Poll: Do you still use Windows? do you intend to?

Jem · on March 10, 2009

I use Windows, and I enjoy it (mentally prepares for mass downvoting... ;))

I recently (a few months ago) started trialing a few distributions of Linux. I am of the opinion that I cannot possibly state that I prefer an OS over another without having tried what else is available.

While I got comfortable with Ubuntu (XFCE as my windows manager), there were a few things that bugged me and I felt my productivity was slightly less than that when I was using Windows. I was determined to fix the issues I was having rather than go back to Windows, but in the end the time spent trying to get things how I wanted them was not time valuably spent. I valued my efficiency over whatever 'geek cred' I got for running Linux.

My experience on a Mac was not entirely pleasant, and I don't believe the hardware is worth the bloated price. However, I've discussed this on HN before so there's no point repeating myself :)

Part of my "problem", I'm sure, is that I've been using Windows for around 10 years (DOS before that). I've never had problems with BSODs, viruses or anything that puts your average user off. I look after my computers, and the OS, and they look after me.

So yes, I use Windows, and I intend to keep doing so.

functional-tree · on March 10, 2009

I would be surprised if many actually prefer Windows over OS X or Linux (in our demographic at least).

I use Windows only to test for IE. If I were to develop a new desktop application today, I would either develop for Mac exclusively or take advantage of the new LGPL QT license to gain a larger market share.

I'm done developing apps for Windows-only. Those days are gone: If I'm going to focus on a single platform, I'll focus on a market that appreciates good software and UI design — and for now, that means OS X.

andrewl-hn · on March 10, 2009

Most software I use is available at least on three platforms so most of the time picking an OS is a hardware question for me. Last December I picked HP 2730p over Apple notebook. A tablet PC with track pad and point stick, great keyboard, bright screen and 12 hours of battery life (with a slice battery an wifi turned on). Having so many various input means is actually a very pleasant and engaging experience. Yes, this thing is a but expensive but I don't really care. I think of switching to Mac like most geeks around here (and in order not to feel like an idiot :) but every time I consider my next purchase there's a Windows-based options which suits my needs better.

Vista Business is a great OS and as a user I like it much more than XP or Linux (I used Mandriva a couple of years ago and have Ubuntu HH at work). I know that from architectural point of view Windows is inferior to Unix operating systems but as a user I'm very satisfied with it. I tried Mac (worked a couple of days with it) but didn't find it groundbreaking. I'm working mostly with Java and it's a second class citizen on Mac OS X. My browser of choice doesn't look great on it, too. My editor of choice is not TextMate either.

A usual day for me on Windows starts with firing up a couple of applications and after that OS disappears. On Mac or Linux I constantly feel it. That makes me feel uncomfortable and as a result after a whole day I'm more tired.

I also don't own a smartphone but having wifi and Skype on a mobile phone would be nice. The only Apple product I have is an iPod nano which isn't that bad per se but it comes with iTunes and QuickTime. The former is quite Ok but QuickTime always hijacks my file dependencies and is very annoying.

Mac OS X users today are somewhat similar to Win 98 users in a sense that most of them are ready to pay for desktop software. To my mind your target platform choice is totally reasonable. If I developed an application for Windows I'd picked AIR and did everything in HTML/CSS/JS or played with Why's Shoes. Silverlight might be a good option, too.

I hope surprised you at least a little bit: I love Mac, but I'm a PC :)

functional-tree · on March 10, 2009

Interesting, thanks. I actually didn't switch to Mac until a year or two ago, and previously I had a tablet PC. I really liked Microsoft's approach to ink, but alas I couldn't read my handwriting. Plus the laptop itself had poor battery life and was loud (a Tecra M4). Ah well.

andrewl-hn · on March 29, 2009

I don't really ink that much, but I found that I use pen as a main pointing device even in a laptop mode, for example, when I browse the web or working with files. And I'm very comfortable with that. The screen can sustain pen's pressure, even when I point elements on the top.

However when I use keyboard I tend to combine pointing stick and track pad to move the mouse. It works very natural both ways and I really enjoy interacting with a computer in this manner.

I prefer not to write anything unless my handwriting is recognized. I like OneNote but I use it mostly for drawing schemes, diagrams, etc. while keeping audio recording on. It's not ideal but still has some valid use cases. So far I used it three times and each next time I end up having better notes.

