5 Reasons To Run Windows 8 Instead Of Linux

I think you make a lot of valid points. My feeling and experience with Linux is that it can be a royal pain when you're updating or upgrading. Often applications break when updating and if you upgrade to a newer version of the OS you may wind up with an unusable system. For those reasons, I like the terminal because it allows you to fix things fairly quickly, but that's horrible for most people.

Like many people I run Unix and Linux servers in my home. I use XBMC for my HTPC and that's Linux, but it also has issues now and then and I've had to reinstall. That being said, I can do a lot of cool things with it that may cost a lot more if I were using windows only.

XBMC != linux. It can be run on linux, and there is a live distro with xbmc included, but it is not linux.
 
I already have five computers running Windows 7 Pro.

Why waste the Money, and time, changing to Windows 8, or 8.1, only to find out that Microsoft will force me to keep all my personal data on the "Cloud", or a "Skydrive", where it will all be "Hacked", and Stolen, eventually?

They don't force you to do ANY of those things.
 
I already have five computers running Windows 7 Pro.

Why waste the Money, and time, changing to Windows 8, or 8.1, only to find out that Microsoft will force me to keep all my personal data on the "Cloud", or a "Skydrive", where it will all be "Hacked", and Stolen, eventually?

Care to show me where they are FORCING you to store this information in the cloud? Because I use local accounts on 8/8.1 and never setup an MS account or use skydrive. So unless you can show a source, this is just more uninformed BS being thrown around on win 8 threads.
 
Pretty silly list except #4 and by extension #2 which is practically the same reason. For all of the talk of Windows 8's UI it still is far more compatible with important desktop software than any Linux distro and that software works as it always had in prior versions of Windows overall.
 
Pretty silly list except #4 and by extension #2 which is practically the same reason. For all of the talk of Windows 8's UI it still is far more compatible with important desktop software than any Linux distro and that software works as it always had in prior versions of Windows overall.

Metro is not as compatible with the rest of Windows as Desktop mode is. It's getting better. But originally C++ was not allowed and I still think OpenGL is blocked.
 
Care to show me where they are FORCING you to store this information in the cloud? Because I use local accounts on 8/8.1 and never setup an MS account or use skydrive. So unless you can show a source, this is just more uninformed BS being thrown around on win 8 threads.

Not forcing but MS is certainly shoving users in that direction with both hands, by designing the menus and setup wizard in a way that deceptively hides the local account option, and makes it appear as though Microsoft online account is required to all but the most technically savvy. In Windows 8.0 that had a small little link at the bottom of the setup wizard to create a local account. in 8.1 that's gone and you've got to dig even deeper or play silly games like unplugging your internet connection. Absurd. The apologists that defend this is beyond me.
 
#2 Setting things up on Linux is pretty easy with a package manager. Don't know what he is talking about. I can set up a development computer to write software in like an hour in Linux. On the other hand when I worked on a Windows machine, any computer that wasn't mine was useless. I had nightmares on losing all my configuration, programs, registry settings, to make Windows useful for developing on. If my hard drive crashed and there was no back up I would consider suicide.

You can do something like this on Windows 8 as well using the built in Refresh utilitiy. It is fairly easy to do and doesn't take that long to set up once you have Windows configured the way you like it. With this option when an HDD crashes it is as simple as installing Windows 8 on your new HDD, copying the backup file you previously created to a specific folder on the newly imaged PC,and telling it to restore that backup.

This is not an actual image btw, this is a program that reconfigures Windows 8 to the exact settings you had configured at the time of backup, and if set up correctly it also restores all programs you had installed on the PC with their individual settings.
 
2 and 4 were the only somewhat reasonable reasons listed. The others were just whining.
 
That post is plain stupid.

Basically his reasoning goes down to "GNU Linux is bad because it can't run Windows software". Wow, I could never knew that one.
 
2 and 4 were the only somewhat reasonable reasons listed. The others were just whining.

1.) This is a reasonable reason for a Blogger. Not for the general public, but definitely for a Blogger. You can't really argue with his personal first-hand experience.

2.) I have never seen a general use Linux Distro that was easy to install and did most things that the average user would want quickly and easily without a lot of fussing around.This is indeed a valid issue.

3.) You have to admit the community genuinely has a fair number of aggressive a/o nutball people in it. Again in this guys case, being a blogger, this is a genuine issue. It may not be for the average user.

4.) As a photographer I can say with certainty there is nothing available anywhere that even vaguely begins to replace Lightroom + add-ons. Definitely a valid issue.

5.) Technically his comments on this section are subjective. But given that you can't actually point to anything other than a command-line and say "This RIGHT HERE is Linux.", and given that the command-line is objectively uglier to human senses than the Windows GUI, he is kind of right.
 
