It is the most popular consumer desktop, Linux-based operating system. Linux is a community (and often corporate-developed) operating system kernel (or framework). The fact that anyone in the world can see the source code for it (and even edit it if they want to) means that there are a lot more eyes on security. Everyone can see the flaws straight away and work towards fixing them compared to Windows, for example, where only Microsoft and some of their Trusted Partners® can see the source code and only Microsoft can edit it. That means people stumble upon exploits or holes and they'll only be fixed if and when Microsoft find out. The only anti-virus software I know of for Linux is ClamAV and the only times I've seen it used are for e-mail servers scanning e-mail attachments (out of courtesy) so that it doesn't affect Windows users when they download their e-mails. The largest use of Linux on computers (not your router, television or your phone) would be professional servers (at least 2/3 of all web servers) so security is a very high priority which benefits us desktop users - the 1%! If you're coming from Windows XP, Mint would be a perfect starting point as the interface is very similar although my favourite Linux distribution is Ubuntu (which might be closer to Windows 7) and because I'm so familiar with it, I use it professionally for all of my clients' web servers where most people would use CentOS (definitely not recommended for daily desktop use). If you're a Macintosh user, Elementary will be your favourite. The best bit about Linux is the freedom. If you get sick of the way the operating system looks, yo can change the whole desktop environment with only a few commands to any of the following: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desktop_environment#Gallery You can try any of those versions of Linux, straight from CD/USB without installing anything! Anyone, send me a PM or e-mail me (alastair@alastair.pro) if you need help getting started.
Windows 7 is good but I can't say it's the best. Because Microsoft will innovate it & launch a new version anyways.
This is a retarded thread. Everyone has their own opinion.. There is no 'best' there is just what works for the user Windows 7 = Solid windows base Windows Vista = FAIL Windows XP = No more updates = Insecure You cannot compare xp/7 because 7 is a much newer os, of course its going to use more resources, you'd have to be an idiot to run it on an old machine Mac = fuck mac, not because of the os, but because they are money hungry and proprietary Linux = Linux is the the freaking king of them all, but if your a novice then its not worth it for you
Uh. So is Windows. And Microsoft has been fined billions of dollars on two continents for illegal, money-grabbing activities that put competitors out of business. Microsoft was under Federal oversight for all that up till April of last year. Talk about money hungry and proprietary, Microsoft is now forcing computer manufacturers to use a BIOS that will lock out all other OSes on their hardware. Microsoft is pure evil, owned and run by the devil.
When everyone here talks of Windows they mean they like the the GUI. How it looks. The real operating system has nothing to do with that. Strip away the pretty blinking lights, the windows, the colors, and all that, then you see the operating system. THAT sucks. It can't hold a candle to Unix/BSD/LInux where the GUI can be changed on a whim to anything you'd like, work however you'd like and, yes, even impersonate the Windows GUI. You can't do that on Windows either. Virtually no one on DP understands that.
The appearance is dreadful! Mundane, blue-collar and oppressive. It's like someone's let a color-blind* person loose on KDE which I don't mind but certainly don't love. I agree that people are equating an OS with a GUI and even then, "Windows looks the best." generally means "I grew up using Windows.". * If they had a blue/blue/blue/blue problem, not red/green.
Good point! Did you pay for a licence? Moderators: fatima_rashid has answered the OP's question so this thread may as well be closed now. Reason: Solved.
XP was good but there are few things that i like about windows 7.... other than that i dont think its the best out there...
I used to install in use win7 but finally, switched back to xp sp3 which consumes a lil less resources from my old pc.
It's completely unreliable and insecure. What's a worse choice that's less user-friendly, in your opinion?