If Operating Systems Were Houses

By Randy Jensen | Aug 21, 2007

What if Unix, Windows, Linux and OSX were houses?

unixHome2 If Operating Systems Were Houses UNIX is the old Victorian Mansion that was the first of it’s kind and set the standard for all things to come.

It is still considered one of the most solid and stable houses ever built since it was build by compliant construction practices.

It’s incredibly solid foundation allows it to be expanded upon and added to. This foundation has led to many other houses being built the same way and with the same compliance and care.

windowsHome2 If Operating Systems Were Houses Windows is the government housing.

The houses are built quickly, cheaply and go up anywhere and everywhere.

Unfortunately since they were all built so cheaply, you end up spending twice as much later to keep the place standing.

The foundation is shaky at best and anytime you hang a picture, you worry about knocking the entire house down.

You constantly have to call the exterminator to keep the bugs out and everytime you remove a piece of furniture, there are always parts of it left behind.

appleHome2 If Operating Systems Were Houses OSX is the modern day mansion.

It’s built from the ground up using the same sturdy foundation as the Victorian Mansion.

When you look inside, every room is the exact same and is in pristine condition. The floors are so clean there is a mirror reflection of every item in the house and the lights are positioned perfectly to make everything look just perfect…just the way the owner wanted it, so don’t touch!

Once the builders were finished with the house, the owner had the front door locked, the doorknob removed and put bars on the windows so no one could get in to touch or move anything because that’s not the way he intended. If you don’t like it? Go screw yourself because he doesn’t care what you think.

Government housing owners start looking at other options and stumble on the mansion. They are awed by it’s beauty and blindly follow. Once they get their house, they realize it’s designed for handicapped people. They can’t get in the house because the owner doesn’t trust anyone using his design because he already designed everything just the way he wanted it and can’t imagine how anyone could possibly think it should have been done differently.

…but of course, it’s for your own good……you retard.

linuxHouse2 If Operating Systems Were Houses GNU/Linux is the carpenter/designer’s dream house.

The foundation is rock solid and is inspected every year by thousands of the best carpenters all over the world.

The house is everything you want, if you know what you’re doing. It’s all there for you. The doors, windows, walls and roof. You ‘get’ to assemble it yourself any way you like.

Once it’s finished, you rarely have to repair anything and will never have to tear it down and start from scratch. It’s designed in a way that allows it to be built upon until it’s turned into a skyscraper or left as is.

Everyone on the block is envious and wants to know how you bought such a beautiful house so cheaply. After you explain to them that you built it yourself, they leave in disgust and never talk to you again because you’re one of “them”.


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  • easybutton
    Big lawl to those trying to justify their $2000 Macs that now have an offical botnet written for them and are easily cracked as I'm sure you've heard already. Anyways, I like my rickety government shack and my Carpenters "dream" house, or in this case, mobile home. I've also been thinking about trying solaris. Is it any good?
  • lol^^ the last sentence is so true! they all say, wow, how did you get this great desktop effects and when i answer them they look at you like youre the most weird person
  • meme
    This is like Politics. Who gives a shit what OS does what, if you get your shit done in a day, then good for you! I use Windows and Linux, one does one thing, the other does another. Stop with the childish whiny crap already. I hate politics too.
  • Sam
    Wow! That is a really good combination with different OS's. I would want to be in a Modern Mansion, oh wait I am! Good job.
  • Yomama
    "Windows is the government housing.

    The houses are built quickly, cheaply and go up anywhere and everywhere."
    CHEAPLY? Have you priced Windows lately?

    "I still think Windows and Linux are far more customizable than anything you can do on the Mac."

    randyjensen has no idea what he's talking about.
  • Anonymous
    Your blog is bad and you should feel bad.
    Thumbs down this.
  • Awesome contribution anonymous. You will clearly be doing great things in your life. You better go though, I think I hear your mom calling.
  • This is hilarious.

    Amiga House?
    Xbox 360 House?
    PS3 House?
    Wii house?


    I think your description of the osx house is more iphone than osx.


    Like other posters said, please say GNU/Linux as GNU is the Glue. Like remade rafters copied from the unix house.
  • G Parkin
    Seems more like the kernel's the glue to me.
  • Alright man, I want to see those houses!

    While the iPhone is definitely more crippled than OSX, I still think Windows and Linux are far more customizable than anything you can do on the Mac. I will add that I don't use the Mac primarily, but I do use it often enough to understand it's limitations.

    I've added GNU to the description in an attempt to fend of the angry hoards of GNU followers.
  • t0rment
    UNIX is not an operating system, and Linux is a kernel!
  • Alright man, no need to have a seizure. I don't want you to start convulsing all over the place.

