In Which OS Do You Feel More Productive?

HTMLChecker asks: "I found an article in which the author talks about how she is more productive using Mac OS X. What about the people of Slashdot? Where do you feel more productive, in Linux? Windows? DOS? Mac OS X? Also, what is the best way to rate productivity in an OS?"

Easy.

[Maradine]

Also, what is the best way to rate productivity in a OS?"

By the sheer number of FPS titles available native to the platform.

Inversely, of course.

M

os

[lardtree]

KAYPRO!

Any OS

[sport_160]

that does not allow me to read slashdot all day.

XP wins.

[tarquin_fim_bim]

I can open an average of 14 infected mails every minute, click on the atatchments and have them procreating in seconds, without having to save them, make them executable, then fiddle about trying to get them to run under Wine. Match that on any other OS.

Not typical /. response

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm actually more productive in Windows, since in Linux I tend to fiddle with things and have fun :)

None of the above

[spun]

In windows and DOS, I play games too much. In Linux, I futz around compiling things over and over and getting my configuration files just right. In Mac OS X I just stare slack-jawed at the purty eye candy.

All I know is...

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm sure that everyone has heard the old saying, "Mac for Productivity, Unix for Development, and Windows for Solitaire". My experience has shown me that at least for my needs, the Mac is not only for productivity, but for development as well. Windows? Well, some things never change.

Favorite OS

[mike5904]

Hmm...I don't think I could possibly guess what the preferred OS of Slashdot is. (I would assume the preferred OS of most would be the one they are most productive with) It's not a particular OS has a majority presence here or anything.

Windows

[th1ckasabr1ck]

Because it has Visual Studio, which is the best IDE out there (in my opinion, of course).

Nintendo.

[Eric_Cartman_South_P]

I have achieved more accomplishments on a Nintendo then anywhere else. Including real life.

I feel more productive in Windows

[MrAnnoyanceToYou]

Because anything that can keep me that angry for that long makes me produce more heat, noise, piles of hair upon my desk, and sheer nervous energy while wondering if it will work properly.

Where do you feel more productive??

[hawkbug]

Where do you feel more productive?

Behind a firewall that blocks port 80 :)

Re:Easy.

[Rei]

Also, what is the best way to rate productivity in a OS?

By whether or not it comes by default with a firewall that blocks TCP connections to Slashdot?

Re:Easy.

[qewl]

It's all subjective-

Linux user:
"Soo.. bored of being 'productive'.. must entertain.. self.. I know, I'll recompile my OS with a test kernel again.. it'll only take.. a little while.. yea.. that's being productive!"

Windows user:
"Soo.. bored of being 'productive'.. must entertain.. self.. I know, I'll play solitaire for the next.. little while.. and then blow up a hundred monsters in Doom.. yea.. that's being productive!"

Re:None of the above

[ScrewMaster]

So, in other words ... you're a bricklayer.

Re:Easy.

[lardtree]

Linux user forced to use Windows at work: "Soo.. bored of being 'productive'.. must entertain.. self.. I know, I'll hex edit my explorer.exe and replace every instance of 'Windows' with 'Gentoo'.. and then it will run faster.. yea.. thats being productive!"

Re:OS X

[Anonymous Coward]

Uh, huh. Yeah. Steve Jobs personally signs off on the "functionality" of the Home/End key before each version of OS X ships.

The question is: What the fuck are you thinking?

Re:None of the above

[omicronish]

In Mac OS X I just stare slack-jawed at the purty eye candy.

You don't even have to be using Mac OS X to be hit by its productivity penalty. I'm a Windows user, but one day in a school lab I saw someone using Expose. That was enough to make me drool and lose concentration.

Re:Easy.

[simcop2387]

you forgot nethack and hunt the wumpus... i still haven't killed that damn thing, i've got 300 piles of print outs of me trying to kill it

Re:DOS?

[adolfojp]

I have the same problem, it is called ADD. You should take a test online to see if you should go see a doctor.

There is no shame involved. It is just another chemical imbalance... like diabetes.

Cheers,
Adolfo

Multiple desktops in windows

[1000101]

You're not stuck with one desktop if you're using Windows XP. Go
here to download the Virtual Desktop for Windows XP which allows your to manage four desktops.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/pow er toys/xppowertoys.mspx

Re:OS X

[syntax]

I get equally frustrated on GUI's where up arrow / down arrow don't go to the beginning / end of a single line text box.

