Ask dotTechies: What operating system do you use the most?
January 31, 2010 43
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More often than not, when the subject of operating systems comes up, a war starts between Windows, Linux, and Mac fans. However, what does not hit the headlines quite as often is the fact that there is a huge spread amongst Windows users, in terms of what Windows version is being used. Indeed at my most recent job, it was very shocking to see that most of the computers in the building(s) were running Microsoft Windows 2000, even though – at the time – the Windows series was up to Vista. So now I am curious – what operating systems do most dotTechies use?
NOTE1: I understand that some of the choices below many have different “editions” (i.e. Windows XP Home and Windows XP Professional). If your specific edition is not listed, just select the version that you use (i.e. Windows XP Home and Windows XP Professional users select Windows XP).
NOTE2: This poll is intended for the operating system of your computer – not your phone or other device.
[poll id="12"]
If you have any questions, comments, or whatever, feel free to post below in the comments.
I wish I could post a list of “most used”.. XP- Linux Mint (now Mint-8)- Windows 7…. but using Win7 more and more….
Ashraf,
Some web sites have the ability to record what OS visitors are using.
Perhaps you could have a wee ticker, that we can peep at ?
I run two lap tops; one with XP SP3 and another with Linux openSUSE 11.2. Linux is mostly dependent on clouds as I can’t seem to load new software on it. Silly me…
Have to admit that our secondary computer here is Win98SE. I’d love it to be WinXP but couldn’t afford the upgrade when it was still available in EnZed. BUT I have to say that I could fix most problems it had, and there were still some free or open source progs that were ideal for it including security.
I have XP(pro sp3) on the desktop and Vista basic on a laptop. I dont have any major complaints about Vista, but a few minor annoyances and no great benefit has me thinking of putting XP on the laptop too.
I’d also be curious to see what improvement the extra resources that Vista currently uses would make to the programs I actually want to run.
As someone once said:”Vista is just XP in a tutu” :)
@WobblyWombat:
You may be able to partition your laptop drive, and install XP into the 2nd partition ?
That way you can boot into XP, to see the improvement (resources, speed, etc).
I would bet body parts that the laptop will use less resources.
However the main benefit, would be ensuring that XP (and you), can find all the required drivers.
“This tape will self-destruct in five seconds. Good luck Jim”
I would back up your data Mr Phelps.
Hmmm…
Win XP Pro on 3 three machines; Win 7 Ultimate on one; WHS on the server; Linux on an old Duron box; Win98SE on an old PIII sled. The XP boxes are the most active at the moment, but that Win 7 machine’s staring to carve out a special place as I tweak it more and more.
I have two computers, one with XP, and one with Vista. I tend to use the XP computer more, and I could get 7 on to my Vista computer, I just haven’t go the time, so I voted XP.
Nothing beats open source. Period.
I’d like to use a mac or linus but my screen reader/ magnifier ( zoomtext 9.18.6) and there is no way I can afford to try anything else (oklahoma doesn’t help the impaired very good). I’m off to see what the latest WoW patch broke (I love addon they make it where I can play =) )
@Stephen:
Your post is not very clear to me.
Possibly because I don’t use Macs nor Linux.
Are you saying that you would like to change over to them (Mac or Linux), but the lack of affordable magnifying software is preventing you ?
If that is the case then my next suggestion is of no use to you.
However if you use more than one PC, and you don’t want to be stabbed in the pocket by a charging rhinoceros, then this suggestion may help.
I checked out your ZoomText, and it may be for the visually impaired, but it is NOT for the financially impaired.
You could try (for your 2nd Windows PC), MagnifyingGlass Pro
http://www.workerscollection.com/wcollect/english/html/mg_pro_buy.html
It costs $25 US
I got mine free from GOTD
I have it set to magnify the whole screen.
You do not get any annoying box etc, it just magnifies the whole screen. (MS should have built that into Windows).
I press Ctrl and the Windows key, and my screen is magnified. I move the mouse N S E or West to see other parts of the screen.
I press Ctrl and Windows key again to revert to normal.
If you have any visually impaired friends (or old fools like me), who are not rolling in money, pass on my suggestion.
@Chindu:
Just a point of interest re Win 2000, I have a friend who is MS Certified and runs his own Computer Sales and Service. His Win OS of choice is Win 2000!
As for me I’m currently using Vista Premium. I’ve never used Win 2000, but did use Win 98SE for the longest time. Then finally upgraded to XP pro.
Although Vista is my current OS, I will be getting a pc built for me around March/April (by my friend) which will be Win 7.
Only 6 Mac OS users?
I use a lot of XP just because it’s what I have installed on my computer at work.
But since I bought my Mac I must say that I really like Mac OS X.
I still need to try Windows 7 though…
I went directly from XP to 7 bypassing the Vista fiasco altogether. I decided to stick with 7 after running the beta build for almost a year, figuring out the twists and turns. XP was an excellent OS, but 7 seems to have overcome some of its limitations without too many issues. So far so good… but I must confess that 7 is only on my main pc. All the rest remain with XP.
@RobCr:
I’m not Chindu, but XP-Windows 2000 Pro drivers are generally compatible. The vast majority of applications with a few recent exceptions (e.g., Chrome) are compatible, as well. Win2K Pro is Windows 5.0; XP is 5.1, very close.
I am also using Xandros, PCLinuxOS and Portable Ubuntu Remix (runs inside Windows). But, most of the time it’s Windows 2000 Professional. Yes, it’s stable and quick, but like all Microsoft OS’s I’ve ever used, (excluding MS/PC-DOS) it takes a _lot_ of TLC to keep it that way, without the annual reformat-reinstall that some do.
Not that there’s anything wrong with doing that — it works — but I have Win2K Pro too highly customized to make that practical.
@Ashraf: I can’t see the results of the OS survey. A big blank area forms below the survey questions after clicking to see it. This is with Xandros and Firefox, possibly 2.5?
Reloading the browser does nothing to help. Can anyone duplicate this behavior?
@Ashraf: No problem now … the survey appeared.
Vista Home Premium.
I also use alot Mandriva 2010. It is the distro that IMHO will soon replace Windows, only if Software developers will stop windows only behaviour and go cross-platform. Ubuntu (which I used in Past) and Suse (which I have never used) are very capable and may well accomplish that!
Anyway one buddy haven’t said yet, that is Ashraf ;)
I wonder whether an article on LiveCD’s is desirable ?
I tried the latest Ubuntu (9.1) as a liveCD, and it was good.
However I lamented on -
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/#comment-87830
how it could not preserve your settings, data, etc.
(If I am wrong, I would love to be told how ?)
I then came across Puppy Linux, and it can retain stuff between sessions.
Also it is extremely small, and can totally load into RAM. Which means you can remove the CD, and use the CD drawer for other things, during the session.
I believe it is so cool (at retaining stuff), that many people always use it as a LiveCD.