The virus writers go where the computers are. That's why Windows has so many viruses. In addition, it's full of more holes than a pound of swiss cheese. I wish I had another choice for an OS, but Windows has the most software available. Perhaps Linux will eventually win out--I hope so. I certainly don't think Windows will be the OS on the starship Enterprise!

Perhaps Windows would have been better if Bill Gates hadn't stolen it from Apple (and maybe some from New Views out of Canada) and had come up with something from scratch--eh?

Regards,

it is also because windows as I heard someone put it is based on a workstation kernel VMS from the 70's, Linux is based on the Unix Server Kernel. Not much competiton really. Linux has so many eyes looking at it, it is bound to be more secure and robust than the couple that look at windows.
Really though if all that is holding you back is software give Linux a go, I have about 20,000 packages at my fingertips in ubuntu plus many more. I used to be a hardcore gamer, but got sick of the cost of games, one off and monthly. Now I play freecraft in Linux and Cube and that pretty much does me.

Well, I've got my eye on Linux. I'm a serious computer user, however--never played a game at all--spreadsheets, accounting work, and such. You just can't get the depth of business software in Linux yet that Windows supprts.

Regards,

[quote="GuitarBob"Perhaps Linux will eventually win out--I hope so. [/quote]

If and when that happens then we will all be wishing we had Windows installed on our system, because all the virus writers and hackers will have taken aim at *nix.

Dont get fooled into thinking one OS is more secure then the other, it just that one OS is of more interest to hackers then the other at the moment.

Michael

Well, you're right. The number of viruses correlates to the number of users, I'm sure. And since OSs basically do the same thing, I'm sure they are subject to the same problems. Nobody has too much of an edge over anyone else for long now.

Regards,

Michael - No windows has problems with viruses because even despite microsofts pleadings people still login and run everything as admin, and some windows programers are lazy so don't program so that that their software will work as a user, you have to be an admin. Linux is not like this, software doesn't run as admin by default, even services like apache don't... iis on the other hand does. I believe they will be trying to patch this into vista, but it is a case of patch, not there by default, if you patch a boat that has a hundred holes in it, it will still have a hundred holes, they will just be temporarily patched till the water works its way through.
GuitarBob - Linux has a lot of business software, I know a few companies that have moved to Open Office and its open document format, the only ANSI aproved method of storing data. I am personally doing a roll out in a couple of weeks of all Linux workstations at a client, getting rid of windows and Putting on Linux, 55 pc's and the server will go once they have tested the replacement for their accounting software.
You have more choice on linux, Accounting on windows you pretty much have the very bad Quicken, MS Money, or here in Australia MYOB. These are difficult to use once you go past 4 or 5 accountants, linux has SqlLedger, runs on an sql backend and will support as many users as you hardware can handle, Gnumeric more simple single user accounting etc.
Outlook, you can use thunderbird and sunbird or just evolution, I don't see what is stopping people, beyond some custom apps, and then they just keep a windows box around use it as a terminal server for the few who need it.
I urge you to just download Ubuntu or order it free from ubuntu.com and give it a go, it doesn't even require install just boot the disc and play with it, then decide whether you want to click that install button.

While most of what you said is true, I will say again, please dont be fooled into thinking *nix is the unbeatable OS. As I said if enough people start attacking your boat with drills. the fact is holes will be made. After all, even the titanic sank.

Michael

I agree with Slug. With a few minor differences, all OSs are doing pretty much the same thing, so they are all subject to pretty simillar security problems. Computers are set up to facilitate communications, and you can't make this facility completely save.

Just like Willie Sutton robbed banks because "that's where the money is", If 90% of people started using *nix tomorow, in a short while, *nix would have the magnitude of security problems just like Windows.

And what about Apple's OS? It's been around longer than Windows, the hardware may be better, and it's supposed to be more robust than Win.

Bottom line: I guess I'll use whatever OS more than 50% of businesses use.

And what about the role of the security industry in causing problems? Look at those guys who figure out an "exploit" and then make it public! The secuirity industry/antivirus developers have a stake in continuing problems with viruses--eh? If someone made an antivirus program that could find any/all viruses, they wouldn't sell any more antivirus software! That's why I'm supporting Clam--I figure they are more independent.

Regards,