When you no longer have to tinker with the command line and Linux actually manages to acquire more than 5 users, people may start to take Linux seriously.

For now it is still the pet project of a few uber geeks. Get serious people and get a Mac.

I think the first commercial is absolutely fantastic. I don't know why Tim Conneally said Tweeto's work would need polishing. Yes, the accent is a little off, but hey, it was incredibly mixed together with the background music and the animation itself.

VERY nice work. ;)

PS: I'm a Windows user.

I use both.
I've found installing Linux to be faster and easier on most systems. (In recent times, that is. Linux used to be more difficult years ago.)
For people who constantly need to buy the latest electronic toys and games to connect to their PC's, Windows is probably easier, so long as they are able to clean up their registry.
I've found Linux MUCH easier to maintain.
When I see the recent Microsoft Windows ads, the ones with, "I'm a PC," I wonder why there isn't an ad of some distraught person trying to remove the viruses and spyware, getting pop-up ads, and saying, "I'm a PC."
Linux doesn't delight everybody, and Microsoft will continue to try to make stuff incompatible between the two.
I agree the competition is good. I'm happy that OS/X is there, too. I even bought my wife one.
Well, gotta go, it's Windows Update Tuesday...

After reading every comment on here, it really seems that everyone is divided to one side or the other. I use both Linux and Windows on a daily basis. On my main desktop at home, I use Slackware Linux. On my gaming machine, I of course have Windows.

Both have strengths and weaknesses. To claim one is superior is imo just ludicrous. The "ease of hardware install" on Windows argument made me laugh pretty hard. I've had to jump through some pretty insane loops to get hardware installed on Windows. I had a motherboard that refused to even let Windows be installed until I found the exact perfect version of a driver for the Sata chipset. Newer versions of the driver would not work. I ended up going through 7 versions of the driver till I found the one that worked.

I have rarely ever had a problem with hardware on Linux. In fact, my last install went absolutely perfect. That included a printer, webcam, tv capture card, and sound card. The exact devices everyone seems to complain about. (BTW, the tv capture card won't work on my Windows box because there are no Vista drivers. And the XP drivers won't work. Imagine that.)

As far as customization goes, both os's have there upsides. But I must say, as far as eye candy goes, I am extremely happy with KDE on my Slackware box. The eye candy is built in, and just needs some check boxes filled in. You can customize it even more if you care too, but, the defaults are amazing. And these same features I cannot find at all on Windows. I looked at object desktop, but I find it kind of hard to pay for extra programs to give me a portion of the functionality I would like when it comes built in to other products.

With the "Shell Replacement" stuff mentioned, there are some open source alternatives to explorer. I am currently using SharpEnvironment as a shell replacement on my Vista box. It is very nice, and gives me many of the features I like. GeoShell just seems to be a direct port of gnome to windows. Didn't like it one bit.

Someone also said that Linux won't go into the big time till it supports at least Directx 9. I would have to say that is incorrect. Apple is gaining market share, and they definitely don't support DirectX. I would have to say change the statement to say "Linux won't make it into the big time with gamers until it supports at least Directx 9". I prefer to not have my games on my main machine anyway.

All in all, I must say that I use both, like both, and dislike both. I prefer my Linux box more, so I use it more, and enjoy it more. I do agree that I feel like I have more freedom on my Linux box. But, with the "community" making advancements in creating open source applications for Windows also, I must say I enjoy customizing my Windows box a little more than I ever did before.

"Both have strengths and weaknesses. To claim one is superior is imo just ludicrous."

And with that statement you demonstrate that you utterly miss the boat.

The fact is, they all run on a PC. Deal with it.

Now, what remains is: does the environment do what you want it to do? Does it run the necessary applications and support the necessary hardware you might require? If the answer is yes to both, then the rest of the equation is subjective - how does it interface with the operator?

And to say they are all equal is purely nonsense.
But as you go on to talk about assembling an environment that "you like". And there is the key. Just look at the customer sat numbers that have remained consistant for almost 20+ years.

