Linux vs Windows 7

[Juanito]

Ho-hum...

http://quaoar.ww7.be/ms_fud_of_the_year/569458-microsoft-attack-linux-retail-level-probably.html

[roberts]

View from the other side: http://windows7sins.org/

[mikshaw]

Microsoft worked with PC manufacturers to significantly increase the hardware specifications for the standard user-experience, causing people to require new computers to run the updated OS.

This bit has had a beneficial side effect for users of lighter operating systems.  A 3-4gb system is pretty much standard now, thanks to Windows' requirements, but any Linux system can use that additional ram for actual applications rather than just loading the desktop.

[tclfan]

Yes. However this is fundamentally wrong to compensate with high requirements on hardware for inefficient and bloated OS.  Unfortunately big linux distros have been following Windows, loaded with bloat and inefficiency and increased hardware requirements to parallel Windows... with Gnome, KDE, etc. OS to require several gigabytes to run itself???
For those few who still value efficient systems luckily a new trend appeared, with Austrumi, Slitaz and TinyCore and particularly Kolibri... Out of these only TinyCore has fast enough development cycle and appears to be primary hope. Kolibri is fantastic (in Assembler!) in 3M and has nice GUI, but even browser is not usable yet, and slow development cycle indicates we may not see one soon...