I have beeen a programmer since 1971. In fact my first boss out of uni had his first job filling mercury delay lines in old old old style mainframes when 32 bits was a lot.
I think that Tony is simply seeing the world through some very popularist views and the replies he has received are about right.
My concerns with Windows is simply that I can see no way to make it secure due to poor semi implemented code, unstructured code layout, too many undocumented entry points and a general malaise in MS land where its developers seem unable to understand and solve a problem beyond the minimum needed for a releaseable suite.
I run the following in my business:-
4 x DEC Alpha servers running Unix BSD
27 SUN Solaris workstations
A rack of network controllers running Unix BSD
18 MS XP clients used as office admin systems
The only real issues I have are :-
1) People don't understand Unix when they come in so we have to use MS Windows for admin staff. There is nothing that is running which I could not run on Unix but its getting the trained non-tech staff that is the problem.
2) Only the MS systems cause problems with system failures, blue screens, data loss, virus and spyware removal are essential and run hourly to remove the clag which is attracted to Windows systems.
Windows is OK ish but you have to realise that that is not the MS product. MS product is the brand which enslaves people to have to buy expensive application upgrades every 18 months or so and new OS every 3 years. Its just a money making machine, most of it is not innovative, not clever but is marketed as though it were.
regards
Alan
