The original is at BBSpot:
http://bbspot.com/Features/2000/12/os_guide.html
OS Showdown: Windows 2000 vs.
Linux
BBspot has earned a reputation for its fair
and honest reporting, and now we
continue that tradition with our hardware and software product guides. Other tech sites will bore you with in-depth "technical details" in their product guides. They've
probably even used the products. Here at BBspot such technicalities don't
prevent us from offering our opinions. We take a look at Windows 2000 and Linux
head to head, so we can determine who wins the coveted BBspot Technical
Excellence Award.
Names - Linux, for reasons I'd rather not get into, I always
think of eunuchs when
I hear the word Linux. I think it would've been better if Linus' brother Malcom
would've developed the OS. Then at least it would've been funny - Malcomix.
Windows 2000 makes me think "Wow, that Windows movie had a lot of sequels," or
"Gee, better get that product namer a Pulitzer for originality." While neither
rivals TRSDOS, I begrudgingly have to give this one to Microsoft.
Advantage - Windows 2000
Domain Names - Windows2000.com redirects you to a Windows
2000 product page on the Microsoft site. I'm not sure I'd trust my mission
critical apps to a
company that can't even afford to give its flagship OS its own domain
name. Linux.com on the other hand avoids the
Microsoftian subterfuge and is just what it says. It's a nice looking site with
lots of good information. But wait a minute let's take a look at the other side
of the issue. Windows2000sucks.com is a pretty sad
"sucks" site, Microsoft can't even do that right. It doesn't even look
functional. Linuxsucks.com is another
great Linux site.
Advantage - Linux
Mascots - The Linux mascot is Tux the penguin. A cute
little fellow, but very vulnerable to killer whales. Now a orca, that would be a cool
mascot, but I guess Sea World already has that. Windows 2000 doesn't really
have a mascot unless you call that flying multi-colored window a mascot. It
might get a little bloody on some broken shards of glass, but I think even a
penguin could destroy a pansy window.
Advantage - Linux
Search Engines - A search for "Linux is great" on Google
yields 1,080,000 results.
A
search for "Windows 2000 is Great" yields 1,050,000. An apparent victory for
Linux. Not so fast. A search for "Linux Sucks" yields 114,000 results, and a
search for "Windows 2000 Sucks" gets 66,700. Why do I envision Microsoft
engineers setting up thousands of web pages with just "Linux Sucks" on them so
they could win this round. While not being so great, it just doesn't suck as
much.
Advantage: Windows 2000
Magic Eight Ball - I decided that I needed an unbiased
opinion on which is better. What's more unbiased than a Magic 8 Ball? I
asked the Magic 8 Ball - "Is Windows 2000 better than Linux?" The response: "MY
SOURCES SAY NO" That's pretty clear. Just to be sure I rephrased the
question. "Is Linux better than Windows 2000?" The response "AS I SEE IT
YES". Good to see that the Magic 8 Ball hasn't succumbed to the Microsoft
Propaganda Machine.
Advantage - Linux
Conclusions
Final Score: Linux 4 - Windows 2000 2.
It doesn't get any clearer than that. Linux is two times better
than Windows 2000. Therefore I am proud to award Linux the BBspot Technical
Excellence Award.