    The post is not meant to be a whitepaper on Operating Systems. I have added GNU to the front of Linux to appease the Linus Gods
  • Bob
    The OSX item is completely outdated. While the "sealed for your protection" meme was true for MacOS 9 and earlier it no longer applies, and has not for over 8 years. The openness of OSX falls somewhere between Win* and Linux. More open than Win* less than Linux.
  • While I agree that OSX has made great advances, it is still far from as customizable as Windows or Linux. I'm also not saying that's always a bad thing. For most average users, not being able to do anything with your OS is probably a good thing.
  • konaya
    Haha, well done! Seriously though, things aren't so bad for us GNU/Linux users over here. I'm a student at the Swedish Royal Institute of Technology, and the software used in class is provided for Windows and GNU/Linux users alike. Typically, about one third of the laptops in class run GNU/Linux. The "cool" gang usually sit in the back of the class room, fiddling with their Gentoo installations. I have currently set my sights on migrating my dads business to GNU/Linux. So I don't think the future will be so grim :)
  • Haha, well done.
  • Joe
    I don't see why everyone always trashes Vista. I have had it for almost a year and I have had no problems or viruses. It's not like every page I go to gives me 22,000 viruses. None at all, in fact.
  • Tess
    Penis. Hows that for an immature comment?
  • Wait a sec. I have a gaming computer that runs all my first person shooters and crap JUST FINE. If you don't know anything about Linux, don't post comments on it. Rly ppl. AND I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ALL THE DAMN VIRUSES THAT WINDOWS GETS!!!
  • timmay
    You forgot:
    In the Linux mansion, youcan only work.
    You cannot have any FUN!
  • Quake
    Of course, you feel much better when you look across the street and see the OSX house, which cost 1.8 million dollars, and is identical to every other OSX house, which is the only way to tell it apart from the $200K Windows house.
  • Dwindle
    The real problem with the Linux house is that the bathroom has a two foot long bathtub and the refrigerator is stuck at 68 degrees below zero. Also, it's 95 degrees outside, and you can't install AC on this particular flavor, unless you buy different hardware, which unfortunately doesn't have stairs.

    When you mention this in a forum, someone shouts "Well if all you wanted from a house was to take a bath, you should have bought the Windows house". Several others will tell you how to install a better bathtub, none of which will actually work. Eventually, you realize your Linux house is just a customizable version of the Win98 house, explaining once and for all why your neighbors paid for the Windows house rather than take the Linux house for free.
  • Wow people, get over it. It's a funny article. I use Linux, and I've used Vista also. Vista isn't that bad, and in fact, I like it. I've not used a mac except for once for about 20 minutes.
  • NexX
    About OSX, incorrect.. By far. OSX is by far not as expensive as Vista, and it is MUCH more open (the OS) than Vista.

    I use both though
  • Stumbler
    Woo, way to go! Copypasta blog posts FTW!
  • convertible user
    This is a really funny blog. I have 10 machines in my house, and 2 in my pool house. The 10 machines in my house all have WinXP & Ubuntu installed for your booting pleasure. The 2 in the pool house are macs.

    Windows is almost NEVER booted. It's just not needed or liked very much. I do have one machine that I boot to windows once in a blue moon for video editing and processing. Not because it can't be done on Linux or Mac OS, but because I purchased really nice software for the task in Windows and I've comfortable using it. Mac would be great for the video stuff but I don't have the software, time or desire to use it. In fact the Macs are now basically just paper weights. Linux video tools do exist but have a LONG way to go.

    Barring video processing, windows never sees the light of day around here. Linux is simple, stable, flexible, and free...
  • Wheres the FreeBSD house? :)
  • Windows: I love it! It is my bread and butter. If it were not for Windows any version I would not have the business I do now. People have been brain washed to think that Works and also Microsoft Office are the only productivity suites and so they think about only Windows. Also, they think Internet Explorer is the ONLY way to get on the internet. The later being the number one reason they get infected! Then I go out and reconfigure and disinfect their government housing to be as well built as mine. Thank You Mr. Gates. Windows is for business. IE, Businesses that fix Windows. :)

    Linux: I love it too. At distrowatch.com you can see 430+ prefab designs for it. I prefer the Sabayon prefab due to it being a spawn of Gentoo and based on the portage packaging tree. Ubuntu and Kubuntu are awesome as well and if you are not a kernel nut or an optimization freak such as myself they are good choice and are in the top supported for the last 2 years running. The three I mention here come with rather large yards with swimming pools and playing equipment for the kiddos. Also the prefabs come with a full furniture compliment and fully stocked kitchens, fridges, deep freezers, pantries and lavatories. You don't have to get more stuff they are as loaded if not more than OS X. However, you can use CrossOver Office from codeweavers.com to quickly expand the yard and add a business class carpool. Also, you can add transgaming.com to expand all of your recreation equipment offerings and to install all the latest arcade games in your VIP room. And for all of your friends that come over, all you have to do is rename all the open office icons and Firefox icons that you place on the desktop to MS names, and replace them MS icons. Your friends won't even know they are on Linux. They'll sit down and hit the big blue E and not even realize they are on Firefox and when they write a document, they'll hit the big blue W and won't realize they are in open office. They won't even care where it saves too. And that is because they don't care where it saves to on Windows either.

    But I don't love Linux. It is too stable. It is an install it and forget it operating system. As long as you don't mess with the kernel all is swell. That is not even a clincher because windows users don't mess with their kernels either. You surf the net with Linux and no infection. Gar. You can run true internet explorer via crossover office and still you have the Linux protection. gar! You are highly productive in your open office, you have your ms macros, you can save and read any office suite doc. Your collaboration partners don't even realize you don't have windows or anything bill gates authorized. and you don't get infected! Gar! People with Linux only call you for hardware problems and usually not then at all. Because when hardware is a problem on Linux it is because the hardware is 10 years old and is to be thrown out anyways, they buy a fresh piece of hardware, update their kernel to latest and the new hardware is detected faster and easier than windows will. and they didn't have to call you. you don't make any money.

    For that I don't like Linux!

    But I love Linux too.

    So I run a neighborhood. I have both a Linux and Windows House. I own the entire street and so I can only live in one at a time. Because of my customers I have to be Windows ready at all times and so I spend most of my time in the Windows house surfing the net and getting infected. Constantly testing the cleaning and configuration utilities, being on top of the game.

    I still check on the Linux house and enjoy the pool quite often.

