Linked by Kevin Russo on Thu 31st Mar 2005 18:40 UTC
I read a lot of reviews comparing GNU/Linux and Microsoft Windows, and inevitably the topic of installing software comes up. Most reviews indicate that installing software in Windows is much easier than that of the desktop GNU/Linux world. I decided to do my own comparison based on my desktop usage to see the difference. The following are my results. Those of you that come from the Windows world may be a tad bit surprised at the ease in which software can be installed.
Permalink for comment
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Recent Original Stories
Recent Comments
Headlines
Random Comments
Random Stories
Random OS Link
How can Windows users *possibly* defend a mechanism that requires extensive user intervention, and involves two seperate programs (web browser, installer). Especially considering that the Linux alternative is a few clicks in a single application, and no confusing questions.* It seems to me that most people are so used to doing things one way, they cannot possibly concieve that there might be an easier way. Of course, the points about commercial apps are valid, but here is where people who actually use Linux, and those who just bitch about it on OSNews differ. Most people *don't* use commercial apps on Linux. Those who do run stuff like SoftImage or Oracle, and those apps are hard to install on any OS.
* For those who doubt the questions are confusing: have a newbie install Windows. My dad, having used computers for two decades (started on a UNIX dumb terminal), still has trouble installing software on Windows. He'll call me up and say "it asked me about the path it should install to, what do I do?" I end up saying "just hit OK or NEXT until it gives you a button that says FINISH". This, of course, is less than optimal, because the user indiscriminantly clicking "OK" is a sure fire way to get a porn toolbar installed on your computer...