Chris Pirillo » operating-system http://chris.pirillo.com News and Reviews! Geek, Internet Entrepreneur, Hardware Addict, Software Junkie, Book Author, Once TV Show Host, Technology Enthusiast, Shameless Self-Promoter, Tech Conference Coordinator, Early Adopter, Idea Evangelist, Tech Support Blogger, Bootstrapper, Media Personality, Technology Consultant, Thicker Quicker Picker Upper. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:04:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 en hourly 1 © chris@pirillo.com () chris@pirillo.com() Geek, Internet Entrepreneur, Hardware Addict, Software Junkie, Book Author, Once TV Show Host, Technology Enthusiast, Shameless Self-Promoter, Tech Conference Coordinator, Early Adopter, Idea Evangelist, Tech Support Blogger, Bootstrapper, Media Personality, Technology Consultant, Thicker Quicker Picker Upper. chris@pirillo.com No no http://chris.pirillo.com/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpg Chris Pirillo http://chris.pirillo.com 144 144 CNN Blogger Bunch: Windows 7 and Hulu Subscriptions http://chris.pirillo.com/cnn-blogger-bunch-windows-7-and-hulu-subscriptions/ http://chris.pirillo.com/cnn-blogger-bunch-windows-7-and-hulu-subscriptions/#comments Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:30:26 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/?p=15143 CNN Blogger Bunch: Windows 7 and Hulu Subscriptions is a post from Chris Pirillo

I was recently featured on CNN live website, along with my buddies Pete Cashmore (from Mashable) and Brian Chen (from Wired). We had a great time discussing things like Windows 7 and the announcement of Hulu subscriptions. It’s an interesting roundtable from the three of us self-avowed “Mac” guys, who all have extensive Windows experience.

As I stated during the discussion, I believe the operating system is becoming irrelevant in the days where everyone logs in to their computer, and immediately opens a web browser.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you feel as we tune more and more into the Web that things such as actual operating systems will become more irrelevant?

]]> CNN Blogger Bunch: Windows 7 and Hulu Subscriptions is a post from Chris Pirillo

I was recently featured on CNN live website, along with my buddies Pete Cashmore (from Mashable) and Brian Chen (from Wired). We had a great time discussing things like Windows 7 and the announcement of Hulu subscriptions. It’s an interesting roundtable from the three of us self-avowed “Mac” guys, who all have extensive Windows experience.

As I stated during the discussion, I believe the operating system is becoming irrelevant in the days where everyone logs in to their computer, and immediately opens a web browser.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you feel as we tune more and more into the Web that things such as actual operating systems will become more irrelevant?

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/cnn-blogger-bunch-windows-7-and-hulu-subscriptions/feed/ 11 Who Loves Windows Vista? http://chris.pirillo.com/who-loves-windows-vista/ http://chris.pirillo.com/who-loves-windows-vista/#comments Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:26:08 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/?p=15464 Who Loves Windows Vista? is a post from Chris Pirillo


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During a recent live call, Charles nearly knocked me out of my chair when he proclaimed that he LOVES Windows Vista. I was honestly shocked, especially since the calls were supposed to be about Windows 7. Charles stated emphatically that he never had issues with Vista, and that it actually just worked for him. He fully admits that he may be the only person in his entire town – or state! – who feels this way. We did, of course, end up discussing his views on Windows 7, and about Microsoft in general.

I feel that Windows Vista was, of course, one of the worst things to happen to Microsoft. Also, of course, the iPhone was bad for Microsoft, as well. The iPhone has been probably the most sought-after gadget in recent years, which only enhances Microsoft’s lackluster products. Even people at Microsoft have admitted that Vista wasnt’ fully baked, so how was the public supposed to like it?

Charles actually liked the fact that there were five different versions of Vista. He didn’t want to pay for features he wasn’t interested in. However, I don’t feel that languages should have been part of any type of upgrade, such as in the Ultimate edition. It should be built right in to the operating system as a core component!! Having so many different versions of one operating system creates confusion amongst the public, at least in my opinion. People who don’t know better automatically assume that they need the best they can afford, whether they truly need those additional features or not. That’s just not always the case. Often, they end up having paid for things that they never end up using.

What are your thoughts? Do you feel Microsoft is consumer-friendly, and that there should be many different versions of each Windows release? Or are you thinking what I’m thinking…

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]]> Who Loves Windows Vista? is a post from Chris Pirillo


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During a recent live call, Charles nearly knocked me out of my chair when he proclaimed that he LOVES Windows Vista. I was honestly shocked, especially since the calls were supposed to be about Windows 7. Charles stated emphatically that he never had issues with Vista, and that it actually just worked for him. He fully admits that he may be the only person in his entire town – or state! – who feels this way. We did, of course, end up discussing his views on Windows 7, and about Microsoft in general.

I feel that Windows Vista was, of course, one of the worst things to happen to Microsoft. Also, of course, the iPhone was bad for Microsoft, as well. The iPhone has been probably the most sought-after gadget in recent years, which only enhances Microsoft’s lackluster products. Even people at Microsoft have admitted that Vista wasnt’ fully baked, so how was the public supposed to like it?

Charles actually liked the fact that there were five different versions of Vista. He didn’t want to pay for features he wasn’t interested in. However, I don’t feel that languages should have been part of any type of upgrade, such as in the Ultimate edition. It should be built right in to the operating system as a core component!! Having so many different versions of one operating system creates confusion amongst the public, at least in my opinion. People who don’t know better automatically assume that they need the best they can afford, whether they truly need those additional features or not. That’s just not always the case. Often, they end up having paid for things that they never end up using.

What are your thoughts? Do you feel Microsoft is consumer-friendly, and that there should be many different versions of each Windows release? Or are you thinking what I’m thinking…

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]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/who-loves-windows-vista/feed/ 29 What Technology of Today Will be Obsolete Tomorrow? http://chris.pirillo.com/what-technology-of-today-will-be-obsolete-tomorrow/ http://chris.pirillo.com/what-technology-of-today-will-be-obsolete-tomorrow/#comments Sun, 01 Nov 2009 05:18:41 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/?p=15326 What Technology of Today Will be Obsolete Tomorrow? is a post from Chris Pirillo

Earlier on Geeks, I read a thread someone had started asking what basic technology that we use today will not even be around in the future. The author lists such things as the keyboard and mouse, a land-line telephone, public Wi-Fi, and even operating systems! Wait, what? You don’t think operating systems will be around in the future? Well, you could be right, actually. With more and more computing being done in the Cloud, that’s something we may yet see in our lifetimes.

What pieces of everyday tech do you feel will become obsolete in the near future – or at least during your lifetime? It’ll be interesting to see everyone’s lists and reasoning, and to compare our thoughts. You can leave a follow-up comment here, or reply directing in the thread on Geeks.

Even on Halloween, we have some excellent deals (and freebies!) on various types of software and applications. You’ll find thing for your phone, even, so be sure to check them out.

