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Doing Without Windows

You don't have to run Microsoft's omnipresent OS

--it just seems that way. What's in it for you if you try an alternative?
https://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,...b062005x,00.asp

Windows Doing

The problem with switching from windows is the lose of software support. There is much much more software in the way of games and utilities on windows than any other platform. If you are going to switch, Apple is the way to go. Linux still needs to build in user ease of use and still touts its strong points as security and customizability. Users want plug and play, put the cd in and go functionality that Linux fails to provide.

Doing Without Windows Gaming Video & Issues Computer

Obviously, I agree. I love using OS X. It gives me ALL the flexibility of Linux, because it is based on a solid Unix kernel (actually, I think it is BSD). It is extremely powerful, and the Aqua interface on top of Unix is extremely solid.

As far as games go, there are some great ones for the Mac, but I prefer to play on a console these days anyway.

The very best games, those made by Blizzard, are all dual system out of the box. So, I play Starcraft on my Mac. I haven't really played Warcraft 3 yet, but that will come soon.

And, I use NeoOffice J (an implementation of OpenOffice.org in Java, specifically for OS X) for all my office type work. I could get MS Office, but it imports the security flaws of MS Office into OS X.

With the Mac Mini out now, there is a VERY cost effective way to jump right into the great alternative. And, if the Intel thing works out, OS X might be available on regular Intel boxes in the near future.

BTW, Linux does have some good things going for it right now. New distributions are becoming available that are well automated in setup, and go right into a Windows-like interface (such as KDE), that almost looks as good as OS X.

Oh, one last point. Solaris just became Open Source. I don't know what the technical requirements are for it, but there is another powerful OS available for free.

Windows Doing

Lets not forget though that Windows still commands a monopolistic marketshare in the home and small business arena. Since it's all economics more products are created for this Window's base than for say Linux and or OS X. The average home user uses his PC for, web surfing, composing email/text messaging, word processing, and games. All these can be made for Linux or OS X but the profit return would not justify the cost. Just think how much money it takes to make a video game now, millions of dollars, they have become prevobial movie studios. With windows you have a huge segment of the market ready to distribute to so its common since to stick with the windows platform in business sense. Also you have to think of Windows as being nostalgic beckoning times since windows 3.1. Mnay of us have grown up using windows and have seen it evolve overtime to where we are now..it began as number 1 and still is today (market wise.) Although say Linux was created years ago, it did not have mass commerical appeal to average users until recently. Apple has always try to stay with the niche market of "Creative thinkers/ artist" and never really caught on in the home user market. You also have to think about when you see advertisements on TV, magazines, books they always promote Intel + Windows. The x86 architecture is dominant so when your bombarded with the most widely used chip and OS saying they work perfectly together most people are just going to assume and go along. Hopefully now with OS X jumping ship and Linux steadily becoming easier to use, and more mainstream the dynamics would change and it would create a more competitive environment but for now we have to deal with King Windows.