Some opinions wanted (at a crossroads between Windows and Linux)

[Sonadow]

*snip*.

No, you never addressed them. None of the answers were even meant for YOU in the first place. It was a response to curaga's question about whether I have been bitten my Microsoft's unfair practices before, in which my answer is that Microsoft may be a dick company but I couldn't care less about it because all I am concerned about is their software tools.

Take a very good look at the original post and stop with the selective reading:

Question block 1:

By casting my lot with Microsoft, am I risking what would be why potential future career if I limit of learning of Linux only to the server and administration space and focusing on learning as much as I can in Microsoft land such as ASP, .NET, C#, SQL Server and Windows Server administration? Which do you think is more important: to use the tools one is comfortable with to produce the end result desired by the other party, regardless of operating system, or to spread myself out and learn both Windows and Linux tools? Is the desktop really, really dead as a work tool?

Question block 2:

it is wrong to like Windows and Microsoft's software? Is it really that wrong to enjoy using a system that one personally likes, and is well-supported by hardware vendors who will always be able to supply launch-day drivers for new hardware, even if those drivers are tightly locked down?

Nothing in there ever states anything about Microsoft's business practices.

archibald answered both blocks (thanks very much, greatly appreciated!) while curaga (thanks for the feedback too!) answered both blocks as well while asking me a legitimate question of his/her(?) own that was related to block #2. artvision contributed (somewhat) to both blocks which I have just replied to.

You did not get any replies from me because none of your posts had anything to do with what i was asking.

[Sonadow]

I personally started using Linux along with Win_2000, then with XP i had a dual installation for at least 2 years. When i decided to erase MS software for good, was only when Wine was at a good shape. But even then and even now, i have compatibility problems, mostly games, but flash and others as well. Then i realize that it wasn't Linux and free software to blame, but MS. They do what they can, even pay (thats not legal!) key companies to make their solution incompatible with Linux (graphics vendors, game companies, and others). And thats only a small damage in comparison with their virus-like attack on education. So the probability is that you just don't now something that works better. For example don't use NET, instead use C11 with LLVM.

I have played around with quite a fair bit of proprietary and FOSS solutions and I still find the MS camp to have better software.

Again, anecdotal examples: for database class back in my campus we were given a choice of postgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle and MS Sql Sever to use for our projects, and the course instructor personally recommended MySQL. Bear in mind this is was class of computing newbies who have never touched database management before.

When the projects were submitted and graded he asked us why everybody (even the OS X users) ended up choosing SQL Server even though MySQL was the recommended option. The answers:

1) MySQL feels primitive
2) WorkBench cannot compete with SQL Management Studio

Being the only guy on Linux back then I didn't have the chance to try out SQL Server, but having done so recently I can fully see where my coursemates were coming from. People can speak for themselves, you know. Microsoft didn't even have to tout its software; the class made the decision on their own.

What I did like about MySQL though was that I could get lazy with defining CONSTRAINTS. Since MySQL automatically ignores CHECK statements I can purposely choose to ignore any instruction that requires a CHECK statement be set as an attribute or as a table level constraint.

[brosis]

I asked for opinions and feedback on the usage of Microsoft software and adopting Microsoft technology as a career path, period.

Questions which you have not bothered to address ...

Adressed here

...other than fueling your anti-Microsoft propaganda which I have no intention of listening to. Microsoft can jolly well do what it wants and I don't give two hoots if you agree with their practices or not.

All I care about is their technology and their software, period.

Funny thing is that 99,9% of the problems I experience in Linux are due to microsoft. So I posted my quite recent experience here as well. So much on crossroads, or more precisely "Linux extermination policy".

When you're actively bullied and hindered, any you tell facts, and they reply its propaganda, how do you call this?? Like I said, you asked for crossroad experiences, I post them so whats wrong? The fact you are getting microsoft critizism and you expected something positive is simple to explain. THERE IS NOTHING POSITIVE IN MICROSOFT, except free coca-cola machine.

That said, I will post back when I discover something positive, that you so hardly demand. Probably will take loooong time till I find some.

I hope your are not one of them, though.

