Which Operating System Do YOU Use?

[enduraguy]

Reflecting on the "Which Browser" thread, I was sitting here eating my Subway, and thinking why not post this thread? After being a Winblows user for over a decade, I have recently become a passionate Linux convert. I won't go back. You could not pay me. After going through I dont know how many versions, and 'upgrades' and 'software patches', system crashes/restores, blue screens of death, down right total LOCK UPS that required a manual shut down....not to mention spyware, and viruses, after having my system supposedly protected by the "best" anti virus software...I just got sick and tired, of being sick and tired. I'd heard about Linux in the past, but never got a chance to try it out. I'm happy to say, I'm very pleased so far. I use "Ubuntu" (pronounced oo-boon-too). Talk amongst yourselves!

[Padawan]

Macintosh OS X 10.4 (Tiger)

[Fred Sanford]

I currently use Windows XP w/SP2 exclusively. However in the very near future I will be buying a Mac to replace my current Windows computer at home.

I'm tired of Windows XP, I'm tired of Microsoft, and I'm tired of all the stupid BS that comes along with Microsoft products. Vista is the icing on the crap cake. I can buy a 5 pack of OSX for what I would pay for Vista Ultimiate Edition Full Version. No way. Plus, I'm tired of the way that Microsoft and other companies like Dell partner together and preload crap on your systems. Every Dell I've installed for a friend or customer I have had to physically reload right out of the box to make sure that it gets rid of all the extra BS that they don't need. It's a racket. I will gladly pay a little more for a Mac to not have to deal with Windows anymore.

I should say that I personally don't ever have a problem with my home PC but I have used a Mac in the past and I found it to be a much better much more stable OS. Of the people I support the ones that use Apple have far less problems. Apple is the stuff.

I plan on getting a 17" or 20" iMac with some extras. I will probably buy it in the next couple months.

[Padawan]

I plan on getting a 17" or 20" iMac with some extras. I will probably buy it in the next couple months.

Nice choice. I was recently at the Apple Store and was checking both of those models out. For now though, my 15" PowerBook fits my needs perfectly.

Something else you might want to consider, especially if you'll be switching or upgrading from your PC, would be the Mac Mini. It's surprisingly powerful for its size, and since you already have a display, keyboard, mouse, etc., it would be more economical.

[Fred Sanford]

Nice choice. I was recently at the Apple Store and was checking both of those models out. For now though, my 15" PowerBook fits my needs perfectly.

Something else you might want to consider, especially if you'll be switching or upgrading from your PC, would be the Mac Mini. It's surprisingly powerful for its size, and since you already have a display, keyboard, mouse, etc., it would be more economical.

Much appreciated but I want to get a nice new Apple Keyboard and mouse with my new Apple computer. I looked at the Mac Mini but I don't want to pay for the Apple displays yet. :) If I could I would buy a Mac Pro with a 30" Cinema display. Can't do that right now though. :)

[Padawan]

Much appreciated but I want to get a nice new Apple Keyboard and mouse with my new Apple computer. I looked at the Mac Mini but I don't want to pay for the Apple displays yet. :) If I could I would buy a Mac Pro with a 30" Cinema display. Can't do that right now though. :)

I completely understand. The Apple peripherals definitely add to the "experience" (they're functional, but also very attractive), and the iMacs have quite nice displays. Best of luck with your upcoming purchase. :)

[zenheretic]

Whenever computer geeks start talking about Apple, I think of the Souhpark episode about the fart sniffers...ahhhh good stuff.

[Padawan]

Whenever computer geeks start talking about Apple, I think of the Souhpark episode about the fart sniffers...ahhhh good stuff.

I'm definitely no "computer geek", and the discussion wasn't very involved. I just happen to like what Apple offers (as do many others), just like all of us here like what Spyderco offers.

The Benchmade forum folks have had more than a few laughs about Spyderco fan discussions, too. To each, his own.

[Slvgx]

I'm a big computer Geek. I listed myself as Mac OS X (10.4.X Tiger). I just put a Vista partition on just to see what it was like. I have have Ubuntu sitting around too, so one of these day's I'll set up another partition and have a triple boot machine. Linux and Windows would be just for fun though, OS X is all I really use, and all I feel I need.