]]> What Technology of Today Will be Obsolete Tomorrow? is a post from Chris Pirillo

Earlier on Geeks, I read a thread someone had started asking what basic technology that we use today will not even be around in the future. The author lists such things as the keyboard and mouse, a land-line telephone, public Wi-Fi, and even operating systems! Wait, what? You don’t think operating systems will be around in the future? Well, you could be right, actually. With more and more computing being done in the Cloud, that’s something we may yet see in our lifetimes.

What pieces of everyday tech do you feel will become obsolete in the near future – or at least during your lifetime? It’ll be interesting to see everyone’s lists and reasoning, and to compare our thoughts. You can leave a follow-up comment here, or reply directing in the thread on Geeks.

Even on Halloween, we have some excellent deals (and freebies!) on various types of software and applications. You’ll find thing for your phone, even, so be sure to check them out.

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/what-technology-of-today-will-be-obsolete-tomorrow/feed/ 5 Happy Halloween! http://chris.pirillo.com/happy-halloween-2/ http://chris.pirillo.com/happy-halloween-2/#comments Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:56:04 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/?p=15306 Happy Halloween! is a post from Chris Pirillo

I love Halloween. It’s so much fun to see all the kids in their little costumes. Heck, it’s sometimes even fun to see the grownups in their costumes, as well! But most of all, I love to see Wicket and Pixie all dressed up for the day. I’ve even been known to dress up in recent years, myself.

What sort of traditions do you have for Halloween? What are you dressing up as this year – and are you actually going trick-or-treating? Let’s hear about your celebration, and be sure to link pictures for us!

Do you ever even stop to think about the history of Halloween? I knew that it was based in old Celtic traditions, and that October 31st is a very sacred holiday for many in the Pagan world – Samhain. There is much interesting lore to be read if you want to stretch your mind a little.

You can also learn new things every day by keeping an eye on our community! People post about anything and everything – even sometimes, the kitchen sink!

In this tough economy, you have to try and cut corners wherever you can. This is where our downloads center comes in handy. Every day, we feature excellent software and applications at excellent prices – some are even free!

]]> Happy Halloween! is a post from Chris Pirillo

I love Halloween. It’s so much fun to see all the kids in their little costumes. Heck, it’s sometimes even fun to see the grownups in their costumes, as well! But most of all, I love to see Wicket and Pixie all dressed up for the day. I’ve even been known to dress up in recent years, myself.

What sort of traditions do you have for Halloween? What are you dressing up as this year – and are you actually going trick-or-treating? Let’s hear about your celebration, and be sure to link pictures for us!

Do you ever even stop to think about the history of Halloween? I knew that it was based in old Celtic traditions, and that October 31st is a very sacred holiday for many in the Pagan world – Samhain. There is much interesting lore to be read if you want to stretch your mind a little.

You can also learn new things every day by keeping an eye on our community! People post about anything and everything – even sometimes, the kitchen sink!

In this tough economy, you have to try and cut corners wherever you can. This is where our downloads center comes in handy. Every day, we feature excellent software and applications at excellent prices – some are even free!

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/happy-halloween-2/feed/ 0 Windows 7 – How Soon Should You Upgrade? http://chris.pirillo.com/windows-7-how-soon-should-you-upgrade/ http://chris.pirillo.com/windows-7-how-soon-should-you-upgrade/#comments Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:02:06 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/?p=15188 Windows 7 – How Soon Should You Upgrade? is a post from Chris Pirillo


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I opened the phone lines a few nights ago, asking the community to call in to talk about Windows 7. We had some excellent discussions. This particular call was from Ray, asking me about whether he should upgrade his Windows 7 RC 1 to the full/final release now… or wait a bit. We also talked about differences in the different versions available of Windows 7, and what may work best for his needs.

As I mentioned, Ray is using RC 1 still on his computer. He says he isn’t having any issues or problems with it. He was wondering if he “should” go ahead and buy the full version now, or if it was ok to wait until the RC ran out. I told him that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Seriously, if his version isn’t causing any problems, wait to buy the full version until there’s a coupon or sale going on. Save yourself some money!

We also talked a bit about the various versions. He had heard from someone that with Windows 7, the Home Professional version is actually better to use than the Ultimate version. I do know that the big difference between Professional and Ultimate is additional language packs, and BitLocker. Kat and I discussed BitLocker a bit in a previous video. If those are things you need, then it would be worth it to get Ultimate.

Personally, I don’t think those things are value adds. I think they should just be part of the operating system, no matter which version you buy. But who am I to make the rules?

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> Windows 7 – How Soon Should You Upgrade? is a post from Chris Pirillo


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I opened the phone lines a few nights ago, asking the community to call in to talk about Windows 7. We had some excellent discussions. This particular call was from Ray, asking me about whether he should upgrade his Windows 7 RC 1 to the full/final release now… or wait a bit. We also talked about differences in the different versions available of Windows 7, and what may work best for his needs.

As I mentioned, Ray is using RC 1 still on his computer. He says he isn’t having any issues or problems with it. He was wondering if he “should” go ahead and buy the full version now, or if it was ok to wait until the RC ran out. I told him that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Seriously, if his version isn’t causing any problems, wait to buy the full version until there’s a coupon or sale going on. Save yourself some money!

We also talked a bit about the various versions. He had heard from someone that with Windows 7, the Home Professional version is actually better to use than the Ultimate version. I do know that the big difference between Professional and Ultimate is additional language packs, and BitLocker. Kat and I discussed BitLocker a bit in a previous video. If those are things you need, then it would be worth it to get Ultimate.

Personally, I don’t think those things are value adds. I think they should just be part of the operating system, no matter which version you buy. But who am I to make the rules?

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/windows-7-how-soon-should-you-upgrade/feed/ 3 Best Buy and Windows 7 http://chris.pirillo.com/best-buy-and-windows-7/ http://chris.pirillo.com/best-buy-and-windows-7/#comments Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:55:38 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/?p=15137 Best Buy and Windows 7 is a post from Chris Pirillo


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With the advent of Windows 7 going public, I opened the phone lines up. People called in to talk about anything and everything related to Windows 7. Danny Minick is a long-time member of our community, and now apparently has a new job working at his local Best Buy. During this particular call, I asked him what the buzz is around the store.

Danny says that at work the other night, several people were bashing Linux openly. There was a link given to Microsoft, some employee learning site. Apparently, there were slides and everything on there, openly dissing Linux and slagging it. I wondered why no one spoke up, with Microsoft’s claim that IE won’t run on Linux. It’s not true… and I hope all of you know that.

Danny uses OS X primarily, so I wasn’t sure if he used Windows 7. He says that he is, indeed, running Windows 7 under VMWare Fusion on his Macbook.

