyone who thinks that the powers that lie behind the world of Mac and the world of Linux are much different are deluded. Again, just step back from the fray and take an honest look at Windows and Linux. What are the real differences? Well, that is what this article is all about.

The first point I want to make is crucial to right thinking. Here it is: Windows is not really any better than Linux and Linux is not really any better than Windows. A little perspective is needed right about here. If on some point Windows is better than Linux or Linux is better than Windows, it won’t be for long. One of the glorious things about capitalism and market driven free enterprise is something called “competition.”

Allow me to diverge. Do you remember the PCTools-Norton Utilities “wars”? Ah, those were the good old days of computing. About a hundred years ago Norton Utilities came on the scene and they were a lifesaver for many of us in the days of DOS and early Windows computing. The Microsoft operating systems in those early days left much to be desired and those desires were fulfilled by Peter Norton. Then along came an “up-start” called PC-Tools from Central Point Software, and now there were two major players in the Utilities Wars. Which one was better? It didn’t matter. If one product was in fact better it would not be long until the other “leapfrogged” it and took top honors for itself. Then that product would be better until the other topped it in its next version release. It was fun to watch the “Utility Wars.” But, then, sadly, Symantec (Norton) bought out PC-Tools and thus the Utility Wars were over. Norton won. Well, not exactly. You see, eventually Microsoft caught on and started including more utilities in its own operating system. Many of them were actually licensed from other companies, like Norton. And now, with Windows 2000 and XP you really don’t need Norton Utilities any more.

DEAD ON CENTER

The real point is that all of this competition is actually a good thing! The OS wars remind me of what I saw in the Utility Wars. Same song, different verse. It’s a beautiful thing! Okay, one more time, what are the differences between Windows and Linux? Let’s make this practical. So, here we go … I do Windows and I do Linux and there are things I love and hate about both operating systems. Here is what I love:

Windows is, well, Windows. And Linux is becoming more like Windows every day. There is no getting away from it. The one thing that makes Windows rule is that it is easier to use than most any other operating system. We have Mac to thank for that and their graphical user interface. They were one of the first to perfect the idea of a user friendly GUI. Thanks Mac! Linux (like DOS) used to be a dark world of black screens and cryptic command line interfaces. Something only a geek could love. But, for most of us, we need the luxury and simplicity of a fashionable GUI. Purists will moan that the GUI hides the user from the real power of the operating system. While that may have been true at one time, it is less and less true now.

Linux is, well, Linux. And Windows is becoming more like Linux every day. There is no getting away from it. The one thing that makes Linux rule is that it is a more secure and stable product than Windows. But even that is finally changing. (Well, at least a little ... sort of ... slowly.) Of course Windows still has a ways to go and Windows XP, as good as it is, still crashes. Linux on the other hand, while it can be made to crash, is still a far more stable product than Windows. Also, Windows is also having to play catch-up when it comes to real security issues. But even here it is making progress. But, you will notice that Linux had to join the real world and develop a GUI like Windows and Macs. Now Linux usually comes with either KDE or Gnome. It is a beautiful thing!

What do I hate about Windows and Linux? In a word – patches! Yes, even Linux has “bugs” and “holes” in it. But Windows takes the prize! There is not a month that goes by where some patch has to be released to fix the problems of Windows. Linux too has its share of problems, but it does seem to have fewer of them. There are a lot of reasons for this state of affairs. Windows is a “closed” operating system and Linux is an “open” operating system. In other words, nobody knows what really makes Windows work. (Did you know that Windows XP has something like 40 million lines of code? And, of course, Linux is a complicated beast too.) But, Linux is open source and the entire world can see every last line of code in Linux. This changes everything. If everyone can look at the code, anyone can fix it if they see a problem, and usually someone does. But with a closed source code product like Windows only the almighty programming gods at Redmond actually know what lurks behind the window panes (i.e., pains) and inhabits the deepest and darkest recesses of that operating system. (Yes, all of this is certainly an oversimplification. But, this article is not an academic attempt to analyze and compare Linux and Windows.) Also, there is the simple reality that any OS installed on that many more systems will experience more problems. It is just how you go about fixing those problems that matters.

