But Linux is used by a vastly larger percentage of C++ programers.
As an amateur, I've found kdenlive and audacity provide decent video and audio editing on Linux. Professionals use Mac.
Typically installing Linux from scratch has involved less fiddling with drivers than installing windows from scratch on an empty laptop for a while now.
Gaming is a fair point, but even that might be changing with Valves efforts.
I use Windows, Mac and Linux each, they all have their advantages, but for serious software development Linux is ahead of MacOsX and both are way ahead of Windows.
> Typically installing Linux from scratch has involved less fiddling with drivers than installing windows from scratch on an empty laptop for a while now.
Windows 8 has worked out of the box on every configuration I've tried, with the caveat that it installs non up to date drivers (e.g. High end graphics cards). My experience with Linux (Ubuntu 15.04) is that the little use peripherals I have don't work at all ( I've a Bluetooth usb adapter and a usb capture card that both are plug and play on windows vista onwards but I've yet to find working drivers on Linux for).
Linux desktop use may hover at a few percent. But once you look beyond the desktop and to embedded and server use the percentage is far far higher.
And personally, as a Linux user since ~1995, I'd say that Linux can work quite well for all the things you mention ;-)
Perhaps you're doing it wrong? Your cross-platform OS skills doesn't sound very strong. Maybe should practice some more in the different ways various OS work.
Its funny how strong the ideological stance exists among programmers.
Any comment making fun of windows always get upvoted even if its just anecdotal. My experience is also anecdotal and needs to be taken just a data point. Linux users seem to not be able to stomach any constructive criticism.
I tried using linux for a long time - the problem is life got in the way. I need to provide lab reports and do mathematics.
Linux is a hassle for any non-programmer. Maybe when I get a decent laptop like DELL XPS that can run linux I will give it another try.
For now though I am having to stick to a single ultrabook for various reason and linux is not friendly to new-comers.
I dont understand why you cant make lab reports and do mathematics on Linux? Serious scientific papers are written using Latex, not Microsoft Word. And what math software doesnt run on Linux?
Serious scientific papers are written using Latex, not Microsoft Word
You'd be surprised. I know labs publishing multiple high impact papers pretty much each year and then some more less high impact papers and they all use Word. Also PowerPoint for posters. Probably not the best tools for the job, but I see that often in research.
Trying to program C++ in windows is an horrible experience that I wont wish on my worst enemy.
Linux is nice, but it doesn't have after effects, support for the latest ultrabooks, photoshop ( sorry GIMP is a joke ).
Linux also contantly breaks whenever I tried using it, sound, video ?
Also gaming.
Anyway the browser environment is cool because it forced everyone to stick to a single standard.
( Also corporate uses windows, sadly. Working with tools created by major corporations in my industry is on windows )