The biggest competitor to Windows 7 isn't the Mac

Yep I have played aroudn with Linux before and I am not sure it is ready for mass retail. I was running ubuntu and I wanted to install a specific app. I cant quite recall what it was but I had to recompile the kernel to get it working.

now as a harden techy of 14+ years I did not find this an easy task. can you imagine your mom or grandad trying to tackle it.

I did have some difficulty when I began with Linux I must admit. I originally tried SUSE and had several hours of 'fun' trying to get the scanner function on the multi-function printer to work.

I came into computing at about the same time as Microsoft released the first version of Windows, so I must admit if I can't use the rodent (or some other pointing device) I still have difficulty, and can't be bothered with having to learn to write code and compile things etc.

But I have been using various versions of Ubuntu for about 5 or 6 years now, and have installed it on at least 4 different machines including a laptop, and each time everything just works from the get-go. Even if proprietary drivers are needed, it searches the various online repositories, downloads, installs and configures them all by itself. And all in graphical mode, by just using the mouse.

Although I still have Windows installed (i.e. dual boot) I very rarely use I any more. The last time I did was to transfer data from a mobile phone, but I have since found a Linux programme that does that successfully on Ubuntu so even less need for Windows now.

Steam stats can give you a pretty good view of this as well with 33% of users on XP which is the most popular OS. With Steam being a games service you would expect a lot of higher spec and up to date computers but you can see XP is still the preferred gaming OS.

I my self have used windows from 98 to 7, linux and recently mac OS X and I can say XP was one of the best experiences I have had. Probably because it was a simpler time with single processors still ruling but everything just seemed to work . I still use XP on my netbook but these days OS X or windows 7 it has to be, if only for the aero snap feature (or shiftIt a copy with extra features for mac), I've tried software to replicate it on xp but it was a bit power hungry for my netbook.

Shame there stopping support for XP

We moved all our machines from XP to Windows 7 and it was a good move, XP is still probably the best OS Microsoft ever produced but 7 is close (it had to be after the Vista dissaster). If you want to collaberate and share your work, desktop etc more then 7 is great with remote desktop services.

Our users have transitioned pretty seamlessly and it's been an advantage to us with having remote users too so I'm a fan.

Client wise though, so true many of our clients are more than happy with XP, and if it not broke as the saying goes. Our hosted desktop still uses XP too as it's more stable than 7 for now..

Phil

I didn't found any reason to upgrade my system to Vista. Although it did so, but sooner got back to my Vista. I have also seen lots of my peers also practiced so. So, I feel its about Windows Vs Windows rather Windows Vs Mac, although a great population has also subscribed to Mac.