I reminded Danny that he can pick up my Windows 7 eBook, and any of the others that I’ve done, as well. I also reminded him (and all of you!) to keep an eye on my Coupons page for discounts on the new version of VMWare Fusion when it hits the stores.

More Best Buy Coupons:

Find Coupons for over 1100 Stores

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> Best Buy and Windows 7 is a post from Chris Pirillo


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With the advent of Windows 7 going public, I opened the phone lines up. People called in to talk about anything and everything related to Windows 7. Danny Minick is a long-time member of our community, and now apparently has a new job working at his local Best Buy. During this particular call, I asked him what the buzz is around the store.

Danny says that at work the other night, several people were bashing Linux openly. There was a link given to Microsoft, some employee learning site. Apparently, there were slides and everything on there, openly dissing Linux and slagging it. I wondered why no one spoke up, with Microsoft’s claim that IE won’t run on Linux. It’s not true… and I hope all of you know that.

Danny uses OS X primarily, so I wasn’t sure if he used Windows 7. He says that he is, indeed, running Windows 7 under VMWare Fusion on his Macbook.

I reminded Danny that he can pick up my Windows 7 eBook, and any of the others that I’ve done, as well. I also reminded him (and all of you!) to keep an eye on my Coupons page for discounts on the new version of VMWare Fusion when it hits the stores.

More Best Buy Coupons:

Find Coupons for over 1100 Stores

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/best-buy-and-windows-7/feed/ 2 Windows 7 Thoughts http://chris.pirillo.com/windows-7-thoughts/ http://chris.pirillo.com/windows-7-thoughts/#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:26:35 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/?p=15105 Windows 7 Thoughts is a post from Chris Pirillo


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I took several live calls the other night, talking to people about Windows 7. Mitchell was one of the callers. He absolutely loves Windows 7. He’s been a Windows user for many years, and never did like Vista. He started using Windows 7 with the very first build, and is now using the RTM via his TechNet subscription.

Although he never upgrade his own machines to Vista, he did use it on other computers. He hated it from the get-go, and refused to upgrade until something better was released. That something is obviously Windows 7 as far as he’s concerned.

In Mitchell’s mind – and my own – upgrading from XP to Windows 7 is an excellent idea. Mitchell feels that the upgrade is best because of the Windows Explorer. He’s very happy with that. He felt it was too confusing in Vista. With Windows 7, it’s easier to navigate and find what you’re looking for.

If you haven’t upgraded to Windows 7 yet, what are you waiting for? Remember, if you’re needing some tips and help, you can check out my Windows 7 eBook, available for only $7.00!

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> Windows 7 Thoughts is a post from Chris Pirillo


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I took several live calls the other night, talking to people about Windows 7. Mitchell was one of the callers. He absolutely loves Windows 7. He’s been a Windows user for many years, and never did like Vista. He started using Windows 7 with the very first build, and is now using the RTM via his TechNet subscription.

Although he never upgrade his own machines to Vista, he did use it on other computers. He hated it from the get-go, and refused to upgrade until something better was released. That something is obviously Windows 7 as far as he’s concerned.

In Mitchell’s mind – and my own – upgrading from XP to Windows 7 is an excellent idea. Mitchell feels that the upgrade is best because of the Windows Explorer. He’s very happy with that. He felt it was too confusing in Vista. With Windows 7, it’s easier to navigate and find what you’re looking for.

If you haven’t upgraded to Windows 7 yet, what are you waiting for? Remember, if you’re needing some tips and help, you can check out my Windows 7 eBook, available for only $7.00!

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/windows-7-thoughts/feed/ 1 Apple’s Mac OS X Snow Leopard Review http://chris.pirillo.com/apples-mac-os-x-snow-leopard-review/ http://chris.pirillo.com/apples-mac-os-x-snow-leopard-review/#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:56:22 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/?p=14301 Apple’s Mac OS X Snow Leopard Review is a post from Chris Pirillo


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I’m sure you’re still laughing at my impression of a Snow Leopard, in honor of the newest release of Mac OS X. The upgrade is only $30.00, which is an excellent price. You should go out and get it right away, but I’m not sure if you’re ready to install it just yet.

The upgrade was painless. The trick to it is to take the disc out of the sleeve, put it in the drive, and click the Install button… and you’re done. From that point forward, it will show you if your applications are compatible or not.

Some people are saying that Snow Leopard is an awesome upgrade, and others don’t think so as much. I’d say right now, I’m seeing it split pretty evenly. I am enjoying some of the new features, such as Exchange integration on the desktop – it works flawlessly. I haven’t seen much of a speed increase, though. There are some nips and tucks around the operating system. The Finder has been completely re-written, which is awesome.

There are subtle changes, as well. I’m a little leary about putting it on all of my machines. Yes, it’s a great upgrade. The changes are incremental, but I’m not sure if all of my applications are going to be compatible, especially ones that I really need and use. So, I’m going to wait about a month of so to make sure all of my software is updated before I jump in.

What do you think of Snow Leopard? If you’ve installed it already, let me know your thoughts so far. If you have it but haven’t installed it yet – why are you waiting? I’m interested to hear about that, as well.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code:

]]> Apple’s Mac OS X Snow Leopard Review is a post from Chris Pirillo


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I’m sure you’re still laughing at my impression of a Snow Leopard, in honor of the newest release of Mac OS X. The upgrade is only $30.00, which is an excellent price. You should go out and get it right away, but I’m not sure if you’re ready to install it just yet.

The upgrade was painless. The trick to it is to take the disc out of the sleeve, put it in the drive, and click the Install button… and you’re done. From that point forward, it will show you if your applications are compatible or not.

Some people are saying that Snow Leopard is an awesome upgrade, and others don’t think so as much. I’d say right now, I’m seeing it split pretty evenly. I am enjoying some of the new features, such as Exchange integration on the desktop – it works flawlessly. I haven’t seen much of a speed increase, though. There are some nips and tucks around the operating system. The Finder has been completely re-written, which is awesome.

There are subtle changes, as well. I’m a little leary about putting it on all of my machines. Yes, it’s a great upgrade. The changes are incremental, but I’m not sure if all of my applications are going to be compatible, especially ones that I really need and use. So, I’m going to wait about a month of so to make sure all of my software is updated before I jump in.

What do you think of Snow Leopard? If you’ve installed it already, let me know your thoughts so far. If you have it but haven’t installed it yet – why are you waiting? I’m interested to hear about that, as well.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code:

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/apples-mac-os-x-snow-leopard-review/feed/ 10 Save $100 on Windows 7 Professional Upgrade http://chris.pirillo.com/save-100-on-windows-7-professional-upgrade/ http://chris.pirillo.com/save-100-on-windows-7-professional-upgrade/#comments Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:06:15 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/?p=13586 Save $100 on Windows 7 Professional Upgrade is a post from Chris Pirillo

The Windows 7 Professional Upgrade will not be available until October 22, 2009. However, if you want to pre-order now, Amazon has a great deal, which saves you a hundred dollars.