But its always fun to watch the same folks who say its a matter of what they like deny the fact that many like a system other then their's, as they try to tell us that they are all the same in terms of user experience.

But ironically enough, they lament other's preferences as they extoll their own...

Now, if they would only take their logic and go bother the auto forums...

Bottomline, use the one you like that suits your purposes and quit worrying about what the other guy uses.

""Both have strengths and weaknesses. To claim one is superior is imo just ludicrous."

And with that statement you demonstrate that you utterly miss the boat.

The fact is, they all run on a PC. Deal with it."
-----------------------------------------------------

Not once did I say "Mac or PC". You appear to completely miss the point of my post in your senseless urge to "FLAME" someone. I believe my entire comment was Linux vs Windows. Both of which I realize run mainly on a "PC". (Albeit Linux actually does run on the previous ppc/alpha architecture of a Mac, as well as several other architectures unsupported by Windows. I heard rumors of a Alpha compiled Windows but, I cannot confirm this.)

"And to say they are all equal is purely nonsense."
I must agree. There is no way to say they are equal. As All three OS's are completely different in there approach to satisfying their user base. Which is something I hinted at in my response to the support of DirectX.

In response to the rest of your soapbox time; I love customizing my systems to look, act, and work the way I want. And I will say that a lot of people don't like the way things are setup on my system. Which is fine. It keeps them off of my computers, hehe.

I work on 10 or more computers on a daily basis. Every computer I work on is different. (Minus the computers in offices that don't allow users to change settings.) People use different operating systems, different programs, and do different things with there computers. In this mixture of code, I see something that is exactly the same. "Everyone" wants their computer to be "different".

Now this is truly funny. As if a MAC (or Linux) computer isn't a PC. There is not a single MAC computer out there that isn't a PC. Most computers running Linux are PCs.

ok....

...except there are plenty of PPC Macs out there that are not PCs.
And you state that "most" Linux machines are PCs.

Which leaves you contradiciting your initial premise that they are all PCs. And your claim that "There is not a single MAC computer out there that isn't a PC" is simply false.

Care to try again?

I know that there are computers that are not "personal computers". It just bothers me that people tend to define "personal computer" based on operating system. The thing that makes a personal computer is the hardware...NOT the software.

Try again.

"PC"s have heretofore been defined by both the hardware and the OS.

x86 and Windows.

Everyone is missing the point. With Linux, you have a choice of operating systems for your computer. In the early days of personal computers, every computer manufacturer developed their own version of an operating system. Then IBM came along and we had IBM standard hardware and a IBM standard OS with CP/M then DOS and then Windows. Apple also developed their own OS and their own hardware.

I agree, Linux is not as easy to use as the Apple OS or Microsoft Windows. I guess most of us forgot that we had to learn how to use Windows and Apples' OS. We have been learning how to use these OS for over 25 years.

Maybe, if many of us tried to use the Linux OS. You would see that it is indeed similar to the Apple OS and the Windows OS. All it would cost one is to download and burn a CD or DVD and boot up a Live CD of Live DVD to learn the Linux OS.

I use Windows on my primary computer. Although I have been following the development of Linux and using Live CD or DVD follow along with the current Linix distributions. If you have never considered Linux, I would invite you to down load Linux Mint (or any other Linux distribution) and boot your computer up with the Mint Live CD. You may be surprised that a free OS has so many features that are similar to Windows and the Apple OS.

Also, you should consider that maybe if Linux attracted more users (more market share), maybe Microsoft would be make their Windows operating system a better product. It is always nice to have competition among operating system manufacturers.

"It is always nice to have competition among operating system manufacturers." Wise words. The lack of competition is the source of all kind of vices in the computing technology: a lot of s*** which only means economic advance for its developers is sold as improvement, and you discover it in many cases when it's too late, because your freedom is compromised in their run to earn more and more bucks. Respect to the user is limited only by the scarce existing laws, being most of them only in the interests of RIAA and other public or private institutions.