    As for the OS X, I hate it as much as the Linux reason and get this, unofficially many of you didn't realize that OS X had been running on the free BSD core. So it is Unix. But in the free way and therefore it is more like Linux. I love the blur that has been going on there. If you don't believe me goto (applications||utilities)/terminal and enjoy! You can totally reconfigure your mac at that level. You will also gain a better respect for their Gui at that point. The mac Gui and should think of it like kde or gnome is really a brilliant creation. But they don't get infected either. oh well!

    The primary reason people have been buying macs are because of their exterior designs. I just read that Dell will be showing off some new shell designs for their cases this year. So expect more pc's to get that curvy look too.

    I don't know anything about BE, but I heard a long time ago that it was a rip off of Amiga OS. Another I hate you OS that doesn't get infected!

    However, no matter what OS you choose, keep in mind that it is just a housing for your internet applications and office suites of choice. That said all the Os's come in on par in that regard and with intelligent hardening are equally secure. Some requiring less money than others because of their prehardened states.

    I'm a computer nerd plain and simple. A gaming/video junkie above all. I still own Commodore 64 with 1541 disk drive and original monitor. I power it up about once a year to show it off. I plan to acquire an Amiga 3000 to do same thing with as well. Eventually I will build a computer museum that people can use and reminisce over in the east Texas area.

    Have fun and love your windows! (It'll make you money!)
  • Karl
    I own the Windows, Mac and the Linux houses, but I'm not certain about what the Unix house is, Wikipedia will take charge of my lack of knowledge in 1 second.
  • someone who doesnt have their
    How the hell do you get windows to crash so much? My pc crashes from me losing in a video game and the subsequent beating my pc receives. On xp, i've: Never got a BSOD, never "crashed" because of anything other that beating the sh*t of it, never got a virus I couldn't get rid of, never gotten spyware I couldn't get rid of (before the beatings), & I never had my system hacked. It appears that with some basic knowledge from trial and error, Windows xp is fairly stable. Above all of that, I have the unique ability through windows task manager to make programs respond faster by setting their priority. So I don't see why everyone is bitching about windows sucking, unless its earlier versions you're using.
  • Alex
    I wish there would be a new OS, one that combines the best qualities of those four.
  • i dont care how bad my government house looks, or how walls sometimes fall over for no reason...all i care about is how the government fixes their crappily-built house for free, and that my government house has all the furnishings of the mansion, and the carpenters house...all available from the mail service called LIMEWIRE lol
  • John Smith
    OSwars started all over? Did it spread from usenet? or what? I've lived in lot of different houses. They all have their place in time..
  • Michael
    My job is a to go to people's houses and workplaces to solve their computer issues. This is how I see it:

    1. Windows is the most popular operating system there is for what ever reason you can come up with. It doesn't really matter why. Most peoples gripes and problems are caused by their lack of understanding of software and hardware issues. Viruses/spy ware/exploits are rife on windows because it is the most popular OS - simple. Most people "self harm" and then blame Microsoft because their porn site was infected or their illegally downloaded music wasn't quite what they didn't pay for. If Mac's suddenly grabbed 90% of the computer market share and everyone started doing what they do to their widows machines on Mac's - they would fall over too. Maybe the user has to take some responsibility?

    2. Windows boxes are so popular and common there are like a billion differently manufacturers of components
    - especially RAM - and too many times do I see good quality CPU's on cheap boards with rubbish memory and god knows what else trying to work - still its always Microsoft's fault.

    As far as Mac's and Linux go, well I have had very little experience with these (mainly do to the fact that they aren't as widely used) I feel like a retard every time I get on a Mac and can't right click. I guess most Linux users are able to fix their own problems and don't require assistance.

    OMG - I almost forgot - My number one gripe - people who install every piece of software they can get there hands on and then wonder why there computer has slowed down. (and you guessed it - Microsoft's fault!)
  • jack
    and i agree some people are getting wayyy to into like hu cares get a life i just said wat i said before because linux is wayyyyy faster then windows so there.
  • jack
    For those who ignorantly think Linux can’t run Windows programs…

    WINE (http://www.winehq.com)
    uhh wine doesent work sorry and i wish that linux could run windows programs otherwise i wouldent have windows and i would be living the sweet life.
  • indiauplko
    My Question is:
    It is easy for anyone new to Comp's, to join in the LinX/Ubun2 fiesta. But can a hardcore win's user, who probably has been using wind's for eternity, think of moving to a new environment???

    even if its better than windows in many aspects. What about ppl who dont know shell etc. Who have used command.com/cmd who know how to dir and not ls.

    I know u dont need coding to work through your everyday routines. But whats the use of moving to LinX if you can do the usual stuff without much pain in your existing Op.Sy. I cant see a point here !!!

    The question is that is this blog about :
    a) deciding which Op.Sy. is best
    b) LinX rules
    c) My Op.Sy. is best
    d) who cares....
  • i
    "Macs are wonderful with graphic creation, but how many people in the world are really going to sit around all day and draw like a five year old?"

    hmm im not sure that i draw like a 5 year old :/ but i do know that ever since i got my mac i havent had any problems :/ exept one update where i didnt read the instructions. :[ but i took it up to the apple sore and the genius bar helped me in like 10 minutes my computer was fixed.

    i love all of my "i" stuff it is annoying having it all start with "i" but its all really good looking. thats something noone else has really focused on. the hardware for me how it looks on the outside is just as important as whats on the inside.

    im extremely glad to be rid of my windows pc. it crashed all the time. and my windows defender/norton/etc. all that crap just slowwed down my computer and it never rid it of everything.

    i dont need to customize my mac. like all of you are saying. its beautiful. perfect, pristine. why would i need to change it?

    its nice i <3 my mac. :D just thought there needed to be a mac friendly opinion :D
  • One more thing. I have to disagree with all of the code writing in Linux. Yes if you know code you can make linux do what ever you want it to do.