Amazon even gives a price guarantee:

if the Amazon price decreases between your order time and the end of the day of the release date, you’ll receive the lowest price.

There is a limit of three (3) per customer, and is an excellent deal. At least, it provides some top-end insurance. The price may be lower, but it can’t go any higher than this if you order now.

There is a Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to see if your system can handle Windows 7. A small download is required in order to make use of this resource.

And finally, there is this stated caution on the Amazon page:

“We recommend that you experience Windows 7 on a new PC. While we don’t recommend it, you can opt to upgrade your current PC from Windows XP or another operating system to Windows 7…”

In this economy, there may not be the extra funds to go out and buy a “new PC,” as suggested. The upgrade may be the viable economic route to go – but do your homework. It seems that a hundred dollars (less a penny and with free shipping) is an economical way to have access to this new operating system.

]]> Save $100 on Windows 7 Professional Upgrade is a post from Chris Pirillo

The Windows 7 Professional Upgrade will not be available until October 22, 2009. However, if you want to pre-order now, Amazon has a great deal, which saves you a hundred dollars.

Amazon even gives a price guarantee:

if the Amazon price decreases between your order time and the end of the day of the release date, you’ll receive the lowest price.

There is a limit of three (3) per customer, and is an excellent deal. At least, it provides some top-end insurance. The price may be lower, but it can’t go any higher than this if you order now.

There is a Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to see if your system can handle Windows 7. A small download is required in order to make use of this resource.

And finally, there is this stated caution on the Amazon page:

“We recommend that you experience Windows 7 on a new PC. While we don’t recommend it, you can opt to upgrade your current PC from Windows XP or another operating system to Windows 7…”

In this economy, there may not be the extra funds to go out and buy a “new PC,” as suggested. The upgrade may be the viable economic route to go – but do your homework. It seems that a hundred dollars (less a penny and with free shipping) is an economical way to have access to this new operating system.

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/save-100-on-windows-7-professional-upgrade/feed/ 4 Will Linux Always be Stuck in the Minority? http://chris.pirillo.com/will-linux-always-be-stuck-in-the-minority/ http://chris.pirillo.com/will-linux-always-be-stuck-in-the-minority/#comments Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:16:23 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/?p=7894 Will Linux Always be Stuck in the Minority? is a post from Chris Pirillo

Recently, Steve Ballmer explained why Linux is going to stay in the minority for users. Some people feel that the main reason for this is that Developers aren’t really producing anything for Linux, as compared to OS X and Windows. Still others feel this is preposterous, and that Linux will soon become mainstream. I asked everyone over at FriendFeed what they think. Some of the answers are surprising.

sigh….10 year old thinking – hate to break it to you but it isn’t the OS anymore – Kevin Cearns

stuck in the minority? what world are you living in? linux adoption is growing at a phenomenal rate. – Donald Turnbull

IMO Chris is pretty correct, ‘coz he intended (afais) "Desktop" Linux. If 6 editions of Windows Vista are 5 too much… – Yuvi

Color me stupid – it wasn’t Chris. But, I agree with what the blogger concerned said. – Yuvi

Some good points but rather limited thinking. – Deepak

When it comes to shareware apps today, I wonder if the place to be is not with Windows as the author says, but rather with the iPhone or OS X. The Windows market is so vast it’s hard to get noticed, even with a great app. Now in terms of the OS, I think it still matters. However, I’d add that Linux developers need to make their case today why Linux on a _notebook_ is the thing to do. Easier to manage connectons? Transparent switches between WIFI and EVDO? Longer battery life? Easy ad hoc networks? More and more people have notebooks. That’s where the market is in hardware. Where’s Linux in this? One area where Linux permutations are sprouting up along these lines is with MIDs. Special tuned versions of Linux are being created to support these small devices. If they’re done well, this may be something to watch. – Loren Heiny

its Sad but unfortunately its true. untill we either find a way to make money on linux or Finally get others to leave the greed theres no way linux will come out the shadows off windows & OSX. although more development of WINE will help a LOT – Ro11z

I do believe there needs to be some change to adopt.. Normal users will never understand the "Free as in Speech, Free as in Beer" concept. We need to get rid of the terms open, closed, free, etc.. (whether you care about them or not) Also, not allowing closed source (i.e. Nvidia drivers, Flash, etc) items to be pre-installed is an obvious death wish. Wine should be installed, enabled, and ready to go by default. There are plenty of awesome apps on Linux. Just make them easier to find and install. – Tim Hoeck

Ya lost me when you posted Ballmer spelling out his "thoughts". Gates, okay, but Ballmer – please… That said, as a full time Linux user, you are right in a number of areas. What is wild is that most of them are not that difficult to fix, either. And your point about open or closed source – spot-on. OS for the job getting done, not its license. I could care less how Linux is licensed, as long as I can maintain certain freedoms with it. Good write up. ;) – Matt Hartley

What do you think? Will Linux ever become as “mainstream” as what Windows is, and OS X is quickly becoming? Or is it going to remain something that hard-core Geeks use? Let’s hear your ideas and thoughts.

]]> Will Linux Always be Stuck in the Minority? is a post from Chris Pirillo

Recently, Steve Ballmer explained why Linux is going to stay in the minority for users. Some people feel that the main reason for this is that Developers aren’t really producing anything for Linux, as compared to OS X and Windows. Still others feel this is preposterous, and that Linux will soon become mainstream. I asked everyone over at FriendFeed what they think. Some of the answers are surprising.

sigh….10 year old thinking – hate to break it to you but it isn’t the OS anymore – Kevin Cearns

stuck in the minority? what world are you living in? linux adoption is growing at a phenomenal rate. – Donald Turnbull

IMO Chris is pretty correct, ‘coz he intended (afais) "Desktop" Linux. If 6 editions of Windows Vista are 5 too much… – Yuvi

Color me stupid – it wasn’t Chris. But, I agree with what the blogger concerned said. – Yuvi

Some good points but rather limited thinking. – Deepak

When it comes to shareware apps today, I wonder if the place to be is not with Windows as the author says, but rather with the iPhone or OS X. The Windows market is so vast it’s hard to get noticed, even with a great app. Now in terms of the OS, I think it still matters. However, I’d add that Linux developers need to make their case today why Linux on a _notebook_ is the thing to do. Easier to manage connectons? Transparent switches between WIFI and EVDO? Longer battery life? Easy ad hoc networks? More and more people have notebooks. That’s where the market is in hardware. Where’s Linux in this? One area where Linux permutations are sprouting up along these lines is with MIDs. Special tuned versions of Linux are being created to support these small devices. If they’re done well, this may be something to watch. – Loren Heiny

its Sad but unfortunately its true. untill we either find a way to make money on linux or Finally get others to leave the greed theres no way linux will come out the shadows off windows & OSX. although more development of WINE will help a LOT – Ro11z