[artivision]

First of all, a note: this is started with the intention that it be a sensible discussion, so flames and baits will be reported immediately.

Also, warning: This IS A LONG POST.

And now, to the meat of the issue:

As some of you have known, recently because of internship commitments I have dropped Linux completely from my notebook and desktops in favor of Windows to devote time to accquainting myself with Microsoft technologies. And generally I am a fan of Microsoft software (as in I genuinely enjoy using MS software (yes, even Windows 8!) for getting work done to the point that I have invested in a Microsoft TechNet account to get complimentary access to all of Microsoft's non-developer software in return for a yearly subscription fee). To satisfy my 'build the source code yourself' cravings Visual Studio Express generally does an a-ok job for Windows applications that are open-sourced unless it makes use of GTK or Qt libraries (in which the compilation process becomes a real pain in the nuts, but I digress).

However every so often some doubts enter my mind about the future of Microsoft in the desktop and enterprise space so I would really, really appreciate some feedback on whether I am doing the 'right thing', so to speak. For one, it is no secret that Microsoft's dominance is limited only to the desktop and notebook space; Windows Phone, as much as I enjoy using it, is never going to break past its distant third position in the smartphone space, and Windows RT is not going to improve Redmond's tablet ambitions, at least for the forseeable future. And even now there is talk that Microsoft may very well lose its desktop / notebook pie as well...

By casting my lot with Microsoft, am I risking what would be why potential future career if I limit of learning of Linux only to the server and administration space and focusing on learning as much as I can in Microsoft land such as ASP, .NET, C#, SQL Server and Windows Server administration? Which do you think is more important: to use the tools one is comfortable with to produce the end result desired by the other party, regardless of operating system, or to spread myself out and learn both Windows and Linux tools? Is the desktop really, really dead as a work tool? I really refuse to believe in that, considering how desktops with that kind of processing power are needed to do lots grunt work that the standard consumer is not likely to ever come across in his/her life.

Last but not least, i just have to ask; it is wrong to like Windows and Microsoft's software? As said earlier, I genuinely enjoy using Microsoft software and as such am fully willing to shell out the money for my TechNet subscription to get complimentary access to a wide range of Microsoft software products. But the vibes I'm getting from many Linux-centric forums are that it's:

a) impossible for anybody to even like using Microsoft's software products because they are inferior to open-source ones (which I wholeheartedly disagree), and
b) anybody who so much as says that he/she likes MS software is immediately deemed some kind of shill or mole out to discredit Linux.

Is it really that wrong to enjoy using a system that one personally likes, and is well-supported by hardware vendors who will always be able to supply launch-day drivers for new hardware, even if those drivers are tightly locked down? What happened to the 'if you like it and are productive with it, use it' approach to computing?

Thanks for listening.

** I know Im very well asking for trouble for even daring to talk about my liking of MS software in a Linux forum. But I really want the feedback and opinions.

I personally started using Linux along with Win_2000, then with XP i had a dual installation for at least 2 years. When i decided to erase MS software for good, was only when Wine was at a good shape. But even then and even now, i have compatibility problems, mostly games, but flash and others as well. Then i realize that it wasn't Linux and free software to blame, but MS. They do what they can, even pay (thats not legal!) key companies to make their solution incompatible with Linux (graphics vendors, game companies, and others). And thats only a small damage in comparison with their virus-like attack on education. So the probability is that you just don't now something that works better. For example don't use NET, instead use C11 with LLVM.

[Sonadow]

You asked in this thread about "Opinions on crossroads", so I posted you my opinions. And today post is about my experience from today and yesterday. Sure way a crossroad, with MS securing monopoly by any means. And these were NOT my words, btw!

I asked for opinions and feedback on the usage of Microsoft software and adopting Microsoft technology as a career path, period.

Questions which everybody else have addressed and contributed to, and which you have not bothered to address other than fueling your anti-Microsoft propaganda which I have no intention of listening to. Microsoft can jolly well do what it wants and I don't give two hoots if you agree with their practices or not.

All I care about is their technology and their software, period.

