Okay it is no secret that Linux has not been able to crack the desktop, either at the home or at the workplace. Not to ignored either is that Windows lost some desktops last year (a little over 3%),but let’s not panic just yet, Windows still owns over 88% of all the desktops according to leading research.
Many people might be surprised to learn that I come from a background of Windows, Linux, UNIX and even MAC. In fact, my first IT experience was in a Novell/SCO UNIX environment. Now there are some fundamental issues to why Windows 7 will trump Linux distros like Ubuntu, Fedora and Debian.
THEREFORE, to get those out of the way let’s just spell them out. Windows 7 installs easier, has simpler configuration of user settings, greater availability of software, support (you could argue that all support is awful, which is probably true) Windows support is easier to get when you need help. Gaming, MP3’s,… I could go on and on.
But these have been the same arguments from the beginning, to be fair to Linux the GUI used to be seriously lacking but it has improved. None of these issues had crushed the penguin before so what is different about Windows 7. Let’s look at three areas:
POWERSHELL
The biggest complaint I have ever heard from die hard Linux users is the GUI, which explains why Linux taken so long to catch up in this area. To real Linux die hards… terminals rule. Microsoft has realized that the serious Administrator understands the usefulness of using command line input to accomplish tasks. Windows Powershell has introduced cmdlets to improve administration of Windows. Powershell also makes it easier to string together multiple administrative without the need to jump from management GUI to management GUI.
So Powershell presents an interesting argument for Windows adoption by the Linux user. You can go command line crazy if you like and still play all your favorite PC games. Powershell remoting will allow Administrators to create one to one or one to many sessions for running scripts on other machines.
Open Source Software has caught on in Windows
In case you missed it, see my article 20 great Windows open source projects you should get to know . That list was a short list of the thousands of Open source apps available for Windows systems. Microsoft itself has made steps into the OSS arena embracing what was inevitable. Some people want free software (even if support is limited or non-existent). The argument for ages was Linux was free and so was many of the applications you could run on Linux. Applications like Firefox, Open Office, MYSQL, GIMP… wait all these applications are now available for Windows. Moreover, they are easier to install in Windows then they are in Linux. Linux users will argue that Linux is still free and you pay for Windows, as I said earlier that cost gets you support and does away with the conundrum of which flavor of OS do I like. There are literal dozens of Linux distros to choose from, I like to leave the 101 flavors to Baskin Robbins.
FEATURES, FEATURES, FEATURES…
Windows 7 has solved a long-standing thorn in Microsoft’s side, How to deliver a feature rich OS without killing resources?
Windows 7 has made improvements to the Aero feature, installs as a VHD (making it truly portable) and has moved beyond the need for mouse and keyboard. The touch screen as well as the speech and handwriting recognition improvements makes it hard to ignore Windows 7. DirectAcess, Bitlocker to Go, Applocker and the new easier to use UAC ( yes I am not letting up on this one) makes Windows 7 secure but yet easy to administrate.
The list of features goes on, and the speed of Windows 7 without the resource drain…rocks!
It looks like all the arguments (except being mad at Bill for being Rich) have been answered. Linux users have no reason to hold back anymore. Windows 7 is well placed to crush and put an end to the penguin.
Next step… It’s time to put the Macintosh’s back where they belong, inside my apple pie!
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Ron Barrett, Director of e-Strategy for ClipTraining , is an independent trainer, author and consultant. He has been a technology professional for over 12 years, working for several major financial services firms and dotcoms. Ron is a specialist in network infrastructure, security, and IT management. He is the author of Office Communications Server 2007 R2: How-To , as well as co-author of Windows Server 2008: How-To and The Administrator’s Guide to Microsoft Office 2007 Servers. Ron has been a co-author or technical editor for several other books on Windows administration. Along with book writing, Ron has contributed to several industry magazines such as Redmond, Datamation and Windows IT Pro. Beyond writing, Ron has spoken at several technology conferences for CPAmerica, AICPA and MCP’s TECHMENTOR. Recently Ron has joined ClipTraining as the Director of e-Strategy in an effort to further the company’s presence via the Internet and social networking channels.
Ron's latest book, Windows Server 2008 How-To has been selected as the September 2009 book giveaway on Microsoft Subnet. To enter the monthly book giveaway, visit the Microsoft Subnet home page.
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Kill who?