    Point is you do not have to know code to use linux the way you would use windows. It is not hard to click Applications -> Add/Remove Programs and check boxes for software that you would like to have installed, that is for Gnome desktop by the way.

    Here is the issue that I see, people are afraid. There are bugs in all OSs.

    The other things that gets people is the Gnome/KDE/XFCE desktops. They just want one that will work. Nothing more. No one ever told Window users of 3.1 that they were using Progman as a GUI nor did they tell you that Explorer was the GUI for what is currently Windows.

    I remember in Windows 95 setting the GUI to be Progman and making Windows 95 look like Windows 3.1. You see the Linux people have just broken things down and it gives people a choice where people do not want to choose. People have been conditioned to not choose and just listen to what the Government and Corporations say.

    It is very hard to open someone eyes to freedom because they believe that they should be restricted. chaos is what they call it, and unorganized. Linux as a whole looks really chaotic when you look at the system as a whole. Break it down, and then again and you will see, the same in windows that it is all little parts that function together, you just get to pick and choose a great deal more with Linux than you do with Windows.

    So sit back and pop in a Live CD of Ubuntu(gnome desktop) or Kubuntu(KDE desktop) or Xubuntu(XFCE Desktop) and test them all out, just rember they are running from a CD, so it will be slower in some places. What did the test drive cost you, nothing but your time. What does a test drive of Windows Vista cost you? Well you don't get to test drive it.
  • I read about half the comments and I just couldn't take much more. I have to say that Microsoft Windows is in fact Section8 housing.

    You have to remember when Windows 3.1 was flying off the shelf at $150 a copy, that OS/2 Warp and other IBM OSs were over $1000. Now if you want to drive a beat down car, or if that is what you could afford, you bought Windows. If you loved the Royals Royce then you bought OS/2 Warp. OS/2 Warp was more true multitasking OS than Windows 3.1.

    So lets take a look at thinks now. Linux Free and worked on by Millions. Solaris, is now Free and Supported by Sun for a fee of about $800 for 12x5 support. Microsoft NOT free, it is developed for Microsoft not for the greater good of the people. Microsoft also feels that it doesn't have to support W3C standards or the ISO standards globally.

    The way that I see it. If I want to work on a solid foundation, that has proven itself before Microsoft decided to sell the world on a cheap OS, then I have to go with a *nix system. As of right now, *nix are the most stable in my opinion of all OSs. Just because you have a 90% market share does not mean that you are the best, it means that you have 90% of the market share.

    There are those that say well I don't have Quicken on Linux. You are right. Quicken was written for Windows OS just like all of the other software out there because of the market share, not because it is a better product. Do you not think for an instant that Quicken and all of the other software vendors out there would not switch code practices if they thought that they would loose their market share?

    Also as far as any comments go about Linux users or *nix users being cheap or anything else. I have called Microsoft support just to be told that I would be charged $250 per case. This is after I bought the software that I only have a right to USE! It is anger and frustration of everything that Microsoft does that makes people hate Microsoft.

    If you are just an end user you may never understand. Look at it this way. When your EoL or End of Life runs out on Windows XP and you have to buy a new OS that causes you to buy new hardware just to run the OS that you had to upgrade to, you tell me who just got shafted.
  • Traveosa
    YAH RIGHT!!! People who use linux, need to learn a lot of computer language. People who use mac need to get used to ctrl click. and ppl on windows have it easy. Atleast for XP. >.<
  • indiauplko
    No law suits will be entertained ....
    :P
  • indiauplko
    I see mixed babbling about who likes what and which house is the best to live in.
    Nice comments (which I agree to) on >NO< Op.Sy. is perfect, one can suit your home/gamming requirements, another can humor your programming/tweaking itches,and so on...

    But keeping our egos out of this, Cant we talk sense.

    1) Windows: been there for so long, piracy (market strategy) "at least thats what I think" no hard feelings. Used by so many, people can think alternatives. How many of the users above have used windows for 10+ years and then moved to LinX etc.
    I cant see any raised hands !!!!!!
    Besides, I can solve any problem that any one has mentioned above. I know that the issues mentioned above are just lame excuses.I owned a Win98 IntelP3 500MHz machine which did not crash in 2yrs, still use a XPSP2 with core2. It is pretty stable, It serves its purpose. What more !!!

    2)LinUX: programmers Op.Sy. , plz dont defend , i know you agree. If you dont, you are probably trying to kill a roach with an atom bomb. It is a programming Op.Sy.
    It is mostly whatever one can want, only IF YOU KNOW HOW TO DO IT. Otherwise, either go back to whichever OS you owned, or get ready to fight it out. It takes time for it to stabalize and you to get the feel. GUI, wizards blah blah... You can do anything , code your way through anything. It is stable. I work on LinX/Unix/HP-UX/SUN servers. Love RHL. I would'nt replace this AT WORK with anything (not even Win).

    3) MAC: dont know anything about it. cant comment. leave this to u pros out there.

    As a final note. Op.Sy. is a complex system of software. If you talk about the User-Friendly keyword, I would say that it is for those who use the computer for entertainment purpose ONLY. If you are using your comp you should know your Op.Sy. Or you will find problems with any flavour.

    Try to think of Op.Sy. as a swiss army knife, if you dont know what all stuff u have in the package, then you are probably using it as a bottle opener. Try to know it better, finally whatever suits your requirement is the one you should use.

