I haven't changed from
Linux to
Windows because Linux is better at doing what I
require. So, what is it that I require? At the moment, I'm writing up some e2 nodes. I have
Evolution in the
background, checking my e-mail regularly (every three minutes).
XMMS is playing my collection of MP3s.
I can't node from my Windows machine because I can't get the resolution above 640x480. I can get
1280x1024 in
X Windows, but Windows won't change to anything above 640x480, no matter what I do. I'm using an Asus v7700
GeForce 2 GTS graphics card, so it might be to do with that; Windows doesn't come with drivers for it. Alternately, it could be the monitor; it's an old 17" Sony tube, that won't go above
60Hz. Windows might notice this and try and lower the resolution until it can get a decent refresh. But it can't, so it gives me the
lowest resolution possible.
I can't find anyone who knows what's going on with my monitor/graphics card, or how I could fix it. So I'm stuck at
640x480, which makes doing anything much
hard. Also, the only browser that doesn't suck available for Windows is Opera. That means banners, or expense. I'm using
Opera, so noding is just about
possible.
After that, I want a good mail client. Sure, there are several mail clients out there for
Windows and they may be very good, but changing mail clients means either an import/export function, or loosing all my old messages. I can't find a Windows mail client that can automatically get my old mail from Evolution, get my new messages, let me read them, and export to the Evolution files, for when I'm in Linux.
Oh, yeah, MP3s. I haven't got sound support in Windows. If I install
Linux, sound works
out of the box; it's a SoundBlaster Live card... pretty common. But it doesn't work out of the box. There isn't a 'configure sound' button that shows me my options. I have to go to soundblaster.com and download "drivers", then I have to install them and do all manner of
archaic things:
Insert Windows no driver error message here. (When I get around to rebooting, alright =)
This is basically too much for me to deal with. I have to install drivers and reboot to play my
MP3s? Linux can do it much more
easily.
In conclusion, I don't use
Windows because IT IS
NOT A STRONG DESKTOP OPERATING SYSTEM. It might be good for playing games, but not for the
desktop. Also, the people who use Windows like to feel supreme and clever. They want to say `You can't configure your sound card? That's
unbelievable, you only have to install the drivers you require, and anyone can do that! Simple!' they will then congratulate themselves on being so helpful and clever, and never do anything to make Windows configuration more intuitive. I mean, *they * can configure their sound cards. If it needs doing so much, why don't I pay someone to improve it? After all, that's the point of shared-source!
I don't use Windows because the returns in terms of functionality do not outweigh the losses in terms of, i.e. not being able to use my IDE CD-writer. Being described as `
The zealot who still uses Linux' does nothing to make me want to change over: Linux is more appropriate to my needs, and until Windows is in a usable state for me, I do not plan on using it heavily.
All OSs suck, and using a foreign one is always going to be more difficult than one you're used to. However, now that I have the sarcasm out of my system, maybe I can help. Coincidently, we seem to have similar systems (I was being serious about my hardware configuration above.).