". With Linux, you have a choice of operating systems for your computer."

*laughing*

whereas without Linux, you're stuck with no choice. It's either Mac or XP, or Vista, or Unix, or ...

Oh, wait... ;-)

"I'm a Mac."

"I'm a PC."

"I'm a permanent failure on the mass-market Consumer desktop because I don't even understand the concept, let alone what it takes to succeed there. Yes, I'm Linux."

As it was in the beginning, so it shall ever be, world without end, Amen.

Next...

Theyre barking up the wrong tree you could say. I mean people know that Linux is free. Thats not the issue.

When I will see a Linux commercial that says: "Be free, be fast, play any game on the market today, wether is it for Windows or MAC, we can do it easy"

Now when people would see that their little hamster in their head would put his foot on FULL STOP and you would go WHATTTT? Is it possible, has my dream come true? Can I really work on my computer as well as have fun? I used Windows for soo long because it offered ALL that linux can offer + I could play all the latest games (which is aparently a major factor).

Why? Well Families buy new computers with windows simply cause their kids want to play games. And this means DirectX games, not OpenGL (sadly :/ ) or Flash games,.. DirectX.

When Linux learns to emulate or LEGALY play nice with DirectX (atleast version 9) people will never seriously concider Linux as an equal. PERIOD.

Going with "WE are Linux" is catchy and, yet, borgish. Since the Linux folks are rebellious and defy the masses, I'm surprised they didn't go with "I am neither".

maybe mr. t would be a better than a penguin.

then the tv ads can have mr. t putting the pc guy in a head lock until he submits and then do a guillotine on the mac kid.

then he can claim " if you aint got linux, then you got noth-in!! "

I always wondered why Microsoft was so busy pushing the "I'm a PC" thing and promoting brands like HP and Dell while their software works on Apple products. I suppose it has something to do with the OEM contracts and the fact they don't make a sale from every Mac sold since the software is not pre-installed on the PC.

True. You might think that MS would leverage their position as the largest Mac developer by pushing the fact that running both Windows and the MS apps on the Mac in addition to OSX provide much greater value than with OSX alone.

But that would require them to stop and actually think of their strategic position regarding BOTH OS environments. Not to mention that MS Office even for OSX even has more functionalality than Office for Windows...

If they were smart (an oerative assumption!!!!), they would capitalize on both and benefit from both.

But hey...look who you are dealing with...the same limited either/or Neanderthal mindset that dominates most of the posters here - just read below!

About time linux gotten involved. Microsoft and Mac commercial so lame...

At the moment i'm waiting for Fedora 11 to be released.

I knew someone who had once used Linux, but he stopped.

He stopped..

talking to you?
being alive?
stopped using windows?

Just stopped !

Frozen in time 0_o

The Microsoft commercial is bashed because the ad says the customer is looking to spend only a certain amount of money, and Microsoft is focusing on money rather than playing up why Windows is better than alternative operating systems.

So we should bash the first commercial here too right? It is all about the operating system being free, not about how it is good, or why it is better than alternative operating systems.

The second video is also implicitly about money. It says if you're too cheap to buy a good computer, our operating system can help you squeeze every dime out of your old trashy computer. What if you're not a cheap bas**** and want to spend a whole $700 buying a new PC from this century? Since the commercial implies it is for old hardware, you must be better off buying an alternative operating system, one that can better take advantage of new hardware that everyone always seems to want.

Maybe it's just that all the commercials are geared towards the weak economy and helping people save money. Either way, all of them have the same focus, so there's no reason the Microsoft commercial should receive any more bashing than either of the Linux commercials.

The genius of the first commercial is that it takes the whole cost/no-cost sense of the word "free" out of it immediately and instead focuses on free as in "freedom". In the developed world, most people aren't going to turn to Linux because they can't afford Windows, they will do so because it puts less constraints on them.

