I am a IT professional. I’ve used almost all Windows Operating system: Windows 3.1/3.11, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows ME, Windows 2003 and Windows XP. I’ve also used core UNIX and Linux flavours also.
Before you read on, just keep in mind.
--> Windows is NOT real time OS. It cannot process exactly on time when you do something from your hardware. Processes are running and are scheduled (actually threads, to be tech.)
--> Windows was originally designed to be Desktop OS (DOS - Disk Operating System). So it is not complete network OS.
--> Windows is mostly used by naive users not professionals, so not bother asking separation of GUI and Kernel. Windows is made this way to process fast. Linux runs Kernel and GUI as different parts, that’s why it can recover from GUI failures.
Furthermore, on Windows, malfunction devices and their drivers can cause failures and will lead to crashes.
For people who think Windows NT versions are not secure, let me annotate. First as mentioned Windows is NOT natively NOS.
Are you fascinated by ’’rwx’’ security options of file mode in Linux? Well, NT versions has much more than that, provided you convert drive(s) into NTFS . If you done that, go to ’’Security’’ tab (which is disabled by default in XP), and click on Advanced. You’ll find how to allow/deny users/groups and many file/folder operations.
ADDED:Other than this, on NTFS partitions, you can also Encrypt your files so that it cannot be accessed by anyone even if your hard-disk computer is stolen. If someone tries to take ownership of your content on other 2000/XP installation, it will be simply refused by ’’Access Denied’’. Even on your system if there is another Admin user (even if you are NOT); he/she cannot access your files. He/she might try changing password for you - that will make encrypted contents to be inaccessible by anyone!! You may create ’’Security Certificates’’ to recover your file in case of system failures. (As an important point, each and every user, despite username that you might again use, is assigned a Security Identifier, SID and is unique accross time and globe - it is 128 bit value)
Now, Windows XP: It is perfect and the sexxxxy OS for the Desktop and is very Secure (provided you put updates). It has elegant design and look. Most of the graphics application runs perfectly on this OS - like Google Earth, or Half Life games; which really sucks on other OSs.
From the top, it seems only GUI and no security and management options. Well, well try using ’Computer Management’ , ’Group Policy’, ’Performance Monitor’ and other MMC (Microsoft Management Console) applets (Search for ’’.msc’’ files on your system).
Graphics! DirectX, OpenGL, GDI+, options for Hardware or Software rendering, translucent transparency (that makes menu/start menu to fade that way) and many others make it the real Operating System of our Information Age! (If you hate good GUI then why you looking for a cell phone with 65K, Multimedia, BT, IT, Camera options? Rather buy a B/W handset!)
It supports RAID devices using you can make your disks fault tolerant. See docs for more information.
It will not entire system to crash if one application malfunctions’ or uses 100% CPU - it will just make ’’ghost’’ window with white background and you’ll be able to terminate it peacefully.
It natively supports Bluetooth.
SP2 has Security Center to protect your PC, and if you really agree with it you are much much safe. (As a suggestion DO NOT install applications like iMesh, or some crappy Screen saver).
It supports real plug-n-play hardware support. USB devices apart, I also used putting IDE devices (HDD, CDROMS...) while computer running!!
Using ’’Compatibility’’ you can make your program to run on other lower version OS. That means if program is desperately looking for Windows 2000 only you can make that process fool! (As a side note, their are smart setup programs like Norton AV, which detects it correctly even if option set -- but that is not OS fault)
There are many-n-many to elaborate, but cannot write them all. All in all, I do highly recommend Microsoft Windows XP (Professional) OS for you - if you are IT, or a user. Provided not a die hard lover for NOS like Linux!