Windows or Linux?

Which brand you prefer for your webserver, if you own one, or for your personal use?

Windows all the way.

Tried linux once (desktop not server) about six months ago.

God it was rubbish:


There is no way I would trust it for a server.

Linux is a fast and strong system. I would definitely use it as a server.
As a desktop... I think linux is still too young for that. Even for veteran users, I still believe that linux is still not comfortable enough.

I was soured by my first experience (as above). I think if that was
anybodies first introduction they would consider themselves well
and truly bitten.

I even tried multiple distros, each one with a reformat and clean
install. They were Fedora core (2 I think), Mandrake 10.something
and Suse something or the other.

All of which seem to be highly regarded as fast, stable and friendly,
(no, no and no). Even worse is the Linux community online, ask
a basic question and take cover. If they don't ignore you
completely for asking a question that is beneath them!

I'll stick with a good OS thanks.

For a desktop PC i would go Windows all the way! Although i would like a Mac As for webserver i voted Linux as that is what i use most. But they both have their advantages and disadvantages. i feel that they are both excellent if implemented correctly and used for the correct purpose ie don't try asp.net on linux

There was a discussion on this at DS the other week that went
on for a few days - all about *nix v. Win from a new user point
of view, and a bit about security...

http://forums.devshed.com/t284732/s.html

People only find Linux difficult to use because they were brought
up using Windows. For a new user, Linux is now no harder to get
used to than windows is - yes, it probly requires training/support
but so does Windows.

Anyway, have a quick butchers at that thread, there are some
very good points made [for each side ].

Elija, if you are ever interested in venturing over to the dark side
again, I'd strongly recommned Ubuntu Linux. It's incredibly easy
to get used to, and all of the things you write linux off for - slow
unstable and bad hardware support are all things of the past.

<edit> I see you've adopted my style of posting, Elija! I'd rep
you for it, but I need to spread it first!

Thats what they said about the distros I tried. I have to confess, I haven't
tried ubuntu.

I nearly signed up and got myself banned but went and had a coffee
to calm down instead (why isn't there a smiley for spitting)

Well, its so much easier to read than wide wide postings. I like it.

I agree that the linux community is a bit snotish..
But getting bitten on the first experience doesn't mean something is bad.
My first experience with Linux was a few years ago, and it took a hell of a bite out of my... time. But then, it's free. And these days, it's so automatic that it sometimes surprises me. I still wouldn't use it on a desktop computer. Not yet.

I don't know what else I was supposed to think Even
Windows 3.11 or going back even further DOS (Yes I'm that old)
didn't behave like that.

Well not as consistently anyway

I guess now that I'm old I want an OS that I can just use,
rather than one I have to spend hours tweaking. Which was fun
back when I didn't use the thing for real work

Well, windows XP Professional for my desktop and Windows 2003 Server!
so thats no linux