While it may be true that Windows products have improved substantially, they dont come quite as close in stability when compared to *NIX systems. I work as computer consultant on campus, and i cant even remember the number of times i have had to format / image hard drives for users with Window's based machines. On the contrary, there are some professor's who use Linux/Solaris and i can tell u that we have never had complaints from them. Most windows' problems originate from the fact that 90% of Windows' users are always working with admin priviledges, which enables malicious scripts to take over the machine. Most of such scripts, that i have seen, are usually related to IRC/Warez sites. They either setup FTP servers on the machine or IRC servers. Once there are setup, its very difficult to completely rid the system of them, Hence, format/image.
One may argue that similar problems would follow if a person worked regularly wth admin priviledges on a *NIX box. However, most *NIX systems make it point to tell the user to make a USER account different from Admin account as soon as the install is done (or during the install). Compared to this, Windows XP does give an option to make extra user accounts during install. However, the default boot screen always has the admin name selected, which IMO, defeats the purpose. IMO, WIndows should make it a point to convince the users, during the splash screens while the install is going on, that it is *imperative* that the user use a normal account for day-to-day work and an admin account only when necessary. However, MIcrosoft would then lose all the money it makes from Tech Support ;-). So they are not going to do that, which takes us back to square 1.
I might also add that its a pain in the rear to find out stuff in Registry. While its quite easy, for me, to locate a setting in /etc, i dont find it quite as easy to find something in the registry.. But thats only me.!
Add to the above, all the security vulnerabilities discovered in Windows on a daily(sometimes hourly) basis, and u get higly insecure, but very user friendly(because users have known only Windows all their lives) OS. The only half decent function about Windows XP is system restore. But that takes up a lot of valuable HD space.
Thus, i feel its wrong to claim that reinstalling/formatting are myths on Windiws. These are hardcore realities and one has to live with them :(.
Just my two paise,
On Wednesday 13 November 2002 21:47, Saswata Banerjee & Associates wrote:
----- Original Message ----- From: "Amish Munshi" mails@munshi.dyndns.org To: akshaymunshi@hotmail.com; linuxers@mm.ilug-bom.org.in; hemachaurasia@hotmail.com Cc: yashacharya@hotmail.com; vikrant142@yahoo.com Sent: Wednesday, November 13, 2002 1:42 PM Subject: [ILUG-BOM] Linux vs Windows as my selection.
Non - microsoft product (so it is out of dirt cheap politics)
What does this statement mean ?
No formatting whenever you are in problems. You can pinpoint the problem and solve it without formatting and starting a fresh (This is actually the same as flexibility).
This is one of the myths on windows (like there are myths on linux). The current versions of windows do not need reinstallation. In fact, they are quiet stable unless you fiddle around with everything. But that will happen with linux too. If there is a problem in windows, you can actually correct it, sometimes by having to make modifications in the "registry". There are also tools like "system mechanic" that help you solve problems in windows. This story of having to format the HDD if you have a problem has originated from inefficient hardware engineers who did not want to know how to solve the problem or want to spend time trying to find out what is the problem.
It is simpler to say, "reinstall".......and since the public accepts it, why not ?