As for people being too cheap to buy a new computer; $700, or even $300 is a lot of money. Our Government (in a truly stupid move) went massively into debt last year to send each of us a check for that kind of money. I certainly don't spend several hundred without looking for alternatives, and neither should our schools or government agencies.

That said, there are plenty of other reasons not to simply throw away old computers. For one thing, they are full of nasty heavy metals, and most "recycling" for PCs really means dumping them in India or China.

Some people may laugh at this but I think Android may make a good OS. If it can make it in the netbook market, Google may decide to make a full blown Linux distro out of it. If they can put the ease of use of a phone OS into a computer OS Linux has a chance to gain some interest from people. Cell phone OS' are easy to use, easy to install and uninstall programs, and easy to update, if they can translate that into a full blown Linux distro who knows. This is what Mac OS has going for it. Its based off of Free BSD and its easy to install, uninstall programs and update.

Okay, I like open source, but as I tell the open source people, just declaring that open source desktop software is ready for the real world and real consumers doesn't work. My Ubuntu machine shows me that all the time. I was once called a "user interface designer wannabe troll" because of that. The person responded to me by telling me that everything was just fine in Linux land.

It's true that I seldom resort to the Terminal application to fix things now but I also have to research a lot of utilities to keep me out of that and when things really go wrong, I might just wait for the next Ubuntu release.

Ubuntu and PC-BSD have a good chance to get more technical users away from Windows, but they're not likely to convince someone's grandma that they're easy enough, unless that grandma worked alongside Rear Adm. Grace Hopper.

> Ubuntu and PC-BSD have a good chance to get more technical users away from Windows, but they're not likely to convince someone's grandma that they're easy enough, <

This is exactly the opposite. Ubuntu Desktop is the perfect setup for users who use the computer for surfing Internet, reading email, listen to music and doing some office doc, reading PDFs. Install Ubuntu and forget it. Never need to worry about updating spyware, antivirus. etc. I still have a Windows machine at home, it is always this one that takes me more time for maintenance.

Considering that the last 3 installations (7.10, 8.04, and 8.10) of Ubuntu's distribution have become more problematic, I'm surprised you haven't had to fix anything. In particular, with 8.10, grandma would have been out of luck.

You can say that Ubuntu or any other Linux works just fine, but when there is a problem, there is often a contorted way to fix it rather than something simple.

Yawn...

Are we there yet?

You'll never be there. You're barely even here.

Speaking of being here, where have you been, sjc?

Off hunting for some new meds? You actually seem somewhat lucid today. Must be working. ;-)

Welcome back, holmes. [smiles]

I suspect there must have been some new Transformer cartoon or TeleTubbie episodes released.

You know how he can't resist the cultural shows... priorities you know...

@artfuldodga

I consider most people NPCs.

roflmao....

:) Well said.

The Linux clan cracks me up. Let's put an O/S on our PC's that makes you jump through hoops of fire to get your hardware working and then claim it's better than Windows or OS/X. It's the cheap asses that want a free O/S.

Enlighten me. Does iTunes work with Linux? Windows Media Player? Anything good?

I remember that little girl DaveBG had a Linux penguin for his avatar on blu-ray.com, he was so proud to be a cheap moron.

I just picked up Compaq Vista notebook for my wife, $399 at Best Buy after $100 rebate. Comes with Home Premium, 2GB RAM and a 2Ghz Intel processor. 16X multi DVDR drive, LightScribe and a TruBrite extra wide display.

I hat it configured for and connected to our network printer in about five minutes. I installed my own Office with unlimited activation, de-installed Office 2007 Student and Norton's garbage. Lastly, I created the full system restore DVD's.

I forgot what happens when you buy an XP computer from Dell or another brand that doesn't come with restore discs (especially one with Media Center Edition) when it's time to restore after you registry gets corrupted by dozens of malware programs without your knowledge. That's right, your ****ed.

