Linux Format 168 On Sale Today - Linux vs Windows 8: The verdict

Posted at 10:22am on Friday February 1st 2013

Microsoft has been alienating its users by making pointless user interface changes, dropping support for its instant messenger app and not providing software that will play a DVD.

We can either: a) Point and laugh like Nelson the bully from The Simpsons; or b) show the poor, huddled masses of Windows users that there is a better way. Or, if you don't use Windows and don't know anybody who does, you can simply marvel at how much better off you are because you use Linux, and congratulate yourself on your sound judgement.

Also in the magazine! There's coding a-plenty, with an introduction to Ruby, a beginner's tutorial on Scratch and the latest installment of our Django series. You can assuage your fears over UEFI, wrange KDE 4 to your personal preference with our missing manual, write your own command-line tool, discover the best photo editor for Linux and find out why free software developers should learn from the Bible.

Plus - on the awesome DVD: Mint 14 KDE, Fuduntu, GhostBSD, Netrunner + tons more!

All this and more, in Linux Format 168 – the super-middleweight issue!

For a complete issue overview, and subscriber PDFs, take a look at our archives: http://www.linuxformat.com/archives?issue=168

Digital Editions: Linux Format is now available on Android and Chrome with Google Play Magazines, from just £3.99 per issue. It's also available on both Apple's iPhone/iPad/Touch and Android devices through Zinio. You can also purchase individual copies from the Ubuntu Software Centre.

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Your comments

Windows rejection

Stunonymous Penguin (not verified) - February 1, 2013 @ 11:41am

My daughter bought a new Dell with Windows 8 (because Dell do not offer a Linux alternative on many models). It took just two days for her to beg for Linux, and she is much happier with an interface where you can actually find what you want, where you can create links to applications or to documents that stay where you put them, etc.

Have you see how many "Classic Windows" tutorials there are for Windows 8?! Everyone wants the List All Applications button and the Start Menu back.

I am also enjoying the way that each incarnation of Microsoft Office is a better and better advertisement for Libre Office.

Pointless changes...

A nonymous Penguin (not verified) - February 1, 2013 @ 4:27pm

"Microsoft has been alienating its users by making pointless user interface changes" Yeah, they're copying Ubuntu...

"Ubuntu has been alienating

Anonymous Mouse (not verified) - February 1, 2013 @ 7:02pm

"Ubuntu has been alienating its users by making pointless user interface changes" Yeah, they're copying windows 7...

"Fedora has been alienating its users by making pointless user interface changes" Yeah, next they're copying Mint...

Win8 / Unity / Gnome Do

Sigg3 (not verified) - February 3, 2013 @ 9:04am

We have a couple of Win8 installs in the lab at work. I find they're very much like Unity, e.g. a graphically overblown, full screen gnome-do.

Year of linux on the desktop !

Anonymous Chrome Penguin (not verified) - February 3, 2013 @ 3:59pm

FROM FORBES:

Acer Selling More Google Chromebooks Than Windows 8 Laptops ?

Acer CEO JT Wang was quoted as pleading with Microsoft to “think twice” and insisting that the Surface RT would “create a huge negative impact for the ecosystem and other brands may take a negative reaction.” Yesterday, the drama escalated when Acer President Jim Wong told Bloomberg that the Taipei-based PC maker is having more success with Google‘s Chrome OS than Windows 8.

Acer’s $199 C7 has accounted for between 5 to 10 percent of the company’s U.S. shipments. Though Wong didn’t provide sales statistics for devices like Acer’s Aspire One, which runs Windows 8, one has to assume they’ve been anything but brisk. “The whole market didn’t come back to growth after the Windows 8 launch, that’s a simple way to judge if it is successful or not,” Wong explained.

I have been using Linux now

Herbt (not verified) - February 23, 2013 @ 8:20pm

I have been using Linux now since 2000 and wouldn't go back for anything. Windows just keeps getting worse. Been using Linux Mint for 6 months now and love it.

Its not Windows 8…

Anonymous Penguin 8000 (not verified) - February 24, 2013 @ 12:01pm

Its not Windows 8 which brings new people to Linux. WinXP will do that. Because non-tech people want uncluttered desktops and not windows 8.

It winXP not win8, think about it!

after 35 years now i am freed and in heaven!

hans zumbrink (not verified) - February 25, 2013 @ 10:52am

i am computer specialist since 1975.
i know computer from 25 sides, even the move of the electrons in the chips over there nano-junctions.
i wrote 30 years programs in lisp, pascal, fortran, plm86, visual basic, C, delphi, kylix, basic, java, php, assembler, etc etc etc
structured programs of 25000 lines errorfree code.
every line find back in 1 minute!
i was happy with atari etc, the m68000 16 bits systems, much better as the intel 8 bits stuff for 15 years duration!
and the pc was 13000 gulden and the atari only 2000 ! with build in midi, used by arteficial intelligence projects at universities etc etc etc.
then came big blue and with there money they destroyed the nice computer world. last 10 years i 2 times tried to go on linux. it failed. now the third time, after windows virusses every half year, i did it the third time and succeeded (with Xubuntu). what a paradise it is! installing a server, LAMP: easy: a 1 button press. 1 password. i cannot beleave this. exit windows. till my dead i will be happy. !!!! i am freed of the devil!!!!

Linux vs. Windows 8

Tux86 (not verified) - March 6, 2013 @ 8:35pm

Another EXCELLENT issue guys and gals! Kudos to the crew in at LXF Towers, with special thanks for the article on UEFI!

Consider me a VERY happy (long-term) reader and recurring subscriber. Keep'em coming and I'll keep buying them.

Brilliant!

Tux86.org

The Linux Virus......

Eddie G. (not verified) - March 11, 2013 @ 9:03am

After having my ENTIRE digital life destroyed by one of the millions of viruses and trojans that exist in the Windows World. I made the switch to Linux at the "Fedora 15" mark. I can say that after being a Linux user for that amount of time, I have never ben happier! I no longer have to fight with my machine on a dailoy basis to accomplish the things I need to get doen, both for work and for play. The fact that my OS and other apps cost me nothing is even better! (Although I "donate" regularly to the LibreOffice.....Fedora....CEntOS....and LinuxMint projects!...because these folks give so much of themselves for my benefit!) I have already "turned" my brother....my Mum....my older sister...my cousin..my son..and his mother...he sister...and my co-worker to Linux (various distros!) and they have all praised it's ease of use, it's simple-yet-powerful premise, and it's liberating effect on their computing lives! I think it's like some sort of "virus" in that once you show it to someone, and they use it once or twice, they become "infected" with the Linux Bug. As far as I'm concerned, I am PROUD and HAPPY to be infected! I intend on infecting as MANY people as I CAN!...

Cheers!

Power To The Penguin!!!

EGO II