While I am at it about all of this, one thing that irks me about Windows is the stability issue. Until Windows 2000 and Windows XP, Windows was abominably abysmal in terms of its performance in this area. Linux, by contrast is quite amazing! It is all in how both Windows and Linux are put together. But, Linux may have Windows beat in all of this. What easily demonstrates this is that with Linux you almost never ever have to reboot the computer for any reason … not even to kill a misbehaving program. But, with Windows you have to constantly reboot after almost every install or hiccup. (Ever do a Windows Critical Update? Update, reboot! Update, reboot! And, does anyone remember the Windows 98 resource allocation memory problem that forces you to reboot a heavily used Windows 98 system every so often to free up memory resources? If you don’t the system will crash!) What a lousy way to run an operating system. But, Linux has almost never crashed in my experience. I for one stress a system to the max with all of my fiddling. Windows for me was a nightmare … at least until Windows 2000 and Windows XP. I have had to reinstall Windows 98 multiple times on the same machine because of stupid conflicts or system crashes and incompatibilities. (I won’t even talk about problems pre-Windows 98! But, the only good thing about all of this is that I sure learned a lot about computers doing this. So, I guess I have Microsoft to thank for my little hobby. Thank you Mr. Gates!) Fortunately, Microsoft is finally having to face up to reality and do Windows better. But, Linux has been doing this right for years.

I have to admit (thinking about the way Microsoft does business and the way Linux works) that there is something very, very attractive and enticing about the open source movement. And, there is something rather disgustingly nefarious about the closed source movement. Just read the licensing agreements of most Windows products and compare them to most Linux programs. Also, consider the cost. That brings us to the next point: It is all about money! One of the things that most of us sooner or later hate about Microsoft is coming to the realization that they own the product and we don’t. (Also, do you realize that Microsoft also tells us how to work since they take it upon themselves to “figure out what is best for us.” Remember that silly little advertisement where Microsoft asked, “Where do you want to go today?” What a joke! And another thing. WordPerfect is a much better product than Word. For years I used WordPerfect and found it to be highly intuitive. But, then I switched to Word and have been frustrated ever since. WordPerfect is user-centric, but Word is document centered and thus not as intuitive to use. Just try to reformat a long document that is already formatted and add sections to it. But I digress.) That’s right. If you read the licensing agreements of most Windows products, you do not in any way “own” the product. They do. (In a sense, they “own” you!) What this essentially means is that they are only giving you permission to use their product in usually very restrictive ways. In essence you are a peasant and they are the feudal lords whom you serve and whom you must please and pay. In some ways you merely “lease” most Windows products. If you want to use it you must agree to all of their terms and conditions and all product upgrades usually mean that you must pay for that privilege all over again. It gets ugly and expensive. Just add up all of the costs of trying to keep a Windows operating system or product current.

***NOTE: For Linux distributions Ubuntu is now my favorite! And it's FREE!***

Linux takes a completely different route. Let me tell you about SUSE 10.2 – one particular distribution of the Linux operating system. (There are quite a few distributions available, but SUSE is the one I like “best.” It serves as case in point.) For about $50 (U.S.D.) you can get one of the most complete distributions of Linux available. You need to understand that for a mere $50 you get (almost) everything you would ever want or need on five or so distribution CDs and one DVD! You get over a thousand programs on all these CDs in addition to the basic Linux operating kernel. Many of these programs will enable you to do just about anything you want and most of them are about as cool as any Windows program out there. (What is more, when you do a SUSE update, you not only update the Linux operating system, but every single program that is a part of the SUSE distribution!) Now, just think about how much you have to pay for Windows XP Professional, without any other program. (It’s about $300.) Think about how much it costs for one licensed copy of Microsoft Office! (They are about $300 to $500.) And, if you want to get into any kind of “server edition” of a Windows operating system you are talking about $1000 or more!

If there is a program or utility or office suite for Windows, there is probably a similar one for Linux. But there is a reality here that you should know. Windows has a hundred times more software programs out there than either Linux or Mac. You can probably duplicate most software packages you need for your basic needs in Linux. (And there are even some Linux programs that allow you to run Windows programs under Linux!) But there are some notable exceptions. If you want to play the latest and greatest cutting edge PC games and you must have the latest and greatest PC with bleeding edge hardware, Linux is not the way to go. (To put it simply, Linux just does not support the latest drivers for the latest hardware.) While Mac is somewhat better, Windows is the only way to go. Why? Most cutting edge hardware and software are designed for Windows. And while you can play some major games on Linux, it is a complicated challenge to do so. Also, with Linux there is the hardware “problem.” With almost any piece of hardware there are plenty of drivers available for all versions of Windows. But, this is not always the case with Linux. Linux is rather picky about hardware compatibility and driver related issues. My advice is to make sure that you especially research video and sound hardware before installing Linux to make sure that it is fully compatible!

