WHY I hate Windows

Before we get started, let me lay down some ground rules for comments. First, you can say whatever you want: I don't censor people who disagree with me. However: if you leave a comment that plainly shows that you did NOT READ everything I said here AND every single comment that precedes yours, I'm going to delete your comment no matter what it says. Got that? I'm sick up to my ears with people who read a headline and jump to the comments section with their reaction.

I'm writing this as a follow up to my recent "I hate Windows" post. That post attracted some attention from The Linux Hater's Blog and brought a few of their readers here. Of course lovers of that blog wouldn't find much to like here.. nevertheless I'm going to explain exactly why I hate Windows.

I'm not a Windows expert

Heck, I don't consider myself an expert at anything. I'm a generalist: I've been kicking around computers since 1967 so I know a bit about this and that, but I'm no expert at any part of the field. I did obtain a Microsoft MCSE a long, long time ago (NT 4 days) but I have not kept up with that at all. I do read a bit about Microsoft internals (I liked Russinovitch's "Windows Internals", for example) but I don't live it daily and I'd bet against me passing a current MCSE test without a few months of catch-up first.

Not that I'm helpless at a Windows console. Unfortunately, I regularly run into so-called Windows support people who are a lot closer to helpless than I am, so yeah, sometimes I do some Windows troubleshooting. Only when I have to in some other context and only when the folks who should have been doing it are getting nowhere.. nobody should call me for a stand-alone Windows problem.

Well, except my neighbors - loosely defined as the 800 or so families who live in the same retirement community as I do. I WILL help those folks out with Windows problems - as a first responder. I don't charge them anything. I try to help them if I can. If I can't, I refer them on to someone who can (and who will charge them). Of course most Windows problems are fairly easy, so I do help more than I refer off, but that doesn't make me an "expert". Mostly it means I know how to use Google.

I'm not a Linux Fanboy

I'm not a Mac fanboy either. I am a Unix fanboy, and honestly that's the major reason I hate Windows: it's not Unix. Yeah, I know: I can put Services For Unix on and yeah, if I really HAD to put up with Windows, that really would take away a lot of the sting. Fortunately, I can run Linux and Mac OS X instead.

Microsoft really is the anti-unix. Their programming philosophy is just completely opposite to Unix and I just hate that. They are anti-unix in more direct ways too: through ignorance or design, they have mucked up long standing protocols and practices. Whether it's ignorance or deliberate doesn't really matter: I still hate it.

Many Windows people forget or just don't know that Unix was here first. It's very annoying to have someone come along and muck things up. It's even more annoying when they get so popular that a lot of bleeping morons think that things SHOULD be done their way!

Microsoft is an ugly company

Yeah, yeah, yeah: it's just business. No, it's not: it's cut-throat, take no prisoners, morals be damned business and I think it is disgusting. I hate to see greed succeed.

There's no point in telling me that Gates is no worse than X, Y or Z. I know that. But I still don't like him or his company. For me, they are the Evil Empire. That other Evil Empires exist is unimportant. That Apple or Red Hat or anyone else could be just as evil doesn't matter either: I don't like Microsoft, Inc.

I do buy their stock though. I can't lose with that: if they go out of business, I'll be happy personally and if they put everyone else out I ought to make money.

I'm hoping to lose everything I put in.

Windows IS annoying

My wife uses an XP machine. I hate it - it's slow to boot and even after Windows starts and teases you with a desktop, you can't do anything for minutes because it's doing other stuff. That's a design flaw in its process manager coupled with the need for virus software and a lot of other apparently poorly written background programs and overall it just adds to my dislike. The constant security updates are also annoying - yes, it's because Windows is so popular that it gets attacked so much, but that doesn't change the fact that it does get attacked.. constantly. And until Vista, the basic security model sucked: a user really has to be an Administrator or things get VERY annoying, but of course that leads to easier attack vectors. Vista is better.. but it doesn't begin to match my Mac!

I'm trying to get my wife off that XP and on to Mac. She's stubborn but we can't ignore that XP patches will stop sooner or later.. she isn't going to like learning Vista or Win 7, so maybe I can switch her then.. if not, I'll buy a new Vista or Win 7 box. Sigh..

