Your OS choice is stupid...

[samgreco]

I truly believe most anti-windows posts... are in actuality just anti-American rants.

Dave - I think this may be just a tad off the deep end.

When I first installed Vista, I was ready to throw my laptop through the window. The first release of Vista was complete garbage. And I can tell you that that wasn't the only Windows release that was less than stellar. That first month, I was very anti-Microsoft.

Besides, the biggest anti-MS group out there are Mac users. I think you'd be hard pressed to say that Apple or it users are generally anti-American.

I use Windows, Linux and Mac OS's for various things. They are all great and they are all bad. Depends on what you do.

Currently I have a Vista box as my main server running SageTV, Premise for automation AND a VMWare server running linux which is running my Zimbra mail server for my business. It NEVER crashes (unless I mess with it ).

As for one being more stable than the other, I can't really say that. If any of them are setup correctly, they run forever. Just NEVER setup a Windows machine that is important to do automatic updates. If it ain't broke...

So really, they are all good, valid choices. Depending on your need and knowledge.

Besides, I can make ANYTHING crash.

 

[sic0048]

I can't believe all this discussion over 'best' OS or pc. We all know what the best one is...

Reminds me of my first computer... a Commodore 64 also with a separate tape drive.

 

[samgreco]

Reminds me of my first computer... a Commodore 64 also with a separate tape drive.

Mine was top o' the line! Dual 5 1/4" floppies, baby! AND a tape drive. Now that was an Operating System.

 

[Rupp]

My first PC was a TI-99/4A and boy do I wish I had kept that.

 

[judge_l]

My first was the Commodore 64 too. Best computer ever, because all I ever did with it was play games

I've hated each of the versions of Windows equally, but I can get them to work. All the other ones I've tried to use based on others recommendations I never have figured out. Everytime I buy a computer, it already has Windows.

 

[Quixote_1]

What originally sounds like a gripe about Home Automation Software.... is usually (and quickly) exposed as anti-Microsoft. America is hated by many as the great evil. Most of those people who hate Americans are forgien... but some are born and raised in the USA. Computers, the Internet, and Microsoft are as symbolic of the USA as our flag is... for most non-Americans. I truly believe most anti-windows posts... are in actuality just anti-American rants.

I worked with all flavors of windows over the years. I would be shocked if Apple didn't work better than windows... Microsoft doesn't control the hardware like Apple does. I have played with Linux.... and how can I complain... it was free. I retired as a network admin... and I am a fan of windows. Every version (IMHO) has been better than the previous. For HA... I use an old saved from the trash P3.. running XP.

Sorry, but, ummm, what are you drinking? Maybe you should take a "time out" or something.
I`m Canadian, I bought my first computer more than 17 years ago and started off on DOS and eventually DOS shell. I`ve used windows for more or less for half of my life and I still hate it. I am not anti-American, as you may think, but vista f$?%ed my computer up beyond all recognition back when I decided that I had to be at the head of the pack with the others that were foolish enough to trust microshaft and adopt their new OS. I had to "upgrade" back to xp and in the process lost a lot of time and valuable data.
Additionally, I`ve actually used Ubuntu Linux enough to say that (IMHO) it is a much better OS than XP or vista, although I am still not quite happy with the software & hardware support. Alas, my balls are still firmly clasped by the bear-trap known as windows.
The other day I installed winblows 7 because xp screwed up my system yet again with one of it`s "updates". One day my computer works, the next it`s as if I unwittingly installed a virus, though all I did was agree to reboot after my update.
So far I have to say that I don`t hate windows 7. I`ve only used it for a day or so, so that could very well change, but even after the living hell and tens if not hundreds of hours that microsh1t has wasted of my life, never to be recovered or compensated for, I try to remain optimistic. Although my suspicious side tells me that microsoft purposely messed up some people`s xp installations, forcing them to move to their latest cash-grab: what vista should have been to begin with.
As the devil`s advocate, I guess the stock-holders need something to stay interested.

 

[pete_c]

Politics aside (shouldn't mix politics and computers - bit radical and to a point extreme).

I currently have a mix of MS , Linux and BSD currently running at home.

Really got into PC's around the 1980's. I had one of the first C-64 BBS's in the Chicago area using two 5.35 floppys connected to a C-64 in the early 1980's. The computer would call other computers to update its threads The local telephone company was pissed with me because I tapped into 4 pay phones I had for my BBS (installed at my business). Concurrently played with initial DOS only 8086 and 386 computers, first MACs and some Unix machines. I remember one of the first "portables" I had "kaypro"? and it only ran CPM...but it did spreadsheets....green screen and heavy....

I remember doing wine and cheese parties with a group of individuals (4-5) (mostly from University of Chicago and Northwestern) and mostly just talking about the Commodore 64 (later the Amiga) and exchanging programs. One of the weekly folks back then was J Allen Hynek (first post was mistaken). He was creating a DB with the C64 for his studies. I remember helping him a bit with it and calling him about once a month when he moved out west until he passed away.....nice person.

Back then would go the yearly CES show to see what new toys were out there...one day (a chance encounter)....was sitting there looking at some new robotic toy (mesmerized a bit) and after about 15 minutes or so noticed that I was standing next to Leonard Nimoy. He looked very old at the time. We chatted a bit about computers.

In the 1970's remember playing Star Trek using terminals all over the campus of the school I went to. These were teletype terminals. (Loyola). I would be playing the game while in Physics or Chemistry (long extended labs) and would put in a command and wait what seemed liked hours for a response.....was facinated with what I could do at the time but it was way to slow for my tastes.....