As for battery I actually considered that, too. My other laptop is a pretty old 15" Dell which after 4 years can stay alive for about an hour and a half only. The power adapter was a huge brick, too. This time I picked up the best battery life money can buy and I don't bother with that anymore.

As I said I'm very satisfied with it and I'm going to use it for quite a while.

Most often Macs are a better choice, but Microsoft invested to much into tablets to give up its domination in this area. This time I've chosen a tablet, but may be next time I'll end up with a Mac just like you.

I hope you read that. You posted your answer 18 days ago, sorry for not replying earlier.

gstar · on March 10, 2009

I'd be surprised also. That's kinda why I'm asking, because I do live in a slight monoculture, and I'm keen to get a measure of what's happening "out there".

Thanks for the comments on QT, I hadn't looked at QT for a very long time and it sounds like the licensing is more sane and worth a look!

froo · on March 11, 2009

I've yet to use OSX extensively, so I cannot really comment on that over the other two.

But having tested Windows side-by-side with Ubuntu 8.10 for the last couple weeks, I can honestly say that I love Ubuntu as an OS more.

Apart from direct access to Photoshop (It's only a matter of time with WINE I guess) theres really little reason for me to go back to Windows.

It's not that I hate Microsoft, but I'm finding the advantage that their OS has (applications wise) is becoming less as time goes on.

If I still played videogames etc, I could see use in the OS - but I don't really do that anymore.

gojomo · on March 10, 2009

Suggestion for poll makers: split the objective parts of a poll from from the subjective parts.

I use Windows slightly more than Linux because it's convenient on a laptop, the most important client for testing, and often things I want to try come out on Windows first/only (like Chrome). I look forward to a time when Linux will further displace Windows in my usage, but it doesn't seem imminent.

I could reasonably choose any combination of the first four poll options. I picked the 4th, because it seems most pragmatic, but that hides the point of the poll -- who's still using Windows?

Since polls here involve non-exclusive choice by design, I would suggest splitting options into a series of statements, and encouraging people to upvote all that are true. I suppose it's a little like normalizing a schema. For example:

- I mainly use Windows

- I mainly use MacOS

- I mainly use Linux

- I mainly use other

--

- I sometimes use Windows

- I never use Windows

--

- I use Windows because I prefer it

- I use Windows because I have to

--

- I plan to maintain or increase my Windows use in the future

- I plan to decrease or eliminate my Windows use in the furtue

(News.YC software could make this easier by allowing grouping or subheads.)

lacker · on March 10, 2009

Might be nice to separate "at work" and "other". I use Linux at work along with most programmers at my company, but use a MacBook for other stuff.

sergio · on March 11, 2009

I use Windows just because I like Microsoft Office 2007 better than any alternative. It just lives inside my MacBook Pro with OS X Leopard.

cperciva · on March 10, 2009

I use FreeBSD all the time -- so I selected "I use whatever OS I need to do the job".

yan · on March 10, 2009

Totally an aside, but: what fs do you use? I want to use pawel's zfs implementation, but am scared due to people complaining of issues on the mailing lists.

cperciva · on March 10, 2009

I use UFS2. My understanding is that ZFS is perfectly stable in -current and works fine on 7.1-release on 64-bit systems; but since most of the advantages of ZFS only apply when you have multiple disks, I didn't see any reason to change.

yan · on March 10, 2009

I'm currently using it in a home file server that has 5 identical drives that are members of a zfs pool. It works fine, but just wanted some reassurance. Thanks.

gstar · on March 10, 2009

Sorry about that, I considered adding the BSDs, but I didn't really think anyone would seriously use it on the desktop.

I'll add it to the poll options.

cperciva · on March 10, 2009

I didn't really think anyone would seriously use it on the desktop.

Why not? All of the major desktop environments run on FreeBSD just as well as they do on linux.

craigl · on March 10, 2009

As long as Linux is lagging in support for gaming, I'll keep a Windows box around.

gstar · on March 10, 2009

Apologies to RMS, I really meant GNU/Linux ;)

hendrasaputra · on March 11, 2009

I use Mac OS X and Windows mainly

thepanister · on March 10, 2009

I have chosen 2 items. I use Windows mainly, but only because I have to. And I use windows but I inted to change.