The truth must be told: Linux is a real pain when it comes to high-end games and the latest hardware. Windows does it a whole lot easier and better. And the Linux world is a little slow to release drivers for the newest pieces of hardware. (Have you noticed that I keep mentioning “hardware problems” with Linux? Well, don't say you haven't been warned! If you are going to do Linux, do your homework and install it on a system that has been around long enough to play well with Linux. In other words, if your latest version of Linux was released in 2004 don't expect it to work with technology released in 2005. This is especially true for motherboards and chipsets and new and changing technologies like SATA, RAID controllers, wireless networking, etc. If the technology has been around for awhile then you can safely expect it to be compatible with Linux. If not, expect there to be problems.)

But, for older systems Linux usually has them covered. In fact, Linux runs rather decently on older systems that would make Windows XP choke and die. Got an older system you don’t know what to do with? Think about turning it into a Linux box! (You should note that SuSE 8.1 and above will not run on 286s, 386s and 486s, but other distributions will.) There is something else. If you are interested in trying Linux, many distributions (like SUSE 8.1 and above) will allow you to install “around” Windows and thus let you dual boot your system. SUSE does an excellent job of setting itself up on a Windows machine and “making room for itself” by adjusting existing partitions. There are even versions of Linux that allow you to get a feel for Linux without even loading much of anything on your computer and they won’t touch your system settings. Some of them (like Knoppix) will run just from a CD. (If you are going to set up a dual or triple boot machine with two or three different operating systems on it, my advice is to install the oldest DOS or Windows operating system first, then the next and finally do a SUSE install. A “triple boot” machine? Well, that is what I did. Besides my Windows XP box, I have another system that has Windows 98, Windows 2000 and SUSE 10.2 on it. These two machines are “hooked” together using a KVM switch and all happily coexist on my home network. Probably the biggest problem I had was learning to set up SAMBA in earlier versions of SuSE so that everything could play together on my Windows network. But now with SUSE 10.2 it is easy!)

TECH TIP: Do not underestimate the power of Linux – especially Knoppix! Did you know that one of the great things about the latest version of Knoppix is the ability to use the Knoppix CD as an operating system rescue disk? I have saved more than one client’s critical data from a flaky Windows machine which was trashed by viruses and other forms of malware by using the Knoppix CD! How? I just booted the dead system from the Knoppix CD and Linux was able to clean boot the machine and access the hard drive and the network. Using the “Start a Samba Server” feature I was then able to remotely connect to all of the hard drives on the Knoppix system and copy critical data files from the corrupted Windows machine to other systems on my network. Too easy! After downloading all of the important files from the “dead” Windows system, I then disconnected from the network, shut down the buggy machine and reformatted and reinstalled Windows 98 on my client’s computer. (They should have let me install Linux on their box, but then I would not get to service their computer again!)

SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS: To use the Knoppix CD as a recovery disk that can access the local machine and the local area network do the following: (1) Insert the Knoppix CD and boot/reboot the system making sure that the BIOS is set to boot from the CD first. (2) When Knoppix loads go to Kstart, Knoppix, Services, and “Start the Samba Server.” This will allow remote computers to see and access the Knoppix system. (3) If you want Knoppix to see and access the remote computers on your network you must use LinNeighborhood, Add a Machine, Scan as User and then Mount the drive or directory you have shared on your Windows computers. (4) Finally, use Konqueror to view all local and remote systems. (5) If you want even greater functionality and access to your network through Knoppix and Konqueror you can activate the Lisa daemon by going to Kstart, Settings, Control Panel and in “Local Network Browsing” fill out the appropriate fields and choose, “Apply.” Then go to Kstart, Knoppix, and enter the “Root Shell” and type “lisa” to start the daemon. (These instructions assume that you know the basics of TCP/IP and that you have a working knowledge of Windows and Linux networking.) You should note that there are other Linux Live CDs out there, but none of them compare to Knoppix and its ability to recover files from a damaged operating system and connect to your local area network. Some will allow remote network access to the local Linux Live CD system, but “only” Knoppix will easily allow the Linux machine to also access the network.

One more point: If you are thinking about looking into Linux, the best place to start is with “Moving to Linux: Kiss the Blue Screen of Death Goodbyeby Marcel Gagne. This book is simply excellent and is specifically written with the Windows user and Linux beginner in mind. It even comes with a modified version of Knoppix. Another great place to start is with Emmett Dulaneys Linux All-in-One for Dummies. You will be hard pressed to find a better introduction to the wonderful world of Linux!