I hate ignorance

And frankly, a lot of Windows folks are ignorant. I see that constantly: if all you've ever done is Windows, you don't know very much. That doesn't make you stupid and it isn't meant to be insulting - it's just fact. I've worked on CP/M, Pick, OS/360, TRS-80 Basic and TRS-80 Assembly, MSDOS, TRS-DOS, Tandy Xenix, Microsoft Xenix, SCO Unix, BSD, Solaris, AIX, Linux, old Macs and new.. I know a LOT of stuff those Windows only folks never will know. I also know a bit about programming: Assembly, Cobol, C, Basic, Perl.. no "expert" at any of them, but there's a lot of road that has passed under my shoes. This is a weak reason to dislike Windows as an operating system, but it does play a small part in my dislike: a lot of Wiindows folks just don't know much. I frankly get insulted when one of them casts aspersions at my qualifications and knowledge because it really is the case that I've probably forgotten more than some of 'em ever have known.

Of course how to send a report out of an ancient Pick's system serial port isn't exactly knowledge any of us need any more. At least I hope I never need that again..

Still, when somebody has worked on all those different systems over all those years, their opinion of an OS deserves some respect. My opinion is that Windows sucks. OK? If all you've ever done is run Windows for the past five or ten years, I'm sorry but your opinion doesn't mean squat to me. No offense. Oh, heck, yes I do mean offense.

I just hate Windows

So there it is. Tear me apart if you wish, but remember my warning about comments: if your comments shows you skipped or scanned, it's deleted. OK?

See also Why I love Unix.

Click here to add your comments




Tue Mar 24 23:43:26 2009: Subject:   TonyLawrence


I guess none of them want to leave a comment..

They sure are leaving comments over at that Linux Haters blog. Mostly ad hominem, though there are some trying to be serious.

I tried to lighten things up, but there's apparently no sense of humor there. Probably goes hand in hand with suffering Windows :-)

Oh well..



Wed Mar 25 00:04:14 2009: Subject:   anonymous


You skimped a lot on your reasons for hating Windows and spent more time talking about other things. As I said in LHB, flesh out section four a bit more.

Also, regarding updates. I feel that overall they are less frequent or it may just be that since it runs in the background at 0300 that I just don't notice anymore. Either way, I'd rather have frequent updates plugging holes than few or none at all (given the presence of bugs which I don't think will ever become a thing of the past). Background processes can easily be controlled and reeled in albeit Microsoft is still doing their best to offer more and more superfluous features that are on by default. The good news is that Windows 7 seems to address this issue better. While there have been many complaints about Microsoft in the past I feel that the company has recently stepped up its game.



Wed Mar 25 00:09:46 2009: Subject:   TonyLawrence


Well, this is the "sound-bite" world - if you flesh out too much, nobody reads..

Yes, I understand that Microsoft needs to do the updates. That doesn't make them less annoying.

And yes, Win 7 will be an improvement. I have a copy here and it's certainly a heck of an improvement. But.. it's not Unix, is it?

And as I explained, that's most of it. I was exposed to Unix early on, so that's what I imprinted on. I do not like Microsoft..



Wed Mar 25 00:21:19 2009: Subject:   anonymous


It not being Unix is the weakest point of them all. Using that as your stance then even if an OS that was superior to Unix in every way were to exist you'd have to hate it because it wasn't Unix. Understand my objection to this justification? I doubt you'd accept a claim where somebody said they hated OS X/Linux/Unix/Haiku because it wasn't Windows.



Wed Mar 25 00:28:55 2009: Subject:   TonyLawrence


Ah, but this whole blog explains what's "right" about Unix.

The Unix philosophy of small tools that work together is beautiful. Windows "swiss army" knife mentality is ugly.

Also, as noted, I have a LOT of experience with a LOT of OSes. And I don't mean that I just used them - I mean I wrote programs in them, did troubleshooting, learned their innards..

Most Windows people haven't done anything like that. Even the ones who say they have used Linux have mostly just booted a CD, answered some questions and then used a browser - big whoop!

When I say I prefer Unix over Windows, I have a lot of experience and knowledge behind that statement.



Wed Mar 25 00:42:46 2009: Subject:   TonyLawrence


I'm quitting for the day. Don't feel I'm ignoring you if I don't respond until tomorrow.



Wed Mar 25 00:44:12 2009: Subject:   anonymous


Then why not just say what you mean? Wouldn't it be more accurate to say that "It doesn't follow the Unix philosophy"? These kinds of things make the difference between sounding like an irrational idiot and sounding like a rational, logical person.

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Wed Mar 25 00:56:45 2009: Subject:   BrettLegree
http://6weeks.ca

Yeah, I was going to say earlier, "wow, no one wants to comment on what you said, they must be busy over at LHB", and then I had to go out for a bit - but I guess someone came by after all.

The main thing I find annoying about Windows has to be with the updates, or anything at all to do with adding/removing software - too many reboots required, which interrupt my work flow.