Yes, Linux or XP is looking so tempting right now and Vista sucks because it's so secure and easy to restore if needed. So far, I haven't had to use any of the restore discs on any of our Vista machines. Low and beold, there is no spyware / malware on any of them either. I must be the luckiest guy in the world or Vista's UAC actually works.

Go Linux.

Dell computers come with restore discs, both physical and hdd options, always have as far back as i can remember... along with a drivers disc OR grab drivers from their site

my PCs reg never gets corrupted, nor do i get Malware, you're doing it wrong

I bed to differ. Dell computers do not come with restore discs, nor the device drivers. Maybe if you were one of the suckers who spent $2500 on a Dell notebook, you may have gotten restore discs but the best selling, cheapest notebooks that every sheep college student in America uses do not come with anything.

Those are the most fun to restore. After you re-install XP, you get to spend a few more hours trying to locate and download the drivers for the non working hardware. Of course you have to do this with a different computer because the drivers for the network card aren't installed yet.

It's only after you get the network card working when you find out Windows won't activate.

Dell is junk and the people who buy them are idiots.

"I forgot what happens when you buy an XP computer from Dell or another brand that doesn't come with restore discs (especially one with Media Center Edition) when it's time to restore after you registry gets corrupted by dozens of malware programs without your knowledge. That's right, your ****ed."

LOL!

So you spend HOW much time reconfiguring your PC only to lament the existence of restore disks in the event of registry corruption?

You are the epitomy of the victim!

Here's an idea, genius! How about AFTER you go to such great lengths to reconfigure your system into the 'awesome' variant that you so desire, you take one more step and make a BACKUP?

Do we really have to explain this? You see, with backups, you don't need your restore disks that put you right back into the unacceptable configuration you spent so much time undoing...

Oh.

Are we going to fast? Or is Dell responsible for doing that for you too, you IT wizard?

But then you did say that only idiots buy Dell. Which would further explain your experience with them.

LOL!

Geesh. And these same tween boys are the ones who claim BluRay will take over the world as they ad to the gene pool :-O and who comment about issues facing the IT enterprise world.

image backups save me lots of trouble =] but i am looking forward to owning my very own Windows 7 retail copy, XP Pro (pirated then bought WGA kit in 2006) never bought Vista, just got it with a PC...

but yeah, though i do have OEM disc and drivers, BACKUP can and prob will save alot of time and hassle, and if you discovered you had no discs to begin with... and somehow think you'll never need to restore? someones a moron

"I bed to differ. Dell computers do not come with restore discs, nor the device drivers."

Well I "bed to differ" as well. My XPS 420 desktop came with a restore partition AND a full complete set of restore discs, all in a nice neat CD folder. Your blanket statement is therefore invalidated. Most major brand systems are now coming with a restore partition and no physical discs out of the box, sure, but most give the end user the option to create a restore disc set and/or you can call and get a set sent to you (ranging from free to $20'ish).

Pure comic genius, ir0nwolf.

You cut&pasted the first sentence and completely ignored the rest of the comment which covered your issue with it pretty much completely!

"Maybe if you were one of the suckers who spent $2500 on a Dell notebook, you may have gotten restore discs but the best selling, cheapest notebooks that every sheep college student in America uses do not come with anything."

*laughing*

Folks who don't believe in ADHD, eat your hearts out! (Hey, at least he made it through the entire first sentence!)

Do you "BED" to differ, tool?

Actually did read the whole response, but thanks for asking.... Er, what was I talking about? Oh yeah that ADD must be kicking in again. Two blanket statements were made that are not true: 1) "Dell computers do not come with restore discs, nor the device drivers." -- A blanket statement as I said earlier. No specificity over which/all/none was made. Had the person started the sentence with the word "some" it would have made sense. The next comment was made after that, not before, which would have made more sense. 2) "Maybe if you were one of the suckers who spent $2500 on a Dell notebook, you may have gotten restore discs but the best selling, cheapest notebooks that every sheep college student in America uses do not come with anything." -- Many Dell systems

"Dell computers do not come with restore discs, nor the device drivers." -- A blanket statement as I said earlier. No specificity over which/all/none was made." ...until you get to the second sentence. So hard to follow when there's a period there, I know... ;-)

Not really something to argue about, I just found it amusing that your rant seemed to completely ignore that minor tidbit.

