What are the benefits of the three main OS's?

[Flying_Phoenix]

I'm going to get a laptop soon for simple stuff like taking notes at school and using the internet.

I've only used Windows so far (which I don't really enjoy) and interested in learning what OS X and Linux does better then Windows and vice versa.

So can someone please tell me the benefits and negatives to the 3 OS's?

 

[Vox-Pop]

Get a mac and never look back.

 

[Oozer3993]

Windows is ubiquitous and has programs out the wazoo for everything.

OS X is pretty and secure.

Linux gives you a feeling of superiority over the other 2. And there's a penguin.

 

[Flying_Phoenix]

So Linux just feel superior?

 

[8bit]

Windows - Compatibility.

OS X - Smugness.

Linux - Beards.

 

[Flying_Phoenix]

Windows - Compatibility.

OS X - Smugness.

Linux - Beards.

What?

Also I'd prefer to hear from people who have used at least 2 of these OS's (not calling out the ones who have gave me replies already).

 

[Hitokage]

Any answer for "Windows" other than "Games" is incorrect.

Linux if you're a computer geek and don't mind getting your hands dirty.

Mac if you're tired of that and want a unix backend without the hassle.

 

[Phoenix]

Any answer for "Windows" other than "Games" is incorrect.

Linux if you're a computer geek and don't mind getting your hands dirty.

Mac if you're tired of that and want a unix backend without the hassle.

That's pretty much right on IMO.

 

[SnakeXs]

Any answer for "Windows" other than "Games" is incorrect.

Linux if you're a computer geek and don't mind getting your hands dirty.

Mac if you're tired of that and want a unix backend without the hassle.

Pretty much done.

I forgot who said it, but the saying goes "Linux is only free if your time has no value".

 

[Tobor]

Any answer for "Windows" other than "Games" is incorrect.

Linux if you're a computer geek and don't mind getting your hands dirty.

Mac if you're tired of that and want a unix backend without the hassle.

Bingo.

 

[Flying_Phoenix]

Okay I'm sorry but I'm just ridiculously confused because I get opinions from everywhere.

I have people telling me that Macs run the most efficiently while Linux is mostly for really getting up performance while Windows is crap.

I have others telling me that there is no difference between Windows and Macs other then Macs just looking prettier and have better security but only due to virus's rarely being crafted for the OS and that OSX has zero benefits from Windows while Linux is the same as Windows but it's only more coding for your just.

I have others who say Linux is God.

Not to sound like a bitch but can someone who has used all 3 please sort this mess out for me. I'm confused .


Basically I just want to use my laptop for taking notes in school, writing papers, and going online. However I want the OS to run as efficiently as possible with as little as glitches and hiccups as possible. What would be the OS for me?

Also "run Unix as backend" for Mac?

 

[layzie1989]

Netbook running windows. If you're only going to be taking notes and browsing the internet you really don't need anything that big/expensive

 

[LCfiner]

OS X has a lot of nice shit built in. like a built in dictionary and spell checker. so you can be in any app, look up a definition for a word and use your dictionary (with your own added spellings) for error checking.

It uses a system called Expose for quickly viewing all open windows and it's quite useful if you got a lot of files open at once.

quick look is great for viewing videos, pics, pdfs, etc without opening up a program. just hit the space bar, look at it, then hit space to hide it.

pdf support is built into the OS. you don't need to install reader and any window that was gonna be printed can be turned into a pdf instantly

spotlight is still awesome for searching your files and can also do quick calculator operations. vista has search that is pretty much identical to this.

there's a level of consistency and polish to the UI for the built in apps and 3rd party apps which is great for UI geeks. although apple has a habit of breaking this with a new app release (itunes 7 or safari 4).

installing apps is generally just dragging one app bundle from a disc image to the apps folder. uninstall: drag it to the trash.

and, personally, i prefer the way OS X handles each window as a document and not as an app. I have to use windows at work all day and i get super frustrated with apps like reader or word where all the documents are within one window. it's a pain in the ass to move and compare them over multiple monitors.

and, of course, virtually no viruses or concerns for spyware BS. hassle free

edit: you just made a thread about potentially switching to Mac but price was an issue, right? if all you want to do is take notes and check email, get a cheap-ish laptop that runs win xp.

the cheapest Mac laptop is still 1000 bucks. that's not chump change (it's still a good machine, tho)

 

[somnific]

Basically I just want to use my laptop for taking notes in school, writing papers, and going online. However I want the OS to run as efficiently as possible with as little as glitches and hiccups as possible. What would be the OS for me?

strictly OS-wise for what it looks like you're gonna use it for, i'd say go mac.