You can do something like this on Windows 8 as well using the built in Refresh utilitiy. It is fairly easy to do and doesn't take that long to set up once you have Windows configured the way you like it. With this option when an HDD crashes it is as simple as installing Windows 8 on your new HDD, copying the backup file you previously created to a specific folder on the newly imaged PC,and telling it to restore that backup.

This is not an actual image btw, this is a program that reconfigures Windows 8 to the exact settings you had configured at the time of backup, and if set up correctly it also restores all programs you had installed on the PC with their individual settings.

With GNU Linux you don't even need to install nor configure nothing.
Just do a copy & paste.
 
There are unfortunately more reasons to run Windows over Linux. His reasons are just, retarded.

Reason #1: As soon as you mention one distro, all the fanboys go insane claiming you've made the wrong choice.
Choice is bad? Cause Windows doesn't have choices right?

Windows 8
Windows 8 Pro
Windows 8 Enterprise
Windows RT

Also, a lot of people will tell you to run Windows 7, including myself.

Reason #2: For all of us who have lives, there's Windows.

You wrote a tech article on ZDnet on why Windows > Linux. So STFU K?

Reason #3: The aggressively nutball Linux community
I'm more afraid of the Apple community. At least the Linux community is working on saving me money.

Reason #4: Linux doesn't run many serious production applications
From what I understand, neither does Windows fucking RT. For that matter, even though Windows 8 does, it's not very productive. Hence why you should go back to Windows 7.

Reason #5: Windows is just nicer
That's why everyone FUCKING HATES WINDOWS 8 UI! I sure love the advertisements that comes with some Microsoft applications.
 
Reason #4: Linux doesn't run many serious production applications
I know, dumb ol' Linux, it only powers 99% of the world's supercomputers. :rolleyes:

Fail article is fail.
This guy is as much a computer scientist as I am Steve Jobs.

Just another follower of the cloud.
 
I run Ubuntu on my laptop and I love it.
Its easy to get used to, drivers update through settings, my printer was detected, installed and tested in 3 clicks.
Yes, the AMD drivers need work.
WINE has never been easier to use.
You can install "desktop apps" just like Win8, but you can still run them windowed.
Linux has the stigma of a geek OS, everyone thinks its hard to use and it really isn't anymore.
If you HAVE to use the terminal for something, its easy. Leave the browser open taking up half the screen with the instructions and just copy/ paste into terminal and hit enter.
Really, there's nothing to be afraid of, desktop Linux like Mint and Ubuntu can be transitioned to very easily.
 
That's not a hundred reasons, n00b.

2 reasons to stay with Windows 8: Amazing fluid design and extremely fast.

Its a few % faster then 7, so that means 7 is extremely fast too.

Fluid design?! If the fluid is molasses on a super cold day, then yeah.
 
I actually really like Linux. Its easy to use as 7, and really would work well for a lot of people.

Browser, email, open office, lots of free software, and same GUI as win 7. I put Linux on a few machines where people are not the brightest, and they could work it just fine.

The tech who came after me didn't know about Linux so that wasn't too good. :D
 
Or have more time maybe? I honestly can't be bothered. What little time I have for "quiet time" on the PC at home is spent having some fun gaming online with friends. As such, Windows 7 is the perfect OS for me. It just works; no hassle, no learning curve.

That and I'd agree that the Linux community isn't the most friendly in the world either. I started to tinker with it a couple of years ago, but the question or 2 I asked in the Linux forums I found were met with a vehement "your question is stupid and so are you."

Cool. I'll go back to shooting heads then.

Not really. Here's a breakout:

Kubuntu: Engineer from work, does some design/coding in it.
Xubuntu: Installed for said engineers mother, told me it worked great for her needs.
Ubuntu: Engineering tech at work, had Vista/XP and didn't want to pay. Installed Ubuntu, much happier.

Both Eng guys work 8+, first one has kids/wife/etc.

As far as help goes, Ubuntu forums have always been helpful for me. Additionally, Ubuntu seems to have a great deal of HowTo and help articles whenever I search.
 
As long as Linux:
1. Lacks corporate productivity software

Ummm...LibreOffice anyone?

2. Lacks out-of-the-box compatibility with almost all devices (as in literally out of the box, not having to enable custom drivers etc)

Are you kidding? What are you using?
Most Linux distros in the last 5+ yrs have made it so easy in terms of getting common hardware to work out-of-the-box.
For example, the USB ethernet adapter that came with my ultrabook.
In Linux, I plug it in and I'm good to go (no drivers needed).
In Windows, I have to get the drivers (usually on a second computer, transfer it a thumb drive, then install it)

Same goes with the USB ethernet adapter I picked up at Weird Stuff.
Linux: plug in and go.
Windows: needs drivers and depending on the version of Windows, you may be SoL.
Mac: Sad Mac whitescreen of death.

