Why Linux will Top Windows 7
Media hype again has people buzzing over the introduction of Windows 7, Microsoft’s latest operating system. But Microsoft’s errors are finally giving Linux an edge in the race of operating system supremacy. Linux began gaining ground with the release of Microsoft’s Me. To say that Me had some problems is like saying the present economy seems to be lagging. Microsoft made up some of the ground lost by Me with the introduction of XP, but there has been a series of ups and downs along the way.
The public has already become skeptical of the operating system that once essentially WAS the computing industry. I’ll go through the reasons why a shift to Linux is now not only possible, but maybe imminent.
Through the releases by Microsoft throughout the years the only thing that was truly reliable was that there was no reliability. Windows 95 truly did turn the industry on its ear and set a new standard. Windows 98 was an attempt to capitalize on 95′s success and was a complete failure. Windows Me managed to outdo 98′s failure and today is largely unknown. At least Microsoft is trying hard to forget it. Windows NT was solid and would have certainly counted as an up for Microsoft had it not been so incredibly difficult to work. Windows XP was the operating system that put the bounce back in Microsoft’s step. It seemed both simple and brilliant and was a bridge back to what Microsoft had accomplished in the first place. And then Windows Vista came close to toppling all the success of XP.
By looking at this progression of Microsoft’s up’s and down’s, I don’t think much should be expected from Windows 7.
Linux, on the other hand, has been far more consistent. Linux has been gaining ground at a pretty constant pace. Nearly each one of their releases has had the tendency to get better with age. Their key components of desktops, security, servers, admin tools and end-user software have seen improvements as time has gone on. Linux’s each new step gains ground instead of occasional steps back, exactly as they are supposed to do.
Additionally, Microsoft continues to make price increases. Some price increases can be seen as needed, but when they seem to come only as a reach for more cash out of greed, particularly in this time of a troubled economy when people and businesses need to hold on to every dime that they can, Microsoft comes across looking very bad indeed.
A good example is Microsoft’s decided licensing fee for Exchange. It is now necessary for anyone who uses Exchange to have a license for it. This can be hassle for the individual user, but for companies with 500 people who need to use Exchange the price really starts to add up. At a time when companies across the globe are cutting back on costs, the idea of Microsoft making this change is reprehensible.
Linux has not been known to make any cash grabs like the Microsoft Exchange licensing fee. Everything for Linux has been across the board and when people looked for a replacement for Exchange many have opted for EGroupware and Open Xchange. Both excellent groupware tools offering larger feature sets than the Microsoft equivalent that are secure, reliable and, aside from the hardware to install them, free.
One of the reasons for Microsoft Vista’s failure was its incompatibility. People had to shell out more money for new hardware to run the operating system. Hardware that would run just about everything else on the market would have trouble with only Vista. It is easy to see why this would cause a negative perception of Microsoft. Whereas Linux continues to advance in hardware compatibility. X,org can even allow the X Windows server the ability to run without the x.org.conf file used for configuration because the system has grown so good at detecting software. Distributions such as Fedora 10 from Linux are making configurations a thing of the past.
With the impending release of Windows 7 we also get more of Microsoft’s promises. They seem to make the claim that they will catch lightening in a bottle and revolutionize the computer industry with every release. Vista was supposed to be invisible, but was constantly a noose around everything. Me was supposed to take 98 and make the average user look like he was anything but average. Instead it made just about every other functioning system unusable except e-mail and a browser leaving everyone pretty average.
Seeing this time and time again the public has grown so wary of Microsoft that most of the public probably hasn’t even heard that there is an impending launch set. The media will no doubt push the launch, but most computer users will continue to use XP until it become unusable. And no one can really be sure of when Windows 7 will arrive.
Linux distribution has always been virtually transparent. All of their release candidates are open to the public because of the nature of open source. And time lines are always available to anyone who wants a look. This is due to the fact that Linux distributors work under a full-disclosure model. With this we see very little false ad leaks and there is no false rumor mill associated with the products. Linux holds back on claims and promises and lets the users decide for themselves.
The upcoming releases are for Microsoft’s Windows 7 and Linux’s Fedora 11. Here’s a look at the features of both.
- Windows 7: OS X-like docking; multi-touch screen; mapping application similar to Google Earth; hypervisor visualization; location-aware apps; user-access control improvements; sidebar removal
- Fedora 11: Boot time of 20 seconds; Btrfs file system; better C++ support; Cups PolicyKit integration; DNS security; ext4 default file system; fingerprint reader integration; Ibus input method replaces Scim to overcome limitations; Gnome 2.26; KDE 4.2; Windows cross-compiler inclusion
Both of these systems certainly seem exciting. But Fedora 11 may be ahead by the fact that it is already on a great operating system where Windows 7 will require new hardware.
There are still many questions that are unanswered for Windows 7, but it seems imminent that it will not be useable in the netbook market. With XP on the way out it appears that the netbook market will belong to Linux.
We will see if the public has become too jaded by the past empty promises of Microsoft to let Windows 7 be a success and shine over the failures of Vista or if this will be another victory for Linux. Stay tuned for further details.