@Hollywood_ umm... you should study a bit more. Both iTunes and Windows Media Player do WORK in Linux. Although iTunes really suck, as always on anything else than OSX. But why asking about iTunes when there's Songbird ? Ask me how Songbird works on Win/Lin/Mac :-)

> I must be the luckiest guy in the world or Vista's UAC actually works. <
You are a smart guy (not to disable UAC). Agree with you 100%

> I hat it configured for and connected to our network printer in about five minutes. I installed my own Office with unlimited activation, de-installed Office 2007 Student and Norton's garbage. Lastly, I created the full system restore DVD's.<

You must admit that those are not simple steps, even for Windows. I don't know if everybody would know how to do that. With Ubuntu, the preparation steps would be similar. The only difference is it looks simpler when it's Windows. Whether you want to recognize it or not, whatever you know with Windows you had spent an amount time on it.Anyone willing to spend a fraction of time to get used to Ubuntu and things will get easy.

@Hollywood:

You really crack me up, you do!

"Let's put an O/S on our PC's that makes you jump through hoops of fire to get your hardware working and then claim it's better than Windows or OS/X."

Im pretty sure you are talking about Vista in the early days. This is the whole point... its not the fault of the OS but manufacturers not providing drivers.

"It's the cheap asses that want a free O/S."

No just smart people that know you don't need to pay to use a great OS.

"Enlighten me. Does iTunes work with Linux? Windows Media Player? Anything good?"

iTunes does work and all you need is a media player, doesn't need to be Windows Media Player which is nothing special besides looking pretty. Anything good? (well thats your own opinion now isnt it!)

Vista isn't great but its not bad either... just because I use Linux as my only OS doesn't mean I am gonna bash Vista. I have used it quite a bit so I have good experience of it.

Hollywood__ I see you've edited your article, was it even longer before the editing, or did you decide to add another chapter ?

@PC_Tool: ir0nwolf cut&pasted the first sentence? How was he able to cut? I would have thought he would have to do a copy operation. :)

Don't even think of jumping through hoops of fire with Windows, the training wheels will get snagged.

Someday, when you grow up, you'll be ready for professional grade software, and then you can laugh at those still afraid of little flame.

@morriscox: :p

aren't we all PCs? and how weird, i can do all those 'Free' things with Windows, i'm so confused...

Can you choose which GUI you would prefer to use?
Can you tweak EVERYTHING in your OS if you wish to do so?
Can you make your very own version of your OS?

The answer is no to all of the above... the difference is freedom compared to limited freedom. Just like following the law, Windows users have to abide by the rules set out by Microsoft.

By your own definition of 'limited freedom', you've defined Linux for me, personally. I'm not interested in tweaking EVERYTHING in my OS, nor making my own version. There are tools to tweak the ui and what's under the hood as much as I want to, for Windows.

What I do want is the freedom to install hardware and software without the hoops. Without possibly having to go command line or into the terminal. Without sacrificing a world of software... Freedom for some, aren't the same freedoms for all.

"Can you choose which GUI you would prefer to use? "

Yep. Google "Object Desktop".

"Can you tweak EVERYTHING in your OS if you wish to do so?"

If there's demand for a tweak, you can bet someone's written a program that will allow it.

"Can you make your very own version of your OS?"

Yep. Google nLite.

"The answer is no to all of the above..."

Um, sorry... Somehow I came to the opposite conclusion.

Now ask yourself how important *any* of that functionality you listed is to the vast majority of users.

Hint: The answer is "Not at all."