Now, I know I can choose whether or not to install updates - but I can't at work. I know this isn't Microsoft's fault, it is a policy decision within my IT group.

But... the fact that Windows requires a reboot for what I would consider fairly minor things irks me a bit. I could care less if there were 100 patches a day, just don't make me reboot for a web browser update...

I've made it a bit better for myself, though. Luckily we are given Admin rights (or is that lucky?), so I installed a little gem called Shutdown Guard - that way, when IT pushes out some stupid patch, I don't come back from lunch to discover that my machine rebooted and did not save my work. I just get a warning that it tried to reboot.

With a little luck (assuming no BSOD's), I can keep my XP laptop up and running without a reboot for a few weeks at a time. I manually restart the explorer.exe process every so often just to keep it "fresh" - for some reason, this seems to help keep the flakiness away.

And yet... on the same machine, Linux works better - for me. Perhaps not for everyone - but for me, and isn't that what matters?



Wed Mar 25 01:15:02 2009: Subject:   TonyLawrence


Then why not just say what you mean? Wouldn't it be more accurate to say that "It doesn't follow the Unix philosophy"? These kinds of things make the difference between sounding like an irrational idiot and sounding like a rational, logical person.

Well, this IS a Linux/Unix blog.. most of the people who read it already know what the Unix philosophy is - it isn't necessary to keep harping on it.

Please remember, I didn't go to a Windows lovers blog and invite y'all to come here - somebody else complained about me and left the first links.

I don't really feel that I need to write in a way comprehensible to Windows centric people. I'm not interested in gaining them as readers, am I?





Wed Mar 25 04:02:24 2009: Subject:   anonymous


While that may be a good excuse for the rest of your articles it is important to remember you linked this post, where you use the line "It's not Unix", in a blog that has an anti-Linux stance (and lots of pro-Windows readers). You instructed those readers to read this post.



Wed Mar 25 05:44:06 2009: Subject:   jtimberman


I'm a Linux/Unix system engineer/admin, and I believe in the Unix philosophy of one specific tool for each task/purpose.

Windows Vista makes for a great home theater system in my experience. It would have been more effort and hassle to get a Linux system capable of the same media playback options[1], and wouldn't be able to play anywhere near the library of games (none of the games I like will run even remotely reasonably on Codeweavers etc). I'm satisfied with it in that regard.

[1] Set up a year ago, to do upscaling DVD, mp3/m4a/aac music, HDTV DVR, Linux options for HDTV were pretty bad, and the tuner I have wasn't very well supported[2].

[2] Tuner worked out of the box w/o drivers and w/o issue on Vista, before SP2 even.



Wed Mar 25 10:06:35 2009: Subject:   TonyLawrence


You instructed those readers to read this post.

Sigh.. it's not going to matter what I say.

It's like the whole "expert" thing. If I said I was an expert, y'all would jump over that. I said I'm not, and you assume that means I know nothing. I try to explain that, but I get nonsense and more ad hominems back.

I'm not writing for Windows people. I'm certainly not writing for most of the ignorants who frequent that LHB blog.

My feeling has always been that if you don't understand something I write, ask a freaking question. I'll answer it pleasantly. But when you start carping that I should have done this and I need to flesh out that, well, honestly I don't give a rat's patootie because plainly I'm not writing for you.

So: you don't like how I wrote this. Fine. I DON'T CARE. Move on, go back to your Linux bashing ignorant pals at LHB. Be happy, and don't worry about us: we'll be fine.





Wed Mar 25 14:40:51 2009: Subject:   BigDumbDinosaur
http://bcstechnology.net

Of course how to send a report out of an ancient Pick's system serial port isn't exactly knowledge any of us need any more. At least I hope I never need that again.

It's still better than trying to untangle a boogered-up Windows registry.

Windows is like a beautiful home equipped with the latest in amenities and appliances, but built on a cracked foundation with leaky plumbing and substandard wiring...and located in a mosquito-infested marsh.



Wed Mar 25 22:04:30 2009: Subject: Windows, the world's least popular OS   anonymous


I am the administrator for hosting company, and we are small enough that I am the entire support dept. as well. On a regular basis I find that windows fails its long time users, ideas that were clear a long time ago in UNIX are still broken in Windows. When performing support I routinely ask customers to save a file somewhere they will be able to find it in a moment, since there's a self-referencing paradigm of a directory nested far below the root and variable per user (Desktop), its very common for users to expect to be able to find their file again, and not be able to, this was insanity from day 1.

