Linux vs. Windows

kd recently got rid of her windows desktop and traded it in for a flashy new Linux Distribution. Some of the comments awoke one of my long-standing decisions in the Microsoft vs. Techies everywhere debate. The debate has many tangents, but what it comes right down to, is the mentality that Linux is better because it’s free.

When discussing something like this, I think it’s important to have the qualifications to talk about it. First, I spent an entire summer using Linux as my only operating system (except at work, but I had no choice in that). Secondly, I’ve been programming for almost 10 years. Finally, I like free stuff.

The merits of Windows and Linux could be debated for days on end, but when it comes right down to it, you simply cannot say that one is just plain better. They each have their place.

Linux is a powerful, robust operating system as a server or a workstation. It has a lot of very cool features, and is fairly stable. One might say that security is better, but that’s debatable.

Windows is the desktop of choice for almost everyone. This makes it the de facto standard if you really wanna be productive in the business world. It’s also pretty easy to use, setup, and keep running. No knowledge of programming is even close to required to be efficient.

What I observe to be the biggest flaw of the Open Source community is that so many of them really believe that everyone should be using Linux. This is probably the mentality that is holding Linux back. I cannot even imagine a person trying to argue that Linux is ready for the home desktop.

Quite frankly, I don’t think it ever will be. I think linux folks would FLIP at the bastardization that would be required for the average Joe to use Linux. Right now, if you have a fair amount of technical prowess, and the patience to tweak Linux for a few days, you can have a nice, functional, stable, free operating system. I don’t know many folks, though, that I think could do it by themselves. The initial install keeps getting easier and easier, but it doesn’t seem as if very much progress has been made from that point forward.

Eventually Windows will lost lots of its market share, but I don’t think it’ll be at the hands of Linux. Someone will put together another OS from the ground up, or modify Linux to the point that it’s almost not linux any more, and it’ll be an easy thing for people to use. That’s the key… it has to be easy to use… right now, Linux just isn’t.