Free Software and Cheap Computers

catzeyes79

thnaks for your opinion matt,
I haven't got my info from any geeks but it is just my opinion. The way I see it is that M/S produce sortware that has quite a few flaws and the distribute it so that it is beta tested by the public. It is also very expensive (and not usually good value for money). But joe public is stuck with it! There It has a great monoploy on the industry and in my opinion stiffles competition from many other software companies. Remember it has only just been in court recently due to the monoploies and mergers in europe (I think) and was threatened with being split up. Also if i am not mistaken it was also posiibly involved if various activities where it would not release the sorce code (not somethin I know anthin about but has somethin to do with software companies being able to write programs for M/S operating systems) so it had less competition.


Thats why i don't like M/S stuff (all my own opinion)
I'm not here to argue about M/S i just don't like them and had herd about LINUXS. Just wanted more info

Merry Xmas ans Happy New year

sra

There's an interesting article here on why it's wrong to compare Linux to Microsoft

matty_c608

I see your points catzeyes79! Thanks for the PM!

I do agree with those points very much. Especially the fact that they did not want to share code so that integration was harder. They dominate the market, and they have abused their position, and have been fined A LOT as a result. Their prices are hefty! I'm developing software at the moment, and boy it's hard. In comparison, a Microsoft product is HUGE, and if I was to write a program like theirs, I'd probably want a similar amount for my efforts. But they sell so many, they could drop the prices, yes!

Their flaws obviosuly shouldn't be there in the software, but a computer program is written by a human, and no human is perfect. However, the other side to that is that there ought not be anyone who takes advantage of these security holes and exploit it. But then again, there's always an opposition.

I hope there was no offence taken from my post anyway. It's just people tend to be biased against them. I think both sides of the arguement need to be seen!

Merry Christmas to you too

Matt.

catzeyes79

Matt,
Thanks for the reply. Your points are very valid they produce it and should be paid and yes humans make mistakes. It just annoyes me the way they and other big corporations operate. Also if I am not mistake bill gates takes alot of credit for windows when in actul fact it was developed by apple who in a perverse way of the world have a better rpoduct and it is completely out done by M/S.....better marketing and all which you can't balme gates for....he is a smart cookie but if the world bothered to do things right istead of just personal gain just think of where we could be today.........One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.

I'm just an idealistic fool who worked in scientific R&D which is more about who can get there name on a paper and not doing things because we should do them to improve ours and others lives.

All the best
D

ard123en

wrote:

Good point about broadband modems. I've had not problems so far but its probably worth checking with your internet provider or Linux vendor for a list of compatible hardware.

Graphics cards are a bit of an issue, with NVidia ones being the worst experience I've had on Linux so far. However most older and cheap ones from Matrox work fine.

that has got to be most untrue quote ive seen about driver support under Linux NVidia have Linux drivers on there site
http://www.nvidia.com/object/unix.htmlwhich support full 3d I run Linux as my sole OS and always buy NVidia cards on the face of this never had a prob

as far as I know intrernet is only a slight prob if you have a usb device is you buy an ethernet modem then just plug and play

Arden

Darksun

I just want to put a word in for my chosen distro, Ubuntu!. It aims to be easy to use, and I think it succeeds.

tigermatt

matty_c608 wrote:

Microsoft is always referred to as crap.

IMO, it really isn't that bad. They are targeted by hackers, because so many people use Microsofts systems. Why do YOU think it's bad? I find a lot of people like to say Microsoft are crap, because they seem some geek saying it, and want to echo it themselves..

People often refer to those who think they know it all, but actually know very little as:

NOOBS!

I find Microsoft better than Linux for a number of reasons, mainly usability, speed and features. And, so long as you have a good firewall, anti virus software etc, I think Microsoft software can be as safe as Linux. But, that is my personal opinion.

tigermatt

I am in no way related or affiliated with Microsoft

tigermatt

lellie wrote:

also worth noting..
...
oh and if you're a nerd with dual monitors then you might also have issues with mandrake linux - it doesn't like having an AGP and a PCI graphics card..

More reasons for me to stay away from Linux... :rolleyes: tigermatt

ard123en

duel head graphics pci/agp works ok its down to how you set up your xorg config

Its ovious that tigermatt is on a windup crusade but one thing I have to say is that I work in IT I travel to many customers sites fixing there servers and have to say there are not many production windows servers out there (and they are in decline)

If you need real computing power then people either have some form of *nix os400 or the big boys have s390

linux is the only os i can think of that will run on every platform from an xbox to an ibm mainframe the only one that comes close is FreeBSD

My way of thinking is if you want a games machine buy an xbox every games will work

If you want a computer save money dont buy the latest and greatest run linux and if you have a problem with an application contact the developer, or if you can fix it yourself and give the code back to the community. That way you learn more and linux advances

And oh boy is it advancing most major distros have a new stable realise every 6 months including everything most people need

when was the time M$ realised a new OS longhaul must be nearly there by now

Arden

-TangleFoot-

Found a couple of interesting publications extolling the virtues of free and open-source software after exploring the links on this thread:

• Free Software for Busy People
  
• Free Culture