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Wed Mar 25 22:10:54 2009: Subject:   TonyLawrence


:-)

Yeah, I see that all the time. They have no idea where the file went.. I tell 'em to try the download again and pay attention to the file name and where it's being saved..



Wed Mar 25 22:14:06 2009: Subject:   BrettLegree
http://6weeks.ca

I wonder if that's why they added the indexed search to Vista and beyond, to help the hapless users find stuff?

Not that anyone does, because searching worked before, slowly, but it worked... I'm always amazed when people can't figure things out and you say, "Did you try Help?" - they give you a silly look, then you show them, and still they won't use it!!!

Just like they won't use Google etc.

Save us...



Thu Mar 26 01:21:48 2009: Subject:   STeve


I liked what you had to say and altho LHB makes some good points, if you put most of the commentators in front of an Ubuntu machine they probably *still* wouldn't know what to do. Most people are too dumb to cope with change thanks to the public school system. Debian Linux FTW!



Thu Mar 26 03:09:33 2009: Subject:   jtimberman


if you put most of the commentators in front of an Ubuntu machine they probably *still* wouldn't know what to do

Anecdote: My wife's used a Windows system for a couple years, then I switched her to Ubuntu. With about an hour of training, and random questions every so often, she was fully capable of working in Ubuntu as she was on Windows. It helps that I showed her the same programs on Windows that I use on Linux for day-to-day stuff: Firefox, Pidgin, GNUCash, KeePass. The added benefit of Linux was she didn't have to contend with system update and antivirus popups distracting her from using the computer.

That said, most of the people I know who are heavily invested in Windows through work, and likely to participate in a Linux hating blog are people who have been using Windows for a long time, and are into the "Windows Way" of doing things. I have a friend who's used PC's since he got an 8088 XT when those were new, and has progressed through the MS operating systems (sans Xenix ;)) over the years. The lack of things like Device Manager (at the time) turned him off Linux, and he never strayed from Windows since. Other Windows types I know are heavily invested in programming C# and .NET, and couldn't be fussed with learning the GNU development stack.

The thing we all need to remember is that people have different opinions and personalities. What appeals to one person won't appeal to someone else. Dale Carnegie said "Those convinced against their will are of the same opinion still."



Thu Mar 26 12:35:31 2009: Subject:   TonyLawrence


Naaw - we need to tie them down and beat 'em till they love Unix.

Microsoft actually is doing some good things starting with Vista. If they can cut out some bloat and continue improving security, they may have something pretty good by Win 7.

That won't change my opinions because it's still "swiss army knife" mentality, they'll still abuse standards and they'll still be greedy and unconscionable in their business practices. But at least they won't be selling XP..



Mon Oct 5 08:06:39 2009: Subject:   anonymous


I'm new to using computers compared to a geek living in a retirement community. However, I know what I like and it isnt Windows. I used a Windows XP machine for the last 5 years and bought a Mac recently. Now I know why people hate the Windows OS so much. Mac is easier to use for average jo's like moms, dads, grandmas, 4 year old nephews, ect ect. It makes having a home computer fun. And now Apple has stepped up their game by making their computers more compatible with software and products you can by at a place like Walmart ... i'm smitten : )



Mon Oct 5 12:19:20 2009: Subject:   TonyLawrence


Good for you!

I did finally get my wife switched to Mac. I'm not sure she is entirely happy about tha, but she is switched :-)

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Sat Nov 21 13:38:17 2009: Subject:   anonymous


I couldn't agree more. I switched 2 years ago and have never looked back. The only thing Windows is any good for is games and you can get a console for that. Windows is bloatware. Bloat the system to fill up any spare hardware capacity improvements so that a 2009 pc running Win-arse runs slower and is less secure than a 2005 pc runnix 'nix. Then you have to pay extra for loads of antivirus because it is so full of holes. Why isnt protection included from the start. THat would make an interesting court case. iIt is like having a monopoly on selling buckets with holes in so that other companies can spring-up and sell patches. Also I hate the mindset of Windoze - you are always feel frustrated and boxed-in. Examples are messages like "The system has crashed and lost all your work after you farted" The available options?? A box that says "OK" not a box that says "Please suggest something you fucking load of expensive crap". Oh and then there's always the famous "please re-install the entire operating system to fix some insignificant error ( and make sure you re-start after every single minor update / installation / driver change. That these monkeys are legally allowed to sell this heap of crap and get away with it is unreal. Linux is much better and I hope they wipe the floor (and their arse) with Windows... Don't get me started on the automatic updates...!

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