Bitcoin Forum

What is the best and most common operating systems that people are using?

I can tell you right now it's Windows 7.

Even with Microsoft pushing Windows 8, and now FORCING Windows 10....

I prefer Mac because of its unix core, great for development. No plans to upgrade from Windows 7, I only use it for gaming anyway.

I like to use Windows 7.

Ubuntu works perfectly for me.  :)

What is this?

I must say that Windows Vista was the worst Windows i have ever used. The Windows XP was far better that the Vista, so i got back to the XP after the awful experience with the Vista. I think that Vista was a very bad product by Microsoft.
Now I am using windows 7. It is the best for me now.

I think of non-Linux options as a joke. I would not even consider using BTC on a winxx or mac.

Well that's a bit over the line. I would not call it a joke. I do not see a problem with using BTC (spending wallet) on Windows as long as proper security measures are set and the user has experience/knowledge. As Vod said, currently most people are using Windows 7 but a surprisingly high amount is still using XP. Windows 8/8.1 is okay, but Windows 10 is horrible for BTC.

Ubuntu is a Debian-based variant of Linux with unity as it's desktop environment. Aside from computers they're trying to migrate the OS to smartphones as well. Ubuntu is free as well.

I know that is provocative, but windows is not open source and so I have no idea what it is doing or who has the backdoor keys. I would assume China has access to all win computers as well as all spy agencies. I try to ONLY run open source software that I compile myself. Otherwise I would be operating on hope, trust and hearsay.  That is not the bitcoin way. I like to operate on math.

*BSD? FreeBSD (and probably OpenBSD) are great server distributions. You could run a Bitcoin node on one.

With Antergos (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antergos) / Arch Linux (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arch_Linux) my distro-hopping finally ended.

Windows is a really good choice so I guess the vote goes for it.

While this is definitely way too much for the average man, or even the average tech savvy person, I understand your point of view. Without the source code you can not tell what could be inside of a OS/software. It is very hard to determine if something is fishy with it as well. Most people will find you too paranoid though. I know that there are a lot of weird things with windows (e.g .NSAKEY).


Good at best if compares to Linux.

Obviously windows is the most popular but there are several threads about what operating systems people use already.


L2G.

I use a bunch of flavors so its hard to say.

Arch Linux on my desktop and laptop. CentOS as the host on my server with virtualization, and various linux operating systems as the guest virtual machines.

Windows 7

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Mac and Ubuntu are great for their lack of viruses. Too easy to get them on windows machines even with ant-virus so that's why I don't like them.

Well Windows 7 is best in terms of security but most popular nowadays is Windows 10 and is mostly used by people.

I haven't wanted to update to Windows 10. I have no confirmation that some of the preliminary bugs have been fixed. I was on the insider and developer program but didn't install the pre releases. I want to back up my laptop's hard drive first and am currently in the process of mounting a 500GB VHD from my external hard drive in order to achieve this.

Windows 10 is mostly used? Stop spreading misinformation as this is false. Windows 7 is by far the most used operating system, accounting for over 50% (https://www.netmarketshare.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?qprid=10&qpcustomd=0) of all installed operating systems. Just because Windows 10 is being offered for "free*" that does not mean that anyone should upgrade to it.

Pretty much more conversations in this part of the forum are. People are basing things on their personal, ergo subjective thoughts. Just because someone is using e.g. Mac that does not mean Mac > Windows.

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*free - Your data being mined and sold.

i use windows10

I love Debian.

I'm strongly considering a linux distro, don't know still which one, I used many but not once that really take me deep into it.

FanEagle it will be your first foray into GNU/Linux I recommend Ubuntu, it is far more intuitive than others. When you unwrap well if you want to try Debian  ;)

I think your right. I have become more paranoid since using BTC. It provides an incentive for crooks to get into my network. The powerful incentive of cash. I also like Linux more. Windows machines seem to always be running that CPU doing God knows what.

Windows 7 has been working quite nicely for me.

It is not about paranoia if you ask me. People that are tech savy and familiar with their own hardware and software should notice this. I have noticed CPU usage spikes and the fan turning on (usually off if usage under 10%) while it is idle. My laptop has a i7 U variant and at night running nothing but the VPN and IRC I can hear it sometimes. Who knows what it is doing.

Linux is more complicated than Windows IMO.

Windows 7 is good IMO, Windows XP used to be great but it's not being updated now I think.

I always get scared with Windows.
There's an awful lot of network/disk activity even when nothing is running.

CIQUAM maybe 15 years ago. Not today ;D

Ubuntu gets my vote

I prefer to use Linux system. Linux system are the best  as it can be customize as you may want it to be unlike windows. Been using puppy linux and had been part of the development of its other derivative as well. I take part of the xwindows for the systems more like graphics using inkscape and gimp.

I am assuming/hoping that the activity is from the built in antivirus scanner. If you are worried about this I would ask you to contact Microsoft or Google Search the process.

Windows 7 for the win.

It is not too hard to get your head around it.
And there is a huge community, ready to help you.  :)

I Absolutely LOVE OSX, but I hear that Windows 10 is also pretty great!

Windows 10

At work, i'm forced to use windows 7, at home i have a mix of linux distro's (debian, ubuntu, opensuse) and one unix (freeBSD)

Using windows 7 for a while now and it's good, fixed the errors in vista and a good user interface.

Windows 7, Very efficient IMO.

Well, I am definitely a Microsoft/Windows user, so I will make a few comparisons about the newest versions...


Windows XP - When this operative system was launched for the first time, the Microsoft users experience something new and something different. The platform was very stable, system requirements was balances for the computers who was produced in that time of period and all programs and games was work perfect.

Windows Vista - This operative system was the biggest fail for Microsoft, that's why in short time period they launched the Windows 7.

Windows 7 - Was a mix of XP and Vista, but unlike them, this operative system was more fastest and his interface was quite better then Vista.

Windows 8 - Definitely the fastest operative system I was use. The way the Windows 8 turn on/of it makes me fell like his works with the speed of light.

Windows 8.1 - Is the same system like Windows 8, but some better improvements.

Windows 10 - I was thinking to download this summer, but I've decide to wait for the users review and also the new updates. :D

Windows XP and Windows 7, They both worked efficiently IMO.

Xp isn't supported by MS these days. Windows 7 isn't really virus free as I've been using it for months and its somehow getting viruses.
What I'm using this time as I have my old computer that I kept tweaking is the AntiX linux derivative. Perfect for this old computer.

what is the reason that most people prefer windows 7 over later versions windows......
i have used both the windows 7 and 8 ...and i found windows 8 much more productive than windows7

https://tails.boum.org/ (https://tails.boum.org/)

I think xp is a good one because is not complicated in drivers much more compatible games applications. than other OS
Then Xp is the most os used by shops.

I am sorry, the system I would have choose n is not on here.  I likes the Windows 98SE.  That was one of the best systems they came out with and then they kept bringing out more and more crap.  Now I am stuck with Windows seven until something better comes along.

Windows 10. Universal apps are good.

I use in dualboot Windows 7 and Linux Mint.

That does not make much sense. 98SE might have been a good OS for its time, however you can't really compare it to the newer ones because of the lack of features (being outdated and such). Windows 7 is pretty great, especially compared to Windows 8 and Windows 10.

You enjoy having your data mined?

I am contented with Windows 7 Ultimate won't be upgrading anytime soon.

Surprised to see most people using Windows in this thread.
I would have expected Linux distributions to be popular.

You enjoy having your data mined?
[/quote]

Its not so hot

uses windows 10 since October 2015

Windows 3.1 with original mouse!

What was the original mouse?
Sounds like it ran of floppies or something similar of bad technology!
I know that windows XP, VISTA and some before came with a ball at the bottom that moved something in order to create a signal from the mouse to go to the computer. Now they use light and receptors to detect movement. Somehow, people use touchscreen on computer too, it technically isn't a computer if it has a touchscreen (it's just a large tablet!)

I can appreciate where you are coming from, but you are nutz!! That system sucked and I hated waiting for that system to load anything I wanted to do.  Even organ trail ran slow as hell.  I hope you are joking about this.

Its not even in the list of option lol.

if your computer runs windows 3.1, you might just considering a light weight linux derivative like puppy linux which could run perfectly with just a 256 of RAM.
It don't even need a drive if you want it to load on RAM itself. This linux is fast and can work well with old computers, it has tons of flavors as well so you'd have some options.

Not sure on the processor, but: based on the preformance f old computers. Just get a raspberry pi. You could also run most linux operating systems off of Optical drives (DVD RW), pen drives or SD Cards, or most other storage mediums. Based on the OS, there are probably less BiOS settings to change in order to run the different Operating Systems. I also understand that, if the computer is ARMv3 type it will run raspbian. And most are ARMv7, which runs normal operating systems, such as Linux: Ubuntu and Windows.

I am using windows 8.1 operating system and I can say that it has served me well over the past one year. One thing I love about this operating system is that it is very stable even when compared to the just released windows 10. I am a programmer and i know that the software once in the market always experience bugs that take time to fix them. Therefore, it is the time to have your windows 8.1 with no much drama.

I have grown fond of the Windows 7 operating system.  It reminds me of the windows 98 system we all loved, but with out all the bugs that Windows ME had and Windows 8 has.  I have not tried Windows 10 yet, but i was warned off of it. 

I'm sticking to windows 7. I don't like the interface of windows 8. As for windows 10, I heard about privacy issues a lot, so a no for now.

Windows 7, Very efficient IMO.

I am using windows 7. It is the best :)

windows is better than others, though new things will come but windows is still best.

Used Windows 7,8,XP,ME and XP was the best at it's time, now I think Windows 7 is the most decent version.

Why is there only one choice?

I use unix (solaris, aix), BSD (freebsd), linux (SLES12, debian, ubuntu, opensuse) and windows (7) on a daily/weekly basis.

Windows 10 is awesome, tried it for a while and the graphics are neat

Windows 7 is the best new version though I didn't try windows 10 yet, Windows XP is the best older version IMO.

