you're right HB. I'm not gonna argue the fact that windows is geared for the masses. I run it (various versions), and have supported it in the field for over 3 years. My biggest gripes with it are 1) the pelethera of security holes that are exploited daily, 2) the registry and how programs are installed and how that relates to system stability, and 3) the cost.
First, just about every day there's an article in the paper about some new security hole (or on the news or carious electronic media like the internet). Patches for patches and nearly daily updates. I don't want to sound like I'm tooting a horn, but my X systems need a security updated about once a month. i don't run antivirus (cause there are so few unix based viruses) and have not had any trouble with a virus on either X based system.
Second, a clean install of windows is very stable and fast. But once you start putting drivers for this and that on it, along with a bunch of software, the registry gets loaded. The other thing about the registry and a clean install, try running a reg cleaner on a new install. It's pretty normal to have between 100 and 200 "errors" in the registry on a clean install. Empty keys, keys with useless data, missing keys. Doesn't matter much which util you use (Norton, Ontrack, and others). Then install your suite of software and the problem ecomes worse. I wack my win machines about 2 to 3 times a year because they get so slow booting, and start to act goofy. Now, look at X and Linux. On X programs are pretty much self contained with no registry. Sure, there are "library" directories that contain support files, but to uninstall a program, drag the prog folder to the trash. Tada, it's uninstalled.
Now, to the hidden costs. One copy (for one machine) of XP is about 130 for the OEM + a piece of hardware, or about 300 for a retail copy. Most linux distros are around 100 or are free. X is 130 for a retail copy and the 10 license pack is 180. X server is about 500 for the 10 CAL version, 1000 for the unlimited CAL version. Win 2K server is 1500 for the 10 CAL. Now lets look at hosting a website. The host I use offers a number of packages on either a win 2K system or a linux system (same disk space and bandwidth options, different OS's). I pay about 14/month for my linux package, the same package on a 2K box is 24/month. Why would I want to pay 120/year for the same thing? It's the licensing, not the host. I don't believe that my host is getting that 120/year, no, it's going to Redmond.
I'm done. And like I said before, you're right about what you said, but windows has it's problems and MS (IMO) is yanking our chains when they tell us it's better, more stable and they're fixing the problems. Patches are not solutions.
