Why I still use windows sometimes

[Johnsie]

Yes, this topic comes up regularly. I've been using Ubuntu as my main OS since Breezy so I'm not a Windows fanboy coming to bash Linux. Here's why I still use windows(xp) quite regularly:

1. World of Warcraft. I've ehard that it can be run on Linux but I dont have the time to go through a long tutorial for something that "just works" on Windows.

2. MSN messenger. Yes there are alternatives on Linux but they aren't very capable of voice/video messaging over MSN which most people I know use.

3. Stability. Yes, I do actually find windows xp to be quite stable on my machine and sometimes it connects to my wireless network better for some reason.

4. Bigger choice of software. Yes, Linux software is mostly free and open but there is much better choice on Windows.


Now, I dont think it would be fair if I was one sided so here's what I like about Ubuntu:

1. When I need to do a fresh install I dont need to look for the CD, I just burn one and it's fully legal to do that.

2. I like the panel bar at the bottom of the screen better than the Windows start bar. It's better organised

3. The cube thing. Completely useless but it entertains me when I'm bored.

4. Less advertising in software. I really hate how on Windows alot of software has banners built into it. I suppose that will eventually chnage is Linux goes mainstrema though.



There I've had my rant...

[karellen]

well I keep it for medieval total war and webcam support in yahoo mess. the other reasons are not so important (office, editing) as the linux alternatives are pretty close for my needs

[benjaminitz]

I actually dropped Windows because of its good features. I switched to Ubuntu not for stability, but because it couldn't play most of my games; I wasn't getting any work done.

[Kazade]

Just my thoughts...


1. World of Warcraft. I've ehard that it can be run on Linux but I dont have the time to go through a long tutorial for something that "just works" on Windows.


WoW actually works perfectly under Wine in exactly the same way as on Windows. No hacks, clever instructions, nothing. Just "sudo apt-get install wine" then put the WoW CD in the drive and install.

More info here (http://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=version&iId=11329)


2. MSN messenger. Yes there are alternatives on Linux but they aren't very capable of voice/video messaging over MSN which most people I know use.


Kopete can hold voice/video calls with MSN users perfectly fine, I did it at Christmas :)


3. Stability. Yes, I do actually find windows xp to be quite stable on my machine and sometimes it connects to my wireless network better for some reason.


Wireless drivers can still be a pain so yeh, that's understandable.


4. Bigger choice of software. Yes, Linux software is mostly free and open but there is much better choice on Windows.


That really depends if you have a lot of money or not. I can't afford to buy software so from my point of view Ubuntu has MASSES more software than Windows, without contest.

[cb951303]

you should try wow with wine :) people said that it was faster with wine, at first I didn't believe them but then I tried and it is faster than windows! :lolflag:

[myusername]

i have to keep it around for itunes :\ but other than that the only thing i don't like about linux is the wireless support

[madjr]

Yes, this topic comes up regularly. I've been using Ubuntu as my main OS since Breezy so I'm not a Windows fanboy coming to bash Linux. Here's why I still use windows(xp) quite regularly:

1. World of Warcraft. I've ehard that it can be run on Linux but I dont have the time to go through a long tutorial for something that "just works" on Windows.

2. MSN messenger. Yes there are alternatives on Linux but they aren't very capable of voice/video messaging over MSN which most people I know use.

3. Stability. Yes, I do actually find windows xp to be quite stable on my machine and sometimes it connects to my wireless network better for some reason.

4. Bigger choice of software. Yes, Linux software is mostly free and open but there is much better choice on Windows.


Now, I dont think it would be fair if I was one sided so here's what I like about Ubuntu:

1. When I need to do a fresh install I dont need to look for the CD, I just burn one and it's fully legal to do that.

2. I like the panel bar at the bottom of the screen better than the Windows start bar. It's better organised

3. The cube thing. Completely useless but it entertains me when I'm bored.

4. Less advertising in software. I really hate how on Windows alot of software has banners built into it. I suppose that will eventually chnage is Linux goes mainstrema though.



There I've had my rant...

i think u forgot to mention in the ubuntu side:

no need to load up the anti virus, the spyware blaster, the trojan scanner, the registry cleaner and the defragmenter.

[madjr]

i have to keep it around for itunes :\ but other than that the only thing i don't like about linux is the wireless support

the next versions of wine will have 100% full support of itunes.

so u probably will be saying goodbye to the window soon

[tomiu]

3. Stability. Yes, I do actually find windows xp to be quite stable on my machine and sometimes it connects to my wireless network better for some reason.