 

[Tobor]

I was going to type a whole bunch of reasons why OSX is the way you should go, but I knew LCfiner would be right behind me with a better response anyway.

Just get a Mac. You absolutely won't regret it.

 

[LCfiner]

Also "run Unix as backend" for Mac?

OS X is a pretty graphical front end for a UNIX OS.

it's not something you "do". it just is.

all it means is that it's stable and secure out of the box. that's all

 

[Vlad]

From my own experience:

My current workplace was, for some reason or another, almost entirely Macs as of two years ago, and if they're working fine, they're ok to use.

However, if they break, they're a royal pain in the ass to fix, and the problem is that they tend to break a LOT. I've had to deal with countless hardware failures in everything from wireless cards to cd drives and regular lockups of the whole operating system.

Meanwhile, the few people who are running Windows-based PCs are doing fine.

 

[LCfiner]

I was going to type a whole bunch of reasons why OSX is the way you should go, but I knew LCfiner would be right behind me with a better response anyway.

Just get a Mac. You absolutely won't regret it.

I'm always here, man

 

[Branduil]

Each OS has benefits and drawbacks. I think the best thing you can do is find a way to use each one and see which one will work the best for you.

 

[Rayo]

Can't speak from experience but Windows may be a superior choice for you based solely on file formats and default settings being more universal.

 

[Flying_Phoenix]

So what are the benefits of Macs? I mean what do they do that seperates them from PC's?

Because people either say they are great or just useless crap that doesn't differ from PC's used for marketing?

 

[Tobor]

I'm always here, man

Likewise.

 

[layzie1989]

Is money an issue here? really

 

[Tobor]

So what are the benefits of Macs? I mean what do they do that seperates them from PC's?

Because people either say they are great or just useless crap that doesn't differ from PC's used for marketing?

Did you read that nice post LC wrote for you?

 

[Flying_Phoenix]

Did you read that nice post LC wrote for you?

Yeah but all he said is that it has nice stuff built into it. I'm an animator and have all the professional animation, movie editing, and music creation software I need. Why get Garage Band when I have Reason and Albelton Live?

 

[LCfiner]

So what are the benefits of Macs? I mean what do they do that seperates them from PC's?

Because people either say they are great or just useless crap that doesn't differ from PC's used for marketing?

dude, go to apple.com and check out the videos for shit that you can do with their OS. also, read my post for a quick sampling of features you would use every day.

if nothing there interests you then get a cheaper windows machine.

what else can we say?

edit: and if you need specific software to run, triple check that shit before getting anything.

it sounds like Linux might already be out for you, based on that.

your OP didn't mention anything about animation software. hence all our generic responses. figure out your shit and then you'll get more informed answers. or you'll figure it out yourself

 

[polyh3dron]

Mac OS X's benefit is that it is awesome.

Windows (insert version here)'s benefit is that you get to spend so much time micro-managing your OS that it is almost like a bundled game that comes with the OS. ADDED VALUE FTW amirite guyz?

 

[Flying_Phoenix]

dude, go to apple.com and check out the videos for shit that you can do with their OS. also, read my post for a quick sampling of features you would use every day.

if nothing there interests you then get a cheaper windows machine.

what else can we say?

edit: and if you need specific software to run, triple check that shit before getting anything.

it sounds like Linux might already be out for you, based on that.

your OP didn't mention anything about animation software. hence all our generic responses. figure out your shit and then you'll get more informed answers. or you'll figure it out yourself

Okay I don't know if I sound hostile but this post to me seems uncalled for.