3. Prominently uses the terminal window.

That's more of a choice, not a requirement.
Please if you really want to nit-pick, Windows terminal/command-line is worse (especially on server). Just try to assign an IP address to a NIC.

Its never going to come close to replacing Windows. Android does almost all of the above, which is why its doing so well.

Windows will always be around.
As one of my computer science teachers back in high school (long long ago) said...you have to first decide what the right tool is.
At work, I exclusively use Linux.
When I game, I use Windows (7 not 8)
When I code, I use both.

Though Valve may help tremendously with number 2 and 3, which in turn will help with 1, if SteamOS is successful.

SteamOS is a multimedia/gaming platform, not a corporate productivity/business suite. :D

And best of all: http://xkcd.com/149/
 
Reason #4: Linux doesn't run many serious production applications
From what I understand, neither does Windows fucking RT. For that matter, even though Windows 8 does, it's not very productive. Hence why you should go back to Windows 7.

This is probably one of the most controversial Windows 8 topics for a couple of reasons. If one gets used to the UI with a keyboard and mouse, it's not exactly difficult to use or inefficient. And even where elements are different, desktop applications tend to work identically between 7 and 8. And of course one can install utilities to make the UI much more similar to 8, and many people even in a place like this are constantly making these points.

I know, dumb ol' Linux, it only powers 99% of the world's supercomputers. :rolleyes:

And that would be great if everyone were running supercomputers. From the perspective of traditional desktop applications which is the context he's talking about this is a legitimate point.
 
I don't agree or disagree with any of his points. I just think they're irrelevant as reasons for running either. I run Windows on my work machine because I need AD integration and Windows on my home machines because I like gaming. I would otherwise be running Linux on both because I like learning new stuff. Or OSX if I had a Mac.

As far as compatibility, the new Samba protocol in Win8 knocked out our enormously critical file clusters when I joined a VM to our domain and logged on. It's a hospital so you can imagine how well that went over. Compatibility is only as good as its weakest link and the only way to guarantee that is to not make any changes ever.

The article is otherwise the same drivel as telling me to get Xbox for Forza or Playstation for Gran Turismo. Some software you get on one platform and not another. The end.
 
Reason #1: As soon as you mention one distro, all the fanboys go insane claiming you've made the wrong choice.
Reason #2: For all of us who have lives, there's Windows.
Reason #3: The aggressively nutball Linux community
Reason #4: Linux doesn't run many serious production applications
Reason #5: Windows is just nicer

Reason 5 is invalid it should have stated : bought and paid for by the Microsoft corporation.

So when you install Linux everyone will then contact you and make you install another distribution? Then you have a life which means that with Linux you can't do anything it is like a baby :) . Then the people you never heard from before just keep contacting you and telling you weird things , tin foil hat advice more then likely. Linux has no serious production applications, this is true? How about not so serious production applications or ridiculous production applications? These can be important as well?

ZDNET home of the Linux specialists :)
 
This thread is going to be completely filled with the mega-smartness of intelligent discussion and will allow everyone with different opinions to see the other side's thoughts, bringing the entire world closer to roasting marshmallows over the same pile of OS install media.
 
When all the *nix zealots pull their heads out of their asses and stop coming out with a "new super slim, back to the root of what linux should be, my version is better than yours cause *nix needs yet ANOTHER distro" tards actually get together and work on 1 or 2 primary *nix OS, nothing will ever get anywhere, ev everyone thinks there version is better.. and in the end they all end up the same...forgotten ad on the way side with all that time and effort wasted.
 
This thread is going to be completely filled with the mega-smartness of intelligent discussion and will allow everyone with different opinions to see the other side's thoughts, bringing the entire world closer to roasting marshmallows over the same pile of OS install media.

You do know we're all here for the expressed purpose of pissing off the few people gullible enough to purchase W8. It's like poking silly people with a stick. We practice on iphone people first though. They're the most sensitive and delicate...

:p
 
I kind of agree with those points, except it's a bad comparison to make, it would be better to compare Linux and Windows (not just a specific version) or perhaps Windows 8 and Ubuntu with Gnome 3 (Gnome 3 being basically, Metro for Linux).

