Thursday, August 5, 2010

OS Difficulty Myths

For some reason, people consistently feel that one operating system is more difficult to use than some other operating system. To me, this is a load of dingos' kidneys. I fail to see how Linux is more difficult to use than is Windows, or how DOS is more difficult to use than is Windows, or how Windows is more difficult to use than is a Macintosh. In all of these systems the setup is rather easy, software management is rather easy, just about everything is rather easy. The perceived difficulty is in the differences that exist.

So, if we look at Ubuntu the installation is rather easy. Let the system use all defaults and just keep hitting next. Before you know it, things are set up and ready to rock. Unless you have some strange hardware, everything is fine. The same can be said about Windows, Macintosh, or even Haiku. Software management is a breeze as well. On Linux, you go to add/remove software or whatever it is in the latest version and you simply click click done. In a Windows environment, you go to a store, find what you need, buy it, take it home, install it with a few clicks and you're done. Pretty easy, right? Macintosh systems have some options. Basically, you go to a store and buy what you need similarly to Windows. Most often, you can drag and drop the application icon into the "Applications" folder and things are ready to go. Some applications have installers and the default options can be followed. There are plenty of applications available for all three platforms on the web, and on Windows you have cigwin which can yield a lot of free software, and you have MacPorts on Macintosh. These are all similar. There really isn't much difference or difficulty. Things change when you tell people very particular things.

Example one: Windows has malware, and that makes it more expensive and harder to use. Well, the counter point to this is simple: good safety practices should be used on any system regardless of whether or not you have a security suite installed. You should also not run your system as root/administrator all the time, regardless of which OS you are using.

Example two: Linux is harder because you have to use command line or you have to have programming skills. This is complete FUD. I haven't had to use any command line or programming skills outside of them being a hobby of mine. I didn't need it to set anything up or to install anything. A graphical way is almost always available.

Example three: Macintosh's UI is crap/awful/whatever (and they do have two button mice so don't be a troll). You are always free to change it (Macports + rooted X11 + KDE). The same stands for Windows (simply change the registry entry for shell) or Linux (install whatever it is, and make a .xinitrc and type startx). Not everyone is satiated by the same things and this is the very reason that things improve.

Example four: OSX/Windows/Linux has awful driver support. Drivers have little to do with the OS. It is not the fault of Linux kernel developers that drivers are missing for certain pieces of hardware. Blame the hardware manufacturer for not supplying it. The same can be said for Windows and OSX. As time goes on, more and more hardware manufacturers are starting to supply drivers for Linux and OSX, and more are starting to provide installation driver discs (also known as F6 drivers) for Windows. This helps everyone.

Example five: "If something goes wrong in Linux/BSD/Solaris it is really hard to fix!" PLAIN BS. If it were any easier in OSX or Windows, I would be out of a job in computer repair. You have to find a text file? Oh noes! In Windows, I have to find a registry entry. In OSX, I either have to find a text file or some config applet. Big deal. Every OS has a friggin search function for that stuff, whether it's find, spotlight, or pressing f3 in regedit.

Here are the real facts. I am in computer repair. I deal with all three major OSs every day. I am also a college graduate and had to learn all three major OSs. I am well versed in all three. I can sell all three to anyone who walks through the door. The key is not which is "easier," the key is taking the time to show people how to do whatever it is those people need to do. Every OS is different, and they are all equally easy. People are more accustomed to Windows, and they often have some trepidation about switching to something else. Likewise, an OSX user will have some trepidation due to FUD about Windows or Linux. When the time comes that another system may suit a user's needs better than what that user is current using, they are willing to switch if someone else is willing to show them how to accomplish the tasks they have at hand. What should be taken into account is that each OS has certain things it does well.

Windows: Great for the business environment, great for gamers, great for CAD. Windows and MS Office offer great business collaboration and interoperability with Exchange servers. Windows also has the best 3D performance out of the three top OSs. That 3D performance makes Windows ideal for CAD and gaming.

Macintosh: Well suited to 2D artwork, or lighter 3D artwork. This is in part due to the applications available for OSX, and also due to the wide array of tablets and other devices available for the Macintosh. In general, Macintosh systems are reliable and seem to have become fashionable. Otherwise, they are rather generic and perform that way in a variety of situations making them fully capable of suiting most common computing needs. They're UNIX underbelly and ability to come with stats close to a Cray (on newer models a Macintosh can come with 12 processor cores, all hyperthreaded, and all running at 2.93gHz, 64GB of RAM, up to four PCIe graphics cards, and several SSD all on RAID) make the Macintosh rather well suited to research and engineering fields.

