Copying all or parts of a program is as natural to a programmer as breathing, and as productive. It ought to be as free - Richard Stallman
5 things Windows 7 lacks vs Linux
By Fabio on Tuesday July 28th 2009 07:06 | Category: software
Windows 7 is looking like it's coming along nicely but I can't help but feel there's something missing. Let's go by some features that have been lacking in Windows since day one.
First of let me tell you that I am a Linux user, but I'm not here to bash Windows either, I think Windows is a fine operating system for those who aren't looking for something more open and free. But Windows being an expensive piece of software, shouldn't it offer a more advanced system than a free hacked up Linux OS? Well you'd probably say it should, and you're right. Here's a list of the stuff I miss when working with a Windows system.
- A decent repository system like apt-get on Debian based distro's
Everything is so much simpeler and safer when aps are being managed by a repository, it keeps track of the applications installed and the applications that are available for installation. It also keeps track of the dependencies of each application so that upon removal of the application you are not left with rudimentary libraries on which other programs do not rely at all.
This is not all though, the best part is that a repository system as advanced as Apt-get also keeps track of updates for every piece of software in it's database. Which of course is a great feature considering Windows update only keeps track of updates of the Windows system and it's coupled software.
- A tabbed based file manager like Nautilus
Since a year or so Nautilus (the default file manager in Gnome) has enabled tab navigation in their file manager and this is really a logical implementation after all the tab based browsers, I found it hard to believe none of the great commercial Operating Systems had ever thought of that before, it was right there and Nautilus went with it and it works great!
- The possibility to choose your own desktop enviroment
Don't like Gnome? roll with KDE... don't like that one? go for Xfce.. you get the point. On Linux you are free to choose whatever front-end you'd like and the back-end just rolls with it. No need for complex settings and configurations. Actually the freedom to choose is one of the main features I'm missing on Windows permanent.
- Many Open Source apps are platform independent and extensible
Many if not all Open Source applications available on a Linux system are platform independent, meaning they're also available on a Mac and/or Windows, or any other platform for that matter. Because the most common Open Source licenses (for instance the GPL) require the software to be written using Open Source languages as well.
So if both the application and it's programming language is Open Source it could easily be interpreted or compiled on different Operating Systems. Most Windows apps however will run only on Windows and even if a Mac or Linux version exists these have to be maintained and compiled separately from the main Windows version.
Also, because the applications are Open Source anyone is free to write extensions and/or plug-ins for the application, therefore making every app adjustable to your own needs, also disabling features you don't need is easily done, so every application is customizable for your own appliance.
Also you are free to redistribute your own customized version of the application in order to save others that have the same appliance like you lot's of work. There's a flavor for everyone.
- Linux complies to industry standards while Microsoft tries to monopolize
Linux has always chased compatibility with Windows somewhat. Although many core Linux geeks don't feel the need to be compatible with Windows this is an essential part for mayor Linux adoption amongst consumers. Of course it's plain logic that Linux strives for Windows compatibility instead of the other way round (sadly Windows is the industry standard) but Microsoft just keeps trying to bend the standards and monopolize it's OS so that others don't even have a chance of reaching compatibility.
Microsoft is completely ignoring international industry standards, a great example is it's Internet Explorer web browser. It drives web-developers crazy because it's one of the only browsers on the market today that does not comply to the Web standards as stated by the W3C.
Windows is full of these kinds of incompatibilities just to make you dependent on Windows. They're always trying to make it look like others are incompatible while it is actually Windows itself that is incompatible with the industry standards, this annoys many developers.
I could go on like this forever but you'd probably stop reading by now, if you're nog convinced by the points stated above, you probably wouldn't be interested in Linux anyways.
If you happen to have some of your own feel free to place your comments in the comments section.
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