This brings me to another point. While various distributions of Linux come with tons of software, it is very difficult to sometimes get other Linux programs, not included with your specific distribution, to compile easily for the specific distribution you may be using. Yes, you heard right. To use some Linux programs you have to basically compile them to get them installed and working on your system. This can be a real pain! It is not for the faint of heart. Fortunately many distributions of Linux (like SUSE and Red Hat and Debian) use what are called “RPMs” (or similar modules) that are sort of like a Linux program that installs and configures itself on your system. But, even these must usually be written to work with your specific distribution and version of Linux. My advice here is simple: (1) Use only programs that specifically came with your version and Linux distribution; (2) If you must use a program from somewhere else, use only an RPM (or other module) that was specifically designed for your Linux distribution and version; (3) If you absolutely must have a program that is not in the RPM format (and thus you must deal with “tars”) you will have the best results if that program is from a major player in the Linux world … like OpenOffice, Mozilla, etc. (But, if you are going to compile and install a “tar” file, you had better read all instructions and know what you are doing. This is rather intimidating command line stuff. Speaking of command line stuff. I thought DOS had a rather complex command line power. But, just wait until you dabble in Linux … you ain’t seen nothing until you have seen Linux! It is this fact that make power Linux users gush and gloat over the supposed superiority of Linux over Windows. And, hey, they do have a point. So, if you are looking for an OS with an obscure and extensively complex command line structure, then get Linux.)

By now you have probably come to realize that Linux and Windows have both their pluses and minuses. There is no way around this and this is the way with most things in life. It’s sort of a trade off. You have to weigh everything and figure out what works best for you. To put it simply, if you need a computer for the basics (nothing too fancy) Linux is an excellent way to go. But, realize if you are used to Windows you will have a steep learning curve for the short time it takes getting use to doing things the Linux way. If you don’t absolutely need the Microsoft Office products you can get along just fine with OpenOffice for a great office suite. So, it is possible to actually set up a small office or home office with Linux alone! And, nearly every other Windows program or utility is “duplicated” somewhere in the Linux world, so you won’t miss out on much. (For graphics use Gimp; for CD/DVD burning use k3b; for browsers use Mozilla or Opera; for file management use Konqueror or Nautilus; for an MS Works-like product use KOffice; for an MS Office-like product use OpenOffice; for an email application use Evolution; etc. For a listing of all the Linux equivalents to Windows programs go here.) It is very possible to never have to pay Microsoft another dollar ever again, if you are willing to make the move to a Linux based system. But, get real, there are just too many things that Windows has going for it in terms of Windows programs and products. You still may need to have Windows around for either business or pleasure.

AND IN CONCLUSION

If you have read this far, here is my true confession. If I could do everything I need to do without Microsoft, I would gladly give them and their operating systems and their products up and kiss them goodbye and say good riddance. But, alas, I can’t. Linux (and even Mac) just does not make that possible. So, I live in two worlds, frustrated by what I can’t do in one and must do in the other. When I find myself working in Windows, I am thinking about Linux. (“Man, I sure wish Windows could do this or that like Linux does.”) And when I am in Linux I find myself thinking about Windows. (“If only Linux had this or that like Windows does?) Are we never satisfied or what? Is this a metaphor for life?

As I said before, as time goes on Windows will work in terms of stability and security more like Linux and Linux will look and feel more like Windows. Maybe someday Linux and Microsoft will merge into one spectacularly glorious product? Who knows? Maybe someday Linux will buy out Microsoft and become king? Not! Well, until then keep on computing. But, don’t get too wed to either Windows or Linux. Learn from both of them and have fun and keep your sense of humor while you await the next version in the wonderful world of Linux and Windows. It’s a beautiful thing!

POSTSCRIPT

If you want to know the most important point in this Windows versus Linux discussion, consider the following:

FACT: No one ever calls me for tech help with their Linux systems! Why? Because if they have a problem they probably know more than I do and know how to fix their own computers. And, if they have a problem with their Linux system, it probably isn’t with the Linux operating system but rather with some piece of hardware in the box.

What all of this really means is that I would not have a job without Microsoft Windows operating systems! So, thanks to Bill Gates and Microsoft, I have a great job fixing WinTel (i.e., Windows and Intel) systems, and it looks like I will for the foreseeable future! Hey, if this Linux fad ever catches on I can kiss my job goodbye. Linux tech troubleshooting and repair jobs just aren’t in that much of a demand! So, guess whom I am rooting for in the Linux-Windows Wars?





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Randar

A+/Network+/Server+/INet+/Linux+ CompTIA Certified Technician



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