I do believe there needs to be some change to adopt.. Normal users will never understand the "Free as in Speech, Free as in Beer" concept. We need to get rid of the terms open, closed, free, etc.. (whether you care about them or not) Also, not allowing closed source (i.e. Nvidia drivers, Flash, etc) items to be pre-installed is an obvious death wish. Wine should be installed, enabled, and ready to go by default. There are plenty of awesome apps on Linux. Just make them easier to find and install. – Tim Hoeck

Ya lost me when you posted Ballmer spelling out his "thoughts". Gates, okay, but Ballmer – please… That said, as a full time Linux user, you are right in a number of areas. What is wild is that most of them are not that difficult to fix, either. And your point about open or closed source – spot-on. OS for the job getting done, not its license. I could care less how Linux is licensed, as long as I can maintain certain freedoms with it. Good write up. ;) – Matt Hartley

What do you think? Will Linux ever become as “mainstream” as what Windows is, and OS X is quickly becoming? Or is it going to remain something that hard-core Geeks use? Let’s hear your ideas and thoughts.

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/will-linux-always-be-stuck-in-the-minority/feed/ 20 Will we be Saying Goodbye to Windows any Time Soon? http://chris.pirillo.com/will-we-be-saying-goodbye-to-windows-any-time-soon/ http://chris.pirillo.com/will-we-be-saying-goodbye-to-windows-any-time-soon/#comments Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:06:01 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/?p=7875 Will we be Saying Goodbye to Windows any Time Soon? is a post from Chris Pirillo

Many people feel that Windows is coming to an end, and that any new operating system from Microsoft will be radically different. Still others vehemently deny this, and claim that it’s a “bunch of hooey”. I threw this question out to people on FriendFeed to see what they have to say.

Sounds like MS is going for cloud computing. – Tim via twhirl

This is all bullshit. Anyone who knows Windows and Microsoft well is laughing their asses off at these kinds of headlines. Just isn’t going to happen. At least not anytime in forseable future. – Robert Scoble

i like this nonsense, it’s like thinking of bread without flour – marcantonio severgnini

+1 @Scoble – sebmos

Windows has been closely associated and branded as THE operating system for all needs by MS. It has also become the main cash cow and generator of its revenues during the entire period of its existence. I don’t see how can MS shed off the Windows skin all that easily or in such a short time, especially considering that Vista is just out and it has "Windows" in front of its name. – Hayk Hakobyan

Any future successor "non-Windows" operating system will still be branded as Windows. Precedent is Windows NT. The Windows brand is too important to sideline. – Ian Fogg

These same speculations have been going on for years. Just because Microsoft is branching into developing another breed of OS doesn’t mean they are going to abandon Windows. – Amit Morson

@Ian – More your area than mine, but Windows is many things including a brand, a product, a paradigm, an architecture and a platform. MS might keep any combo of those five things, but you’re right – the brand is the appealing part. – Rob Sterling

"The Cloud" is simply a word for remote services – not a magical mystery future. The reality is that the personal workstation will in some form always be with us. There will always be advantages to having a local (non bandwidth limited) source of computing cycles to enhance the manipulation or presentation of data in a lot of tasks. That workstation will ALWAYS need an OS of some form. – Soulhuntre

Microsoft is aggressively evolving Windows so that it will be capable of supplying that part of the computing chain. Research projects are playgrounds for that. Those folks who claim that the "operating system is dead" are simply not looking at what they are saying from a systems point of view. They are using the term "Operating System" and "PC" to refer to a type of workstation use case… not a technology. – Soulhuntre

Didn’t it already "die" and "everything move online"…like…6 or 7 times already? Each time, people realize that there are places where the internet isn’t accessible, isn’t fast (relative to the desktop), and isn’t private enough. Not to say there isn’t a place for web services (obviously — we’re on one), but this whole "The desktop is dead! Dumb terminals for everyone!" hype is just pendulum swing nonsense. – Robert Fischer

Weather it happens or not is irrelevant Robert. It’s a plan B and a pretty good one imo :) – DC Crowley

You guys are missing the point here. It’s about virtualization. Right now with free OSes like Linux you can bascially run as many computers as your hardware has memory to support on a single physical machine. There are lots of benefits to this. One being you can literally take your desktop from one computer to another. Window’s licensing won’t allow that. They need to come up with this lightweight OS with flexible licensing to compete. – Lindsay Donaghe

Will it get rid of Windows for most consumers and as the host OS for your machine? Probably not. But it will enable you to use Windows anywhere you want to as long as there’s a virtualization product installed that can run your VM. Ultimately they might end up getting more exposure through that since people will stop caring which OS runs on the hardware… just which OS runs on their personal VMs. – Lindsay Donaghe

Whatever apps don’t end up in the cloud in a few years will end up on your personal VMs. And you’ll be able to take those with you wherever you go (we’ve already got USB drives that are cheap and hold upwards of 16GB). It’s the future. – Lindsay Donaghe

I talked to Microsoft PR yesterday about this. This is an incubation project and will NOT replace Windows. Anyone remember Netdocs? That was supposed to replace Office, too, remember? – Robert Scoble

Just another roll of the dice in Redmond’s labs. – Bill Sodeman

Ina got it right. http://tinyurl.com/6xgqjn – jeff

I don’t think it’s dice. It’s generally a good practice to build something from the ground up to learn what’s possible and then take those possibilities into an existing project. If you tried it against an existing codebase you get more "can’t do that" then "How can we make this work." I do it all the time, probably more then I should. – shawn

When PC’s started to become available we [old geeks] flocked away from the dumb terminal en masse. I don’t envision us going back there anytime soon. – Jody Carbone

Over the top headlines definitely get attention. Take note: anyone looking for hits might want to post an article called "Apple sees end of OS X era." There are sure to be some patents or dubious screenshots that you could use. – Loren Heiny

What do you think? Will (or should) Microsoft get completely away from Windows as we know it? Or should they stay with what they have in place, and improve upon it? What does the future of any operating system have in store, and what should we look for?

]]> Will we be Saying Goodbye to Windows any Time Soon? is a post from Chris Pirillo

Many people feel that Windows is coming to an end, and that any new operating system from Microsoft will be radically different. Still others vehemently deny this, and claim that it’s a “bunch of hooey”. I threw this question out to people on FriendFeed to see what they have to say.

