Comments on: Windows 7 RC1 Vs. Linux Mint 7 RC – Review

By: Ned

Ned — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 11:21:18 +0000

I have been using Windows RC since the beta versions. Yes indeed microsoft got a bad run with vista. I really hope that Microsoft can take back the market. In any case I have to say that Windows 7 is a very very up imporvement from Vista. It runs with little effort and doesn’t crash or freeze nearly as often. I have no tried the 64bit version yet but I hear its just as good.

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By: bRayN

bRayN — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:25:42 +0000

Just set up Linux Mint 8 and decided to try it out. First, I ripped a few CDs to MP3 and played them back with Rythmbox – no problem. Decided to try to copy a video that I rented from BlockBuster. Spent two days trying to find and install something like AnyDVD and DVDShrink to reauthor the DVD. The task is impossible for a novice user. Went over to my Windows7 machine and did a google search for both programs and installed each in less than 5 minutes – reauthored and burned a new DVD in 22 minutes. When it comes to ease of use Windows7 wins hands down.

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By: Stephen Simonsen

Stephen Simonsen — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 08:22:30 +0000

I’ve been aware of linux since the early days and I’ve played around with it a little bit here and there over the years. It’s definitely come along way but as everyone has pointed out it’s not there yet. 1) We live in a point and click world now. In order to attract users to make the switch from Mac/Windows over to the “freedom” side there needs to be a more seamless transition. Everything should be done within the GUI without having to resort to the command line interface (unless you really really want to). 2) Installation has made a gigantic leap from years ago (I remember multiple days running between penguin friends and my pc trying to get answers on how to compile this or that etc. It just got annoying. Most users just want to insert the disk load it answer a few questions and let the installer do it’s magic. It’s a vast improvement but still not quite there yet for the completely computer illiterate. But it’s very close and I look forward to more progress. 3) Choices…I’m all for choices…..but come on….it’s enough to make your head spin. I’ll put it this way, if you have 100 people trying to reinvent the automobile..eventually you’re going to come up with some fantastic new technology. Now think of how effective it would be if 5 teams of 20 people were doing the same thing. The linux community should look at the cream of the crop, the top few distros and focus the energy and innovation on those. As an open source you will always have some on the peripheral tweaking and making it their own but until the community becomes more cohesive and targeted it will continue to take time (look at how longs it’s taken to get this far). Don’t get me wrong I’m not knocking the brilliant programmers who’ve worked hard and brought linux to the point of making Apple and MS worry with good reason. 4) And finally support. Until there’s wider support for linux as a whole, gaming, 3rd party software, linux is going to be relegated to 3rd place (remember that gaming is a major force for pc innovation).

As for Windows 7, I’ve been using it since the beta version and I think MS might have finally started to remove their head from their nether region. It’s faster, lighter and DEFINATELY much more stable than vista or I would argue than XP itself. They’ve finally taken the hint from linux and started to untangle the core from the gui. As for your comments about adding word and full codec support, I think they’re a little gun shy after all the litigation and anti-trust suits. And really it’s not that hard to go online after install and download and install openoffice and needed but not mainly used codecs. Overall I’m happier with Windows 7 than I have been with any other MS operating system I’ve used (and I’ve been around since the DOS days). With that being said, I’ll continue to watch linux grow and look forward to the day when I’ll be able to just download and install the newest version of operating system for my pc without having to shell out 100 plus dollars for an upgrade and not have to worry about whether or not it’s going to perform like it should.

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By: Ron Brown

Ron Brown — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:36:54 +0000

I am a long time Windows user having used it since its conception. Prior to that it was DOS and at one time OS/2. It tried Win 7 RC1 and LinuxMint 7 RC1. I didn't notice that much of a speed difference except in boot up, but I'm running 64-bit Windows and Mint hasn't released that version yet.