I never said that I'm using the laptop for animation I just said I have all the animation software on my PC I need. I already stated in a previous post as of why I want a laptop so I don't understand how I haven't "figure out my shit".

All I was asking was the difference in the 3 OS's and their benefits.

I can understand how my post could be touchy but that is what people usually say.

 

[mrkgoo]

So what are the benefits of Macs? I mean what do they do that seperates them from PC's?

Because people either say they are great or just useless crap that doesn't differ from PC's used for marketing?

There is one defining feature of Mac OS X that neither Linux or Windows can claim:

The manufacturer of the OS is the same company as the manufacturer of the hardware.

Why is this important? Well, just streamlined support throughout the experience. They were designed for each other. Drivers? Pffft. The software knows exactly what hardware it's going on. The hardware knows what software is going to be put on.

This may seem like something trivial, but in fact it's a huge advantage.

Of course this is mostly for the bundled apps on a Mac, but for general use, it is nearly all you need. But even so, the sheer fact that the hardware is fixed makes it easy for thirdparty software to make sure it's compatible.

Of course, nothing's perfect and there ARE issues out there, but generally, things work as advertised - and when they don't your problem is nearly always shared with someone else.

That's a huge plus in my opinion.

 

[MorisUkunRasik]

Netbook running windows. If you're only going to be taking notes and browsing the internet you really don't need anything that big/expensive

this, no use spending more than 400 bucks if its strictly for web browsing and note taking.

 

[mrkgoo]

Okay I don't know if I sound hostile but this post to me seems uncalled for.

I never said that I'm using the laptop for animation I just said I have all the animation software on my PC I need. I already stated in a previous post as of why I want a laptop so I don't understand how I haven't "figure out my shit".

All I was asking was the difference in the 3 OS's and their benefits.

You didn't sound hostile, and neither did LCFiner. His last post, I didn't really read as hostile.

This post however, sounds hostile. LCFiner basically gave you a very well put list of advantages, and it seems like you didn't even read it.

 

[LCfiner]

Okay I don't know if I sound hostile but this post to me seems uncalled for.

I never said that I'm using the laptop for animation I just said I have all the animation software on my PC I need. I already stated in a previous post as of why I want a laptop so I don't understand how I haven't "figure out my shit".

All I was asking was the difference in the 3 OS's and their benefits.

I can understand how my post could be touchy but that is what people usually say.

I wasn't upset at your comment about OS X.

it was that you asked what the differences were, we gave you a bunch of them, and then you asked again "what are the differences" and referenced your animation programs, as tough we should have put some responses in that context.

it was just flat out confusing. which is why i posted what i did.

and now i'm bailing out of the thread. do some research on your own and you'll get a much better idea of what you want instead of waiting for impressions from gaffers.

 

[somnific]

Yeah but all he said is that it has nice stuff built into it. I'm an animator and have all the professional animation, movie editing, and music creation software I need. Why get Garage Band when I have Reason and Albelton Live?

what does creation software have to do with OS's? on my my macs i'd rather use reason and ableton rather than garage band any day.

i've found that os x has a lot of build in tools that are conducive to a constant work flow. spaces, expose, spotlight, window handling are all very righteous tools for maintaining a smooth working environment, especially when juggling multiple windows and multiple applications.

won't be spending a lot of time managing the os- much less time spent overall on maintenance, more time for working on stuff.

love using all 3, but os x's workspace really shines for me.

 

[ltse1]

I wasn't upset at your comment about OS X.

it was that you asked what the differences were, we gave you a bunch of them, and then you asked again "what are the differences" and referenced your animation programs, as tough we should have put some responses in that context.

it was just flat out confusing. which is why i posted what i did.

and now i'm bailing out of the thread. do some research on your own and you'll get a much better idea of what you want instead of waiting for impressions from gaffers.

This. Although forums are a great way to get information, most of the footwork is up to you if you want accurate info.

 

[ten5ive9ine]

Okay I don't know if I sound hostile but this post to me seems uncalled for.