Everything has its kinks.

Re:OS X

[Anonymous Coward]

And they say Linux is hard to use...

Re:Easy...Ninnle!

[yack0]

Pssssst.... they matter now. :)

Re:OS X

[yack0]

Thanks for posting that. One of the biggest complaints I hear from the UNIX/Linux die hards is key binding issues. Glad it is so trivially fixed.

Windows desktop with Linux jump box

[JPriest]

It is the best of both worlds, Windows does not come with a Bash shell but nothing stops me from ssh'ing from $2500 Windows gaming machine to a $45 Linux jump box.

Inverted Swahili Hand-Gesturing System

[Anonymous Coward]

I for one am very happy with my inverted Swahili hand-gesturing system. Sure, it takes 27 hand gestures to start an email, but after two weeks now I am able to open beers with just my pinkies.

And the important thing is that Bill Gates and Microsoft had nothing to do with it. Those evil bastards.

Re:Easy...Ninnle!

[bigman2003]

Yes...especially if your target audience is kids with iPods.

Re:Easy.

[bigman2003]

That was coke with a 'little' c, right? Because I get be productive for DAYS on that stuff. The other junk just makes me want to pee.

Re:OS X

[Bilestoad]

Most programmers don't have to suffer that way.

Stallman invented code bloat with Emacs; Microsoft merely embraced and extended.

Re:OS X

[Anonymous Coward]

Most programmers don't have to suffer that way.

Just the competent ones.

Re:OS X

[ytsejam-ppc]

May the heavens part and rain fast broadband, high speed hard disks and copious amounts of DDR Ram upon you. Thank YOU!

Re:So?

[Anonymous Coward]

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the fact that icons can be so much richer in OSX, but I hardly see that as a productivity enhancement.

Remember, as the author says in the article, 'you have to "think different(ly)".'

That's why a Mac icon is better than a Windows icon, and that's why it makes you more productive....

Re:Easy.

[BMazurek]

• Also, what is the best way to rate productivity in an OS?"

Personally, I like to use Kilo-porns per hour...

Re:Easy.

[InadequateCamel]

FPS my ass. There are no (well, WERE no) video cards capable of doing that in the typical office.

No my friend, thou had best be wary of the Terrible Time-wasting Triumvirate.

Doom, you say?
Half-Life?
Quake?
Nay.

Solitaire. Freecell. Minesweeper.

Hands-down the most destructive weapons ever wielded by the Hell-Spawned Demons of Computer Procrastination, these Three sit atop the Procrastination empire, answering only to Alcoholicus, Girlfriendlor and the Weed & Pizza twins.

Ugh

[Mshift2x]

I hate my mac. I set the thing up, power it on and it just works. I don't need to install all kinds of software, upgrade drivers and put on millions of security updates? I mean, without those, what's the point?

Re:OS X

[Anonymous Coward]

Just wait, they'll bitch that it isn't hard enough to fix.

"Oh, so I don't need to recompile the kernel? well then I'm not interested!"

Re:Easy.

[Anonymous Coward]

You forgot Gamblor. His neon claws have been known to ensnare many a blue-haired housewife.

Re:Not sure I buy all of these arguments...

[michaeldot]

On a similar theme, I get annoyed when there are 2 buttons: "Agree" or "Disagree" but not a button saying "I believe both have valid arguments and don't want to take sides." Really hampers my productivity, being forced to agonize over that decision!

Re:Which hat am I wearing?

[blanktek]

Integration with powerpoint? Is it good for differentiation?

RE:In Which OS Do You Feel More Productive?

[Anonymous Coward]

Does HoneyNut CheeriOS count?

Re:Easy.

[pestario]

Amen. One of the best things I did for myself was to remove the Terrible Time-wasting Triumvirate. I suggest you do the same if you find yourself being victimized by them.

Re:OS X

[Monkelectric]

I thought it was obvious. I'm thinking it's fucking stupid to have two keys which do nothing useful in your operating system, when you could just as easily give them two functions that are immensely useful for people who edit lots of text.

Like printscren and scroll lock?

Re:Which hat am I wearing?

[porcupine8]

Well, duh. Your slashes are going the wrong way for Windows. Jeez.

the not so good old days

[el_indio]

When I used to use DOS and program Clipper. No internet, boring co-workers... The only distraction was when the coffy got ready.