As a newbee in Linux I have some observations. Linux has made some giant strides since its early days. Mint is very impressive and, as you mentioned, it is much more complete out of the box. Overall, however, it doesn't feel as polished and usable as Windows to me. I also find constantly having to locate the correct config file to edit to make simple changes to be quite annoying. For instance, I wanted to change the workgroup name the other day… a simple task in Windows. I Googled it and thought I had the answer, but the soluction was to get and install an app. I did that and my system would no longer boot. I found later that it was merely an easy edit of a config file yet the damage had been done. So all I could see to do was delete the partition and start over.

I believe this type of experience is what is blocking a more widespread adoption of Linux. Yes the various distros have grabbged market share from MS (not a bad thing!), but I believe much deeper inroads could be made if these areas were addressed. Nonetheless, those who have dedicated themselves to bettering Linux deserve cudos for a job well done!

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By: Dayne

Dayne — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:16:56 +0000

Mint 7 is a brilliant piece of work indeed, but Linux just isn’t there yet. I’m a Linux fan and when Windows 7 RC and Mint linux 7 cane out I tri-booted them with kubunt 9.04. I’m usually a kubuntu fan but to be honest 9.04 has caused me nothing but problems so on to the other two.

I was impressed with Windows 7. I liked the looks and most of the problems can be put down to it being in RC stages. Things like 3rd party software not working for example. It failed to detect my sound card but again I think the few problems I had can be sorted.

Since installation though my time has been on the excellent mint 7. Its easy to use and fast, but its still not there. I’m not great at some terminal tasks and have had to google a few times to sort things out, I have had a few problems with my screen resolution (it still wont rise as high as it will on windows. I can fix it in the terminal but takes too long to do every time I turn the computer on) and theres the obvious differences in linux like the organization of the file system.

Overall I much prefer mint to windows, but when my technophobic friend the other day asked if he should try ‘this linux thing’ I had to advise him not to. not yet.

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By: Marc

Marc — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 22:04:08 +0000

Derick,
More than the need to search of a lot things, I would say that the biggest issue is the huge time it takes to solve your install/config change/drivers issue problems.
Ppl would probably be ok if a 2 min. google search + 1 min. menu or command line would fix their issue …

Like or Dislike: 2 0

By: Derick Thomas

Derick Thomas — Mon, 25 May 2009 09:57:59 +0000

@Ron,

You are right. People are very scared when they hear the name linux. One of the major issue is that what you have mentioned – you need to search for a lot of things. Although many distros are trying to change this scenario. Some of the changes can be done only by editing files.

I wish someone who is actually developing linux GUI see this

Like or Dislike: 1 1

By: Ron Brown

Ron Brown — Sun, 24 May 2009 18:05:55 +0000

I am a long time Windows user having used it since its conception. Prior to that it was DOS and at one time OS/2. It tried Win 7 RC1 and LinuxMint 7 RC1. I didn’t notice that much of a speed difference except in boot up, but I’m running 64-bit Windows and Mint hasn’t released that version yet.

As a newbee in Linux I have some observations. Linux has made some giant strides since its early days. Mint is very impressive and, as you mentioned, it is much more complete out of the box. Overall, however, it doesn’t feel as polished and usable as Windows to me. I also find constantly having to locate the correct config file to edit to make simple changes to be quite annoying. For instance, I wanted to change the workgroup name the other day… a simple task in Windows. I Googled it and thought I had the answer, but the soluction was to get and install an app. I did that and my system would no longer boot. I found later that it was merely an easy edit of a config file yet the damage had been done. So all I could see to do was delete the partition and start over.

Like or Dislike: 1 0

By: Derick Thomas

Derick Thomas — Mon, 18 May 2009 04:36:55 +0000

@CoolGoose,
True. Only if you install some applications manually, then only you need to be aware of the whereabouts of other folders. But for a normal user, only documents and media files are important.

Like or Dislike: 0 1

By: CoolGoose

CoolGoose — Sun, 17 May 2009 20:25:47 +0000

A normal user shouldn’t know more than their home folder (on linux).
The package manager is enough for installing applications.

Like or Dislike: 1 2