This is the only reason why i still use WinXP more than Ubuntu. In WinXP i have never problems with my internet..in Ubuntu it was a horror until i connected to wireless network, and still it works very very slow.I dont know why but in WinXP i have usually 70-80% better internet speed than with Ubuntu

[Lord Xeb]

:/ Well that is strange. I have better connectivity with 7.10 than I ever did with windows. Also, so far, the only problem I have had with Ubuntu is WINE. It is great and all, but it lies to slow my machine down quite a bit.

[LaRoza]

Yes, this topic comes up regularly. I've been using Ubuntu as my main OS since Breezy so I'm not a Windows fanboy coming to bash Linux. Here's why I still use windows(xp) quite regularly:

1. World of Warcraft. I've ehard that it can be run on Linux but I dont have the time to go through a long tutorial for something that "just works" on Windows.

2. MSN messenger. Yes there are alternatives on Linux but they aren't very capable of voice/video messaging over MSN which most people I know use.

3. Stability. Yes, I do actually find windows xp to be quite stable on my machine and sometimes it connects to my wireless network better for some reason.

4. Bigger choice of software. Yes, Linux software is mostly free and open but there is much better choice on Windows.

built into it. I suppose that will eventually chnage is Linux goes mainstrema though.


0. Yes, it "just works" on Windows because that is what it was designed to do. The fact it works at all on Linux is amazing. Have no expectations of Wine, and be grateful it works.

1. Not familiar with MSN, but Kopete worked fine with my webcam and headset.

2. If taken care of, it can be stable, just like Linux.

3. I always thought that Linux had a better choice. I am always looking for Windows apps that are like the ones I use on Linux.

[gameryoshi600]

i use windows for working. linux for learning unix commands

[Jiraya]

I think much of us still uses Windows because of the games. Maybe the Game Industry will make games for more OS like they're doing to the consoles. Today a game is made for the most number of consoles (PS2, PS3, WII, Game Cube, etc...). I think it will happen in the future with the PC games too and also for the softwares, why not?

[BomjKolyadun]

The only thing i don't like in Ubuntu and in Linux at all, that under this OS don't wirk iTunes.
Stability since Ubuntu 7.10 is quite good, Starcraft runs under Wine, Firefox is better than IE, four desktops are better then a single one, I like fast Evolution, and the main thing that there's no viruses(or very little number of them:))
I have Windows installed on my laptop, but I didn't use it more than one month maybe because I don't need it no more ... :)

[seamuso]

For games .. and yes, I've used cedega, wine, etc .. not the same. The last game I played in Cedega was Entropia Universe .. then they switched to shader model 3 .. and avatars went grey . Cedega is only at shader 2, iirc .. my 8800gts is shader model 4 capable .. I haven't seen a crysis release date for a native linux install ..


Re: Why I still use windows sometimes
I actually dropped Windows because of its good features. I switched to Ubuntu not for stability, but because it couldn't play most of my games; I wasn't getting any work done.

That's how I feel as well. When I boot into windows, I'm off screwing with games .. When I boot into linux, I'm off screwing with my brain.

[jrusso2]

Only thing I use Windows for now is decrypting DVD and resizing it and re-encoding dvd as it seems the tools on Windows are better for this and more stable.

[HyperHacker]

I kept Windows installed thinking I'd need it for hacking N64 games, since there's only one buggy-as-heck debugger with no source. But even that runs in Wine, albeit slowly. So far I haven't had any need to go back to it. :p (If I ever need to interface with the actual hardware for some reason, though, I'll be extremely surprised if that program works in Wine. It hardly even works in XP...)

Less advertising in software. I really hate how on Windows alot of software has banners built into it. I suppose that will eventually chnage is Linux goes mainstrema though.I honestly can't believe people actually put up with that crap. O_o So invasive and annoying. I always made sure to scan the EULAs for any mention of advertising. At first sight the program gets completely wiped. <3 Pidgin, even if it doesn't do fancy video/voice chat.

This is perhaps what I like most about Linux. The only EULA I've had to look at so far was for Java, which is (surprise!) proprietary. :rolleyes: On the off chance I even see a license, it's always GPL2 or BSD or some other similar nonrestrictive one, and I don't even have to read it because I already know what it entails. :D

[ChameleonDave]

Perhaps we should have a separate forum for people to go on and on about how they need Windows. The steady flow of threads on this topic are rather tiresome.

[iSplicer]

Perhaps we should have a separate forum for people to go on and on about how they need Windows. The steady flow of threads on this topic are rather tiresome.