I do agree there needs to be more organization with Linux though. Everything is all over the place. There needs to be a unified package manger, a unified way things are done in the GUI, a unified way to make computers part of a network (like a Domain) and don't get me started with the archaic permission system. That wont work in the business world, when Sally from HR wants Bill from finance to be able to write, but not delete, to a list of folders, but George should be able to see all those files, but only read, etc.... if you've worked IT you'll know what I mean, businesses want some really complex permission schemes on folders. Linux permissions just don't cut it. They BADLY need to implement permission inheritance too. I should be able to make a folder and no matter who writes to it, it takes on the same permissions that I specify it should take. This should also be doable by right clicking on it, not typing some setfacl or chmod or chown commands. Even on my home network I get frustrated trying to use different users for different tasks and try to make the files accessible throughout, and end up just saying fuck it and using root.

Overall I do prefer Linux, but I'd be hypocrite if I did not say it needs lot of work. It does.

When is the last time you used Linux permissions? How about ACL's and ACE's ?
 
They each have their place. Impressed with Linux Mint especially on older systems and it boots off of USB stick with a persistent partition for changes, software and driver install which Windows can't do for the most part.
 
They don't force you to do ANY of those things.

Now, you can "Not Use" those features, by "Decling Them", but given time, I foresee Microsoft making "Cloud", and "Skydrive" things you will have to "Opt Out" of, and as more time goes by, they will become a part of the Windows software, that you will have to use, and "Pay Rent For" to boot.

Microsoft is getting more, and more, $$$ hungry, and they don't make enough $$$, just selling you the operating system software, to make them as rich as they intend to be, that way either.
 
if linux had more game and software support and 3d support for things other than open GL. I would leave windows behind for ever.


It does not however.


maya and 3d studio max runs like trash on linux because it uses the opengl api and not the direct x it was made for.

maya also runs like trash on MAC for the same reasons (and MAcs have trash gpus put in them even the new mac pro is using 2 weak fire GL gpus in cross fire you can get better GPUS in any other machine and run them in crossfire for less.)
 
I had hoped "Wow, perhaps this would be a discussion of technical merits of leading edge versions of Windows alongside certain Linux distros, with thoughtful apples-to-apples comparisons of varying tasks". And then I saw ZDNet, and the "linux fans are crazy" garbage.

Sigh.

So varieties of "The user base is full of jerks", "There's too many options", a" My super specific software that I absolutely must need doesn't run perfectly on Linux", and to close with a "I just think Windows looks prettier". All just bursting with the exact same poorly thought out ideas and outright hostility that he ascribes to the "basement dwelling, non-showering" Linux userbase.

*facepalm*

Jesus.

Now the funny part is, nobody is going to critique the entire Windows community because this one particular guy is an uninformed, hostile jerk. There's some growing up to do...
 
Now, you can "Not Use" those features, by "Decling Them", but given time, I foresee Microsoft making "Cloud", and "Skydrive" things you will have to "Opt Out" of, and as more time goes by, they will become a part of the Windows software, that you will have to use, and "Pay Rent For" to boot.

Microsoft is getting more, and more, $$$ hungry, and they don't make enough $$$, just selling you the operating system software, to make them as rich as they intend to be, that way either.

There's more to it than this though. Sure, the underlying motive of most companies is to do things to make them more money but we are now living in a smart phone and tablet world and the normal experiences on those devices is to sign in with an account and all of your apps, photos, music, movies, email, contacts just all sync up automatically. PCs can't continue to be consumer level devices and not have similar capabilities.
 
And that would be great if everyone were running supercomputers. From the perspective of traditional desktop applications which is the context he's talking about this is a legitimate point.

No it doesn't, at least not for an end-user.
For everything else, it is far more capable that Windows.

But then again, this guy shouldn't try to use anything outside of iOS, it might be a bit too complicated for him. :p
 
"Reason #4: Linux doesn't run many serious production applications

Linux doesn't run the Adobe Creative Cloud applications. "

Uh, that is almost a plus these days given Adobe's cloud system has been hacked into. Relying on a cloud system for access or to use your own data is well, mind boggling to me.
 
Pretty easy to see Windows is for gaming and casual internet users, while Linux is for enterprise (at least in the Engineering world)
 
Pretty easy to see Windows is for gaming and casual internet users, while Linux is for enterprise (at least in the Engineering world)

That is a funny one.

What about on the financial side or any other part of enterprises? Microsoft Office and Exchange server seem to be pretty big things. When it comes to multimedia editing I don't think many people are rushing to Linux machines. Unless we are counting OS X as Linux today.

Each OS can have its place in the world based on your needs. But most of your enterprises out there are not running 100% Linux based networks.
 
Pretty easy to see Windows is for gaming and casual internet users, while Linux is for enterprise (at least in the Engineering world)
I think more people would turn to Linux if there was better gaming support. The main reason a lot of people stick with Windows to play their online games. I know I would switch to Linux full time if more online games were supported.
 
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