[Coco] Windows vs. Linux (was 512K upgrade)

[Louis Ciotti]

My experience with linux is a love/hate relationship.  I like that is is “more” secure than windows, but it is not hack or virus proof.  I really think that part of the perceived lack of viruses is because it actually has a smaller installed user base.  So while when a nasty windows virus hits say 10% of its users, the news media reports the actually quantity, not percentage so that number looks larger.  Lets face it, most malware/virus producers are doing it so it gets the most exposure, with that mind set why would they go after linux based machines.

My biggest problem with linux is the lack of software that works as well as software on windows or OS X.  Yes there are alternatives, but take word or excel.  While there are free and open source alternatives, every time use one I end up preferring the MS product.  Look at the CAD packages.  While some of the power house CAD stuff if making its way into linux, it often is not as user friendly as the windows alternative.  Look at OCTAVE, the free matlab alternative.  While just as functional, version 3.8 is just getting a GUI interface.  Matlab had that years ago.  I use linux on a home server and it works great for that, but for my day in day out use, I am windows and now OS X.

As far as a windows box “instantly getting infected” when you plug it into your cable modem, never as this happened to me.  I have run windows boxes with and with out a router and have never gotten instantly infected.  I think I have only gotten 4 viruses since my first PC in the early 90s, and every time it was because I carelessly opened or click on something that I knew as soon and the mouse make it’s “click” noise I f’ed up.

As for a new computer used delving into computers with linux, it will take a lot of dedication for them to stick with it.  IMHO when it comes to installing new hardware and software linux can still be a bear.


On Mar 9, 2014, at 10:54 AM, Chris Osborn <fozztexx at fozztexx.com> wrote:

> 
> On Mar 9, 2014, at 7:34 AM, farna at amc-mag.com wrote:
> 
>> OS is a matter of choice -- how wonderful it is to be able to say that!! I
>> prefer Linux, especially for new users, because it's not a malicious
>> hacker target. 
> 
> Oh yes it is. There's tons and tons of packages out there that specifically target Linux and install root kits. Usually it's over the Christmas break that I find I see the most attacks with script kiddies sitting at home bored and running those packages to see what they can break into.
> 
> 
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