Sounds like MS is going for cloud computing. – Tim via twhirl

This is all bullshit. Anyone who knows Windows and Microsoft well is laughing their asses off at these kinds of headlines. Just isn’t going to happen. At least not anytime in forseable future. – Robert Scoble

i like this nonsense, it’s like thinking of bread without flour – marcantonio severgnini

+1 @Scoble – sebmos

Windows has been closely associated and branded as THE operating system for all needs by MS. It has also become the main cash cow and generator of its revenues during the entire period of its existence. I don’t see how can MS shed off the Windows skin all that easily or in such a short time, especially considering that Vista is just out and it has "Windows" in front of its name. – Hayk Hakobyan

Any future successor "non-Windows" operating system will still be branded as Windows. Precedent is Windows NT. The Windows brand is too important to sideline. – Ian Fogg

These same speculations have been going on for years. Just because Microsoft is branching into developing another breed of OS doesn’t mean they are going to abandon Windows. – Amit Morson

@Ian – More your area than mine, but Windows is many things including a brand, a product, a paradigm, an architecture and a platform. MS might keep any combo of those five things, but you’re right – the brand is the appealing part. – Rob Sterling

"The Cloud" is simply a word for remote services – not a magical mystery future. The reality is that the personal workstation will in some form always be with us. There will always be advantages to having a local (non bandwidth limited) source of computing cycles to enhance the manipulation or presentation of data in a lot of tasks. That workstation will ALWAYS need an OS of some form. – Soulhuntre

Microsoft is aggressively evolving Windows so that it will be capable of supplying that part of the computing chain. Research projects are playgrounds for that. Those folks who claim that the "operating system is dead" are simply not looking at what they are saying from a systems point of view. They are using the term "Operating System" and "PC" to refer to a type of workstation use case… not a technology. – Soulhuntre

Didn’t it already "die" and "everything move online"…like…6 or 7 times already? Each time, people realize that there are places where the internet isn’t accessible, isn’t fast (relative to the desktop), and isn’t private enough. Not to say there isn’t a place for web services (obviously — we’re on one), but this whole "The desktop is dead! Dumb terminals for everyone!" hype is just pendulum swing nonsense. – Robert Fischer

Weather it happens or not is irrelevant Robert. It’s a plan B and a pretty good one imo :) – DC Crowley

You guys are missing the point here. It’s about virtualization. Right now with free OSes like Linux you can bascially run as many computers as your hardware has memory to support on a single physical machine. There are lots of benefits to this. One being you can literally take your desktop from one computer to another. Window’s licensing won’t allow that. They need to come up with this lightweight OS with flexible licensing to compete. – Lindsay Donaghe

Will it get rid of Windows for most consumers and as the host OS for your machine? Probably not. But it will enable you to use Windows anywhere you want to as long as there’s a virtualization product installed that can run your VM. Ultimately they might end up getting more exposure through that since people will stop caring which OS runs on the hardware… just which OS runs on their personal VMs. – Lindsay Donaghe

Whatever apps don’t end up in the cloud in a few years will end up on your personal VMs. And you’ll be able to take those with you wherever you go (we’ve already got USB drives that are cheap and hold upwards of 16GB). It’s the future. – Lindsay Donaghe

I talked to Microsoft PR yesterday about this. This is an incubation project and will NOT replace Windows. Anyone remember Netdocs? That was supposed to replace Office, too, remember? – Robert Scoble

Just another roll of the dice in Redmond’s labs. – Bill Sodeman

Ina got it right. http://tinyurl.com/6xgqjn – jeff

I don’t think it’s dice. It’s generally a good practice to build something from the ground up to learn what’s possible and then take those possibilities into an existing project. If you tried it against an existing codebase you get more "can’t do that" then "How can we make this work." I do it all the time, probably more then I should. – shawn

When PC’s started to become available we [old geeks] flocked away from the dumb terminal en masse. I don’t envision us going back there anytime soon. – Jody Carbone

Over the top headlines definitely get attention. Take note: anyone looking for hits might want to post an article called "Apple sees end of OS X era." There are sure to be some patents or dubious screenshots that you could use. – Loren Heiny

What do you think? Will (or should) Microsoft get completely away from Windows as we know it? Or should they stay with what they have in place, and improve upon it? What does the future of any operating system have in store, and what should we look for?

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/will-we-be-saying-goodbye-to-windows-any-time-soon/feed/ 23 Top Five Tips for Installing Windows XP http://chris.pirillo.com/top-five-tips-for-installing-windows-xp/ http://chris.pirillo.com/top-five-tips-for-installing-windows-xp/#comments Fri, 01 Aug 2008 06:24:51 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/?p=7769 Top Five Tips for Installing Windows XP is a post from Chris Pirillo

Even with the advent of Vista, many people are still installing (and even re-installing) Windows XP. Normally, it’s a relatively easy and painless process. But, as with anything, something could always go wrong. Brandon sent in this top five list for installing XP for anyone who may find themselves needing to do so.

  • Use a program called nLite to slipstream all of your drivers into your Windows XP installation. You can also add updates and service packs that can be downloaded from Microsoft. Doing this before installation prevents corruption that could occur from installing them after. If you accidentally get any viruses and don’t know about it, critical operating system files could be harmed from running the updates. Finally, nLite can remove all the programs and services that you don’t need to save disk and RAM space. Using nLite is helpful to make installation simpler, and saves time if you find yourself reinstalling Windows quite often. After you’re done processing your original Windows install CD, nLite will create an ISO file that can be burned to a blank disc. As long as you use your product key from your genuine COA, this is totally legal.
  • Make sure you have your Anti-Virus software on a CD before hand, and that it’s the first thing you install after installing Windows. This means that you will not have to connect to the Internet to download your AV software, and it will be less possible to obtain a virus before the AV software is actually installed.
  • Have all of your software discs in a pile ready to install, in the order you’re going to install them in. Personally, I always install Microsoft Office first, followed by all my other productivity software. I install games last. Try to find out what works best for you.
  • Take time to customize your desktop. I’m sure most people don’t find the Luna (a.k.a. Playskool) interface very attractive, so feel free to change it right away. I actually recommend downloading the Royale theme from Microsoft, which is the visual style included with the Media Center and Tablet editions of Windows XP. It’s basically the same colors as Luna, but with better shading, and it’s glossy like the Windows Vista interface. It can make your desktop so much more elegant looking, and is more exciting then Windows Classic.
  • Organize your Start menu. If you leave your Start menu the way that setup programs organize it, you’ll quickly have a cluttered mess on your hands that takes up your entire screen. Instead of having it organized by software vendor, organize it by categories such as “media”, “productivity”, and “games”. Not only does this leave you with a lot of screen space, but you’ll be able to find programs much faster.
]]> Top Five Tips for Installing Windows XP is a post from Chris Pirillo

Even with the advent of Vista, many people are still installing (and even re-installing) Windows XP. Normally, it’s a relatively easy and painless process. But, as with anything, something could always go wrong. Brandon sent in this top five list for installing XP for anyone who may find themselves needing to do so.

