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3 Linux Apps That Make Me Hate Windows
For starters, there's the APT and the Synaptic Package Manager. Microsoft has been promising updates and installs without reboots for years, yet Windows Vista still can't seem to deliver the goods. The Linux Mint beta I installed on my laptop recently, however, located well over a hundred updates to various packages upon completion and quietly downloaded and installed them while I finished tweaking Firefox and tooled around on some websites.
And unlike Windows' Automatic Updates, APT actually handles all the software on your machine, not just updates to the OS. What I wouldn't give for a Windows app that did this - and I know there are various apps that try, like Sumo, but none of them really work all that well. Rebooting to complete updates is crap. Get that trash off my PC.
When it comes to GUI eye candy, what can Windows offer that compares to Compiz Fusion? Nothing. Its Open GL based effects are stunning, and they render well even on underpowered hardware (like my Thinkpad Z60t's pitiful Intel 915 graphics). If you haven't seen what it does, take a look.
What's more, Compiz supports plugins and (like most Linux apps) has a very active development community. No, I don't think it makes my computer perform any better, but it just looks so damn sweet! Windows has had the same visual effects (basically) since 95. Thanks for the transparency and spiffy win + tab thing, Vista, but Compiz kicks your ass all over the place.
Finally, there's Amarok, which easily gets my vote as best music player. Not only does Amarok sport a boatload of excellent features, it also has an incredibly intuitive and easy-to-use interface. The main player's interface tabs provide a ton of information about your current artist and song including lyrics, related artists, suggested songs, Wikipedia's artist info, and the band's other albums.
For those that prefer DIY management of your library, the tree-style collection view is a welcome addition, and provides an extremely easy way.Amarok supports syncing to just about any MP3 player, even iPods (including podcasts, but not video, of course). Streaming radio integration is excellent, and it'll keep your Last.Fm profile up to date with the tracks you're currently playing.
Though the default skin is attractive, Amarok is fully skinnable and the community has contributed a number of beautiful skins. As if all this weren't enough, it's extensible via scripts, and there are a huge number of interesting and useful ones available in the Wiki.
I'm honestly not sure how much longer I'll put up with XP. More next time, when Linux makes me find even more things to hate about Windows.
Comments
40
Subscribe to commentsDomSep 12th 2008 5:18PM
Whether Windows has *only* improved on this matter is really not the point. I mean, I congratulate for the improvement but I think Windows will hardly improve enough to catch up with Linux in that field. Microsoft would have to redesign the whole thing from scratch in my, albeit not very technical opinion.
What I'm sure of is that I feel sorry for anyone who has tried using Linux for a longer period of time but still has to rely on Windows. People who have never tried Linux, they're fine because they don't know there's anything better out there.
What I'm talking about is Windows vs. Linux restarting for updates of the system. Linux has virtually no need to restart for an update of the system, (and I won't even go into not needing periodical reboots) except maybe in very rare cases. If you experience this for any significant period of time, Windows restarts could potentially drive you nuts.
I once had to help a friend of mine do something on his Windows box (after more than a year that I was Linux-only user) and I had to update it. That system had to be restarted *several* times just for this one update. Even once would be too much after Linux experience and this just drove me nuts that day.
KarlWAug 8th 2008 3:22PM
actually, Vista has an entirely new windowing system called the DWM. It uses MIL (the same thing WPF uses), which in turn is based on DirectX. Windows in Vista are actually DirectX surfaces on 3D planes. The interface is closed, so you won't see gimmicky plugins (although some reverse engineering has taken place - see Siwu's blog).
DWM even allows for a vector-based skin in some future version of Windows. It's very powerful, and kicks Compiz in the behind in terms of potential. It's gpu accelerated, and supports shaders for effects (see Vista's blurred windows).
For a neat example of how cool DWM is, try the magnifier tool on a WPF application. Set it to something high.
steveAug 8th 2008 10:16PM
Woo-hoo, so Vista is vector capable -- unlike linux of course, which... already HAS a vector GUI. Oh burn.