Linux vs. OSX / Linux vs. Windoze

[Anonymous Coward]

Comparing OSX to Linux is like comparing a bicycle to a jet aircraft. True a bicycle is easy to use and easier to learn how to use, but it's extremely limiting. But it sure has a pretty basket, bell, handlebar tassles and other eye-candy, I admit. Oh, but in this case, the bicycle costs much more than the jet. In fact, my fully-loaded Debian jet cost nothing but a learning curve and a few bumps on the tarmac before I figured out how to fly her.

Comparing Windoze to Linux is like comparing a shitty, rusty old ten-speed that someone found in an abandoned corner of their garage and then tried to sell on Craigslist for $150 against a Ferrari that your rich Uncle just handed you the keys too.

Either way you look at it...it's go go Linux, and no no OSX / Windoze.

Go peddle that proprietary crack in the schools and the offices and leave the power users to their own devices. We prefer it that way.

Re:Easy.

[jericho4.0]

That is assuming that something that is not writing code is producitive.

Re:Easy.

[darkpixel2k]

Windows user forced to use Linux at work: "Um..."

Re:It's not the OS - stupid!

[maaleron]

Thanks you bastard... I just spent the last 30 minutes installing dosbox and Commander Keen. Now I'll never get any work done

Re:Easy.

[croddy]

of course! why didn't i think to look there??

oblig bash quote

[rob_squared]

* qwerty- wonders why Home and End aren't yet implemented
pretty useful keys, for me at least
The Home key works for me; everytime I press it, I look around and I'm at home.
I haven't had the guts to try the End key yet.

All I have to say is...

[InfiniteWisdom]

zcat trace.gz | grep miss | awk '{print $3}' | sort -n | uniq -c

Try doing that in Windows without cygwin

Why, windows of coarse.....

[shrewd]

i feel like ive done something worthwhile just getting windows to boot.

Re:OS X

[pgilman]

"Or you could just buy Windows. That's even more Windows-like."

unfortunately, windows has performance issues on apple hardware. 8-P

OS390 of course!

[puddinghead1]

I like mine big and indestructable.

Re:Easy.

[thatnerdguy]

PS: nobody gets paid to post on a web log.

Oh really? [blogs.it]

Re:Easy.

[Jeremiah Cornelius]

Productivity! That objective unit of measure!

Re:Easy.

[ShortSpecialBus]

I totally just lucked out on my first time playing, and i really had no idea what i was even doing:
----

I feel a draft.
You are in Room # 2
Tunnels lead to 1,3,10

I smell a wumpus!
You are in Room # 1
Tunnels lead to 2,5,8 ...Oops! Bumped a Wumpus!

I feel a draft.
I smell a wumpus!
You are in Room # 2
Tunnels lead to 1,3,10

You are in Room # 1
Tunnels lead to 2,5,8

You missed. You have 4 arrows left.

You are in Room # 1
Tunnels lead to 2,5,8

I feel a draft.
I smell a wumpus!
You are in Room # 2
Tunnels lead to 1,3,10

Not possible.

I feel a draft.
I smell a wumpus!
You are in Room # 2
Tunnels lead to 1,3,10

Aha! You got the Wumpus!

You Win!

Re:Easy.

[tim256]

I don't know how many times I've walked behind people at the office who seem to be concentrating on their work, only to see them playing solitaire on Windows.

Live for the flying cards!

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:Easy...Ninnle!

[some guy I know]

Other than music or graphic art, what good is a computer? [blah blah blah] The only real productive things done on computers are makeing music, making great visual art and coding new tools to make music and great visual art.

You're forgetting one other thing -- computers are babe magnets.
Tell a chick that you spend all day sitting in front of a computer and she'll want to Lewinsky you right there.

Re:Easy...Ninnle!

[commodoresloat]

when they just got too small to matter

They didn't get too small until the Mini came out a couple months ago.

Re:Emacs

[bLanark]

Also: "EMACS is a nice operating system, it just lacks a text editor" (Emacs Stands For... [c2.com])

Re:Easy...Ninnle!

[Gilmoure]

I won't use an OS unless at least 15% of the rest of the computer using population is using it.

Tell me where I should go today...

Re:Easy.

[BasilBrush]

Looks like most cubes have 3 sides to me. Occasionally 2, and sometimes 1.