Linux/OS X vs. Windows

Last fall I switched from a Windows XP laptop to a Mac OS X Powerbook. So, how do I feel after several months using OS X? Happy! My primary workstation is still Linux (just upgraded to Fedora Core 4), but I use my Powerbook a lot as well (just upgraded to Tiger after the patch came out – I needed to be sure I could connect to my Linux Samba server).

I use my XP machine as little as possible. Unfortunately, some software still requires Windows so I need access to it. Last semester I taught a course in advanced Computer Graphics and emphasized GPU programming. I had the students use X3D/VRML so they could focus on the GPU and not the surrounding stuff. The only browser plug in that supported this ran on Windows.

However, I just get more annoyed at XP all the time. I have to physically turn off my XP machine for a cold reboot about once every two days. I do it to my Linux and Mac machines maybe once per month or less. Windows keeps popping up “friendly” tips and reminders, which you have to click on to close. For example, it downloads an update and reboots. Then it has the audacity to pop up a window telling me it just downloaded an update and rebooted so I get to waste even more time getting rid of the stupid window!

There is a great page where you can see how people feel about operating systems: Operating System Sucks-Rules-O-Meter .