  • Use a program called nLite to slipstream all of your drivers into your Windows XP installation. You can also add updates and service packs that can be downloaded from Microsoft. Doing this before installation prevents corruption that could occur from installing them after. If you accidentally get any viruses and don’t know about it, critical operating system files could be harmed from running the updates. Finally, nLite can remove all the programs and services that you don’t need to save disk and RAM space. Using nLite is helpful to make installation simpler, and saves time if you find yourself reinstalling Windows quite often. After you’re done processing your original Windows install CD, nLite will create an ISO file that can be burned to a blank disc. As long as you use your product key from your genuine COA, this is totally legal.
  • Make sure you have your Anti-Virus software on a CD before hand, and that it’s the first thing you install after installing Windows. This means that you will not have to connect to the Internet to download your AV software, and it will be less possible to obtain a virus before the AV software is actually installed.
  • Have all of your software discs in a pile ready to install, in the order you’re going to install them in. Personally, I always install Microsoft Office first, followed by all my other productivity software. I install games last. Try to find out what works best for you.
  • Take time to customize your desktop. I’m sure most people don’t find the Luna (a.k.a. Playskool) interface very attractive, so feel free to change it right away. I actually recommend downloading the Royale theme from Microsoft, which is the visual style included with the Media Center and Tablet editions of Windows XP. It’s basically the same colors as Luna, but with better shading, and it’s glossy like the Windows Vista interface. It can make your desktop so much more elegant looking, and is more exciting then Windows Classic.
  • Organize your Start menu. If you leave your Start menu the way that setup programs organize it, you’ll quickly have a cluttered mess on your hands that takes up your entire screen. Instead of having it organized by software vendor, organize it by categories such as “media”, “productivity”, and “games”. Not only does this leave you with a lot of screen space, but you’ll be able to find programs much faster.
]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/top-five-tips-for-installing-windows-xp/feed/ 19 Have you Tried the Google Open Source Android Emulator? http://chris.pirillo.com/have-you-tried-the-google-open-source-android-emulator/ http://chris.pirillo.com/have-you-tried-the-google-open-source-android-emulator/#comments Tue, 24 Jun 2008 07:15:58 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/?p=7325 Have you Tried the Google Open Source Android Emulator? is a post from Chris Pirillo

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What operating system is running on your phone? At some point in the future, it may be Google’s operating system… dubbed Android. It’s open-source, and available for all operating systems. Those of you who don’t really know what an SDK is. In light terms, it’s a package of tools and examples given to software developers so that they can develop platforms.

I downloaded Android, and didn’t even really have to install anything. I simply clicked on it, and up pops this Android virtual device. Normally, this would be a touch-screen device for your phone, of course. On this emulator, it will show you what the dialer will look like. The interface is very clean thus far. Google maps is integrated into Android, as well! There’s a satellite mode, and a traffic mode.

Android will ship with a set of core applications including:

  • an email client
  • an SMS program
  • calendar
  • maps
  • browser
  • contacts

The Android platform is a software stack for mobile devices including an operating system, middleware and key applications. Developers can create applications for the platform using the Android SDK. Applications are written using the Java programming language and run on Dalvik, a custom virtual machine designed for embedded use which runs on top of a Linux kernel.

If you’re interested in developing something for Android, feel free to download the SDK. What operating systems and phones do you have? What do you prefer, and why?

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> Have you Tried the Google Open Source Android Emulator? is a post from Chris Pirillo

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

What operating system is running on your phone? At some point in the future, it may be Google’s operating system… dubbed Android. It’s open-source, and available for all operating systems. Those of you who don’t really know what an SDK is. In light terms, it’s a package of tools and examples given to software developers so that they can develop platforms.

I downloaded Android, and didn’t even really have to install anything. I simply clicked on it, and up pops this Android virtual device. Normally, this would be a touch-screen device for your phone, of course. On this emulator, it will show you what the dialer will look like. The interface is very clean thus far. Google maps is integrated into Android, as well! There’s a satellite mode, and a traffic mode.

Android will ship with a set of core applications including:

  • an email client
  • an SMS program
  • calendar
  • maps
  • browser
  • contacts

The Android platform is a software stack for mobile devices including an operating system, middleware and key applications. Developers can create applications for the platform using the Android SDK. Applications are written using the Java programming language and run on Dalvik, a custom virtual machine designed for embedded use which runs on top of a Linux kernel.

If you’re interested in developing something for Android, feel free to download the SDK. What operating systems and phones do you have? What do you prefer, and why?

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/have-you-tried-the-google-open-source-android-emulator/feed/ 8 What’s the Best OS for Data Storage and Stability? http://chris.pirillo.com/whats-the-best-os-for-data-storage-and-stability/ http://chris.pirillo.com/whats-the-best-os-for-data-storage-and-stability/#comments Sun, 04 May 2008 00:05:31 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/05/03/whats-the-best-os-for-data-storage-and-stability/ What’s the Best OS for Data Storage and Stability? is a post from Chris Pirillo

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I received the following email the other day from a chat regular who goes by the handle of Woomis:

Yesterday, I was consulting a client about OS choices. If storage failure rate was 0%… What OS would you trust to store your most important documents, photos, keepsakes and otherwise? Diving even further into that thought, you realize that you must understand there are other factors involved that whether one is better than the other and why. But truly, I ask you the same question: Although you’ve switched to Mac for the time being, what OS and its myriad of features would you trust to store and use your most precious of data? I see these kids in your IRC chat talking about how “cool” Linux is. I agree: if I had to choose between a Server2003 or FC8 Dedicated serve… it would be Linux for sure. These kids are dazzled by Compiz Fusion and their lowered expectations of XP, but seriously there is the cool factor and the usability factor. For you is OS X just a fad? I doubt it, but please as in the words as some of your newest chatters, Linux Rulez! Why don’t you use it? I say OS X is the most stable: for it’s journaled file system, kernel, support and life expectancy. That’s what I use, that’s what I feel comfortable storing my data on and keeping it safe and operational.

If you ask me what the best operating system is, I will most likely not answer you. I cannot possibly tell you what the best operating system would be. There are a lot of factors that come into play. You will likely have a different answer a year from now that what you will have now, as to what the best operating system is for you. This is due to changes in software and hardware, and how they work together in your current system of choice.

I personally use OS X and Windows both on a daily basis, and I do have a Linux machine, as well. Most people want one thing, and they want the best thing. Take a look at the total cost of ownership. Look at everything that will happen once you have purchased your system. Now, look at the entire experience. Don’t only look at your computer as a piece of hardware. It’s also a piece of software inside a piece of hardware, which is run through various services. A wide variety of things work together to create your computing experience. You have to look for as much of 100% as you can get, in terms of things you want from your computer.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> What’s the Best OS for Data Storage and Stability? is a post from Chris Pirillo

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

I received the following email the other day from a chat regular who goes by the handle of Woomis:

Yesterday, I was consulting a client about OS choices. If storage failure rate was 0%… What OS would you trust to store your most important documents, photos, keepsakes and otherwise? Diving even further into that thought, you realize that you must understand there are other factors involved that whether one is better than the other and why. But truly, I ask you the same question: Although you’ve switched to Mac for the time being, what OS and its myriad of features would you trust to store and use your most precious of data? I see these kids in your IRC chat talking about how “cool” Linux is. I agree: if I had to choose between a Server2003 or FC8 Dedicated serve… it would be Linux for sure. These kids are dazzled by Compiz Fusion and their lowered expectations of XP, but seriously there is the cool factor and the usability factor. For you is OS X just a fad? I doubt it, but please as in the words as some of your newest chatters, Linux Rulez! Why don’t you use it? I say OS X is the most stable: for it’s journaled file system, kernel, support and life expectancy. That’s what I use, that’s what I feel comfortable storing my data on and keeping it safe and operational.

