Loading ...Why I Still Use Windows
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A couple of friends of mine (Linux enthusiasts) asked me the other day why the screen shots I was showing them were in Windows. And they had that betrayed friend look on their face. I actually felt bad for using it when they asked the question. But when I went to explain my reason to them, I found that it was legitimate and could not be helped.
I’m really into programming and development and all that. And I know what all you Linux advocates are going to say. We have IDEs! We have everything you need to program! Yes, that’s true. Linux does have programming IDEs, and everything I need to program. But, there’s a difference between needs and wants. Linux doesn’t have everything I want to program. It quite simply doesn’t have a Visual Studio equivalent.
As a programming noob, I enjoy writing my C# with code completion. I enjoy visually designing my programs. I enjoy the ease of usability customized with great functionality and customizability. Those are all the reasons I love Linux, but are the same reasons I can’t be on it every second of my programming life.
I’m also very into game development, and one of my favorite programs is RPG Maker XP, which I wrote a post about earlier. This program is only available on Windows, so in order to work on my game I have to be on my Windows partition.
Another program I use is Paint.NET. I use this to do Pixel Art for my games. This too, is only available for Windows. Some of you may say, “What about The GIMP!?” LEt me tell you about The GIMP. If I have to go to the taskbar one more time to select a tool, because The GIMP runs five different windows, I’m going to have a nervous breakdown. Doing that just causes me so much frustration.
When it comes down to it. The three programs that I use the most besides a web browser, can only be used on Windows. So why wouldn’t I use it?
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November 21st, 2007 at 3:39 am
Aside from Novell, I doubt you’d find the majority of the opensource community bothering to emulate MS solutions from head to toe. Hence the reason in no “Visual Studio” direct equivalent.
Its a matter of principle and in fear.
C# isn’t widely embraced because there is a potential patent issue. (Possible venus flytrap for opensource developers?)
With MS’s CEO, Steve Ballmer, claiming Linux infringes 235 of MS’s patents, it just reaffirms that we should keep an arms length from any MS developed solution, and to avoid THEIR standards as much as possible. (We know about MS’s history and what they’re willing to do).
As for Paint.Net, I recall Novell did get it working under Linux by porting with Mono. (C#/.Net implementation for Linux).
http://tirania.org/blog/archive/2007/May-15-1.html
That could be one potential issue solved.
In regards to Gimp, have you tried Gimpshop? Its Gimp with a Photoshop like GUI.
http://www.gimpshop.com/
(That’s another issue solved).
As for RPG Maker XP, someone tried to install it through Wine, but it doesn’t look like they were successful with that version of Wine at the time.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?s=d0641e2638d487183dfc6d8236b6e47b&t=503474
If all else fails, maybe try StarLogo TNG as an alternative?
I can’t afford MS solutions, so I learn to code the “old school” way. (Learning Assembly, C++, and Python with a Vim text editor.)
November 21st, 2007 at 10:48 am
Thanks for the head up of the port of Paint.NET. I did try GimpShop, but when I tried it, I couldn’t find a Linux download, which I thought was weird. Their site is down for now, but I’ll keep checking. As for RPG Maker XP, I’ve been trying to get it running under WINE, to no avail.
Thanks for the comments, though.
November 21st, 2007 at 11:31 am
I actually wrote a post just the other day saying similar things. I’m in linux full-time now but there are a few applications I just need.
Mainly Visual Studio (and IIS) for C# and ASP.NET, but I also need Adobe Fireworks and Illustrator for design work.
I use VMWare and a stripped down version of XP (made using nlite) so it’s not even that heavy.
I would definitely recommend this route if you want to use Linux for everything else.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:45 pm
What about WINE? You can always find a way to emulate Windows programs in Linux.
Or you could even use something like VMWare, to run a full Windows installation right from inside Linux.
I’m sure you’ve heard of them and have reasons for not using them, but since you didn’t mention any of it in the post, I figured I’d be safe and throw that out there in case you didn’t know about the possibilities..
November 21st, 2007 at 2:18 pm
The two programs that I haven’t found Linux alternatives for don’t run under WINE. And I don’t have the memory to run VMWare. I should’ve mentioned that in my post.
November 22nd, 2007 at 9:58 am
Gotcha. Well, just thought I’d mention it in case.
Keep up the great posts. 
January 2nd, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Zac,
Have you tried Mono/Monodevelop? I used to be a full-time C#/SQL programmer (I’ve since been hired by a company that does mostly VB.NET), so like you I feel like I’m sometimes left with few alternatives to using Windows. Monodevelop is a very good IDE IMHO, and it’s a fork of another very good IDE (SharpDevelop).
If you haven’t checked it out you should give it a look.