Linux? BSD? Windows? MacOS? Slackware? FreeBSD? Solaris?
Linux? BSD? Windows? MacOS? Slackware? Debian? FreeBSD? OpenBSD? MacOS X? Mac OS 7? Solaris? AIX? Mandriva? SUSE? OpenSUSE? RedHat? Debian? Debian kFreeBSD? GNU HURD? PC-BSD? Windows 9X? Windows 7?
So many Operating Systems!
Linux alone, being only a Kernel, which is then taken, and stirred with a LOT of other Applications, most of which come from the FSF (Free Software Foundation) has more than a Hundred Different "Distributions". For the new comer; A Linux Distribution, is basically nothing more than a person, or group, who took the Linux Kernel, and then, went and found the Software THEY like, that runs on Linux, and put it all together for you, with some form of Boot up, and then an installer, and put it together in a manner that allowed you as a user, to download their "idea" of what Linux should look like.
There are hundreds of different Distributions of Linux out there. Just about all of them, are totally free to download. You can download any of them you like as an ISO, or maybe Disk Image, and then, install it on your Computer, and use it, all for free.
If you CHOSE to download an ISO image of Linux, and burn it to a CD, to create a Bootable CD, and thenn booted from it, and installed that particular Distribution of Linux, and you liked it, you may have made copies of the CD, and handed them out to friends, or maybe took them with you to school.
That's all legal too. Most of the members here on AntiOnline, are of course, wondering why I'm even talking about something so basic, and so entry level, but there are people in this World, who are figuring this out for their very first time.
And just think; Some years ago, the idea that you could download not only Software, without worrying about being busted for Piracy, but an ENTIRE Operating System, is amazing when you think about how things USED to be!
I'm not planning on making this some Linux fan boy thread; No, I don't need that. I have a sticky in this forum, which tells you about different Linux Distributions, and has my opinions on them, and, others joined in with THEIR opinions on them, and so on.
The vast majority of the BSD Operating Systems, allows the exact same thing as well.
So, what is the real point of this entire thread, before I start to ramble and you lose interest? This:
What made you choose the Operating System you're using?
Now, most of us here probably based our decision on more than just a couple things, but in all Honesty, I'm sure most would say that we all have a list of certain Applications that are on our "Must Have" List.
So, what are your absolute MUST HAVE Applications? What Applications do you use, that are important enough, that you've possibly even settled on an OS over them?
Now for me, I use multiple Operating Systems, and I have a list of Applications I like, be it games or tools, that I use a lot.
Windows -
DooM Series, Quake Series, Wolfenstein Series, Unreal Series, Unreal Tournament Series, Microsoft Works.
Unix based -
XMMS
LMMS
Kmail
Mutt
Zsh
Vi / Vim
Emacs / XEmacs / TeXMacs
Perl
Python
Ruby
Nmap
Hping
IPSorcery
Hydra
Opera
Galeon
Epiphany
----------------------
A lot of the Applications ARE Cross Platform. 7Zip, PeaZIP, TugZIP, Bzip2 and so on, are also high on my list, as I like messing with Compression and Archiving, and they too, are Cross Platform.
I can't really say anything about Macs in general, as I haven't ever owned one, or used OS X for more than a few minutes, so I really won't say much there.
Basically, I'll stop here, which will prevent me from going on and starting to Ramble too much, but I wanted to give examples of some things I really like to use.
Ideally, this thread will have others reply to it, and not only name the Operating Systems they use, but why.
It will also then have them stating which Applications they REALLY Love. Or, maybe the Applications they can't live without.
So, just out of curiosity, What Operating Systems are you using? Why did you pick them? What are those critical Applications that keep you from switching to something else? Are your choices the same no matter if you're setting up Servers or Desktops? If so, why? If not, why not?
Should be interesting, to say the least ;)
And before anyone pops in here and says it; NO, I'm not attempting some "My OS is better than YOUR OS" Thread. I know mine is better; If it wasn't, I'd use your's ;)
But in all seriousness, I'm really not looking to start up something like that, I really just thought it would be neat to see what everyone is running, and why.