    Mac/UX/LX/Win choose your pick, try to stick with it till you know what you are dealing with.

    -Pandey.
  • Chirag
    Here are my comments for OS.

    well to start with OS war, there is no point to compare linux to windows, i don't know why open source fans tries to prove that Linux is better then windows.... or some other crap....

    infact, windows is obviously good OS, as far as novice user is concern windows is the right solution, no one is interested to configure drives to just watch movie.. and lots of other things, in fact not everyone using OS are computer programmers or experts so that they can do this stuff......

    but when point comes to money, many people will look toward linux, yap that's true for me too and there is nothing wrong in that, if you don't want to pay for your OS open source (linux) is the solution for you,,.....

    but when you get something without paying money, there is no guarantee. non tested softwares with poor software design , developed just for fun or learning purpose....

    no doubt linux kernal is one of the best kernal ever developed(at least for me) but the programs we are running on linux are not developed by linux developers they are product from some free, intelligent, and big hearted programmers gift to us. so it may not work properly but there is no point to blame its developer for that if you are smart enough modify it and make it work, again the reason is same, (non-tested and poor software design)...

    so the moral of the story is if you have money and you want some good quality software, go to windows.....

    but if you dont have much money to spend, go to linux. search net, learn download, modify and contibute to open source.....

    i apply same formula, when i work in my corporate office,my company provides me windows, but when i go home i use linux and other good open source s/w. i also try to contribute to open source as much as i can...
  • thrasher
    i like the ideas of all the people that say that each OS is meant for a certain group. i mean come on people its just fun and games, just a good laugh. ha ha u know that u thing u do when something is funny. and on the hand of opinion, personly i like windows. i like windows because its easy for games, if i did video i would probably have a mac, and if i had a server i would use linux for sure. GROW UP PEOPLE ITS JUST A JOKE.
  • Casey
    It's very interesting to read the comments that talk of all the coding that has to be done in Linux. I think most of these people have never really used Linux because, now days, you don't need to code, and compile it you don't need to. I switched to Ubuntu Linux after using Vista and not liking how much memory and processing power it used to do noting. I have been using Ubuntu for almost six months and Have never had to deal with memory leaks, virus', slow programs, high memory and processor usage and I have never had to do any coding or even looking for hardware patches to get everything to work. I'm not an anti-Microsoft of anti-Apple person, Infact, I LOVE MS Office 2007, and I plan on buying a Zune next month.

    Don't dis Linux until you have tried it, because in my experience, Linux is more stable than Windows is, and , for my at least, it just works!

    Note: I do dislike one thing about Linux. ALSA Is to picky.
  • LSU!!
    I dunno about all that but I do know that LSU is going to beat the shit out of Ohio in the BCS.

    GEAUX TIGERS!!
  • The Gain Card,
    I'm about 99.9% sure I could connect to a WPA2-protected WAP using my Intel Pro Wireless 3945 and Ubuntu.

    UNIX has a GUI. In the 80s, CDE was common. Now...you can use GNOME, KDE, etc. on it.


    Vlad,
    Data recovery with ext2 was easy because the memory address was not erased when the file pointer was release (ie. file was "deleted"). With ext3, it's harder because some people like a little thing called "security," so they prefer that it not be too easy for whomever ends up with their old used hard drive to be able to read their email, browse their porn collection, and get copies of just about every piece of personal information they put on their computer. The data's still not zero'd out, so it can be recovered if you scan the disk for something that looks like the start of whatever file-type you want, but it's not easy for novice hackers.
  • streetlight,
    Last I heard, a Windows box online for 8 minutes without protection and without user interaction will be infected with something. That's not enough time to get your AV, anti-spyware, etc. software downloaded. You have to put it together, turn it on with the internet unplugged, then install that stuff from a flash drive. Hopefully they can all update within those 8 minutes.
  • thats the stupidest thing ive ever heard... linux is not that good.. infact is sucks. your example of gov't housing is retarded... and your example of osx is stupid too. this is a biased writing, linux is not as stable as u say it is, ive seen it crash. ive dealt with it... u ever try recovering data? omg. ur the one thats blind...
  • tim
    I'm so tired of the OS argument. Forget other OSes, and think about your potential with a computer. The question should not be "What's the best OS?", but rather, "Can I effectively do what I want to do with a computer on this OS?". If "yes", then stop worrying and move on. If not, change to the OS that allows you to do that.
  • Thinboy00
    Have you tried "roaming mode" in Ubuntu?
  • Windows: Requires so much damn maintenance it is ridiculous; it is so easy to get your PC sick. That is inexcusable. Fuck Windows.

    OS X: slow; like Molasses slow. Even with 8 cores and 4GB RAM on my MacPro i still get the thinky-ball. THAT IS BULLSHIT. Jobs, i will have your guts for garters!
    FUCK YOU OS X.

    teh Limux: yeah lets see ANY friendly distro get on to my WPA2 wireless network. None of them do. NOT ONE. I even tried Wolvix AND mint. Yeah. Linux = *fart noise*
    FUCK YOU LIMUX.

    UNIX: riiiiiiiight. I guess i am stupid to require a nice, well designed, well thought-out GUI.
    FUCK YOU UNIX.

    BeOS: oh Be is good. But good for what? um, that spinning teapot is cool, right?
    FUCK Y-- nah. Be don't deserve that. It's as useless as tits on a bull, but at least it is responsive, don't get sick and has a mildly well designed GUI.

    guess i have to go play outside.
  • streetlight
    Yea..i just stumbled upon this and found it pretty amusing. These are my views on different operating systems. I am a Windows user and probably will be forever no matter what the next OS is like. I've used a few different Linux distros and I like it and think it's cool and all but I just couldn't really figure out how to do anything in it. Im sure if i used it for a while I'd get used to it but I just didn't want to learn something new that usually isn't used in the mainstream world.

