Linux vs. Windows: What's The Difference?

underpar writes "This zdnet article covering Microsoft's Tech Ed conference quotes one of the speakers, Mark Russinovich, as saying that Linux is becoming more and more like Windows. He cites many examples of where Linux 'copies' Windows and other operating systems. He says the only current difference is 'how windowing is handled.'"

Comments

It's a vicious cycle

[strictnein]

And it's gotten even worse with Mac OS 10.4 because now:
Linux copies Windows which copies Mac which copies Linux
(I'm sure SCO Unix gets copied in there somewhere too)

Uh oh... doesn't that sort of relationship end the universe in some sort of giant BLIP!?

Now, for those who want to actually read something that matters, Ars Technica has a primer on PCI-Express. Impress your friends, neighbors, and countrymen!

Re:It's a vicious cycle

[Pharmboy]

I think it's the reverse; Windows seems to be getting more POSIX-like with each release.

Its all that code they licensed from SCO... ;)

Re:It's a vicious cycle

[r00zky]

Excuse me, i think you added two excess letters in your above sentence... "IX"

Re:The Difference

[kaschei]

Great-- this is going to attract the anti-linux trolls AND the anti-microsoft trolls, each arguing over whom you're talking about.

Apps remove the difference

[prostoalex]

He's kinda right. I work with OpenOffice and Firefox for my basic stuff, and each time I launch those two or am in the middle of something, I have to look at the task bars to remind myself where I am at. User interfaces are so much alike.

The usual routine is pressing Win+E to launch Windows Explorer, then observe no Windows Explorer window launching, then cuss silently for the bug, then realize it's Red Hat 9 I am in.

Unix-derivatives easily identified.

[OpenGLFan]

A Unix-like OS is easily identified by the backspace key not working.

Re:Unix-derivatives easily identified.

[SethD]

I dont ^H^H't understand. Mine seems to work fine!

Re:Unix-derivatives easily identified.

[drinkypoo]

Corollary: A Unix newbie is easily identified by his lack of familiarity with the 'stty' command.

Corollary to the corollary: A Unix newbie can further be identified by separating those who say "newbie" from those who say "n00b".

Re:An important difference

[TwistedSquare]

I think you'll find that means Windows is 400 dollars cheaper than Linux.

Sincerely,

Darl.

monolithic

[captnjameskirk]

He says in the article: "Both kernels are monolithic". I thought the Windows kernel was monopolithic.

AdT response

[bani]

(fingers in ears)

"la la la la la I can't hear yooooooou la la la la la la"

Re:Ooh! Selective comparison...

[Newander]

I keep switching back to Windows to work with PSpice or Xilinx software, etc. For home users Linux really doesn't belong YET.

Yeah, home users spend most of their time simulating circuits and writing VHDL.

Re:An important difference

[letxa2000]

I can download and install a Windows utility more quickly than I can build and install a Linux package.

And, best of all, you get malware, spyware, viruses, and trojans for free with your installs!

Re:An important difference

[DMadCat]

Everything you listed is just a download away. I fail to see the problem.

Hell, with Windows some programs even download themselves! Now that's service!

Re:An important difference

[xp]

But what about the Total Cost of Ownership?
----
Software Ideas

Re:An important difference

[Anonymous Coward]

But what about the Total Cost of Ownership?

Dude, no-one owns Windows. Once installed, Windows owns you.