Advantages of different operating systems?

S

superfly

New Member
Hi there,

I am new here and doing a project and researching information on operating systems and writing about there advantages and disadvantages over different operating systems, I have found information but seems to be dated while searching so wondering if somebody could provide me with some up to date information.

Could people please tell add some advantages and disadvantages for these over each other.

DOS (not MS-DOS)

Windows XP & Vista (vista not as much too new)

Linux

Mac OS X


Thanks in advance for your help
:)
 
First things first like a Welcome to the Computer Forum! http://www.computerforum.com/70672-official-welcome-thread.html and the usual reminder given to new members to review the http://www.computerforum.com/52038-forum-rules.html

There are advantages and often even "disadvantages" seen when having more then one operating system installed on any system. I can't give you any details on Apple/MAC while having multi OSed different custom cases here for a good number of years now having started out with dos machines and some much earlier versions of Windows.

One main advantage to having the latest "Vista" installed as the second not primary OS at this time is the lack of familiarity and driver support as well as software compatibility problems that come up with "ANY" new version of just about any OS except for perhaps Linux. Linux is still based on the old and now far outdated UNIX platform while still being an open source type where new things are always being submitted.

The last build here still ran 98SE along with a first MSDos 6,22 partition with Windows 3.1 able to run there followed by a Linux distro on the 3rd and 4th partitions for the "root"(main OS files) and "swap"(drive psace used for virtual memory) were seen. While getting more familiar with how Linux runs there the main drawback of softwares incompatiblities seen and no driver support for dsl internet, video, sound, etc. soon saw XP and 98SE as the two OSs run.
 
Mac OS X has great software (It looks cool to:D ).
Linux is free and a lot of the software is under the GNU Open Source License.
Windows? I personally hate Windows and the only reason I use it is because I have to. When I can I run a Slax Linux Virtual Machine or a FreeSpire or Knoppix Live CD.

If I had a choice I would deffinetly use a Mac, the only problem is it is expensive. In fact price is probably the only drawback to Mac. As far as DOS goes it is fast but (obviously) isn't very pretty to look at and is not at all user friendly.

~Jordan
 
Finally someone else familiar with Knoppix arrives! JordanII must also be very familiar with how Knoppix live can be used to copy files from a drive with a corrupted MS partition onto another MS drive with a healthy one. Data retrieval often sees Linux live for cd/dvd to the rescue!

While currently running two different versions of XP along with Vista I still keep a few live distros onhand. Besides Knopppix there's ubuntu, Gentoo, Mephis, Zenwalk 2,8 and 3.0 to add to that list. Will Mandriva go on one of the two new sata drives added lately? That will be another day another topic there.
 
Unfortunately, I have had to use that feature of Knoppix before to get into the password protected user-names on a bad Windows XP installation. It worked well and I have all the data back. By the way, I have a Dell OptiPlex GX1
(in the sig) and I can't get Knoppix to start up on it. It shows up with the Tux logo and it begins the startup process as normal but doesn't actually complete the startup. Do you have any ideas? I just began using a wireless internet connection so I will probably download more live ISO files. I have this habit of always wanting to download a new live OS.:D

~Jordan
 
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Windows is good for Solitaire, lol.

I am thinking about triple booting Linux, Vista, and XP, just to gather the best all have to offer.
 
JordanII said:
Unfortunately, I have had to use that feature of Knoppix before to get into the password protected user-names on a bad Windows XP installation. It worked well and I have all the data back. By the way, I have a Dell OptiPlex GX1
(in the sig) and I can't get Knoppix to start up on it. It shows up with the Tux logo and it begins the startup process as normal but doesn't actually complete the startup. Do you have any ideas? I just began using a wireless internet connection so I will probably download more live ISO files. I have this habit of always wanting to download a new live OS.:D

~Jordan
Click to expand...

It sounds like the program you are using for burning the Linux iso images onto disk is leaving something out. When going to burn GParted to cd-rs one free version of a retail product does far better then Nero and other since it actually does offer support for this type of file. BurnOn is the name of that one found at http://www.burnworld.com/burnoncddvd/

The only annoyances found after so many burns is the need to run "sfc /scannow" at the XP Run prompt to correct the problems when going to use it again. After each burn the web page opens in IE for buying the full version. If you get past these two nuisances you have a great burning program.
 
my plan was to dual boot vista x64 and OSx86, but osx wont boot. im gonna have to find a new build then it might work. otherwise you cant go wrong with windows and a linux dual boot
 
Presently I am undecided on just what to put on a second 500gb sata drive here besides backing up files compatible with Vista currently installed on the secondary ide drive. Mandriva and Solaris 10 along with a Vista storage partition was one idea. That would see 5 OSs running on the system here. I wouldn't tamper with the current Vista boot loader but use something like ubuntu's boot manager on removable to choose the partition and see the OS installed there loaded.
 