 

[roussell]

While not my first computer, my favorite growing up was a Colecovision Adam:

Introduced: June 1983
Released: October 1983
Discontinued: January 1985
Price: US $600
CPU: Zilog Z80-A @ 3.58MHz
RAM: 80K, 64K available to user
Display:TV (RF) & composite video
36 X 24 text, 16 colors
256 X 192 graphics
Ports: cartridge, video, AdamNet
Expansion: 3 internal expansion slots
Peripherals: Daisy-wheel printer (required)
Storage: 1 or 2 internal cassette drives
External floppy drive available
OS: BASIC, loaded from cassette

Here's a great article on the computer - it's funny what was a feature back then.

I used the included daisy wheel printer to write reports for school (with BASIC no less) and convinced the teacher to let use the "typewriter" instead of writing 2000 times "I will not talk in Mrs. Elams class until she acknowledges my raised hand ever again." (BASIC to the rescue - gotta love loops)

Probably also my first experience with HA - I took apart one of the joysticks and used it as inputs to make a basic "room alarm"

Ahh, good times. - BTW I should mention...It never crashed.

Terry

 

[nonumnos]

z/OS...most reliable "general computing" operating system there is. A little expensive though (both hardware and software), and I don't think there is any HA software that currently runs on it.

If I'm not mistaken, you can run a Linux VM on top of z/OS, so in a way you *could* run HA software...

That brings up a question: How many people are using one big box running multiple VMs for their various HA needs?

And that brings up the next item: Parallels vs. Xen vs. VMWare vs. $VMapp ?

 

[sic0048]

Wow, amazing how fast this "tongue in cheek" thread went to being serious.

Can't we get back on topic with some childish name calling!

 

[roussell]

...
That brings up a question: How many people are using one big box running multiple VMs for their various HA needs?
...

I run Sun VirtualBox on a Debian Linux 64 Host (Quad Core Intel, 8GB Ram). I have virtualized 5 once-real PCs (2 Linux and 3 Windows)and I have an identical box that is slowly becoming a SageTV server. The need for eventual PCI video cards and Sage's iffy performance (for me) in a virtual lead to the decision to keep it a physical box. BTW the Linux Host and it's Windows Virtuals have been up for 167 days, including time to move it to a different room. I carried the powered-on box and the UPS it was plugged into at the same time to it's new location.

Terry

 

[roussell]

Wow, amazing how fast this "tongue in cheek" thread went to being serious.

Can't we get back on topic with some childish name calling!

No Kidding! Let talk about Java - how dumb is that? It's so dumb I'm surprised it isn't produced by Microshaft. Wait, is that un-American? B)

While I'm at it - The Longhorns can bite it - ROLL TIDE! <-- Edit: Funny, I just noticed this little guy looks like he showing the "Hook-em Horns" sign - kinda takes some of the sting away from my slam, huh...

Terry

 

[Ira]

z/OS...most reliable "general computing" operating system there is. A little expensive though (both hardware and software), and I don't think there is any HA software that currently runs on it.

If I'm not mistaken, you can run a Linux VM on top of z/OS, so in a way you *could* run HA software...

That brings up a question: How many people are using one big box running multiple VMs for their various HA needs?

And that brings up the next item: Parallels vs. Xen vs. VMWare vs. $VMapp ?

IBM offers the z/VM operating system. That's probably what you are thinking about. z/OS cannot host other virtual machine operating system instances. You can run multiple instances of z/OS and/or z/Linux (and/or a couple of other flavors of operating systems) on top of z/VM. Some shops have replaced literally thousands of Linux servers with a single box running thousands of instances of z/Linux on top of z/VM.

So...in theory, you may be able to run HA software on an IBM mainframe (using z/Linux), but not on a mainframe using z/OS as its operating system.

Ira

 

[123]

First computer I ever laid hands on was a Data General Nova 1200 in 1977 (Dang! That's more than just yesterday isn't it?!). I still remember flipping those toggle switches in order to program each bit of a register. There's something very tangible about a "bit" when it is represented by the position of a high-quality toggle switch. *SNAP* True. *SNAP* False. Then again, programming even a few dozen lines of a assembly code required a heckuva lot of toggle flipping! One Nova in the lab had a hex keypad; it was very popular because it made data entry sooo much faster.

No operating system; stability was entirely based on your code and the skill to key it in correctly! In the event of a crash, you only had yourself to blame.

Neither here nor there, but the first electronic gadget I ever used was a Texas Instruments SR-50 scientific calculator. I still have it and my Dad's slide rule ... you just can't part with some things. B)

 

[Dave X10]

The reasons I like linux over Windows:
- It's free

And too many Americans have jobs now? The more American corporations that fail the better... heh comrade?

- It's far more stable.

Sure its stable.... NOTHING RUNS ON IT! How can you go to a automation forum and complain that NOTHING runs on your really STABLE system. Thats not the way English works.

- I don't have to reboot it every "patch Tuesday"

Woo Hoo I bet you and SpongeBob really party over that.

- There are interesting tools that do NOT exist on windows

Tools meant for hacking and disrupting?

- I've never had "stability" problems because I installed too many apps and ran them concurrently.

Big surprise. Since no apps are made for a system that is basically used by 14 year old boys.

Don't get me wrong... I have nothing against Linux, you, or even the euro trash creators of linux that openly admit linux is designed to harm Americans interests. I am just to old to "pretend" that linux is a real OS.