Desktop Operating System of Choice

**iowa_wildcat** · 10-23-2009, 11:23 AM

OK, computer experts out there in Cyclone Fanatic land, help this old man. Just for fun, if I am building a desktop computer from scratch and if it is almost ready for an operating system, do I put Windows 7 or Ubantu on it and why? The computer will be used for business and for fun. It will not be a part of my business network. I am equally comfortable with Microsoft Office and Open Office. I am not a gamer and wild graphics are not important to me. I do spend a great deal of time editing photographs. My photography software will work on either operating system.

**bos** · 10-23-2009, 11:24 AM

Try em both. Dual boot the bad boy and see which you like better. I like ubuntu, but have no use for it. Most of the applications I use wont work with it. Windows 7 by far is the easiest OS to master and the most compatible with 3rd party applications and drivers.

**clone92** · 10-23-2009, 11:44 AM

Allegedly, this site has a product that allows the latest mac os (snow leopard) to run on a variety of non-apple PCs. Rebel EFI - Boot and Install any OS on your hardware

**bos** · 10-23-2009, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by clone92

Allegedly, this site has a product that allows the latest mac os (snow leopard) to run on a variety of non-apple PCs. Rebel EFI - Boot and Install any OS on your hardware

Ah but dont login under the guest account =)

**Skyh13** · 10-23-2009, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by bostinelosd

Try em both. Dual boot the bad boy and see which you like better. I like ubuntu, but have no use for it. Most of the applications I use wont work with it. Windows 7 by far is the easiest OS to master and the most compatible with 3rd party applications and drivers.

This all is pretty true.

All I have to add is that, if you're looking to avoid spending the $200 dollars for Windows 7 at first (assuming you don't have a copy sitting around), go ahead and get Ubuntu 9.10 when it comes out in 6 days or so. They've been making a lot of strides in it, and the new version is looking very good. And at least if you decide that it isn't going to work for you, or you want to dual boot with Windows 7 as well, then you can spend the money later.

**TheHelgo** · 10-23-2009, 11:52 AM

Windows 7 is pretty awesome. i installed last night and find it to be all it is cracked up to be and more. Very fast and user friendly.

**tim_redd** · 10-23-2009, 11:56 AM

I'd say start out with ubuntu since it's free and all. If that doesn't work for you then go to 7. I though 9.04 was really good and can't wait for 9.10 next week.

**jumbopackage** · 10-23-2009, 01:33 PM

I would say it all depends on what you use a computer for.

If you're content with the applications that will run on ubuntu, go for it.

If you need Windows apps, and don't want to putz around with VMWare, go with Windows.

I'm equally comfortable with both OSs, and I run Windows 7/XP 90% of the time. It's just less headaches overall, IMO.

**brianhos** · 10-23-2009, 01:41 PM

Going to install win7 at home this weekend. I am a linux guy, but for home computing, windows is by far the easiest.

**tman24** · 10-23-2009, 01:43 PM

seven.....stupid post min length

**pulse** · 10-23-2009, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by iowa_wildcat

OK, computer experts out there in Cyclone Fanatic land, help this old man. Just for fun, if I am building a desktop computer from scratch and if it is almost ready for an operating system, do I put Windows 7 or Ubantu on it and why? The computer will be used for business and for fun. It will not be a part of my business network. I am equally comfortable with Microsoft Office and Open Office. I am not a gamer and wild graphics are not important to me. I do spend a great deal of time editing photographs. My photography software will work on either operating system.

In your case I would go with Windows. I think you'd be more comfortable with it than "Ubantu".

**iowa_wildcat** · 10-24-2009, 06:50 AM

Thanks people! I don't know if I will do a dual boot or just install 7. Maybe I can find a desktop that someone is pitching and install Ubantu in it to see if it fits my needs and tastes.

**brianhos** · 10-24-2009, 06:56 AM

I installed 7 on older computer last night. Talk about an easy install, dropped the disk in, set the computer to boot from CD, rebooted, pressed any key to continue, chose the drive to install it on, and came back in 30 min and it was done. No searching for drivers, no working to get anything to function.

Windows 7 is the real deal, it is easy to use, makes sense, and is braindead simple to install.

And this is from a linux guy. M$ hit a home run with this one.

**AirWalke** · 10-24-2009, 08:18 AM

As a long time Mac user and hater of everything related to Microsoft and Windows...

I kinda like Windows 7. I have it dual booting alongside OS X 10.6 on my MacBook Pro. Granted, I don't use 7 for much more than gaming, but I actually find myself missing a few UI features found in Windows that's not in Snow Leopard. I still think Snow Leopard is snappier in its response time, and it's obviously going to be more compatible with my MacBook Pro's feature set, like the multi-touch mousepad.

I've loathed Windows for long enough, though. It's time to give credit to Microsoft where it's due. Windows is finally catching up to OS X. The installation was just as snappy as any OS X installation. The UI was foreign to me, and yet, a lot more easily adoptable than past Windows iterations. Device installation is a snap with the automatic downloads, a far cry from the install CDs that came with every piece of hardware designed to run under Windows (OS X almost always already had the driver preinstalled)

If I have to gripe, it's that Microsoft STILL hasn't learned from Apple and just given the public ONE OPERATION SYSTEM to install! Apple has Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server. Microsoft has Windows 7 Home Edition, Pro Edition, Ultimate Edition, Waffle Edition, etc. Just give people one version of the software for pete's sake.

Regardless, Ubuntu is free, but Windows 7 rightly deserves the attention it's been getting.

**AirWalke** · 10-24-2009, 08:30 AM

It appears my gripe with Window's 7 numerous edition is somewhat unfounded. There are what looks like four versions, Starter, Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate.

However, it's still two versions too many. One of the biggest complaints with Vista is the incompatibility it had with a number of XP programs... and the only version of 7 to add that compatibility is Professional and Ultimate. Why not just condense Home Premium and Professional? $119 for Home is a bargain for those who just want the OS, and $199 is too much for the version of the operation system that actually addresses the issues many consumers had with Vista.

Stick with Windows 7 Starter for people with new PCs, get rid of Windows 7 Home Premium, and make Windows 7 Professional $129 (while nixing the "Professional" tag) to compete with OS X, and make Windows 7 Ultimate $179-199.