You do realize that pretty much all systematic trading is done on linux servers? If your shop uses windows for your trading boxes, you are an exception. My shop uses Linux for all of our server needs, Windows for the desktop (cause it runs Bloomberg, really) and OSX for developers. So I do have experience across the spectrum and I totally understand why people hate Windows. It's the bizarre combination of poor design, lack of stability, bondage and restraint etc. Windows 10 bitches when disconnected from the internet and it couldn't connect to Microsoft's servers. Microsoft can remote uninstall software; I don't want Microsoft to have that power. My machine is mine, not their. Also, if Microsoft can do it, eventually a hacker will be able to do it too. The same argument can be made for forced updates. I don't like ads. If I am using a free service, I am willing to see ads so the company can generate revenue. If I pay $200 for an operating system, especially one with no customer support, they don't need to be putting advertising on my computer. If you need MORE revenue, sell support like those who offer free operating systems. Forget about privacy, Windows 10 only allows you to change a portion of privacy settings. Want access to most of them? Install O&O Shut Up to access them. Be sure to back up your settings in this program, Windows Update allows Microsoft to change those settings at will. For all of these reasons, I use OSX at home. It's a proper unix (stable, solid shell, secure by design) but it runs Word and Excel; when I need windows (for Bloomberg) I run Windows 7 in a virtual box. If/when OSX is gonna get too sour (Apple is obviously going down that road too), I will probably switch to Linux.
That's not true. Lack of applications for the daily life is what makes Linux difficult to use as a desktop user. LibreOffice is nowhere near equivalent to MS Office, you are being delusional. Same goes for Gimp - there is a reason why graphic designers are paying for the Adobe suite of applications.
I think the entire topic of this thread here was on retail trading. I thought I mentioned that the professional space looks very different. My comments all pertain to not just retail trading but home users in general who run software applications. Care to show where you are exposed to ads on windows? I have not seen a single one pushed to me ever. My windows has not crashed a single time in over 4 years. I was never locked out, no software was installed or uninstalled against my will ever. So you run a total of 5 software applications? 2 of which are MS products. Another one is only running on windows machines. I run at least 20 others and it would be a nightmare and way worse experience to find comparable yet inferior products that work on Linux. I have run windows server boxes proximity located in 4 different money centers and never had a single glitch that can be blamed on the OS. Since 2 years ago I completely ditched Linux because all my deep learning toolboxes run perfectly fine and in fact more stable on windows. Sorry you had such bad experience with windows, I can't agree with a single but one point you made. Windows retail OS sometimes resets certain settings on updates and it is annoying. Never on windows server though. Funny, I never ever heard of a single Mac user who did not have windows OS installed on a partition. A silent admission I guess...
Linux for desktop users is absolute trash. Glad we can agree on that. How someone can even compare gimp with professional paint/illustration and graphic applications is beyond me and only shows how deluded some windows haters are. Linux bash is great and versatile and the headless version can run backend apps well and remote non UI maintenance works and is stable. But so is windows server. Stable is the keyword here and the one and only selling point for mission critical applications. I don't even reply to the other jokers but I do value your opinion and respect it. I am OK to disagree with you on this topic. Still curious where windows pushed ads to you. Never seen one ever. For retail, I run Windows Pro and Pro N.
Windows Server is far more reasonable than their retail offering. Still, the amount of control Linux provides is order of magnitude higher. For some of us, it's useful and for some crucially important. Windows 10 Home pushes ads continuously as notifications. Windows 10 Pro also shows notifications that are, let's put it this way, not always apropos. Lock screen ads are harmless but still annoying. Suggested apps and defaulting to OneDrive in the file explorer is yet another form of advertisement. I know you can disable many of these things, but the fact that I have to waste my time on it essentially means that I am paying them more money. FYI, Windows 10 “automatically downloads” apps like Candy Crush Soda Saga, Flipboard, Twitter, and Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition when you sign in for the first time. These apps are installed as part of the “Microsoft Consumer Experience”. There was a group policy setting to disable this, but it was removed from consumer versions of Windows 10 in the Anniversary Update. Only Windows 10 Enterprise users–not even Windows 10 Professional users–can turn this off. Love it or leave it, like 'Merika. Every operating system is crap, you just have to accept which crap you are willing to deal with. I just found that crap I had to deal with as a Windows user was not acceptable to me given that I can get a much better experience on OSX (for desktop) with all the same benefits. I would imagine if I was very security-minded I would pick a hardened Linux distro and if I was very plugged into the MS Ecosystem I'd go with Windows. It's not a religious issue, at least not for me. I only gone down that road for the lockdown because I need Bloomberg.
True, in the end they are all just tools, everyone must pick what works best for them. I was just very curious about your ad claim because I am very ad sensitive and pay to have any and all ads removed from my life. I disconnected TV years ago and only watch Netflix occasionally. I pay for Youtube premium which comes with their ad free music service. I pay for Bloomberg and get all my news I ever wanted. I cancelled FT subscription and wsj subscriptions because they push ads despite paid subscription products. I use ad blockers on all my devices. Yes it costs an initial investment of time to set it all up but I can't be bothered by ads. And Windows has offered a hassle free and issue free experience so far. My life is greatly simplified, I have enough stress and have to read and analyze enough trash in financial markets each day that my personal life should be as uncluttered as possible.