User:Jids

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Rice's Ruminition: The World needs more geniouses with humility. There are so few of us left.

Hi, I'm Zahid Dhanani, othewise known as Jids.

I'm a person who is outspoken about Windows and problems with it's various operating systems, and I prefer Linux to Windows. This is because Windows has many security flaws, and is closed source, unlike Linux, which is open source. To save you the trouble of having to read through the articles, I shall simply state the main differences between the two operating systems. Firstly, we have the problem with patches. Patches for Windows are released every thirty days or later, depending on the severity of the flaw and the difficulty in fixing that flaw. For example, a security flaw may be discovered on June 1st, and not be fixed until June 31st. Another example might be that a flaw is reported on June 1st, and a patch not be released until a few months later. To my knowledge, and the knowledge of hundreds of other Linux-users in the world, this has never happened for Linux. This is because Linux is open source, which means that the source code for the various versions of Linux are accessible by anyone and everyone, and so can be improved on by anyone and everyone, and the patch posted on various sites for other users to download and implement. For example, a flaw with Mandrake may be discovered on June 1st, and a patch made available by June 3rd. THIS is one of the many benifits of open source. Another problem with Windows, Windows XP in particular, is the inability to allow the user to perform commands or tasks that the USER wants the computer to perform. For example, a user may want their computer to have many USB devices connected, but be disabled. These sorts of tasks are not possible with Windows XP, but are possible with Linux. Here is a somewhat well-known analogy of various operating systems:

If Operating Systems Ran The Airlines...

Everyone brings one piece of the plane along when they come to the airport. They all go out on the runway and put the plane together piece by piece, arguing non-stop about what kind of plane they are supposed to be building.

Everybody pushes the airplane until it glides, then they jump on and let the plane coast until it hits the ground again. Then they push again, jump on again, and so on...

All the stewards, captains, baggage handlers, and ticket agents look and act exactly the same. Every time you ask questions about details, you are gently but firmly told that you don't need to know, don't want to know, and everything will be done for you without your ever having to know, so just shut up.

The terminal is pretty and colourful, with friendly stewards, easy baggage check and boarding, and a smooth take-off. After about 10 minutes in the air, the plane explodes with no warning whatsoever.

Just like Windows Air, but costs more, uses much bigger planes, and takes out all the other aircraft within a 40-mile radius when it explodes.

You turn up at the airport,which is under contract to only allow XP Air planes. All the aircraft are identical, brightly coloured and three times as big as they need to be. The signs are huge and all point the same way. Whichever way you go, someone pops up dressed in a cloak and pointed hat insisting you follow him. Your luggage and clothes are taken off you and replaced with an XP Air suit and suitcase identical to everyone around you as this is included in the exorbitant ticket cost. The aircraft will not take off until you have signed a contract. The inflight entertainment promised turns out to be the same Mickey Mouse cartoon repeated over and over again. You have to phone your travel agent before you can have a meal or drink. You are searched regularly throughout the flight. If you go to the toilet twice or more you get charged for a new ticket. No matter what destination you booked you will always end up crash landing at Whistler in Canada.

Disgruntled employees of all the other OS airlines decide to start their own airline. They build the planes, ticket counters, and pave the runways themselves. They charge a small fee to cover the cost of printing the ticket, but you can also download and print the ticket yourself.

When you board the plane, you are given a seat, four bolts, a wrench and a copy of the seat-HOWTO.html. Once settled, the fully adjustable seat is very comfortable, the plane leaves and arrives on time without a single problem, the in-flight meal is wonderful. You try to tell customers of the other airlines about the great trip, but all they can say is, "You had to do what with the seat?" Sorry, this is the best analogy on the subject of linux, has been around for a long time, and is anonymous.

BTW, linux is the kernel, GNU/GPL software make up the rest of the OS and apps. GNU/Linux is the way lawyers will say it in court.

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