ChrisAug 9th 2008 10:10AM
The only thing Vista's windowing method seems to have over Compiz's is the lack of tearing. Otherwise, Compiz can do everything Vista's window manager can (and much more, of course), and it can do it right now--you don't have to wait for a few versions (and $$$) down the line for "potential."
Regardless, I hope you didn't get Vista for its eye-candy . . . for which you've basically got cheated, comparatively.
FuenbyAug 8th 2008 4:41PM
For a replacement of Amarok on Windows, take a look at foobar2000. It's easily the equal of Amarok in usability, and trumps Amarok at configurability, number of plugins, audio formats supported out of the box, and advanced features such as masstagging and gapless playback. And, of course, it's available for free.
docatomicAug 8th 2008 9:14PM
"Its Open GL based effects are stunning, and they render well even on underpowered hardware..."
True. nVidia's old FX-5500 AGP is the fastest video card that can be installed in an 'AT'-formfactor motherboard, due to its (unadvertised) backwards-compatibility with AGP 2X slots. An 'AT' mobo such as the Asus P2-99B or P2B-B will run this card properly - and with the last BIOS updates available for them, will also run Slot-1 Coppermine P3s and Celerons (or Tualatin Celerons in a Slot-T slotket, as well.).
The bottom line? CompizFusion _works_, even on such ancient hardware - and it performs not merely adequately, but actually surprisingly well. I have such hardware, and I really have done this - eat THAT, Vista!
Lee MathewsAug 8th 2008 10:16PM
Well put, man! Thanks for the great comment!
GregEAug 8th 2008 9:30PM
Viruses and Spyware
Linux wins - game over
MichelAug 9th 2008 3:53PM
It's always the same discussion about Linux vs. Windows. Lusers always say that Linux is way much better because of the apt-get / yum update system.
But what happens when some software is not provided in the repository? Or you want to upgrade to the latest version of any given software on an older distro. yes.....you have to compile the program, and first install some compiler-tools en resolve all kinds of dependency problems. Most people don't know how to do this.
On Windows: click -> click -> Accept -> Yes -> Finished.
And for Amorak there are lots of Windows alternatives/equivalents. Foobar, Winamp, iTunes, etc..
PaulAug 11th 2008 10:07AM
"But what happens when some software is not provided in the repository? Or you want to upgrade to the latest version of any given software on an older distro."
You either add a new software source to include a repository that does include the software (you can have as many as you want) or you install the software separately (compiling from source is NOT the only option here). The first option is preferred of course. If you're using an old distro, you can upgrade the entire distro by adding the new repositories.
"On Windows: click -> click -> Accept -> Yes -> Finished."
...and welcome back to 2002. In the modern era, virtually every piece of Linux software that's not in alpha state has packages available for the major distros. There's usually no need to install from source unless you're testing something new, using an obscure distro or need to make unusual modifications to the core package.
Also, guess what you often have to do if you're installing a piece of alpha software on Windows - compile from source! I'd suggest trying Linux again as you apparently haven't used it in the last 5 years. The *only* time I've had to compile from source in the last 3 years is when dealing with alpha software. It's easier to use pre-release software on Linux, but there's usually no reason to do so for most users.
It's sad that people still have to resort to this kind of FUD. It's like using anti-Windows 98 argument when attacking Vista - the statements may have been true at some point, but that was a long, long time ago.
"And for Amorak there are lots of Windows alternatives/equivalents. Foobar, Winamp, iTunes, etc.."
Actually, Amarok IS coming to Windows soon. Amarok 2 will be cross-platform - it's currently in alpha but making good progress. Many KDE apps are coming to Windows in actual fact - KOffice is a great lightweight alternative to OpenOffice if you don't need lots of features...
