The shorter Linux install comes with the "myriad programs" too... So it is a fair comparison. Go from nothing to a fully-functional OS with software to run on it.
Don't forget the 3-4 times you have to redo the Windows installation because the installer does different things each time you run it - especially XP (of course this could be due to the fact that I've never used a legitimate M$ licensed copy so I wouldn't know if the real thing works or not).
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display the Blue Screen of Death?
The shorter Linux install comes with the "myriad programs" too... So it is a fair comparison. Go from nothing to a fully-functional OS with software to run on it.
Don't forget the 3-4 times you have to redo the Windows installation because the installer does different things each time you run it - especially XP (of course this could be due to the fact that I've never used a legitimate M$ licensed copy so I wouldn't know if the real thing works or not).