Good choice with the iMac David. That's a good starter Mac. Just wait a little bit because the iMac product cycle is rather long right now so there will be product line upgrades very shortly.

[cgjones]

I currently run Debian GNU/Linux on all my computers. I too grew tired of the games I had to play with Windows. I like what I've seen of the OS X interface, but I can get the same features for free with Debian.

[hornshwangler]

I'm a die hard Mac user for the last 4 years and will never, by choice, go back. I'm writing this response on a dell notebook as the client I'm currently doing some work for requires I have one of their 'certified and secure' notebooks. The apple products are, IMHO, superior to anything you'll see from MS, dell, HP, Lenova, or any other traditional PC manufaturer. That being said, I have used intel based computers almost from their inception though not willingly.

all the best
Dan

[dedguy]

I've been a OSX user for the past year or so after having been a microsoft OS user for the previous 20 years or so of my life. I don't see myself going back any time soon and honestly find it painful to use Windows now. Especiall Vista.

[silverback]

Interesting how this thread became about the Mac.
I use an iBook, which is my second Mac, with OSX 10.4.8 and I'm never going back. Sure I will have to use Windows machines at work, but be glad when all the problems don't follow me home. :)
Funny how you only hear this kind of happy talk from Mac and Linux users. :D

[Padawan]

Funny how you only hear this kind of happy talk from Mac and Linux users. :D

Indeed. I don't recall anyone ever saying, "I really love Windows, and I just can't imagine ever wanting to use another OS." :rolleyes:

[dedguy]

You must be careful though to not become one of those ******* mac users who tries to push his OS on everyone else and looks down upon those that don't. This sort of mac user kept me away from macs for years. That and OS9 sucked.

[silverback]

You must be careful though to not become one of those ******* mac users who tries to push his OS on everyone else and looks down upon those that don't. This sort of mac user kept me away from macs for years. That and OS9 sucked.

You are right. But right now the Linux users are far more obnoxious, especially at Universities around here. :D We're safe for the time being.
And OS9 wasn't that bad, but let's not discuss that here. :)

[cgjones]

But right now the Linux users are far more obnoxious, especially at Universities around here.

Hey now, not all of us are obnoxious. But on a serious note, USE GNU/LINUX! I'm just kidding, use whatever you want, as long as it isn't Windows.

[wec12]

I'm still using XP but really want to buy a MacBook Pro... Things keep me away from Mac are movie format... Can you guys play .rmvb and .avi in Mac? I am really heavy movie watcher :p .

[dialex]

I have no problems with Windows, really. I tried them all, from Windows 2.0 :eek: to XP. Still have to try Vista, but there's no rush. Never liked too many coloured artifacts on an OS.
At home I have a slower computer, that's why I use Win98. At work, also depending on the machine, I have Windows 98, 2000 and XP. I agree that without MS the world may have been better - perhaps, but surely much boring

[vampyrewolf]

18yrs of playing in dos systems (from dos 3.31 to xp pro), went to linux in january... I'm still keeping the winblows boot, knocking it back from 25gb to 10gb this weekend most likely (just o/s, sp2, ati & lenovo drivers... maybe a game). I can build and repair a dos system in my sleep, do most of that repair work with ppl telling me what's wrong and me giving them ideas and directions off the top of my head.
Some things I'm not quite comfortable doing in linux yet, but that list is getting a lot shorter little by little.

When my laptop crashed after I had it a month, I almost didn't put winblows back in here after I found Ubuntu 6.10... found the kde desktop about a month ago, have gone back to gnome a couple times but pretty much stay in kde.
Have 6 towers (7 if my sister doesn't want her semi-working win98 one), spare mobo and parts... could easily toss together 4 working machines. Think I'll be tossing a 700mhz p4 133fsb system together for a knoppix comp (have 8-9 disro's in my book). Wouldn't get more than win98 running on there :p

With a 'high end' version of Virus Intrusion Spyware Trojan Adware going for $500 (or $200 for an upgrade from xp pro), I'd rather build a high end comp for $1K and put linux in there. STILL going to blow anything a vista user can do out of the water (and be cheaper :p )