NeoprimalAug 10th 2008 5:20AM
Synaptics Manager and Windows Update are fundamentally different. It's like comparing the public and private sector of gov't. It's completely unreasonable to expect Windows Update to provide updates for thousands of unruly windows installs. Linux is publicly supported by developers that tend to work closely with the community to make sure packages are updated frequently. There's no such luck with Windows developers, not to mention much of Windows software isn't free - and some unscrupulous devs ask you to purchase minor or major upgrades - imagine a windows update database that updated your software from the one you've paid for to a version that is now shareware again because you need to re-purchase a code? So, yeah - I really can't agree with this sentiment.
Compiz vs. Vista effects is another story. MS makes me want to really throw them under the bus on this one because I feel like it's under laziness or just lack of concern on their part that they've made such a static look for the OS. Compiz REALLY shows up what Vista is lacking in terms of cosmetics/aesthetics. Sure the glassy look is nice, but how about some bounce and 'cool' factor for the OS? So on this one, I do have to agree.
Amarok is nice but alas, it's not for everyone. I've moved on from skinnable media players, I still use things like Jetaudio which is, but meh, I never dl skins for it. As for useful scripts - I guess it's nice to have the ability, but since I don't care for that stuff it doesn't affect me. For that reason (and that alone), I like WMP 11 perfectly fine. It does it's job, and it does it well. It connects me to my Directv DVR and Xbox360 without so much much effort.
So 1/3 is what we agree on. I sincerely hope the next version of windows will be a bit more playful/generous when it comes to the 'cool' factor, looks and feel. Function is great, but even though 2 cars may be identical in function, you're probably going to choose the 'cooler' looking once, especially if it's cheaper. MS needs to remember this or they're going to lose alot of people that are as satisfied with Linux as they are with Windows.
jgsAug 12th 2008 3:35PM
Amarok runs on Windows...
http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/02/14/amarok-music-player-tech-preview-released-for-windows/
aliAug 14th 2008 10:51AM
Thank you very beautiful
Paranoid AndroidAug 15th 2008 2:17AM
I agree with everything in this post. This 3 apps are awesome. I'll be happy the day Amarok can run natively on Windows!
ColinAug 21st 2008 3:34PM
After reading your article I went through all my apps that I have installed and use frequently to find one that isn't available on Windows or doesn't have any viable alternatives on Windows. I think I found an app hat meets that criteria: Comix ( http://comix.sourceforge.net/ ). I've used several cbr viewers on Windows and none of them compare to the quality, speed, and usability of Comix.
Racetrack_OwnerSep 19th 2008 9:23AM
Seriously? A few desktop effects and a music player are two thirds of the reason you *hate* Windows?
Easy updating is the only serious issue you raise, and you greatly overstate the inconvenience.
Lee MathewsSep 19th 2008 9:42AM
I'm glad you like having to update all your apps individually, that's great!
As for me, I think the simplicity of a single tool to keep everything on a computer up to date is a fantastic idea.
I suppose it would have been better to say "cause me frustration at the inherent shortcomings in Windows," but "hate" was, well, shorter.
Lee MathewsSep 19th 2008 9:42AM
Oh yes, and these are only three, so the two you have issue with are far less than 2/3 of the reasons. There are other things, but this is just one post.
Now, there are plenty of things I love about Windows - even Vista. That post is coming, too.
JeremySep 28th 2008 6:36PM
I loved the article. Curious though. I have the EEE Pc, can you install compiz on it. It is running a custom xandros linux. Thanks
bobOct 26th 2008 11:20AM
hence no crazy registry issues that require restarting.
It isn't the registry which forces reboots. Changes to the registry are instantaneous. It's Windows file protection: Files which are in use cannot be moved, replaced, or deleted which is why system upgrades require reboots. Though third party applications rarely actually require a reboot, but it's done for posterity.
Yeah, yeah, you don't need to reboot to play with files which are in use on Unix, and that's convenient in many cases. Not being able to also has its pluses (for one, there are fewer ways to fuck up a running system).