Yup. I'm sure we've all seen this thread in hundreds of online forums at one point or another. I thought I'd start one up here to see what are the csgamezone members take on it.

To me, there are two aspects to this issue.
1) The merits of the community that supports one OS over the other.
2) Of course, the merits of the OS.

Lets start with the community merits first. It's been long believed amongst the Linux community Gates and Microsoft are an 'evil corporate monopoly' and Window users are beginner consumers with no clue.

Ah, but on the otherside of the coin that is not mentioned...Majority of virus threats on the internet are designed by Linux users that hate Gates and Microsoft (even though they use a Windows box to test the virus before distributing it)...and the same community would have no reservations about doing Denial of Service and Syn attacks against websites of companies that are deemed "enemies of Linux", like they did to the SCO website several years ago.

Which is better? Being novice computer users that owns a PC with Windows on it, or being a self-proclaimed 'Leet' user that commits acts of cyberterrorism to make political statements?

As for the merits of the OS's...let's see...

Linux supposedly runs more stable with less resources (sure, if it isn't using a GUI like KDE or GNOME), is free, with a plethora of support from the user community. Upgrades to applications like Apache, Samba and PHP can only be obtained by going to websites like Apache.org, Samba.org and PHP.net rather than having a centralized, simple, single point to get all your upgrade downloads.

Linux downsides: very few commercial software titles to buy, very few drivers for consumer PC hardware and no support for Linux OS for same hardware products...but you can become a 'somebody' within the linux community if you coded an open source application.

By contrast, Windows is said to be less stable, but so easy to patch upgrade the entire server from one source, so easy to use, and have a wide variety of software to buy for it and hardware components with drivers and support.

Windows downsides: You gotta pay for it. Not 'stable'.

....Hey, if anyone wants to chime in, please do so.

Its like comparing apples and oranges.

I prefer the thought of linux being that it is free and sustained by the community. Its is much stabler. I kind of think that you misrepresented the linux users as hackers and only hackers. Although Im sure most have a dislike for gates, many have respect for other peoples computers too.

As for windows, I think that it is the standard for one reason. Its all buisness and not performance. Windows uses so much for reasources and it hasnt changed much of its core for years. This along with many crappy updates, its enough to drive a man insane. I have found the only way to run my computer smoothly is to have as much good open source software on here as possible. Let it be said that it is still slowed down by window's crappy memory management system.

But I didn't say "all Linux users". However I admit, my opinion reeks of profiling, doesn't it?

As for the OS, marketshare is a good indicator of customer trend, although it doesn't measure quality at all. Marketshare proves that "free and stable" isn't enough to compel consumers from "it comes with your new PC and there are thousands of software and hardware products with Window support".

I must admit, I have a problem when some in the Linux community write viruses out of hatred for Microsoft or as a way to prove Windows is unstable and insecure to compel consumers to use Linux. Even you must admit, the examples of arguably a small percentage of a community is enough to render the merits of Linux moot.

i hadnt heard of them causing viruses until now...

I do agree with that, but I believe just as many windows users create viruses.

As for free and stable not being enough. Its kinda hard when a new computer that comes with freebsd costs more than that same computer that has windows xp.(latest dells) Where is the insentive to switch unless you have a personal problem with Microsoft? I think that Microsoft has manipulated the whole market but that is pure opinion.

I wouldn't blame it entirely on Microsoft. It takes two parties to make a deal. PC manufacturers are just as responsible as Microsoft, simply for allowing Microsoft to be on all their PC's.

Oh I am sure Microsoft attempted to manipulate them through intimidation, but the manufacturers blinked in the face of it.

I think you also have to consider that it's generally harder to apply patches to Linux machines than it is to Windows based machines. In addition a large proportion of people buying computers don't want to learn about how to install/maintain a linux box. Microsoft have made it easy for both the average end-user and companies so their OS is the natural choice. I don't think it required much intimidation. Even the smaller box builders use Windows since most games are written for Windows boxes. Until the time comes when games are written for Linux boxes then I doubt you'll see more mainstream acceptance of Linux.

If you don't like it you can always switch to Mac. ;)

i think linux is great for a server but is not the best for everyday use.

The biggest joke of an operating system prize goes to Microsoft for windows XP home. With XP home, you can't connect to an NT domain and you can't lock your keyboard when you press ctrl-alt-del.

.....Damn them, I say.

I think linux is great but when's the last time you asked yourself this question, "I wonder if this software/hardware will run on my xp machine?" And if you think xp home is the biggest joke of an OS you forgot about Windows ME.

The biggest joke of an operating system prize goes to Microsoft for windows XP home. With XP home, you can't connect to an NT domain and you can't lock your keyboard when you press ctrl-alt-del.

.....Damn them, I say.
wrong - there is a hack available....

RetardSandwich']wrong - there is a hack available....

XP Home, new, out of the box, only support peer-to-peer workgroup connectivity. I'm not surprised there's a hack though, but what regular consumer would consider looking for a hack or know what one is?

Speaking of hacks, stop witholding information and share, damn it.

thats why you pay more for xp pro it is much smother and better than xp home or xp meadia center and(xp pro) to me it helped me run programs faster and better, and it doesnt lagg as bad(if your doing something very demanding.

although i recomend 100% linux for servers

My dedicated fileserver usually uses the IPX/SPX protocol.

The upside is, since the world is using TCP/IP, there is no chance in hell a trojan, or portscanning, can be used to gain access to files.

The downside, two protocols utilizing the same segments can also result in lower bandwidth, because IPX/SPX generates more traffic than TCP/IP.

If you know protocols, if you are familiar with the RFC's, you are the shiznet.