If you ask me what the best operating system is, I will most likely not answer you. I cannot possibly tell you what the best operating system would be. There are a lot of factors that come into play. You will likely have a different answer a year from now that what you will have now, as to what the best operating system is for you. This is due to changes in software and hardware, and how they work together in your current system of choice.

I personally use OS X and Windows both on a daily basis, and I do have a Linux machine, as well. Most people want one thing, and they want the best thing. Take a look at the total cost of ownership. Look at everything that will happen once you have purchased your system. Now, look at the entire experience. Don’t only look at your computer as a piece of hardware. It’s also a piece of software inside a piece of hardware, which is run through various services. A wide variety of things work together to create your computing experience. You have to look for as much of 100% as you can get, in terms of things you want from your computer.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> http://chris.pirillo.com/whats-the-best-os-for-data-storage-and-stability/feed/ 130 How to Switch Operating Systems: Linux, Windows, OS X http://chris.pirillo.com/how-to-switch-operating-systems-linux-windows-os-x/ http://chris.pirillo.com/how-to-switch-operating-systems-linux-windows-os-x/#comments Mon, 24 Mar 2008 02:35:40 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/03/23/how-to-switch-operating-systems-linux-windows-os-x/ How to Switch Operating Systems: Linux, Windows, OS X is a post from Chris Pirillo

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Are you thinking about switching Operating Systems? Here are five things to keep in mind prior to making that big move.

  • Stability You want to make sure that the Operating System you are going to use is functional. A buggy Operating System is more or less useless. From my experience, XP is the most practical Windows Operating System to use at the moment. I’m relatively new to Linux, but my favorite distro is Ubuntu, due to the ease of my migration over from XP. MacOS X I know absolutely nothing about, but I have heard that Leopard is somewhat more buggy than previous versions. I haven’t tried it, this is only what I have heard.
  • Compatibility (Hardware) This is mostly for Windows and Linux, as OS X hardware is pretty much controlled by Apple. Check to make sure that your video card, sound card, printer, motherboard, and etc has drivers for, or is compatible with the Operating System of your choice. Some dated hardware will not be supported by some of the newer Operating Systems (speaking mostly to Vista). Make sure that everything you have will work in the future.
  • Support Know where to go for help. You are bound to run into problems whenever doing something for the first time. Find websites or communities with experienced users of the product that you can reach to for help when you need it. Example: When I first installed Ubuntu, the X Server could not detect my graphical hardware no matter what I did. I went to the Ubuntu forums, and I was directed to a program called Envy that automatically setup the X Server for me, and installed the latest nVidia drivers for my video card.
  • Have a Life Line Data is bound to be lost when installing and uninstalling Operating Systems. Make sure that all critical data on your current OS is backed up, and can be restored in your new OS. When in doubt, I recommend partitioning the empty portion of your hard drive. Then install the OS you want, and try it out. This way, your entire system hasn’t been hosed, and you can revert to what you were using before. Dual booting is also a great option for compatibility (hardware and software). My current setup is 370gb Ubuntu and 130gb XP. This is so Ubuntu (my primary OS) has enough room for documents or work-related files, and Windows has enough for programs that have no equivalent in Linux (Good for gamers who want Linux, but don’t want to sacrifice performance with something like WINE or a virtual machine).
  • Can the OS do what you want it to do? A key point for Linux is the eye candy. It’s great, we love it. Eye candy is why a lot of people get Linux over Windows or OSX. But this isn’t practical. If a program you need for school or your work is only available in Windows, and you are running a pure OS X or Linux machine, you need to either find a comparable application, run a virtual machine, or reinstall Windows. This is another reason I strongly recommend not confining yourself to only one Operating System. Different Operating Systems are good at different things. Take advantage of this and use all at your disposal.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

]]> How to Switch Operating Systems: Linux, Windows, OS X is a post from Chris Pirillo

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

Are you thinking about switching Operating Systems? Here are five things to keep in mind prior to making that big move.

  • Stability You want to make sure that the Operating System you are going to use is functional. A buggy Operating System is more or less useless. From my experience, XP is the most practical Windows Operating System to use at the moment. I’m relatively new to Linux, but my favorite distro is Ubuntu, due to the ease of my migration over from XP. MacOS X I know absolutely nothing about, but I have heard that Leopard is somewhat more buggy than previous versions. I haven’t tried it, this is only what I have heard.
  • Compatibility (Hardware) This is mostly for Windows and Linux, as OS X hardware is pretty much controlled by Apple. Check to make sure that your video card, sound card, printer, motherboard, and etc has drivers for, or is compatible with the Operating System of your choice. Some dated hardware will not be supported by some of the newer Operating Systems (speaking mostly to Vista). Make sure that everything you have will work in the future.
  • Support Know where to go for help. You are bound to run into problems whenever doing something for the first time. Find websites or communities with experienced users of the product that you can reach to for help when you need it. Example: When I first installed Ubuntu, the X Server could not detect my graphical hardware no matter what I did. I went to the Ubuntu forums, and I was directed to a program called Envy that automatically setup the X Server for me, and installed the latest nVidia drivers for my video card.
  • Have a Life Line Data is bound to be lost when installing and uninstalling Operating Systems. Make sure that all critical data on your current OS is backed up, and can be restored in your new OS. When in doubt, I recommend partitioning the empty portion of your hard drive. Then install the OS you want, and try it out. This way, your entire system hasn’t been hosed, and you can revert to what you were using before. Dual booting is also a great option for compatibility (hardware and software). My current setup is 370gb Ubuntu and 130gb XP. This is so Ubuntu (my primary OS) has enough room for documents or work-related files, and Windows has enough for programs that have no equivalent in Linux (Good for gamers who want Linux, but don’t want to sacrifice performance with something like WINE or a virtual machine).
  • Can the OS do what you want it to do? A key point for Linux is the eye candy. It’s great, we love it. Eye candy is why a lot of people get Linux over Windows or OSX. But this isn’t practical. If a program you need for school or your work is only available in Windows, and you are running a pure OS X or Linux machine, you need to either find a comparable application, run a virtual machine, or reinstall Windows. This is another reason I strongly recommend not confining yourself to only one Operating System. Different Operating Systems are good at different things. Take advantage of this and use all at your disposal.

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