    As for Mac OS X. It's not that I don't like Mac, it's just I don't think I could ever use it. I've been using Windows ever since Windows 3.1 when I was only 4 years old. To me, I just can't seem to find any programs that I use on windows that are also used on Mac. I dont see any exclusive programs. I mean the core programs are there, like Office and Photoshop. Most people on any computer use FireFox, so that's the same. Everyone uses iTunes and thats also on Windows. I cant find any good program that is OS X exclusive.

    As for Windows, say what you want about how it's unsecure and stuff, there are only a few ways that you tend to get viruses and malware. That is by going to "sketchy" sites on the internet such as porn. If you aren't doing that then there really is no way to get viruses unless you download a lot of stuff illegally.
    Also, I've found that all the programs I use are on Windows so I have no reason to switch.

    As for which is the best, you can't really compare them because they are all different. I like windows the best but Im not saying that it is the best.
  • jeremiah johnson
    hey mikrosift fagbois, i switched to linux 2 years ago and i ain't coming back. neener, neener. i am no longer part of bill ballmurs windows fag hag harem.
  • Xbehave
    AI we do keep the key under the dormat but unlike mac we also tell you, and give you the option to replace the doormat with a trap or remove the key. Windows thinks its clever by hiding the key behind the plant pot, but any good bugler knows to check there too.

    A good extension of the house analogy is to think about the plans:
    Linux-if you ask for them the plans for the house, meaning that you can do what you want
    Mac-If you ask you can get some sketches and the basic plan but it doesn't quite addup and while
    Windows-Not only do they not give you the plans, but if you an inspector catches you telling your neighbor how to build an extension your instantly evicted.

    replaying to previous posts
    Ive been using ubuntu for about a year an a half know and have no idea how to code but have tweaked my setup that i feal slowed down on other machines. Im also an a laptop was pretty slow under windows (till itunes bricked the windows install). Before switching to ubuntu id used windows for years. While for me everything worked in windows (with no need reinstall, and i didnt even do much maintenance just did everyday things), after switching to linux ive found that thinks can be so much better. For me this means complete customisation of the interface,
    110% security (even tho i never had any problems under windows, I dont need any common sense to not get infected by a virus and Ive tunneled down the access on my laptop that if its stolen its bricked without my password).
    Personal control over updates, Uf i want to start running alpha software its just a click away. But the idea that you Have to update is completely rubbish, ive installed ubuntu on a friends system and it would automatically update itself without having to restart (a Ununtu system doesn't bother with kernel updates).
    Being able to learn and try what i want without risking my system. Even when i was a complete noob i never managed to completely brick my system and even now when im getting adventurous, thanks to improvements in X ive not managed to crash it once!



    The only problem with linux is that the yard is small so you cant play too many games, on the otherhand they did give you the plans so you extend your yard to play most games!
  • Al
    Very good comparison. I just started working with Linux recently. My first task was to bypass the root password that someone had lost. Linux houses apparently keep a key under the doormat.

    I'm going to make it a point to learn more about Linux, since pretty much no one I work with knows anything about it.
  • Koro
    I used to run windows, and it did a good job of doing what I needed it to do. But as my computer got older, I had to reformat more frequently.
    first, about twice a year (acceptable), the three or four (a small nuisance), then once a month (a large pain), then even down to almost once a week.

    I said "you know what, if I'm gonna be reinstalling my OS twice a month anyway, I might as well try ubuntu. worse come to worse, i screw it up myself, and have to reinstall over and over again"

    I did it, and, admittedly, I did end up screwing it up several times and having to reinstall, but that was fine. once I got everything up and running at par, it was like my old computer was young again, and I haven't reinstalled since.

    Hooray for Gutsy!!
  • Steve Kinney
    Well this certainly is a nice polite religious flame war! Kudos to all for not stooping lower than necessary.

    Another proposed analogy:

    Mac is an exclusive high-priced time share condo. There are strict limits to what you can do when you are there, and it is very obvious that you do not really own the place. But it can be convenient to lease one out, if you need to do business in the neighborhood where it is located.

    Windows is a huge trailer park set up by FEMA, but it has the best recreation center in town. It's a high crime neighborhood, everywhere you look there's garish advertising for useless crap, and the prices for everything are so high that stealing is taken for granted as a way of life, but... "What can you do?"

    Linux is a big rambling prefab house that you can put up almost anywhere for free. Granted, you might have to read the instructions, but at least it's faster and easier than setting up one of those FEMA trailers. You can get modular expansions to convert it into anything from an amphibious RV to a block of warehouses - but most will be quite happy just redecorating the basic prefab and installing a workshop of two, using the convenient free accessories catalog (package manager).

    UNIX? A clean, efficient, well policed industrial park. Nothing to see here folks, move along...

    Anyone who believes that Linux is hard to use probably hasn't taken Ubuntu or Mandriva for a proper test drive.
  • SeniorTech
    By the time a purchaser of a computer has cleared out the nagware, paid off the necessary protection racket partners,
    installed and is running all the programs to protect from the million Microsoft virus/bots/Worms/Trojans/ Registry hacks/and
    exploits, he IS a programmer!

    SimplyMepis or Vixta.org or PCLinuxOS are simple downloads, burned to CDrom, and rebooted to open up the world of FREE stuff, from Adobe and other vendors, and up to 132,000 programs, games, apps., that are on the free servers.