I agree - Although I still use it for CS3, overclocking and playing games.

[NightwishFan]

Absurdly misguided. There is way more software on Linux and it is much easier to install. As LaRoza certain games and programs are MADE for Windows, its always: "Well that doesn't work on linux". No it would work its just not ported for it, which is the software companies fault. Try to play xbox360 games on your PS3 it not going to happen. Somehow the wine devs made it possible to port apps which is beyond me. Also for banners and advertisements, not for anything open source.

[blane2]

why i still keep windows.

adobe premiere pro CS3
cakewalk sonar
sony vegas
Adobe After Effects
wireless cards on the laptops just work

why i have ubuntu installed on an old desktop
to learn the OS
virus free Porn

[NightwishFan]

+1 vegas ;] You could do so much with that program and it wasnt bad price either.

[Tibor60]

Because in any linux distribution, there are often problems, and problem solving and googling takes days, sometimes weeks. If I am short of time, I go to Windows, because simply tasks works all the time in Windows. For example, in 8.4 Ubuntu-Firefox, 64 bit version, I am fighting 3th day already to make Java function... no success. In such cases Windows helps.

[NightwishFan]

Would it work in 64bit Windows if it were not a supported platform by Sun? Also some problems are simply not solvable in Windows as you sometimes never even know what the problem is in the first place. As well as the amount of open source alternatives for the Windows platforms is of course nowhere near the amount in a Linux os. Proprietary apps cost money, visibly or behind the scenes.

[ububug]

For my Intel graphics at least, Windows' 3D performance is vastly superior to Linux's. I get ~15 fps in Tux Racer on Ubuntu, over 60 in Windows..

[Tibor60]

Yes, with the Ubuntu 8.04 there is a chance that I come back to windows. Now I reinstalled 8.04 to the 32-bit version, but the problem is the same.
Firefox 3 can not find java, when all test show that java installed.
And googling shows that a lot of people is fighting with the same problem.

[AdrianStrays]

I have to concur, Windows is easier. I spent a week and a half fighting with Compiz on one laptop, and three days fighting the network manager on another. (Before that, I fought with restricted drivers, which made me laugh, because Linux users love to taught Windows users about the drivers thing)

Where Linux is strong, its strong, but where its weak, its ****-poor weak. Installing programs is a pain, except for the rare occasions when things are in .deb. My case and point? As beginner to Linux you HAVE to be on a forum like this. You HAVE to read guides. When I was 7 and we got our first computer installed with Windows 95, I learned how to use it immediately, and when their were problems, I learned how to fix them. No DOS, no scripts, just .exe and reconfiguring.

[Living2007]

I use windows All the time because I have one major problem with Ubuntu!

WINMODEMS ARRRR!

[real75]

I still use windows for a simple reason....

Multi-media production.

Hope the linux/gnu studio is nearing to mac/windows

[loganp82]

things i dont like about ubuntu: hearing sound from multiple sources ( cant play counter strike and listen to music ), cant get my microphone working, wine plays cs really slow. i installed with wubi and cant find out to make myself root.

things i like about ubuntu: dont have to scan for adware or spyware all and update my virus database and all that crap. i feel Secure. its highly customazible you can make it look however you want. the advanced desktop effects, avant window navigator and the screenlets can make for some amazing graphics without needing a super computer to run it. oh and the synaptic packet manager is handy.

[Mutant Corn]

I use Vista because it has power management options(laptop), ease of use, software support, and hardware support that Ubuntu simply cannot match, much less some of the other distros out there. I'm sorry, but when I have to jump through flaming hoops of death just to get wifi and some simple games half-working, it's time for a dual boot.

It's not that I don't like linux...don't get me wrong, but I don't think Vista is ever going to leave my hard drive again.

[hartl_vienna]

I use Vista because of Outlook 2007. Unfortunatly Evolution is not a competitor to Outlook because of the bad synchronisation with mobile devices.

[karellen]

the confidence that any piece of hardware you buy will work on windows (provided with the drivers from the oem) is one big (maybe decisive argument) for using Windows

[LaRoza]

the confidence that any piece of hardware you buy will work on windows (provided with the drivers from the oem) is one big (maybe decisive argument) for using Windows

Actually, I find better device compatibility with Linux. My printer and webcam seem to confuse Vista at times (just by using a different USB port!) and they are "Vista compatible". In Ubuntu, they both work out of the box with no hassles.