Stumble It!
Robert Hallock on Fri, 3rd Apr 2009 12:38 pm
This is a preposterous hatchet piece that makes some bold and wildly unsubstantiated claims.
Windows 7 won’t run on a netbook?
Windows 7 will require new hardware?
It’s obvious you’ve never even touched a netbook loaded with a copy of Windows 7. Not only is Window 7′s battery management superior than XP, anyone can sit down right now and benchmark a system to prove that 7 is a more robust than XP for the netbook.
Why my very own MSI Wind runs Windows 7 build 7068 (and 7057, and 7000) like a dream, even when the Atom is SpeedStepped down to a mere 800MHz. Good luck trying that one on Vista. I should also note that at its full speed of 1600MHz, paired to 2GB of DDR2-533, it achieves an WEI score equal to that of an Athlon XP 3200+ also with 2GB of memory. Both systems run Windows 7… Not just “capably,” but *well*. Notice the difference?
I’m sorry, but even if you somehow manage to ignore the fact that Linux netbook returns are astronomical as compared to Win32 netbook returns, Windows XP’s exit from the market will give room for 7, not Linux.
I get it. You like Linux. Let’s stick to facts, and not outrageous hyperbole.
Vadim P. on Fri, 3rd Apr 2009 3:05 pm
Well, Microsoft and Windows fanboys are trying to wipe Vista from the memory and skip from XP to 7, assuming a total failure did not happen in between.
A rational person would realize that the failure was bound to happen from the upcoming wave (hello, conflicker virus? A April Fools joke that terrified millions? Shouldn’t the maker of such a crappy OS be… not rewarded?) and more will happen.
So, yeah, I already jumped the ship – now finding myself more productive, less frustrated, and seeing many other people do that too. They just need to actually know about the alternatives.
Wolfie2k9 on Sat, 4th Apr 2009 2:25 am
And then you woke up and smelled the bacon, eggs and coffee…
1.) Windows 98 and 98SE were NOT failures. People loved it. No, it wasn’t perfect by any means. But it wasn’t nearly as epic a failure as you would like people to believe.
2.) Windows ME wasn’t nearly as bad as the FUD machine would have you believe. I know people who ran it for YEARS until they were forced to upgrade to XP because the software they were running no longer supported ME.
3.) Seeing how you likely haven’t even looked at Windows 7, you really should have at least checked it out in depth before going on such an obvious FUD fest. Seriously. It’s like you can’t describe the taste of something if you’ve never tasted it. Calling something a failure before it’s released is premature at best. Those who have been using Windows 7 actually, LIKE it! A LOT! Why is this? Mainly because the beta of Windows 7 fixes a lot of what ailed Vista – even after SP1. It’s lighter on it’s feet, more nimble, and a better all around OS than previous incarnations of Windows.
4.) So what this boils down to is yet another proclamation of the Year that Linux Rules the Desktop… Again. Uh… Right. Linux has been around for how long now? 15 – 17 years… And I can recall hearing the same stuff – how Linux is going to rule – for at least a dozen years. And somehow it has yet to happen. Why is this? In fact, if the statistics on web use are to be believed, Linux seems to be LOSING market share. In fact, the only one gaining last year was OS X.
5.) You mention price increases. Actually, those prices have gone down. Vista Ultimate which originally retailed for $399 is now down to about $275. We don’t know as yet how much Microsoft plans on charging for Windows 7 – so speculation on that is just that. All the crystal ball gazing won’t get you very far.
6.) Windows 7 will run just fine on existing hardware. In fact, I’m typing this by way of Windows 7 on a 3 year old box consisting of an AMD Athlon 64 3400+, 1 GB of RAM and an 80 GB HDD. In fact, it’s faster than Vista which is also installed on another drive. So it can be said that any system made in the past 4-5 years will likely work well with 7 – as long as you meet the basic requirements. 1 GHz CPU, 1 GB RAM, and 15 GB free space for the install.
7.) Your comparison of Windows to Fedora is inaccurate… Map application? WHAT mapping application? There isn’t any mapping application similar to Google Earth. But there are far more goodies in Windows 7 than the paltry few changes you mention. Try researching it a bit deeper next time. And your rendition of Fedora’s features is kind of embarrassing. So Fedora finally supports fingerprint readers? Wow… Now that’s a reason to go run for the download page. NOT! I’ll wager there are more interesting features in Fedora 11 than the ones you mentioned.
Or maybe not. If that’s the best you’ve got, good luck gaining new converts. I doubt most average users would give a fig about better C++ support. Nor do they care about file systems. Nor boot time. They care about having apps that don’t suck and can get the job done. They care about playing their games when they get home. They don’t want to sit down and have to recompile the OS bits in order to get something done.
Better still… Go back to sleep.
techandlife on Sat, 4th Apr 2009 6:12 am
I don’t think you’re correct in stating ‘…I don’t think much should be expected from Windows 7′. By all accounts so far, Windows 7 is going to be a pretty good OS. Yes there were many problems initially with Vista but they were essentially ironed out by the SP1 release. However, I think many businesses have been sitting with XP and waiting to bypass Vista. There’re mainly going to go to Windows 7, not Linux.