    I have 6 year old students who install Linux, and who hate Microsoft for it's difficulty, sudden shut downs, difficulty of use, and all the malware!
  • rottendeath
    Touche technically, you make a good point.
    However when in the real world, businesses don't care about user familiarity vs user friendliness, just what will get the job done, and Windows is definitely the most familiar.

    When it comes to the argument between Windows and Linux though, i have a hard time taking sides, because while i love to use Linux, sometimes i just don't want to spend three weeks figuring out how to get my wireless card to operate correctly.
  • technically
    Technically, rottendeath, Windows is only "user friendly" because it is the most common and is what most people know.

    Have you ever compared the Windows Start menu with, say, Ubuntu's menu system? Whenever I go back to Windows, I find it bothersome to have to hunt down the applications I need.

    If I need a text editor, on Ubuntu, all of the editors I have are nicely listed under the Office tab.

    On Windows, it depends. MS Word is stored under Microsoft Office. Works is floating around in the list somewhere, apparently at random, Notepad and Text Pad are under the Applications folder, AbiWord is under its own folder and OpenOffice is under its own folder.

    Which is more user-friendly: going to a single tab to get all of your office-based products, or hunting around in 4-6 places?

    The same with games. In Windows, all of my games are stored under separate groups within the Start menu. On Ubuntu, I just go to the Games group.

    Yes, you can organize stuff on Windows to be under specific folders, but that takes additional time. With Linux, it is generally done for you at the time of the install.

    Windows is not truly user-friendly; it only appears to be so because it is what people know the most.


    And, if you /really/ want to get into user-friendly vs. familiarity, I can start talking about the Vi editor. And really, Vi is a perfect example to what Linux is, compared to Windows.

    Vi has a learning cliff (not a curve). It takes some effort to learn and get used to, but once you have, going back to any other editor feels like you are crawling under a rock.

    Linux is the same way. It takes a bit of time adjusting yourself, but once you get become as familiar with Linux as you are with Windows, your whole take on "user-friendly" changes. Linux is, in the vast majority of cases, far more user-friendly than Windows is, people are just more familiar with Windows.
  • rottendeath
    Another thought:

    Windows is the most user friendly OS on the market, which makes it wonderful for about 90% of the people.

    Linux is awesome once you get bored with windows, and you want to play with some much more interesting things.

    Macs are wonderful with graphic creation, but how many people in the world are really going to sit around all day and draw like a five year old?
  • rottendeath
    Mac house is actually more like this:

    You walk up to a beautiful house, and you admire how wonderful it looks, and how well the landscaping is done. Then you decide to enter the house to see if the awesome continues inside, only to find that there is no door. So you either break a window and hop in, or phase through the wall, to find, exactly like was mentioned in the article, that every room is exactly the same, and you cant change it. If you do try to change it, your house will probably just disappear, or fall apart completely, and honestly, how useful is a house when all ten of its rooms are kitchens, bathrooms, or bedrooms?
  • Kilroy
    Windows is good for most people as most people don't want to tweak and code. Thats fine. I on the other hand have an have an uncontrollable urge to tweak and tinker as much as i can. I switched from windows years ago once i ran out of stuff to tweak, i even toyed in a bit of the coding in windows programs. Windows is almost a game in and of itself seeing it is a _constant_ effort to keep viruses/spyware/malware off your system. I got tired of that game and switched to Linux. Ive had many friends attempt to get me to program their systems with Linux, and the few i did made me their 24/7 free tech line and on-site tech for maybe a six pack. That got old real quick. As much as i want to help my friends break the cycle of constantly fighting viruses and annual reprogramming, im not willing to let that take up my free time. They don't want to learn how to get around in a new house, like figure out how the stairs work or how to flush the toilet or find a couch that fits into the living room, then they can stay with windows. Change takes effort, if your not willing to exert any then you don't really want to change.
    Sorry for the babbling :-D
    Linux is user-friendly, it is just picky who its friends are.
  • Gobbo
    For those who ignorantly think Linux can't run Windows programs...

    WINE (http://www.winehq.com)
  • Mike Fifus
    PS: Analogies are fun
    PSS: I enjoy my LAN parties
    Final Note: I use a windows, and I'm perfectly happy with it's capabilities.
  • Mike Fifus
    Oh, also, Windows and Linux are good computers because you can upgrade them with others help. Plus, if you know where to look, a lot of the furniture and games are free ^^. It's just most games are made for windows AC outlets, where as Linux needs you to find some converters in the basement, or borrow some from your neighbor before you get to play.
  • Mike Fifus
    Well, this is how I see the OS's.
    Mac is the rented house you cannot change. I say rented because after Mac, you should at least try to step up, please? You can only add furniture, but you're not allowed to change it's color, it's feel, or anything about it. It's a basic house you want to start with to get the feel for living. Sure, you can maybe add a small sliver of color, or fill the fridge with your favorite foods, but you can;t change anything really big in it at all.

    Next step is a Windows home. You live in it, and you own everything inside. It's a little unstable, and you might have to clean it up and repair a few things if you aren't careful with it, NO JUMPING UP AND DOWN ON THE ROOF LEROY! But you can get this house for free, and it's one of the most fun houses to play in with the littlest amount of dedicated time to build.