It's not that you're hostile, it's that you've asked a question, been provided an answer and you're still going "derrrrrrrrr, but why is OS X good?"

 

[Tobor]

Here's one of my favorite examples, and then I have to get some sleep. Whenever I pay a bill I print the receipt as a PDF in my web receipt folder. OSX has tons of awesome little built in features like that I use constantly. It's just fun and easy to use and helps me be more productive, which should be the point of any good OS.

 

[Flying_Phoenix]

So from this thread this is what I got:

Windows is a PS2 as it has the most programs (games) for it so I don't have to worry about compatibility (games not reaching it in multiplatform releases). However it has the worst crafted OS (has the DRE incident though I doubt Windows is THAT bad)

Mac is a Gamecube. It doesn't get alot of multiplats (program compatibilities) and when it does they aren't as good as they can be. Though the benefit is that when the games (programs) released by Apple (Nintendo) or by third parties specified for the OS (console) they run better then anything on the other OS's (consoles). You get programs like Safari (Tales of Symphonia) that runs fast and efficient (great graphics and solid 60 fps) or Quicktime (Rogue Squadron 2) that does everything fantastic (tons of NPC's, amazing graphics, great framerate, etc.). Yes you can run a different said program (game) better on Windows (PS2, let's just pretend it was more powerful for now) but you can't get a program (game) that runs as well on Windows (PS2) as the programs (games) I listed for Mac.

Linux is a Pandora. It's main draw in is that it can run programs (games) very efficiently due to coding and mods (emulation). However it is far harder to work with then other OS's (consoles).

Does this sound accurate?

It's not that you're hostile, it's that you've asked a question, been provided an answer and you're still going "derrrrrrrrr, but why is OS X good?"

That wasn't what I was saying I was asking why people say those things and why opinions on the OS are so differ?

 

[polyh3dron]

It's not that you're hostile, it's that you've asked a question, been provided an answer and you're still going "derrrrrrrrr, but why is OS X good?"

:lol :lol :lol :lol

So true.

 

[mrkgoo]

So from this thread this is what I got:

Windows is a PS2 as it has the most programs (games) for it so I don't have to worry about compatibility (games not reaching it in multiplatform releases). However it has the worst crafted OS (has the DRE incident though I doubt Windows is THAT bad)

Mac is a Gamecube. It doesn't get alot of multiplats (program compatibilities) and when it does they aren't as good as they can be. Though the benefit is that when the games (programs) released by Apple (Nintendo) or by third parties specified for the OS (console) they run better then anything on the other OS's (consoles). You get programs like Safari (Tales of Symphonia) that runs fast and efficient (great graphics and solid 60 fps) or Quicktime (Rogue Squadron 2) that does everything fantastic (tons of NPC's, amazing graphics, great framerate, etc.). Yes you can run a different said program (game) better on Windows (PS2, let's just pretend it was more powerful for now) but you can't get a program (game) that runs as well on Windows (PS2) as the programs (games) I listed for Mac.

Linux is a Pandora. It's main draw in is that it can run programs (games) very efficiently due to coding and mods (emulation). However it is far harder to work with then other OS's (consoles).

Does this sound accurate?



That wasn't what I was saying I was asking why people say those things and why opinions on the OS are so differ?

Wat.

 

[Flying_Phoenix]

:lol :lol :lol :lol

So true.

...Not really...

 

[Tobor]

So from this thread this is what I got:

embarrassing analogy

Does this sound accurate?

Ok, now I'm hostile. :lol facepalm.gif

 

[Flying_Phoenix]

NVM

 

[LCfiner]

ok, so I popped back in he-

hoooooly shit. is THAT what you got from this thread?


HOW DOES YOUR BRAIN WORK?

