Sorry to point this out, but you really seem to be a total n00b. (Yes, I know it’s considered swearing in certain circles. I’ve been an IT Consultant for over 25 years and believe me, Linux absolutely beats M$. For someone who seems to professes vast knowledge, you fail to point out that your Media Server (clue is in the name) is probably an OEM Windows Media Server, fully badged with a “works with Vista” sticker (though it won’t with XP, M$ refused to backport their Irda RC drivers for XP yet the same hardware works flawlessly on Ubu. The one put together by some “college students”) with all the necessary hardware drivers pre-installed. Grab a standard XP/Vista/7 installation disk, partition and format the drive, start your installation and see how far you get. lol. You’ll waste about 2 hours before the installer decides it can’t find the right drivers and hose your system. Even if it can, you’ll spend around a further 8 hours downloading MS Updates. Oh yeah, and your Anti-Virus software and it’s updates. But since an unpatched M$ PC can be infected within about 30 seconds it’s already a case of stable-doors and bolted horses.

Or just Live-CD a linux distro. Or do a quick multi-boot install. Maybe about 3/4 hour for a fully spec’d up server.

So you can’t suss out the *nix filesystems? RTFM, then. It’s not Windows it never was. And lots of the code M$ used and still uses came from Open Source originally anyway. So stop complaining because a succulent orange is not a black-eyed, worm-ridden potato. It was never meant to me.

Oh, BTW, did you know that the original MS-DOS (then IBM PC-DOS) was programmed by some bloke called William Gates and a load of other contributors? None of the other got much credit, but ALL of them, including Mr Gates… were college students at the time.

As for your Adobe whining, just emulate Windows within Linux or multi-boot.

Tell you what mate: YOU develop an OS that’ll run efficiently and securely on just about ANY combination of various hardware and I’ll take you seriously. In the mean time, just keep trolling for flames while the rest of us sit back, point and laugh at you and then back to doing some productive work.

*Pats little boy on head, sits back, points and laughs with everyone else with a clue*

So far, the only two point where Photoshop ´beats´ GIMP is that is has layer folders and a built-in photomerge function. But GIMP is much MUCH MUCH MUCH MUUUUUCH more resource-efficient. You´ll never get ´scratch disks are full´ and a .psd file weighs at least twice as much a .xcf equivalent.

But, alas! I have not found a viable alternative to flash either.

Wubi will install Ubuntu on a windows partition or on its own partition.
Its as simple as picking a partition and picking a username/password. 2 steps and you on your way to enjoying Ubuntu.

I’m not saying you should use Linux. If you’re happy with Vista, why would I try to talk you out of it. But please boot your Vista machine from an Ubuntu CD sometime and see how cool Linux has become. There’s some awesome work being done out there.

Perhaps the install method has been much improved, but I’m still guessing there is a mess involved with all the dependencies in the Linux environment.

I don’t need an extra GB of ram to run anti-virus, or anti-spyware etc. either. As a matter of fact, I don’t run any anti-anything. I don’t need to – it’s called blocking cookies and using an allow list, as well I don’t download pirated software ever so I have absolutely no concern with viruses.

I would go out on a limb and say that anyone who is actually decently computer-savvy would never see a need for anti-anything software – it is only required for beginners. Again, Vista is perfect – I have no idea why people are brainwashed that it is such crap. Ever heard of Mojave? Microsoft never said anything about it being crap. The only thing they ever admitted to was that the view of Vista and the general acceptance had failed.

Nothign wrong with Vista whatsoever – I am a coder and designer too, which I am guessing most people on this site probably are (the WordPress/Cumulous plugin probably brought them here)

Anyways, yes. Whatever makes you have and bring the bread and butter in – to each their own; but I know for a fact that NOT a lot of people are switching, and of those that do only a very small portiona actually can honestly say they see the benefit.

Just my 2 cents =) I have no need to think outside the box so to speak, when doing so makes things more complicated. I for one, love my windows server and easy backup intengrated into Vista etc. and hey, if I am finished work for the day I can play a game of Company of Heroes without rebooting