What OS are you running and why?

[YarisDude]

I am using Win XP Pro and Ubuntu/Linux 8.04 Hardy Heron LTS as a dual boot on my general purpose PC. In the Ham Shack I use Win2000 Pro. Linux has serious driver and application availability limitations when using equipments/instruments that require an GPIB (or Firewire) interface for control. I use some software defined receivers (Dynamic Sciences/Flex) that will not operate under Linux, perhaps in the future. It appears that most of the development work is for a Windows world and this makes sense as the majority of users employ a M$ Windows OS.

I have yet to get a virus, worm, or trojan under Windows, but again I don't stick my d**k in places where it can infected. I do enjoy watching the firewall blocking all the port scans and pings from the clowns attempting to gain access to my little abode on the internet.

/begin rant

Hopefully, as time goes on Linux will become more mainstream and manufacturers will provide more drivers and API's. I do not like M$ relationship with the content producers (DRM). Why would I buy a OS that requires me to pay and pay every time I want to do something. If I pay for it once, it should be mine to use (personally) as I wish.

/end rant

[Altitude]

Originally Posted by YarisDude

/begin rant

Hopefully, as time goes on Linux will become more mainstream and manufacturers will provide more drivers and API's. I do not like M$ relationship with the content producers (DRM). Why would I buy a OS that requires me to pay and pay every time I want to do something. If I pay for it once, it should be mine to use (personally) as I wish.

/end rant

Linux will never rise to the level of a ubiquitous OS - its target audience has never been the average user and it will remain primarily a server OS with some personal user base. It's been almost 20 years since it was introduced, if it hasn't managed to unseat Windows at this point it is very unlikely to do so. It will continue to be a 'specialty' OS and be used primarily in servers and embedded systems.

However, if it ever does reach the level of a Microsoft OS - you can be damn sure DRM will infect it as well. As you noted, it is the content producers that coerced MS into incorporating it into the OS and that's not going to change regardless of which OS (maybe, possibly, someday) overtakes MS's stranglehold on the personal PC OS market.

Like it or not MS is here to stay.

[eTiMaGo]

Originally Posted by Altitude

Linux will never rise to the level of a ubiquitous OS - its target audience has never been the average user and it will remain primarily a server OS with some personal user base. It's been almost 20 years since it was introduced, if it hasn't managed to unseat Windows at this point it is very unlikely to do so. It will continue to be a 'specialty' OS and be used primarily in servers and embedded systems.

However, if it ever does reach the level of a Microsoft OS - you can be damn sure DRM will infect it as well. As you noted, it is the content producers that coerced MS into incorporating it into the OS and that's not going to change regardless of which OS (maybe, possibly, someday) overtakes MS's stranglehold on the personal PC OS market.

Like it or not MS is here to stay.

Yes, in terms of user-friendliness Linux has taken huge steps forward, but it's still really fiddly...