"Ten Reasons to Buy Windows Vista," or switch to Free Software

[Zelmo]

Slashdot linked this story of Ten Reasons to Buy Windows Vista, plus five reasons not to, from PC World (go ahead and read it, it's not very long).
I couldn't help but notice that each of the ten reasons the author listed falls into one or more of the following categories:
1. Already available in the Free Software world.
2. Being developed in the Free Software world, with an expected release date that coincides with Vista's expected release date.
3. Already available from another commercial software company, but because people tend to use whatever software they're given, those other commercial software companies will lose customers when people stick with the new features built into Windows (as has happened since Microsoft's inception).

Of the five reasons not to buy Vista, the only one that also applies to Free Software OSes is the learning curve. So as I see it, why not apply that learning curve to something like Linux? You'll get the same advantages in this list, while avoiding the caveats.

[deek]

To respond to your last question, I would say the simple answer is still distribution. Take the average person that is buying a computer...Vista is already installed, so what do you think they are going to do?

With a new PC, you have already bypassed the "hour long" installation routine, so why would someone want to spend an hour or so looking for a linux distro, then spend the time to install it? Most people just want their computer to work, not worry about installing an operating system.

I agree with your other points, but if someone were able to put a linux distro on the mass market by default, people would simply use it and be happy with it. I mean, reverse this situation...if millions of Dell's just came with linux on them, how many people are going to take that extra step to go out and get Windows (even if free) and reinstall an OS.

So, it is not about features or which is better, its about what comes on the system by default...plain and simple in my mind!

[luke_z3]

Well put, deek! The only big advantage I see about Vista is that schools and colleges that want to upgrade will probably just replace their existing systems and perhaps auction off the slightly older stuff. Where I attend classes, the IT department is too lazy to attempt an OS installation for each of their 500+ systems. Hmmm....I wouldn't mind getting a couple of practically new IBM-brand desktops....Bring on Vista!!!

[bigtomrodney]

You need to remember that reinstalling Windows is too much to ask of a normal user - and would frighten the vast majority. I get paid by regular people all the time to reinstall windows for them because it's not something they would even want to know how to do. So bearing that in mind why would a user go out, get linux and not only install it on their machine but take the plunge into the steep learning curve and brave new world?

We all know that the difference between installing linux now and 5 years ago is very very different. Linux is easier to set up than Windows by a longshot in my opinion, but home users don't even understand the principle of an operating system.

Things will only change when OEM vendors ship linux, or as things are going at the moment the Microsoft/DRM grasp becomes too tight for even a regular user. Products like firefox,open office and vlc are doing a lot for the cause but we are a long way away from convincing users who just don't care that they should wip their machine and install *n?x.

[fingal]

I think what you've all said sounds about right to me. I don't think the average Jack in the street cares much about computers. In fact a lot of people seem very alienated by technology, and I don't really talk about my 'hobby' much so I'm not sure what people think about Vista. I'm still pretty worried about so called Trusted Computing and issues around that.

But yeah! It would be great if Linux was shipped pre-installed on more machines. I wonder if a lot of people would even notice! If you said to them 'It's just a different type of Windows' some people would buy that.

Just my 3 drachmas worth.

[rob.rice]

and what about all the brand new shiny BUGS it is bound to have
thay just about have XP debuged and now thay come out with a new version
that no doubt hasen't been debuged
but hay it compiles so it's ready to ship

I can rember the day when the idea of bug in the O/S was unthinkable
or even a bug in MS software was unthinkable

[bigtomrodney]

All systems have our bugs we're just a little bit more honest about ours, and more determined to fix them quickly

[fingal]

All systems have our bugs we're just a little bit more honest about ours, and more determined to fix them quickly

Wow, yeah! I was reading about the first 'bug' ever found. It was in an ENIAC computer and discovered by Grace Murray Hopper, who plonked the thing in a journal with the words, 'the first actual case of bug being found'.

At least I can talk about things like that in here.

<edit> I found out that the term 'bug' is older than might be supposed ...