@Tool(head) The question is how much of these are you able to control and modify to suit your needs. How much of Google are you able to modify in order to create an enhanced, a different, a personal touched product ? Just how much ? And with what costs ?
Don't tell me that Tool crap of yours that i'm so sick of, about some guys being too poor to buy real computers and software.
Give me real, tangible alternatives, not the crap you just wrote. Google ... ?!?
How on earth is Google Object Desktop compared to GNOME/KDE/FWM/IceWM/FluxBox,etc?
Do you even have an idea of how/why these are made and how/why are they different to each other ?
Your "very own" version of an OS is Google nLite ? Have you tried SuSE Studio ? Have you even heard of the project ? No ? Too busy trolling and selling crap on BetaNews forum ? I thought so ...

Any real officially supported LiveCD or LiveDVD versions of Windows or OSX ? Too bloated ? Thought so ...
Have you seen any "core"/lightweight/customized Windows or OSX on a router ? Well, I've seen some core UNIX/Linux on routers.

Yes, it's about freedom and customization. Not free as in free beer. Linux has also a commercial side. But both the free and the commercial sides work together using the most powerful engine on this planet. The community. No matter how many employees in Bill's or Steve's companies, there is simply no room, no equal to the Linux community. Not a community of poor people, but smart people.
Toolie, if you happen to live in the states, take a look at what's happening in your government's policy on open source. If not, take a look at the EU states migrating to open source software. If not take a look at China (no matter how much rice they eat). Not because it's a time of crisis and Linux is cheap, but because it's time to grow up and become smarter.
It's not a trend, it's not fashion. It's just the right way if YOU really want something to CONTROL in every little aspect. YOU, not others. Nations, not companies. People, not monopoly.

(Definition: Exclusive control by one group of the means of producing or selling a commodity or service)

@marians: You do realize that when PC_Tool said to 'Google "Object Desktop"' and 'Google nLite' that he meant to use Google to search for "Object Desktop" and for "nLite"....

@Tool:

I really didn't think that you would give such weak answers but anyway...

"Yep. Google "Object Desktop"."

This has tools which provide a GUI layer on top of the Windows GUI and therefore is not a separate GUI. Hence, this means what I said remains true, you cannot choose a different GUI.

"If there's demand for a tweak, you can bet someone's written a program that will allow it."

You do realize that in order to customize your OS you need to rely on somebody else to create a tool and afterwards you have to follow the customizations that this tool allows you! That is not freedom or being able to tweak (let me repeat this!) EVERYTHING!!!

"Yep. Google nLite."

I must point out to you that this is a backup/deployment tool. Removing some applications, installing service packs, maybe introducing some slight tweaks is NOT creating your own version of Windows.

Notice that all of tools suggestions involve filling up your hard drive with additional applications.
No thanks, I would like to keep my hard disk space.

"This has tools which provide a GUI layer on top of the Windows GUI and therefore is not a separate GUI. Hence, this means what I said remains true, you cannot choose a different GUI."

FYI, that is not entirely true... there are alternative shells for Windows... LightStep,Aston, GeoShell... just a few to mention...

(Playing devil's advocate here... lol)

Im sorry but none of these are free and Geoshell is based on Linux software! LOL

@marians: Moron. *laughing* "Google Object Desktop" BWahahahaaa...

@Apha:

GUI = Graphical User Interface. You change it, new GUI. Take a look at OD and tell me that looks (anything* like the Windows GUI.

"You have to rely on someone else" in *any OS...unless you can develop the tools and code yourself. Did you write your own GUI extensions? No? Guess you had to depend on "someone else" then....

In regards to making the OS your own... it's pointless to even argue this. Seriously. You can customize *any* OS. Check out LastXP. Even the installation routine has been modded. The question becomes...what's the point?

...and Free vs. commercial, really... That only matters to people doing *real* work if they can't afford it. ;-) Beyond that, it's what works best for their needs.

either you're a mac, a pc or smokin a doobie.

And fiddling with your kernel...