Is Windows a Virus?

[giygas]

Note: This is not my post, a friend of mine wanted me to post this. Yes, I have friends.

Is Windows a Virus?

No, Windows is not a virus. Here's what viruses do:

1 - They replicate quickly - okay, Windows does that.

2 - Viruses use up valuable system resources, slowing down the system as they do so - okay, Windows does that.

3 - Viruses will, from time to time, trash your hard disk - okay, Windows does that too.

4 - Viruses are usually carried, unknown to the user, along with valuable programs and systems. Sigh... Windows does that, too.

5 - Viruses will occasionally make the user suspect their system is too slow (see 2) and the user will buy new hardware. Yup, that's with Windows, too.

Until now it seems Windows is a virus but there are fundamental differences: Viruses are well supported by their authors, are running on most systems, their program code is fast, compact and efficient and they tend to become more sophisticated as they mature.

So Windows is not a virus.

It's a bug.

[twelwe]

any other jokes from the 1990s? I love Window$ M$ jokes

heres one:

how does bill gates sign his checks

bill gate$

[giygas]

"Microsoft used to have real competitors once. That's why we have a museum for that"
(another quote showcasing Gate's hubris)

Also...

[evilmike]

any other jokes from the 1990s? I love Window$ M$ jokes

well, judging by the last post, this thread is at least caught up to 2003 now

[TwilightPhoenix]

Windows is kind of like Walmart. It's the biggest in what it does, it can do pretty much whatever you need it to do, and it's cheap if you want it to be (aka buying a low end Dell or somesuch). However, if you want specific things at a higher quality than Windows can offer, you'd be better served at looking at your other options (OSX, Linux, and all those other operating systems I can't recall), which is akin to going to Gamestop or Steam to buy a game instead of Walmart.

[Confidence Interval]

akin to going to Gamestop or Steam to buy a game instead of Walmart.

I wouldn't say it's quite the same. Pretty much anyone can wander into Gamestop or go to Steam - just like Walmart, all you need is a credit card. Obtaining and installng Linux or something else requires a higher level of technological know-how - as does maintaining it. At Walmart and Gamestop you're getting the same product by a different route but with Windows versus Linux you're going a different route, getting a different thing, and need to be more knowledgeable and confident to both start and continue using it.

[twelwe]

Windows is kind of like Walmart. It's the biggest in what it does, it can do pretty much whatever you need it to do, and it's cheap if you want it to be (aka buying a low end Dell or somesuch). However, if you want specific things at a higher quality than Windows can offer, you'd be better served at looking at your other options (OSX, Linux, and all those other operating systems I can't recall), which is akin to going to Gamestop or Steam to buy a game instead of Walmart.

lomlo lols lamao

a great joke

[giygas]

akin to going to Gamestop or Steam to buy a game instead of Walmart.

I wouldn't say it's quite the same. Pretty much anyone can wander into Gamestop or go to Steam - just like Walmart, all you need is a credit card. Obtaining and installng Linux or something else requires a higher level of technological know-how - as does maintaining it. At Walmart and Gamestop you're getting the same product by a different route but with Windows versus Linux you're going a different route, getting a different thing, and need to be more knowledgeable and confident to both start and continue using it.

Linux is only more complicated to obtain if you make it complicated. If you want a system that is as slow as Windows, download Ubuntu, and it will install without a problem, no know-how needed. But if you want to make a bare bones debian box, an arch box like like I have (or, god forbid, a gentoo box), it will cost you in time instead of money.

[twelwe]

this thread turned from a 0 to a 6 fast

[giygas]

I'd be interested to know what distros other people use. I use Arch and Debian, with Gnome 2 or MATE.

[IronJelly]

akin to going to Gamestop or Steam to buy a game instead of Walmart.

I wouldn't say it's quite the same. Pretty much anyone can wander into Gamestop or go to Steam - just like Walmart, all you need is a credit card. Obtaining and installng Linux or something else requires a higher level of technological know-how - as does maintaining it. At Walmart and Gamestop you're getting the same product by a different route but with Windows versus Linux you're going a different route, getting a different thing, and need to be more knowledgeable and confident to both start and continue using it.

Linux is only more complicated to obtain if you make it complicated. If you want a system that is as slow as Windows, download Ubuntu, and it will install without a problem, no know-how needed. But if you want to make a bare bones debian box, an arch box like like I have (or, god forbid, a gentoo box), it will cost you in time instead of money.

What is wrong with Ubuntu, exactly?

[giygas]

What is wrong with Ubuntu, exactly?

Nothing is wrong with Ubuntu if you just want a simple to set up system. But there is no real advantage in running Ubuntu over Windows except for the price, because it's bloated with a large number of drivers and the Unity Desktop. That said, when all else fails at running on a computer, Ubuntu doesn't. I've only found it useful as a system repair live disc, because it supports all hardware made in the last 10 years.

[giygas]

My strategy is to install Ubuntu then spend a few minutes uninstalling stuff so it basically turns into Debian, that way I get better support on ubuntuforums

It won't be debian, it'll be un-bloated ubuntu (even though this is an oxymoron). You still won't be able to use all of the debian package repos.