Linux: First, Linux is scalable to a point that is kind of stupid. Linux can run mainframes and super computers, as well cell phones, and even less powerful embedded devices. Clearly, that gives it a wide range of application that neither Macintosh nor Windows can really deal with. Secondly, Linux has proven itself far more stable than its commercial competitors. Still, Linux lacks good CAD software, and good arguments have been made against Linux for tax, accounting, and other business related software not being up to par with commercial applications available for Windows and MacOS X. The general security, scalability, stability, and responsiveness of Linux make it perhaps the most capable general purpose operating system. So long as you are not using it for CAD, gaming, or certain very specific business tasks.

Verdict: Each OS has its purpose. Each OS is easy to use.

8 comments:

CommonOddity said...

Dunno about gaming.

Here's what I'm currently playing on my Linux box':

-Starcraft 2
-World of Warcraft
-Fallout 3
-Quake 4
-Heroes of Newerth (Native)
-Diablo 2 LOD
-Heroes of Might and Magic V
-Warzone 2100 (Native)
-Cube 2
-Warcraft III: Frozen Throne
-etc... Forgot the rest

I'd say it's coming along quite nicely in terms of gameplay. Starcraft 2 runs awesomely on my GTS 250; highest settings possible, never goes under 60fps.

Ford said...

It's the frames per second difference between Windows and Linux that makes me say that 3D support (more specifically OpenGL) is better in Winders. I am not saying that Linux and Macintosh cannot run games and other 3D applications, merely that Windows can do so a little better.

CommonOddity said...

With decent hardware however, I find this to be generally a non-issue. Any half-decent gaming rig will run 60fps on Windows, Linux and possibly Mac OS X (Not familiar enough with it to make this claim).

My laptop plays Fo3, WoW and everything else at a minimum of 40fps (with decent settings). Fo3 is currently the exception because it has to run in DX (Which I fully agree, does run faster on Windoze because it's MS all across). Otherwise, the performance difference between OpenGL on Windoez and Linux is minimal.

The ultimate irony is that Heroes of Might and Magic 5 is running faster in Linux than it did in Windows. Not a lie. I was actually astonished at this.

I don't mean to argue the validity of what you're saying, just that I don't find it to be a major issue. Doubly so, not worth pointing out that Linux is not for gaming (since such a claim implicates a lot of things in the minds of gamers, including the inability to game). TLDR syndrome and remarks like this lead to misleading impressions.

Jack said...

The amusing thing is that, until recent years, most people who would be into using Linux were also gamers. Ie. GEEKS!

I think Adobe is the biggest thing holding people back, since even if the compatibility were perfect in GIMP/Inkscape/Scribus, etc., the whole suite isn't there. This will change in time, as the design market finds a greater need for diversification and lesser need for Adobe upgrades.

But really, I think you hit the nail on the head. Windows, when you take away the third-party software, is obviously worse than OS X or Linux in certain ways. Even without malware, even on Windows 7, stability has been a big problem, as well as overall speed. If you have a monster computer, however, you probably won't notice a very big difference in overall performance, maybe just certain tasks.

But seriously, no one is really THAT horribly affected by any lock-ins or difficulties. The point is that, if people care enough, they'll find a way around it. Around DRM in iTunes Store (many times pirating), about running Adobe's programs other than Photoshop and Dreamweaver in Linux (run a VirtualBox, it's not a huge difference), etc. etc. They'll find a way, and the only people who really get hurt by it are the software developers, because they are seen a worse light when they don't support something well cross-platform.

Also, I only know one who uses Windows 7 that didn't pirate it, since it just came with the hardware. And at that, it's about 2 people who use Windows 7 AT ALL, whom I know.

So really, this applies to Windows XP as well, to Microsoft's detriment I'm certain. But eh, something tells me they can afford to scale down a bit.

jpalko said...

Regarding CAD, there are solutions for Linux too. Most potential one propably the upcoming Bricscad from Bricsys. http://www.bricsys.com/en_INTL/bricscad/index.jsp

There are also other choices that might be interesting to explore if you have the interest and time for it:
http://www.tech-edv.co.at/lunix/CADlinks.html

Tried myself for a moment the Bricscad on my home system but unfortunately I have no experience using CAD software, I had no idea what to do with it. :)

I have experience from earlier of raytracing software but that was way back in the days of Amiga 4000 use with Real3D on it. :) Haven't taken the time for much more than brief experimenting on Blender lately.

lycan 762 said...

I would agree that all three are easy to use, and are all good operating systems. Everyone knows something about Windows because well.. it's Windows. It was forced down everyone's through for so any years that that's all that people know. Unfortunately people are lazy, and don't want to take the time to keep learning something new. I turned a few of my friends in Linux users simply because they've see me rescue their systems a few times with Linux, and want to keep experimenting with it. I like windows, but I also like Linux.

I'd say take the time to get familiar with at least 2 operating systems, and try some new and different. You just might learn something.

Flex said...

Windows is easy to get going.However, Linux is more stable, and has everything you would need to run an office.
-Computer repair tech

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