[brosis]

Try harder. Digging up a 5 yr old issue that has already been resolved exposes your intentions:

And the kernel has always identified itself as Windows NT (more recently, Windows 2012) to the DSDT to get around this issue.

So explain me now why I have to manually recompile and edit my DSDT, exactly because Ubuntu was stupid enough to disable manual AMR injection? This thread is from 2009, exactly as my notebook, but even today people are posting damaged DSDTs there!
And the kernel dentifies itself as "" FYI. It does this EXACTLY to prevent microsoft sabotage, but some tables actually contain corrected values for "Linux", and in case of "" will act inaccurately.
Maybe I should slap you with this Amilo 1554 so you will finally quit daydreaming? Tell me.

Last warning: I DO NOT CARE ABOUT Microsoft's practices. and i NEVER asked for opinions or feedback on their business practices.

Look out, too many warnings and you'll overheat!

You asked in this thread about "Opinions on crossroads", so I posted you my opinions. And today post is about my experience from today and yesterday. Sure way a crossroad, with MS securing monopoly by any means. And these were NOT my words, btw!

[Sonadow]

Calling names and flaming, yes. NEVER wrote anything in this direction.
But when you work with a laptop that is HEATING UP TO 60 DEGREE HOT and I clearly see this as result of microsoft is sabotaging DSDT which results in Linux users unable to use Laptops, and I CALL THIS SABOTAGE AND MICROSOFT - SCUMBAGS.

Try harder. Digging up a 5 yr old issue that has already been resolved exposes your intentions:

UPDATE: The kernel dev's will no longer use the patch to enable custom DSDT files for Karmic 9.10 and beyond. Jaunty 9.04 is the last version this will work on. You are urged to file a bug report for DSDT errors.

And the kernel has always identified itself as Windows NT (more recently, Windows 2012) to the DSDT to get around this issue.

Last warning: I DO NOT CARE ABOUT Microsoft's practices. and i NEVER asked for opinions or feedback on their business practices.

[brosis]

I made myself damned clear from the start that this is not a topic for flaming Microsoft.

All posts have been reported.

Calling names and flaming, yes. NEVER wrote anything in this direction.
But when you work with a laptop that is HEATING UP TO 60 DEGREE HOT and I clearly see this as result of microsoft is sabotaging DSDT which results in Linux users unable to use Laptops, and I CALL THIS SABOTAGE AND MICROSOFT - SCUMBAGS.

I am sorry I hurt your sensible soul in the progress. That's just what you will have to count in when your stupid microsoft behaves like it behaves, and you decided to place your face in front of them. Tomatos incomin', close your eyes.

[Sonadow]

In linux you don't just buy hardware and hope it works. You have to know first that a driver exists and supports that hardware, then you can buy it. That has always been true. Linux has always been like that and I suspect it always will be.

With windows you can be pretty certain that a driver exists (to varying degrees of quality) With Linux you can't be certain. You have to check first. Thats just the way it is.

That is very true. But one thing is also certain; if an open source driver exists in the Linux kernel one is pretty much assured that the device will almost always work properly (unless upstream breaks it SOMEHOW) and will remain supported well after the vendor marks the hardware as EOL and stops issuing driver updates.

This is the case for my rt2500usb-based wifi adapter; Ralink ceased driver updates for this device from Vista onwards but the in-kernel Linux rt2x00 driver is still going strong with every kernel release. This, at least, is something Linux is superior in; Windows users are generally at the mercy of the hardware vendor for driver updates.

I guess in the end its a matter of preference; guranteed drivers for any device (in Windows case), or guranteed driver availability for supported devices (in Linux).

[duby229]

In linux you don't just buy hardware and hope it works. You have to know first that a driver exists and supports that hardware, then you can buy it. That has always been true. Linux has always been like that and I suspect it always will be.

With windows you can be pretty certain that a driver exists (to varying degrees of quality) With Linux you can't be certain. You have to check first. Thats just the way it is.

EDIT: If you had bought a radeon 6000 series instead of the 7000 series, your experience would have been much different. If you had bought a wifi adapter with realtek chipset instead your experience would have been much different.