Choosing a new Operating System
I’ve been using Windows 7 on one of my machines for a while now, and I’m still finding nice new features which make the Windows experience more enjoyable. I am definitely sold on it. As the Linux zealots are keen to point out, it isn’t perfect, but then neither will the new Ubuntu be. I use and develop both open and closed source software and believe in using the right tool for the right job. The Vista experience is sufficiently different to XP (and there is no upgrade path) that the choice between replacing your OS with Ubuntu or Windows 7 becomes very real. Certainly I would argue there are pros and cons for both choices, and that simply accepting the latest Windows operating system because that’s what new computers come with is no longer necessary.
For home users who are just interested in surfing the internet, writing a few emails, chatting on msn and sharing their holiday photos Ubuntu becomes a very tempting proposition. The TCO of Ubuntu for these users will be far less than Windows 7; the initial training may be a little more extensive, but that will be offset by free licensing and no return visits to clear up the inevitable viruses and spyware that all Windows home computers end up with.
Businesses, gamers and Windows tinkerers are however much more likely to be better off with Windows 7. It’s fast, some users I’ve spoken to have described it as faster than XP (particularly in starting up and shutting down). It’s compatible, anything which runs on Vista will run on 7 – well nearly anything, and software authors will be keen to tell you they haven’t tested it yet. It has only a few different concepts to Vista, and Microsoft are advertising the new features on prime time national TV for us.
So although I am an open source advocate, I’m also an advocate of choosing the right tool for the right job. And although I may not admit this at my local LUG, Windows can be the right tool. I’m certainly looking forward to Ubuntu 9.10 though, and will be putting it on some machines as soon as I return from my vacation.