Linux vs Vista

Vista. Ahhhh. The promise of a OS that would have changed our way of computing. Start me up and the WOW starts now.

I’m still waiting for the WOW. It’s more like ARGGGG! (Imaging a red face with steam coming out of the ears). I can’t understand what in the hell all those experts are seeing as revolutionary!!!!
Ok Vista maybe more secure, but I don’t know anyone running Vista as a “factory-settings” machine. Everybody (well almost) have a third party software for antivirus (proper that is, looking at you OneCare, or should I say OneCrap), a firewall that gives a bit of a feedback and an anti-spyware software.

In the resend months when the company I work buys PC they come with Vista. The problems that I had to solve are raging from the most idiotic (5 mins for some MB of copy? FIVE MINUTES??!?!?!?), to the most extreme ones, like programs crashing at start up with no errors at all.

Yes you might tell me about SP1 and missing drivers and such. I will tell you the following. I applied SP1, the copy still SUCKS, and as for the programs, there are from a BIG company and a version that was made AFTER the Vista launch. The conclusions are yours.

And I had to disable the AutoTuning function of Vista because it was playing havoc with the network. Here are the commands for those that may need them:

netsh interface tcp set global rss=disabled
netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled

And the shutting down? 15 minutes? FIFTHEEN? What is the blazes? Who was stupid enough to give the tick of approval, from a Quality Assurance point of view, that 15 minutes are acceptable and progress the user’s experience with an OS? Starting up is OK I guess, but shutting down?

And how about those laptops that you will find in specials all around the world with the Vista Home Basic installed? Trying to run Vista, even the Home Basic one, in a laptop couple of years old is akin to pulling my nails out. And enjoying it. While I deep in hot lava. Hmmm tasty!

Well there are some things in Vista that are passable. The interface for one. Great graphics and crisp. (Although a cover doesn’t make a book if you know what I mean.). And the UAC. A lot of criticism has come about that feature. Lets not forget that Linux does the same and no-one complains. It’s not a bad feature and I’m 100% behind it. BUUUUUUUUUUUT, Microsoft should get the hint from Linux and asks about Admin rights ONLY ONCE. After the second time I want to through the PC out of the window.

As time goes by I see a lot of other problems arising, that the MS people should have thought. Older programs don’t run? Why? Who are you Mr Brain-in-the-department-of-new-OS in Microsoft that will dictate to me which program I can use? If a program that I pay for it three years ago does what I want then you should have though of something like, I don’t know…virtualization maybe for older programs?. OH NO SHOCK HORROR!! How can I think so ADVANCED!! Wait a second.. AAAAA now I get it. That’s why Windows 7 will include it as default. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. Extra cash to be made? Wink-Wink! And NO virtual Pc 2007 still sucks. You need to have license for an older OS to use it. More money to spend huh? Idiots!

By the way I would like to make a mention on a great piece of software that I found yesterday in my search for something BETTER than VPC 2007. It’s called VirtualBox and it’s from Sun. Here’s the link:

http://www.sun.com/software/products/virtualbox/index.jsp

Well done to all people that made this program. Excellent job.

That’s why I love Linux. . I don’t mean the let’s-get-married-right-now-love but the love to a maturing OS. A love to an idea that lets everybody uses THEIR computers as they see fit and work as THEY see fit. Not as a big company THINKS how they want to work.

I started with Red Hat 5 and finally reached the Ubuntu 8.04. During the journey I got upset, angry, vowed never to use Linux again, felt comfortable, amazed and finally impatient for the new version.

I have installed it in numerous computers with different specs every time, and I can say I had minimal troubles. The only troubles I keep on having is with the Compiz because of NVIDIA.

Let me tell you the easiest OS is the one based on Ubuntu, Mint Linux, Ubuntu etc. Perfect. I tried Mandriva, had tons of problems with the Compiz and Emelarld. Tried KDE 4. Didn’t like it. I think the widgets are OK but the implementation is leaving a bitter taste to the mouth. Maybe KDE 4.1 will be better.

By the way the Compiz 3D effects rips Vista in millions of tiny specs of dust. I like the Vista interface like I said, but boy talking about embarrassment from Microsoft when they tried to play down Compiz. Ok little boy try again in version 7. Run along now. Good boy!

With one OS I can get ALREADY packaged into the DVD all the programs that I need to start in an office environment. Ok some programs that you can’t live without maybe a bit more difficult to port (if Wine is not working on them), but maybe some day when Linux picks up more steam the big software companies might consider porting them even if it doesn’t fit into the GPL licensing scheme.

In this point please allow me a mention to XARA Extreme as an example. A very good software that came from a company that makes software for Windows and sells them, and it’s free. Give it a try if you are in the field of arts. Link: http://www.xaraxtreme.org


What am I going to do with my computer? Hmmm tough question. I love my games, so I can’t not go to Linux straight up. But if I was to set up a new office for someone it would have been Linux ALL THE WAY.

The penguin is here to stay. Learn to live with it.