It’s true Linux is making ground. I for one am moving from XP to Ubuntu. But I still believe that Linux is not quite right for Joe Public. There is quite a learning curve with Linux and for that reason, most folk will switch to Windows 7 from XP and Vista because it’s an easier progression.
I do come across quite a lot of Windows bashing posts from Linux users and I just don’t think that’s the way to approach things. There’s no point bashing Windows if the Linux product isn’t suitable for the masses yet. Get Linux easy to use and intuitive, and the product should attract its market share in time. Bashing Windows really fulfills no purpose whatsoever.
Bill Cecil on Mon, 6th Apr 2009 12:48 pm
I have Windows XP installed on my PC, and I also have Ubuntu installed. I got fed up with microsoft and decided to make the plunge and installed Ubuntu only. Although I like Linux and the idea of free software, In my opinion the general public isn’t ready for it. My printer and scanner never did work in Linux, and some of it was hard to deal with in the set up process, being a novice. I do like the presentation that Ubuntu has, but still I couldn’t afford to go out and buy new hardware. I think some day Linux will catch up with Microsoft in ease of installation and hardware that just works when you plug it in, but I haven’t given up on either OS yet. I use windows because I do need to print things from time to time, but I use Ubuntu so I can make the total switch when I learn what I need to get it right. I’m an old man with limited funds and can’t afford to pay two or three hundred bucks every year or two for a ten cent CD. I know a lot of work (A LOT OF WORK) goes into these upgrades in research and development. I also know that these people that make it all happen worked very hard to obtain the knowledge to write the code for it all to work, but there is a little bit of greed involved there too. ( Bill Gates is one of the richest, if not the richest man in the world )
I totally agree about not beating up on Windows though. That never helped anyone with anything, and I like Windows a lot.
Syam on Sun, 12th Apr 2009 4:51 am
I am not going to test Windows 7 or any later versions.
Also, I can not switch to Linux too… because I am already using Linux for more than a decade. By doing so, I saved millions so far.
You will have to learn certain things and afterwards, you will start seeing the returns. With no efforts, don’t expect any returns.
EchoBravo on Sun, 12th Apr 2009 2:51 pm
I discovered Linux last century around 1998. It was like finding a secluded beach but now I am afraid too many people will discover Linux and it will be trashed just like if people discovered my secluded beach…with that being said, a few observations…1) i believe the author was referring to the ARM processors for net and notebooks…windows hasn’t been ported to run on these new processors…2)there is a Linux version of Google earth available…3) don’t blame Linux for your hardware issues…blame your hardware manufacture for NOT providing the drivers….I brought an HP all in One printer, scanner etc that works well with Linux as well as an HP Pavillion laptop that I have Mandriva 2009 installed as a dual boot with Vista…..everything worked out of the box including the webcam and wireless network….so keep on trucking Linux
Nonsense on Fri, 1st May 2009 9:58 am
3) don’t blame Linux for your hardware issues…blame your hardware manufacture for NOT providing the drivers
hardware manufacturers will write drivers for an OS if they think its worth their trouble.
Linksys and D-Link used to be Windows-only hardware. Now you can see Mac drivers for their stuff.
Most printers used to be Windows-only. Now you see OS X driver binaries for many printers.
Linux has no one but itself to blame for so many of its broken ideals like open source and anti binary blob. No manufacturer will be crazy enough to release their source code unless they are in grave danger of financial ruin or other compelling reasons.
Syam on Fri, 1st May 2009 11:20 pm
QUOTE: “Linux has no one but itself to blame for so many of its broken ideals like open source and anti binary blob. No manufacturer will be crazy enough to release their source code unless they are in grave danger of financial ruin or other compelling reasons.”
First of all Linux is not compelling any hardware manufacturers to release the source code. If source code is available, the drivers will be available as part of the Linux distributions. If not, generally the distributions provide links to manufacturers web site for download. If the manufacturers do not have any resource (or they don’t want) to write drivers, Linux guys will write the drivers if enough details of the hardware are made public.
Quite a few manufacturers are already doing this anyway. Think about HP, nVidia, Intel etc. – Are they small companies? Why do they write Linux drivers in addition to Windows and OS X drivers? Why is that Epson publishing details of their printers/scanners to the public? A decade ago, no hardware manufacturer used to provide drivers for Linux. Linux guys had to reverse-engineer everything. Now, the scenario has changed. I have around 2000+ machines running Linux and now, I know which manufacturers I should not touch.
I am not against anything. But, if you want to save money in your business, try Linux. It may not be that easy, but, in the long run, you will definitely save money. Why do you think that companies like Google, Amazon etc. chose Linux to build their infrastructure?
In 85% of the cases, personal users just do only these: browse the net, email, little word processing, little spreadsheet work. If you belong to this category, think about switching to Linux. The only trouble will be to get it installed on your machine and you never have to get any further help. No viruses! And, you save too!