    The Linux? You built it, and you're proud. It is your final home, it is the house you will live and die in because it will never need maintenance, and if you enjoy doing all the little tweaks, it can become the best house in the entire world, but you have to know HOW TO WORK IT. You can take instructions from others, and take a window from here, a door from there, but it will take you time to get it up to the grade you'd expect from a windows then exceed it. IT can become the best, but you're going to be the one putting man hours into it.
  • William Foster
    try as hard as I have I still have not got a printer driver for my HP2600n color laser to work on Linux
  • hendoc
    I FOUGHT Windows for years. Viruses, Spyware, Adware, drifting Registry. Linux is there for me. I'm not scrambling for money to pay for my Antivirus, etc every 6 months. And I really am a Carpenter, so the analogy is sweet.
  • Barry Morris
    None, you are obviously a young boy that has issues. We are here poking fun at other operating systems.
    This is a light hearted blog written by adults, you have no place here. You have tried to take the topic to a place only an ignorant little child would go. Please go back to your games and leave the analogies to people that have something worth saying.
  • none
    Hey, it me, the real none. the one that commented earlier. I just wanted to add that if i leave my mother's basement long enough to catch some sunlight, provided it is daytime because i dont have a job, i only go buy copies of windows for 300 dollars, plus i only use closed source software and blind myself to even considering what another os would be like. when im done lotioning up my naked grandmother, i put the sperm guard on my keyboard and get to it. Afterwards, i usually drink a gallon of milk, eat a block of cheddar cheese, then smoke a pack of cigarettes. I then flaunt my superiority wherever possible. bitches.
  • NJAZ
    Windows has been covering it all, for me, for the last ten years. From high-end music production, photography, video production and gaming to my own web design business. I mean it covers it all. You really have to be somewhat ignorant to have the kind of problems people often site as their rational to diss Windows based machines. OSX is fine but I do not see any real-world advantage to spending the extra money to run it on exclusive, proprietary and overpriced hardware. If Jobs would allow me to use OSX I would boot into it every now and again ... but why? Linux is really a great concept but you do get caught up in a cycle of upgrading and pushing the envelope and believing the hype that it has an actual advantage beyond an ethical and philosophical stance on software patents and the evil there-in. Like previous comments before - find what works for you and be productive or have a good time, don't cloud your mind with delusions of what's on the other side of the fence.

    Peace.
  • zombie kid
    i like turtles
  • wayne su
    Well folks,interesting. I use Windows, Linux and OSX.As I use a cad program that only is for windows.Yes one must do maintenance, still the bugs collect and the crashes occur, thats ok its good system nevertheless. My problem is the money thing, it never ends with windows. OSX I use for high level art programs not really a windows thing unless you consider 3D work,thats another ballgame.My OSX has been faultless for 3 years now, you sort of get what you pay for.Linux also has been faultless considering just the kernel but Linux is just a lot of fun and ones fun is free.As for games use play stations.Linux has come into its own and one does not need to learn how to write code.So ones choices come down to software and money.Windows big problem is they are a huge target for a mass of hackers.Each system has its merits, for complex problems its windows, for art OSX,for FREE systems, Linux.As I have been using computers for almost 30 years, again its always been about choices of available software and money.
  • I run Linux and I can play all the same games that Windows users play and I don't have to code anything. I find it hilarious how quickly the Windows fanboys come out of the woodwork to defend that terrible OS. Oh well. I'm happy with what I have. It's superior to anything else and that's all that matters. =)
  • Ncik
    Well, I guess the software on the OS is important, but it still isn't what I consider the most important thing. The OS is by far the most used of your programs, and it allows all the other ones to work. When it crashes, they all crash. It's like saying the sun isn't important because we can't do anything to it. If the OS wasn't important, wouldn't everyone use Linux because it is free?
  • Sauon Lord of Mordor
    KC is correct here people.
    It is humorous and not meant to be so analyzed.
    Just laugh and don't ruin it for others Sauron Says So!
  • dasclown
    Well put KC! Thats exactly what I think

    Its no the OS its how you use it!
  • Dan
    The comparison to houses just isn't correct. All operating systems are just foundations and the house portion of it (the place you live in) is the software and the accessories.
  • KC
    Why do people post such immature comments? This is humorous and follows along with how things really are. In the Linux portion it does say "The house is everything you want, if you know what you’re doing."

    Windows is great for the majority of people, nothing wrong with that at all. Linux is great for others. I don't get the whole mac thing, so I wont say anything about that. :P

    The rest of you, grow up.
  • cyks
    Windows is like a basement where a bunch of guys meet for a LAN party... Somewhere above there is said to be a house, but the party is underground...
  • lotyrin
    AND I DIDN’T HAVE TO WRITE ALL THE CODE FOR IT, BECAUSE I DON’T HAVE TIME FOR THAT CRAP.

    Uh, I haven't had to code shit.

    And if you spend so much time in the game room, that you don't care if your house sucks, maybe you should get a life?
  • none
    My government house has a pool in the backyard and a sweet game room. I don't worry about stability because routine maintenance takes care of everything AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO WRITE ALL THE CODE FOR IT, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THAT CRAP. Linux people always want to brag about how awesome their os is, because they spend all their time learning computer language and writing it. When I'm on my computer, I'm not worried about trying to write my own drivers for hardware that everyone else can use or finding some secret patch online to use a piece of software. Nor do I have to have I-Everything like a Mac owner. I just let the updates take care of everything, I use Firefox, and I play all the sweet games you losers are missing out on while you're coding and jerking off to your home movies (linux and mac respectively).
    Peace, bitch.
  • Hal15900
    BeOS house. With a new foundation, designed with the past experience that the centuries of house construction has provided, these solid single family homes are nice but not extravagant. The construction is expandable in a mansion if the owner desires. They were built by a private company as affordable housing. You cannot find them any more because they were bulldozed by contract to make room for a Windows housing development.
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