Writing viruses is one thing. Making users “use” them is another.

> Are there any firewall’s programs, spyware programs, virus programs, trojans programs, etc especialy for linux?

Majority of the games and programs that comes out today are Windows based. Some of them are more ‘loose’ so Linux can try and run it. Others refuse to run all together.

The networking on Windows.. Windows ONLY wants to read its own system format. It won’t read EXT.. Linux can read -just- about anything. I give thumbs up on Linux for that.

Yes, Linux is quite flexible.

Refering to the desktop. I have to say.. Linux is MORE open than Windows is. Not to mention you have free choice of choosing your ‘layout’. If you prefer to have everything open to you, use KDE, if you want simplistic, use GNOME. Want a new skin? Go get it. Make one if you want.. ect. ect.

However.. today’s life, everything is Windows. Sadly, of course.

Each system has its ups and downs. Linux’s biggest negative is its useability. Sure windows crashes on occasion, but Linux makes it very easy to accidentally “crash” your machine. Its a lot easier to find someone to help you tweak your msconfig to get a windows machine working (or worst case, pop in an install and “Repair Windows”) than it is to try and reconfigure the X server, or monkey around with fstab from the command line. And I have had Ubuntu freak out on me a FEW times and make me do that. Sure it was probably my fault (each time it was trying to get Compiz working properly, or automounting a samba share) but people are going to want to play with their machines. People make mistakes. Windows may slap you on the wrist a bunch of times, but when you “have a bad” on Linux, you get kicked in the balls.

1. You dismiss the KDE 4.0 release as a “minor step back” and then critisize Vista as, well, Vista. KDE 4.0 was completely unusuable for daily work. Of course, the KDE team said that when it was released so any expectation otherwise was foolish. Also foolish is using KDE 4.0 in a comparison of operating systems.

I have been running Vista on my home desktop for over 18 months now with nary a problem. I venture a guess that most folks problems with Vista stem from inferior hardware or sheer ignorance of the OS changes. Take an *average* user who is proficient using KDE 3 and plop KDE 4 in their lap. Cursing will ensue. Vista is different, yes. That doesn’t make it bad.

I agree that the Kernel has become almost an afterthought. That’s the way it should be. We don’t worry about kernel versions in Windows, do we.

2. Linux requires help to play well with other systems, too. What is Samba? What is “third party sofware?” Heck, what is NFS? “True” linux users could say that anything outside the kernel is “third party.” Null argument here.

Linux hardware support is FAR behind Windows. “Well, that is just a market influence from more Windows machines in use.” Ta da. Software support for external devices is much better in Windows. Joysticks, webcams, printers, scanners, etc. While sometimes possible in Linux, much more work is required and it’s usually just easier in Windws.

3. So there is a grand unification in linux package management? That is the joke. How about the various package repositories and the interoperability between them? Discussions like this don’t happen in Windows. Plus, almost all Windows programs come with an uninstaller. This is a non-point.

4. While Windows doesn’t offer kernel-level configuration, who does that nowadays? Do you really build custom kernels on a regular basis? Then you have vaulted past the normal user and into geek status. Congratulations. I’m an everyday at-work Linux user and I have not needed to build a custom kernel in years.

With Linux there are no limitations? Really? Are we living in unlimited-resource-land? There may not be (perceived) limitations with Linux, but what does that get you?

5. I have a completely customized Windows desktop that would appear to be a Linux desktop. TMTOWDI. Even in Windows. Again, what is “third party?”

“It’s a three way street?” You say that after bashing Windows and stroking Linux for a few hundred words? Please! Windows has its place in the world. While I prefer to work in Linux I would NEVER put a Linux desktop in front of a casual computer user. There are certain “aspecs” of computing that are good for Linux and some for Windows.
Linux has its place. Windows has its place. OSX has its place (though I don’t know where as I refuse to pay what they want for the hardware – even though it’s PC HARDWARE!). It doesn’t have to be a holy war.

If you want to put up with online activation, WGA, DRM, and running only three applications at a time, be my guest. But kindly prevent the legion of zombie networks that your substandard operating system is responsible for from sending me bucketloads of spam and DDOSing the innocent.

To the topic:

Jack, come on, stop it ! I can’t stand that pressure any more. I’m like “damn.. not yet” whenever I read another of your articles on *nix :-D

I know, OK, I get it… Windows sucks. But you know.. there’s still the compatibility thingy here :-P Man, I’d love to make the ultimate switch if only Unix could make up for everything there is for M$ platforms out there.. I know, it’s been doing a good job reaching that goal but…

JUST GIVE ME ONE MORE MINUTE WITH THOSE SHINY BEAUTIFUL WINDOWS PLEASE !! T_T

Just kidding, your articles rock.

Keep up.

EDIT: Sorry for the double comments, I thought the edit didn’t work on the previous one.

Here, look at this to make you feel better again hahaha:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvsboPUjrGc