It has been an interesting autumn, since all major operating systems got  a new release. This sparked an idea to write some quick comments on each of them. The following article is more of a preview than a full-fledged review.

Ubuntu 9.10 "Karmic Koala"

Released two times a year, most users aren't awaiting big changes from the new Ubuntu. However, the first big shocker strikes already after installation: it is FAST! Modern OS starting from point zero to a full GNOME desktop taking only 15-20 seconds is no myth anymore. Immediately after realizing the desktop was already started and usable, I started tinkering and learning about the new boot-up process. It has changed - a lot. The OS is also really quick to respond to everything you do. No sign of bloat there.

Of course, fast start-up is not the only new feature. Software installation is now even easier, due to the changed package manager GUI. Many of the settings are easier to tinker with and the OS supports more hardware than any single Windows-version. Yes, most of the changes are related to the GUI and newer software, but the quick booting alone is already enough reason for most of us to update. Only Snow Leopard manages to boot a tiny bit faster than this Koala. Windows is left far behind.

The new Ubuntu is just what we've all waited for: it's once again better and faster than the previous releases. I have to admire Canonical and the community around Ubuntu; making yet another great release is truly an accomplishment. I've yet to find anything negative to state about this release. It installed without any issues and everything worked out-of-box. It recognized Windows 7 on the same PC and automatically added it to the GRUB boot menu. It supports the filesystems of Windows 7 (both FAT and NTFS), as well as Samba. While there have been some buggy Ubuntu releases over the years, this one is a definite winner. And best of all: it's completely FREE!

Mac OS X Snow Leopard

The new OS X doesn't bring many groundbreaking features, but it is faster than Leopard and the GUI is even better. Due to the tiny tweaks here and there, it is a joy to use and definitely worth the small price of 29 euros Apple is asking for.

OS X has always been the fastest to boot and Snow Leopard doesn't let you down. It boots even faster than Leopard, taking about 10 seconds to start the full desktop. Overally, Snow Leopard is maybe a tiny bit heavier than Tiger, but lighter than Leopard. It does not, however, feel bloated and responds quickly to all user actions. It also supports CUPS and NFS out-of-box, like any standard operating system should be doing these days.

Highly recommended!

Windows 7

Microsoft is advertising Windows 7 as a fast OS, which makes sense after the god-awful Vista-bloatware-flop. They also state it to be the "best Windows ever". Let's see how this advertisement holds ground.

The installer is definitely better. It's quicker to use and doesn't stop all the time to ask for stupid questions in the middle of the process. It takes about 4-5 times longer to install than Ubuntu 9.10 and Mac OS X Snow Leopard. The real surprise, however, comes from the inability of the Windows installer to add other operating systems (like Ubuntu) residing on the same PC to the boot menu. It is the year 2009 here! Come on, it seriously cannot be that difficult! Every Linux distribution knows how to do this, why does it seem like an impossible task for one of the biggest software companies in the world? After noticing this, it was no surprise to find popular filesystems such as ext4 and reiserFS still unsupported. As well as NFS and CUPS.

The first impression of the OS itself is a disappointment. Windows 7 is not fast at all. Yes, of course it's faster than Vista (come on, that's not difficult), but it is not fast, nor is it quick to respond, when you compare it to truly fast operating systems like Ubuntu and OS X. The reason why this is such a big disappointment, is the fact that its advertisement is simply misleading. It takes long 1-2 minutes to boot (Ubuntu and OS X both boot in less than 20 seconds) and it feels bloated, heavy and non-responsive. Granted, not as bloated, heavy and non-responsive, as Vista, but XP simply outperforms this latest Windows version in every way. Benchmarks from internet show the same results. I see no reason, why anyone using XP would ever want to change to 7.

Next impressions don't get any better, either. The useless and horrendous UAC is on by default and as annoying as ever. It hasn't been improved since Vista at all. Luckily it is easy to turn off, which was the very first thing I did... which brought me to the messed-up Control Panel. All settings were "organized" in a total mess and are as hard to find as in Vista. Changing vital GUI parts just for the sake of changing is never good.

In all of this mess there are some bright sides, after all. Notepad finally understands UNIX-encoded text files. That only took 20 years, but yes! It works! No need to install a third-party editor everytime you need to edit one simple file. Windows already requires tons of third-party software installations before you can actually do anything. The next plus is the dock, of course. Ripped straight off from Mac OS X, Microsoft have started their copying machine yet again and copied the dock and its functions 100 % identically from Apple. The dock is good, of course. Every Mac user has known this for years. But such direct copying does raise some questions about Microsoft's ability to innovate. Innovation can also cause negative results - just take a look at how badly one can design such a simple thing as a shutdown button in an OS. Nothing has been done for it since Vista.

Comparing XP and 7 makes me wonder the state Microsoft is in. How did they end up with such bloatware like Vista and 7? Will they ever be able to redeem themselves and actually create a good, fast and responsive OS? Another problem arising are the viruses: while Ubuntu and Mac OS X are virus-free, Windows has about 500 000 working viruses and more. Why would I want to use a virus-ridden OS at home, not to even mention work? When looking at the prices (multiply the OS X price several times), it becomes even harder to find a reason to voluntarily use Windows 7.

Conclusion

After my experiences with all latest major operating systems, Ubuntu 9.10 and Mac OS X Snow Leopard have claimed their place in my home and work computers.