Discussions

Say I want to write a Windows Live Messenger client for a non-windows OS, what are my best options? I've looked around but I can't seem to find any sort of spec. I'd like to roll my own (ie not use an existing open source library).

ZippyV wrote:



theshadguy wrote: if you could have your ideal operating system what features would it have?

AI. Seriously, I want to communicate with my pc in a way that is more natural than a keyboard and mouse. It should learn what I do on my pc, like how to write an email, know which websites I visit and help me whenever I ask for it. When I'm not behind my pc, it should continue to do these things and keep me informed when I return.
Having high-level conversations with it would also be nice, talking about the news, giving advice, all kinds of interesting stuff.

This is kinda something I wanted to hear, and something I've been thinking a lot about recently. I find all operating systems pretty dumb right now. I find myself doing a lot of extra work that I shouldn't have to do. Sure, it's not like it's hard to do most things on a computer, but for crying out loud, we've all got insanely powerful machines that are capable of so much more. I'm tired of working for my computer. It's supposed to work for me. IMO at least.

As for licensing issues, for me personally it's a non issue, but everyone does have a good point about it. Especially the "I don't like one person controlling it all" point. Even as a Mac OS X user, I still sometimes feel the "Steve giveth and Steve taketh away" sorta thing. But in general I find it works for me.

See, for me, I'm a big fan of Mac OS X. I find it to be very polished, very consistent but really the main selling point is I find there are just so many great usability features (Spotlight, Quickview, Exposé, etc) that it's just a no brainer for me. I realize it's not for everyone though, and that's fair. I don't think Apple is really playing the Marketshare game here at all. In the end, it really doesn't matter that much anyway. And that brings me to another thing, what are your thoughts on the current "market" for operating systems? I mean, it seems like there really isn't one. There's Windows that owns like 90%, OS X at like 5%, and then the rest at the other 5% (of course, roughly). To me it seems the market has totally died. I mean, there used to be Windows/Dos, Mac OS, OS/2, NeXTSTEP... you know, there was a time when operating systems were set on fire, but now its not that way. Is everyone just satisfyed? It feels to me like there's no innovation because of that. Thoughts? (ps sorry for the lack of formating, C9 seems to HATE Safari)

These are good responses so far, and I'm really glad this hasn't turned into "Y is better than X!!!!2" or something like that. But you all make good arguments. Now, maybe thinking out of the box a little more, what about "other" OSes, as in ones that currently don't exist. Of course when it comes to "switching" we usually think Windows to OS X or something like that, but also if you could have your ideal operating system what features would it have?

Okay, I've been polling people recently about this and I figured C9 would be a good spot to get some feedback...

Okay, so everyone here probably has their favorite operating system. I’d say that’s a given. Mine is Mac OS X. I know some of you love Linux, and there's obviously lots of you here on Windows. So my first question is Why do you love your choice so much? What makes it so much better than MY choice or someone else’s choice? Why won’t you use anything else? Is it cost, or support, or morals or more obviously form and functionality?

And my second question would be what would it take for you to drop your current choice for something else? What features in an operating system could possibly make you want it so bad that you’d switch and never come back?

Leopard came in a cardboard box. No stickers, not even any flaps. The whole "ensemble" just slips right out. Magic! Haha, although I have to say the Vista book looks neato.

iPhoto 08. Events.

Jamie...

You made Montreal look a lot nicer than it is!! I'm from Fredericton New Brunswick, it's a nice town. I lived in Ottawa this summer (which I think is nicer ) But anyway glad you enjoyed your trip

I actually use the Trash as more of a....scaffold, you know? Like, when I go through my system and clean up a bunch of things, I'll then go to the Trash and look at everything that's about to kick the bucket and make sure I didn't accidentally delete the wrong thing. And plus I can see everything to be deleted in one place..But I see the point

I hate having to reinstall my OS, and I avoid it as much as possible. While I agree a fresh install typically performs way better..I hate having to setup everything, tweak everything, get it all perfect again.

I run OS X and in the three years I've run it, I've never once had to reinstall the OS. Not to say that it wouldn't hurt, but I've never even felt close to needing to do it.

Before OS X (and still on the family computer), there is an install of XP that has maybe been reinstalled 3 times (over 5 or so years) and only when it's absolutly needed. The only reason for it is my family does not know how to keep a system free of sludge, you know? But is it really their fault? That's my question, should it be up to the user to keep his/her system clean? Or should it just be safe anyway (without sounding like an advertisment, like Mac OS X) ?