Why is Windows 7 a Linux killer and not a Mac killer? According to Netapplications Linux is still striving for 1% desktop penetration while Apple has jumped 200%. What is so dangerous about Linux that Microsoft needs to "kill" it? You seem to be saying that now that Windows 7 is so much better than Vista it can take on Linux. What the hell does that say about Vista? And all those Open Source apps that you say are "now" on Windows have always been on Windows. I'm really looking forward to reading all these "Windows 7 the Linux Killer" articles in two years. History's a bitch.
Kill or not to kill that's the OS question....
I can't think of a developer or vendor designing applications to kill another vendor or application. Each wants’ to excel on their products, introducing the best GUI and/or command line functionality to the application.
If this happen to 'kill', sorry. When Linus Torvalds was working on LINUX, he was not aiming at UNIX, Windows or Mac's, however, his penguin are still making some marks and dropping all over the place.
This makes no sense...
This makes no sense... Linus could not develop Linux for Mac or Windows because they're all operating systems. GNU software, seen in most Linux distributions can run on Mac and Windows simply because they are open source. Any open source program can be compiled and executed on Windows.
stop the fight
yet best programs and all games in the world are made for Windows
Everyone Needs to see the BIG PICTURE!!
Ok, for those of you who are missing the BIG PICTURE!
Fact is that home computing is EVERYWHERE now! Microsoft has made some bad choices for a long time but I believe not to really hurt anyone but to make sure that their business stays profitable.
Microsoft not realizing has stepped on too many toes, and with an option out there available thanks to Linus Torvalds called Linux and the Open Source community, they have explored these options (forcefully) and have not regretted their decision.
I don't want to get into the nitty gritty of why so many people, organizations and such attack Microsoft with viruses (AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE WINDOWS HAS FLAWS!!! IN FACT IF THEY PUT THAT MUCH EFFORT INTO FINDING LINUX FLAWS THEY WOULD PROBABLY JUST AS MUCH!!!), it's because of Microsofts past business practices and popularity.
But realize too, that Microsoft has not negatively affected the home computing market in any direct way, so they WILL keep that market as long as they do not mess up in any big way.
SUMMARY: Microsoft will prevail and even possibly start getting back some of the percentage of desktops it has lost. I say this because I have tested Windows 7 and I definitely think it's very good for the home computing market and I would even dare say for the Corporate world too.
I disagree with the viruses
I disagree with the viruses paragraph. Windows inherently contains many vulnerabilities due to its nature. Windows is a desktop operating system. Many people use it and many people trust Windows to protect their information. Linux is meant to act as a server by nature. GNU applications (found in Linux) and file systems like ext2/3 and reiserfs were written with security in mind.
Microsoft has the reputation of building applications without security in mind. For example, Microsoft still has yet to consider the latest Server Message Block vulnerability as being critical. In fact, they haven't even release the fix for their new Windows 7 OS.
A Linux distribution has the potential to be very insecure. It also has the potential to be the most secure operating system to date. The security of a Linux system is up to its administrator. On the other hand, there is not much to consider when hardening Windows. In Windows, the administrator only needs to worry about the way services are configured. This is supposed to make administration easier, but in turn decreases security and functionality.
Windows will only prevail so long as Microsoft competes with those not in competition (open source developers). If a GNU/Linux distribution could become an ideal alternative to Windows, many desktop users would switch to the free and just-as-capable alternative.
LOL
A completely wrong and ignorant statement made by someone how knows nothing about computers. No wonder you use winblows.
Windows is incapable of crushing anything
that it, until MS give in and move to a un*x kernel like Apple.
that means nothing to the
that means nothing to the people who are massively purchasing computers lol...it could be made with pop corn kernals, but as long as its easy to use people will buy it...
Well, people are massivle
Well, people are massivle buying Apples ;)
And iPhones
Apples nearing 10% market share on desktop systems and it and become more.
And that was the previous point.
It does mean something to poeple who do not know anything about computers: It means that it works, does not need reformatting- reinstalling defragmenting or learning completely new stuff every time some guys in Seattle want to.
Mac OS X works... thanks to it's UNIX kernel and structure, has virtually no viruses, you do never need to even learn how your directory structure looks like not bother about defragmentation or the resgistry and a Mac OS 10.3 user could still be able to do anything on a machine with Leopard.
Sorry, but Windows is not 'easy' it's just cheap.
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