[karellen]

Actually, I find better device compatibility with Linux. My printer and webcam seem to confuse Vista at times (just by using a different USB port!) and they are "Vista compatible". In Ubuntu, they both work out of the box with no hassles.

well I cannot argue with that, still hardware compatibility in Linux is a matter of hit & miss. it may work (and if it does it works out of the box with zero hassle) or it may not (and it needs workarounds or simply giving up)

[LaRoza]

well I cannot argue with that, still hardware compatibility in Linux is a matter of hit & miss. it may work (and if it does it works out of the box with zero hassle) or it may not (and it needs workarounds or simply giving up)

It depends on the person I think. For someone with a system with all ATI, Lexmark and Broadcom, it is probably a headache. For me with my HP, Intel and Logitech, it is a walk in the park.

As a Linux user, I get hardware I know will work and since I have used Linux longer than I ever used Windows, it is the way I shop. I don't have any preexisting headache hardware.

[Jiraya]

I use it principally for games. Wine doesn't emulate some of them as good as Windows.

[will1911a1]

I hung on the Windows purely as a gaming machine once I found Ubuntu last year.

Since then I've given up gaming and ditched windows completely.

[interval1066]

I use Vista because of Outlook 2007. Unfortunatly Evolution is not a competitor to Outlook because of the bad synchronisation with mobile devices.

Did you even have a look at OpenOffice? Forget Evolution, and forget paying $500 for a word processor and a spreadsheet. OpenOffice is fairly compatable too, as far as I can tell. I have to admit to keeping a windows machine around too for the games, but I find I play them less and less and pretty much stay on my Ubuntu box getting stuff done.

[karellen]

Did you even have a look at OpenOffice? Forget Evolution, and forget paying $500 for a word processor and a spreadsheet. OpenOffice is fairly compatable too, as far as I can tell. I have to admit to keeping a windows machine around too for the games, but I find I play them less and less and pretty much stay on my Ubuntu box getting stuff done.

he is talking about outlook, I think it's off topic to suggest him openoffice (which doesn't come with a pim). and for a word processor and a spreadsheet you pay $149.95 ;), not $500
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/FX101211561033.aspx

[gkrules]

i use vista sometimes too...
why?
1.wireless is alot faster on vista..so i use it to download stuff [its built for vista, so its expected]
2.games..there are a lot of games that dont work on linux
3.office 2007 its a lot better than openoffice and koffice, imo


and other then that...linux is a lot better


oo and i dont have a problem with vista cuz i got a comp that meets the minimum requirements....

3.0ghz quad core [vista is the reason why they made quad cores]
4gb RAM
nVidia 8800 ultra

[Half-Left]

I dropped Windows for many reasons but I was not having it dictate to me and hold me ransom for games and a few apps.

[karellen]

well everyone has specific needs, many consider that it's more convenient to keep windows around, for various tasks and reasons, even if they use Linux

[NightwishFan]

I dropped Windows for many reasons but I was not having it dictate to me and hold me ransom for games and a few apps.

I agree. Although I do not hold it against someone that just likes to use some Windows only applications, personally I feel that having Windows is a restriction.

[Jiraya]

well everyone has specific needs, many consider that it's more convenient to keep windows around, for various tasks and reasons, even if they use Linux

I think this way too.

Linux Archive (http://www.linux-archive.org)

[enoughsaid05]

Why I use windows sometimes:

There are some games which runs better under windows than Linux

When I need it because it has applications which lets me read my homework

Why I use Linux?

To learn how to use *nix commands

A platform for me to try new things

Gives me a chance to get hold of really useful softwares i.e. firefox 3b5

Heard there is no need to fear for virus, trojans, etc.

More stable than windows definitely.

Really good online support (i.e. this forum) whenever I have a problem with the system

:)

On the whole, though I like Linux better than Windows, there is no need for me to jettison Windows completely. I am still open to options!

Cheers!

[Jiraya]

Why I use windows sometimes:

There are some games which runs better under windows than Linux

When I need it because it has applications which lets me read my homework

Why I use Linux?

To learn how to use *nix commands

A platform for me to try new things

Gives me a chance to get hold of really useful softwares i.e. firefox 3b5

Heard there is no need to fear for virus, trojans, etc.

More stable than windows definitely.

Really good online support (i.e. this forum) whenever I have a problem with the system

:)

On the whole, though I like Linux better than Windows, there is no need for me to jettison Windows completely. I am still open to options!

Cheers!

I agree, enoughsaid05!

Microsoft will never have a community of users even close as Linux has.