• Most experts agree Linux is safer than Windows

  • All scientific supercomputers use Linux

  • Professional hackers use Linux

  • Linux is the undisputed backbone of internet servers

  • Critical military infrastructure relies on Linux

Microsoft’s revenue was $300 Billion last year. They have unlimited ressources.

So why is Windows still worse than Linux ?

  • Cousin Mose@lemmy.hogru.ch
    11·
    23 hours ago

    Why do you need to run 10-30 year old software? This is a big red flag in my book: if your software can’t be bothered to be upgraded then why would you expect your OS to be?

    • ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.netEnglish
      1·
      12 hours ago

      Sometimes software is just… Done. Feature complete and sometimes still just the best way of doing something. It’s a rare thing, but sometimes happens.

      I guess a good example is WordPerfect 6.2 for DOS; it’s to this day a great WYSIWYG word processor, and the most feature complete TUI word processor for people who like distraction free writing. There are still proponents meticulously documenting how to get it working and integrated with modern OS’s so that it can access modern printers.

    • blackbeans@lemmy.zip
      2·
      20 hours ago

      What is the problem of running 10-30 year old desktop software locally? This is actually very common in some sectors, such as governmental infrastructure or industrial use. It’s not like those applications are reachable from the internet or even contact a server. Windows itself ships with applications that haven’t changed for decades, such as the character map and resource monitor.

      • Cousin Mose@lemmy.hogru.ch
        1·
        17 hours ago

        Then run it on the relevant (outdated) OS? Why should the OS be constantly held back because the software sucks?

        If the developer would just address the issues as they come and recompile for OS upgrades it shouldn’t be a problem — but if you’re using software where the developer can’t bother to recompile after 30(!!!) years I think there’s a more serious problem.

        • blackbeans@lemmy.zip
          2·
          16 hours ago

          Ideally you want the OS to be updated, because old OS are vulnerable when the computer is networked. In fact most IT departements require every PC to have an up to date OS.

          It’s not always a matter of bothering - many applications are customized and made for a specific purpose. An application could have been sold to only one company as a one off, or even developed by a long retired employee. Want an update after 20 years? Sure, after paying another invoice, provided that the developing company still exists and is still willing to support such old tech.

          It is just a given that many companies are stuck with some old software somewhere in their process. That explains the policy for Windows.

          Windows: “if we stop shipping this 25 year old library 5% of corporate users will experience problems which will cost us money and reputational damage, so we keep it compatible.”

          Linux distro: “we are going to replace X with Y because it is better. Things will break and it is partially up to the community to solve it.”