 

[somnific]

So from this thread this is what I got:

Windows is a PS2 as it has the most programs (games) for it so I don't have to worry about compatibility (games not reaching it in multiplatform releases). However it has the worst crafted OS (has the DRE incident though I doubt Windows is THAT bad)

Mac is a Gamecube. It doesn't get alot of multiplats (program compatibilities) and when it does they aren't as good as they can be. Though the benefit is that when the games (programs) released by Apple (Nintendo) or by third parties specified for the OS (console) they run better then anything on the other OS's (consoles). You get programs like Safari (Tales of Symphonia) that runs fast and efficient (great graphics and solid 60 fps) or Quicktime (Rogue Squadron 2) that does everything fantastic (tons of NPC's, amazing graphics, great framerate, etc.). Yes you can run said program (game) better on Windows (PS2, let's just pretend it was more powerful for now) but you can't get a program (game) that runs as well on Windows (PS2) as the programs (games) I listed for Mac.

Linux is a Pandora. It's main draw in is that it can run programs (games) very efficiently due to coding and mods (emulation). However it is far harder to work with then other OS's (consoles).

Does this sound accurate?

it kind of doesn't make sense. in the middle of the gamecube quote it seems like it reverses the game/program thing.

third party software rocks on os x. adobe shit? fucking amazing. reason, ableton, awesome.

you just don't get the variety of third party stuff that is available for windows, with games being the more noticeable one. but this isn't for gaming, right?

man, i tried reading that post again and just got confused.

 

[Brofist]

...I was just trying to be witty *cries in corner*

.

...Not really...

 

[ten5ive9ine]

...I was just trying to be witty *cries in corner*

Don't buy a new computer. Don't use the internet. Don't post dumb questions on GAF.

 

[Tobor]

...I was just trying to be witty *cries in corner*

That was the equivalent of walking into a crowded room and letting off a noxious loud wet fart. Check your pants and don't do it again.

 

[Flying_Phoenix]

it kind of doesn't make sense. in the middle of the gamecube quote it seems like it reverses the game/program thing.

third party software rocks on os x. adobe shit? fucking amazing. reason, ableton, awesome.

you just don't get the variety of third party stuff that is available for windows, with games being the more noticeable one. but this isn't for gaming, right?

man, i tried reading that post again and just got confused.

Alright it was poorly written (it is 2am here) but yeah I heard that a fair share of third party software doesn't work that good on Mac.

Ok, now I'm hostile. facepalm.gif

...I was just trying to be witty *cries in corner*

But yeah from what I got from this thread. OSX offers nice little bells and whistles as well as a more efficient software (to some) then Windows as things customized for Macs work really well , while Linux is just as efficient and has awesome capabilities but is too complicated for your average computer user. And Windows may not be as efficient but definitely gets the job done and is compaitble with nearly everything.

So I think I should get a Mac because of the nice bells and whistles and the efficient software.

Ok, now I'm hostile. facepalm.gif

...I was just trying to be witty *cries in corner*

But yeah from what I got from this thread. OSX offers nice little bells and whistles as well as a more efficient software then Windows as things customized for Macs work really well , while Linux is just as efficient and has awesome capabilities but is too complicated for your average computer user. And Windows may not be as efficient but definitely gets the job done and is compaitble with nearly everything.

So I think I should get a Mac because of the nice bells and whistles and the efficent software.

That was the equivalent of walking into a crowded room and letting off a noxious loud wet fart. Check your pants and don't do it again.

I'm sorry Tobor.

 

[mrkgoo]

That was the equivalent of walking into a crowded room and letting off a noxious loud wet fart. Check your pants and don't do it again.

Now THAT's a good analogy.

 

[Tobor]

Alright it was poorly written (it is 2am here) but yeah I heard that a fair share of third party software doesn't work that good on Mac.

...I was just trying to be witty *cries in corner*

But yeah from what I got from this thread. OSX offers nice little bells and whistles as well as a more efficient software then Windows as things customized for Macs work really well , while Linux is just as efficient and has awesome capabilities but is too complicated for your average computer user. And Windows may not be as efficient but definitely gets the job done and is compaitble with nearly everything.

So I think I should get a Mac because of the nice bells and whistles and the efficent software.



I'm sorry Tobor.

No worries, I was mostly joking...mostly. You came to the right conclusion at least. As far as 3rd party software goes, other than games, there is nothing you will need that you can't find a good Mac equivalent for. In my experience, anyway.