I love windows than Linux...

XP was the best operation system in it's time, currently I think Windows 7 is the best actively updated operation system.

Win7x64.

Lol@I made the vote tied with linux. 13-13.


Agreed.

Linux

That OS is winning. What type of Linux is your favourite?

I know the main ones are: Debian, Ubuntu, LinuxMint...

Not very surprising on a bitcoin forum, many people here are concerned about privacy and all that, pretty anti Microsoft I presume. Also not the guy you quoted but I think Ubuntu is definitely the best if you want to just use Linux for regular things. I've also checked out ArchLinux and it looks pretty neat but it's pretty complicated to install and in general not the most accessible operating system.

Plus Plus

I know too many people who are really smart who get some kind of malware at least once a year.

It's those damn browser plugins, they execute untrusted code on the local machine.

It's those damn advertising networks, the deliver malware in advertisements they don't check carefully enough.

It's those damn wordpress blogs, many of them have very poorly written plugins - and wordpress itself encourages the web server having write permission to files it executes.

Even though I have never had my Linux boxes infected with malware, I don't even use my main workstations for bitcoin.

I keep a small amount of my bitcoin in a web wallet - not more than I am willing to lose if the web wallet company goes all Mt. Gox on me.

The rest is either cold address or in Bitcoin-Qt running on a NUC with CentOS 7 that I just use to manage bitcoin.

I do use a browser on that machine to do things like pay bills with bitcoin, or log in to coinbase after making a purchase so I can paste an address to send the coins to. But I don't use that computer for anything else, so it has very little chance of malware getting on it.

But Windows? No way in hell would I trust it for bitcoin. As far as Mac OS X, I just don't like it.

Even if Windows is your preferred OS, I would suggest people get something like a NUC and stick a stable Linux distro on it for your wallet. Don't use the same computer you use for general Internet for Bitcoin, well, maybe a small amount is okay but not more than you are willing to lose for the convenience.

I love windows XP.

I like linux

I love windows 7.

Windows have many viruses, trojans etc now, so it can be also smart to use Debian, which is best Linux OS  ;)

I think most have forgotton, every operating system has viruses!

It is just as easy to install a virus on linux as it is Windows.

It is just the fact that we can detect it on Windows and it is more widely used.

Uh, no.

The difference has to do with package management. On Linux, the vast majority of software is installed through apt or yum using select package repositories.

The package manager checks the crytographic signature of the package before it installs it.

For example -


On Windows, software is typically installed by downloading it from who knows where without any kind of signature verification process involved. That results in trojans and malware.

Also, on Linux you are far less likely to find Adobe Flash installed. Adobe Flash is a huge vector for malware on Windows, but even when Adobe was producing Flash for Linux, Linux users just never really embraced it. We didn't want it.

Also, Linux has mechanisms for verifying the integrity of installed packages. With packages installed from who knows where on Windows systems, that really just isn't possible.

So yes - there can be viruses for Linux and there frequently are worms that impact Linux but the reality is the advanced package management we have had for over 15 years now just makes it a lot easier for us to keep the entire system up to date, verify packages are properly signed by a repository we trust, and verify the integrity of a package.

That makes Linux a lot easier to keep safe from the type of malware that plagues Windows.

I like linux and windows both.

I think windows 8 is good and windows 7 is the best if you want to use your PC easily.

Using windows XP is the best experience I have ever had.

Oh and another thing that makes Linus less prone to viruses and malware is the shared library ecosystem which is only really possible because of the superior package management.

If a library has an exploitable bug, every single piece of software that uses that library is potentially vulnerable.

With the shared library system that Linux uses and manages through the the package management system, all you have to do is update the shared library and then every application is no longer vulnerable.

The package management system makes this easier because it keeps track of shared library dependencies.

You can use shared libraries on Windows but then you often encounter what is known as "DLL hell" so what a lot of software vendors on Windows do is static link. That way they don't need the right DLL.

The problem however is that when a vulnerability exists in a DLL, when it is static linked you have to update the entire application itself to fix it. You can't just have the shared library updated.

Windows does not have a good package management system for keeping all the shared libraries updated, so even the shared libraries you do have often are vulnerable even after the bug is discovered and fixed.

-=-

The same issue btw exists on Android because Google designed Android with crappy package management. A bug in an Android library can be found and fixed but years later there will still be dozens of vulnerable apps ON THE ANDROID PLAY STORE because the apps static link the libraries, and the author of the app never bothered to rebuild it against the fixed version.

That's why I never use my Android system for bitcoin or anything that needs to be secure, Even though it has a linux kernel, the design of Android itself is one that results in an insecure software ecosystem built around it.

Win 8 is bad. The newer the version is the less it allows the user to do.
Also win 8 tends to force win 10 upgrade on its users, don't fall for it.

Win 7 tries to force an upgrade too.

If only Windows can get their act together. Windows 7 I have to say is the better OS. Just a couple more hassle with Windows and you will see me shift to other Linux OS. What do you guys think about Ubuntu.