I'm thinking about putting Slackare 10.1 on a 40GB partition. I've tried it several times though and F-Disk only gives me access to 1 or 2 hundred MB. I might try it again today because I like Linux so much. Do you think it will run my rig (in the
sig). I downloaded and installed the burning software and it looks great. I just recently got a new CD burning drive and I haven't installed it yet so I haven't been able to test the program. Thanks for the link! An advantage to Windows Vista is that it looks cool.:D

~Jordan
 
For Linux you will want a good working cd writer to burn either the install cds or live versions to try out first by simply booting from cd before installation to the hard drive. The GParted live for cd is the actual Linux partitioning tool(free) that even partitions Fat, NTFS< and other types of partitons like those for Solaris. Having a good burn of the 0.3.3.0 release will go far there.

The BurnOn program also covers making "bootable" cds as well as just simply burning an iso disk image to a cd-r. But like I mentioned earlier after a few good burns run the "sfc /scannow" command at the Run prompt with the Windows installation or recovery disk in the drive if you suddenly see that program refuse to burn. The free version does have that one drawback while still being a great tool for the occasional burn.

GParted being a Linux tool still has one advantage over MS there with a better hardware detection. But you will have to get used to the different look and have to press the enter/return several times at each prompt until the main gui desktop type window is seen. Some screen shots are available while not exact for each release to give you the general idea there. http://gparted.sourceforge.net/screenshots.php
 
I'm going to try another Live Linux Distro (DreamLinux) on my system. And then I'm going to try my hand at building my own distro. It can't be to hard, after all there are new distros spring up every day (well, almost). It might not work in Basic though.

~Jordan
 
You first would have to be "very knowlegable" with programming and the Linux actually UNIX language and structure of the OS. But Zenwalk and PC Linux had to come from somewhere?! :D Give it your best try! Who knows maybe you will come up with some great MS/Linux cross blend that makes everyone happy! :P
 
Linux is still based on the old and now far outdated UNIX platform while still being an open source type where new things are always being submitted.
Click to expand...

Ummm, you know Linux is the most up to date OS, and that the NT kernel is based off of Unix....Oh yeah Linux also runs the internet.

Seriously where do you come up with your information sometimes.

DOS = good for nothing, with one exception for boot disks

Windows XP = solid if you keep it up to date and don't do stupid things, but not the best

Vista = is a pile of crap compared to XP

OS X = runs well, easy to use, powerful unix background, can only use it on macs and not as much third party support as PC

Linux = solid OS, solid free apps, but at the cost of learning how to use it you will probably give up and go back to windows

that is the reality of it
 
upgrading is always the hardest part, it leaves older computers out of date..but adds new features "extras" to the newer ones.... like with windows vista, u need good hardware to run all of its cool features... but its always fun to have new os's everyonce in a while...only thing stopping people from using vista is drivers and software...before we know it, vista will b just like xp, everybody run it...as where 90% comps run windows....only because of software support...
 
tlarkin said:
Ummm, you know Linux is the most up to date OS, and that the NT kernel is based off of Unix....Oh yeah Linux also runs the internet.

Seriously where do you come up with your information sometimes.

DOS = good for nothing, with one exception for boot disks

Windows XP = solid if you keep it up to date and don't do stupid things, but not the best

Vista = is a pile of crap compared to XP

OS X = runs well, easy to use, powerful unix background, can only use it on macs and not as much third party support as PC

Linux = solid OS, solid free apps, but at the cost of learning how to use it you will probably give up and go back to windows

that is the reality of it
Click to expand...

What you are missing is what is meant by "outdated". The concept of using manual commands for the majority of program installations, running them, loading the distro by command console, and other operations where text is manually typed in is still based on the original need to take courses on programing language regardless of the updated features and support seen in since modified versions of an open source OS.

For a new generation of pc users the concept of "point and click" is the standard over dos prompts or Grub/Lilo consoles. The key advantages to Linux is the more efficient hardware detection as well as stability. I personally know several having years of experience with Linux asking: "Why do you want to run that old OS? Stick with Windows!". I had to start in the dos/3.1 era where Windows didn't auto load when pressing the power button.
 
Lately I've been waiting to get some time aside for tinkering with Solaris to see how the newer 10 version is. I could easily add Mandriva on one drive along with that or simply use those drives for a sata array for backing everything from XP and Vista alike. The one thing you do see when mutl osing however is how the different OSs work once you spent a good deal of time with different OSs being run.
 
tlarkin said:
Ummm, you know Linux is the most up to date OS, and that the NT kernel is based off of Unix....Oh yeah Linux also runs the internet.
Click to expand...

Sure, the software is up to date but the base system is old. It is still based off of the same system as MINIX.

You first would have to be "very knowlegable" with programming and the Linux actually UNIX language and structure of the OS. But Zenwalk and PC Linux had to come from somewhere?! Give it your best try! Who knows maybe you will come up with some great MS/Linux cross blend that makes everyone happy!
Click to expand...

Oh great! I thought it would be possible to code it in something else. I'm still going to try though. I thought it might be possible in Basic:rolleyes: Silly me.

~Jordan
 
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