Out of Linux, Windows, and Macintosh what is your favorite OS and why?

I prefer Linux, with so many distributions of it is very customizable to your lifestyle. It also runs programs faster and is Open Source(free).

Windows. It does what I want it to and then some.

I can't run a MAC without crashing it no matter what (and those one-button mice are completely retarded), and there's no good reason for me to learn about Linux although I have messed around with it.

Ive never used a Mac for any length of time and i agree with Adam the on-button mice are really hard to get used to...

I use Linux at university mainly for doing programming classes and its good to use but ive never really found anything hugely advantageous aspects that would make me convert from windows. Windows does everything i need and i know it, so i dont feel any need to change.

i also prefer windows just because of its diversity and compatibility. Mac is good to look at and is nice and tidy but nothing else, iv never really used Linux so cant comment on it.

Linux (Slackware, Fedora, FreeBSD)

Anything free gets my vote.

Plus considering that the EU has firmly put its foot down over the MS monopoly here I'm content. I think the days of MS flexing its corporate muscle here are over and the more they delay and try differnt angles the less likely MS will be of staying in the field here.

Add to that the current trend in Europe of using open standards and you can quickly assume that MS's days are numbered. They certainly need a new approach to appease Europe anyway.

Thus I'm safe no matter what happens.

Windows. Unfortunately, everything runs on Windows. Linux has its advantages too, but, for normal home/business use, Windows is always the best.

Yeah, I have used Windows all my life and I recently started using Linux and I love it. I also use Mac at school.

Windows is very ugly to stare at whil I code and it isn't customizable. It does have good functionality and runs tons of programs.

Mac is great to look at, but it doesn't allow functionality, the one button mouse is really primitive.

Linux just works for me.

for home use i say windows are best .... i also run linux while progg and stuff some times but i run it directly from the cd .... havent used mac so far .... so for me windows and linux are equal .... cant compare them

windows is my fav. option.

linux is for my experimentation and learning.

mac - i never used it.

If we're talking workstations I have to say MacOSX with Windows right after.

OSX just works, looks nice and is easy to use. I run OSX at home and Windows on my work laptop.

I have tried some different Linux distributions but my opinion is that it's not ready to compete with OSX and Win on the desktop. They have to put more into usability and user interface to get it out to the mainstream. I hope someone will manage to do it soon. Just my humble opinion... :P

Oh, and one button mices for OSX is a thing of the past.

I would have to say Windows. Perhaps its just because I am more comfortable at using it and use it more often but I still think its the better of the three

Mac OS X is the best

Who even uses that one click mouse, i use my own mouse, but use the mac keyboard (gots to be)

There is no need for a crappy pc from pc world any more, as mac computers can now boot in windows.

Windows is for people who are to lazy to use anything else, and don't take the time to try something different.

Linux is great, but havn't used it in a while.

I personally find Mac OSX the best for me.

I've used Windows since Win 3.1 and have always found it functional yet yuck to look at and use. I've also used several Distros of Linux on and off - Mandrake, RedHat, Ubuntu, and Gentoo - all of which are great but lack the compatibility of some software I like, ie Photoshop.

I've now had an iMac for 3 months (2 button mouse with scroll wheel comes standard) and found it the best - I don't need to worry about little ongoing maintenance tasks to keep it running, it just works and lets me work !

A great plus is 'Parallels' - perfect for testing web design work. In addition to native OSX, I am able to easily run several virtual machines to test compatibility issues in different windows and linux versions. I realise virtualisation software is available for other platforms.

As the saying goes "different courses for different horses"....I run with Mac cause it serves my needs the best. Your mileage will vary.

Rob.

I haven't touched Mac OS X much personally myself, Linux is ok but now microsoft and novell are working together to make windows apps work on Linux will get alot better

I bought my first Mac (an iMac 24") in the beginning of October and am loving it. I haven't used my PC since (other then testing in IE).

I'd like a Mac, however I don't have the money just yet.

I've used windows since 98, and I bloody hate it. I've tried using Linux distros, but they are just too complex, even for an A-Level Computing student (me). Windows has the problem that any bad memory management runs it into BSOD. Whilst amusing to get one, it can be annoying.

System managament of Windows is poor compared to Mac, especially processor management under heavy application use.

Depending on your needs and wants, any O/S can be the best. Including O/S 2 Warp (IBM)

I have started switching over to Linux. I am presently working mainly in Linux. I hope that I can successfully cross over to the world of open source. I like Mandriva. Regrading the ease of use and supports Linux has a huge user base and you get support whenever you need it.

I'd say Linux, even though MAC looks great too. However, MAC isn't free, and a bit expensive. As for Windows, I'll have to be using it for now, to use certain software. However, Linux software is beginning to progress, so within the next year or so, I might leave Windows for good.

I've used all quite a bit before and here's my opinion:

Windows:
First off, it runs all of the software I need to design/develop perfectly. Even though I'm not a huge gamer, it's nice to know that every now and then I can bust out Oblivion and have some fun. Yes, Window's exterior may not be pretty (although Vista's isn't too bad), you can download new shells like Xoblite and customize the hell out of it. I run Xoblite and have all of my icons organized into different panes that show up when I scroll to each side of the screen and it's very intuitive. It looks good too. If you want to spend a few bucks, get WindowsBlinds!

Mac OSX:
All of the software I need for designing and developing also run on OSX, so that's not a problem. I also really like some of the subtleties of OSX, such as the way windows are used and organized. I sometimes feel a bit more comfortable when on a Mac. But...customization isn't there at all (compared to Windows). OSX is a very secure OS but frankly, I've never had a problem on any of my Windows installs because I know what I'm doing. And gaming..let's not get started. Macs are beautiful machines that perform very well with the new Intel Core 2 Duo's, but they just don't quite do everything I want. I guess it's just something with the fact that I can build and update my PC with whatever hardware I want, whenever I want, and still have a working operating system (Windows) where with a Mac, I just can't do that.

Note: I haven't used Parallels or Boot Camp so I don't know how gaming performance works under that but I have heard good things.

Linux:
Ok, out of these three I have the least amount of experience in Linux as I've only messed around with Fedora, and a couple different builds of Ubuntu. Linux is definitely a cleaner operating system compared to Windows or OSX. There's plenty of free software and a growing support of Windows software through Wine. But it's far from perfect. I've seen methods for getting Photoshop CS2 working but it's still not guaranteed as with most of my other needed software. All you hardcore Linux users praise The Gimp saying it's very comparable to Photoshop..but try telling that to any professional designer. It's not at all comparable. Another problem I have with Linux is the learning curve. It would be kind of fun to learn the ins and outs of it but right now I don't have the time to learn shell commands and different sudos and whatever. And I hate always having to compile a program and then run a pile of commands just to install a program. Whatever happened to installers? On the other hand, Beryl with XGL was an extremely impressive visual mod! but that's about it.

Overall:
I have to go with Windows. Why? It's highly customizable, supports all my software/games, user-friendly (I know that's debatable), and does everything I need to efficiently. So I guess it really comes down to your own individual needs and preferences.

IMO opinion Linux is best although it is still not upto the mark. Easy to upgrade and customize according to your requirement. Windows is far too expensive to upgrade and its maintenance is pathetic. I haven't used Mac so no comments.

I have also read an article on Windows and Linux and really loved the way the article brings the reality of people using Windows for decades and their misery
here’s the link for you all.

http://blog.eukhost.com/2006/12/04/a...windows-vista/