Linux vs Windows

I have never been a fan to Linux vs Windows discussion. Yes, i have worked on Linux and Yes i know it has tons of network tools given to the admin that made win95/98 looks like a joke. But that was win95 back then.
The argument that linux is secure, stable due to the open source many "eyes" concept has never been accepted by me. Yeah, i do agree win3.1 and 95, 98 was a rough ride when it comes to security and even on 2k and xp, it was hackers haven.

But then consider this, if you load windows with just those essential drivers, modules like what came in linux, it would be as stable as it is. Heck, i have witness so many linux firewall hanging after adding this module and that module, its just no diff. I am talking about linux firewall that is retailing at RM 50k and above.

Stability is just using whatever that is standard, tested and proven by a party that practices safe programming, be it Windows, Linux, BEOS or MAC OS.

If u ask me, hehehe, i seriously think that most of the unstability in Windows is caused by security products itself! Such as antivirus and personal firewalls. These programs uses drivers (sys=nt,xp,2k, vxd=95/98) which if buggy can easily crash the system. That my fren, is no different than you adding some hooks into the kernel for linux and compile and use it when its buggy. It will crash.

In fact after giving myself a lot of time looking at those projects for linux, i can conclude only one thing.

Linux will still have a market on its own - that is in appliance.
Being free as in $$$$ is a reason so strong its absolutely ridiculous not to use it as an appliance OS. An open source kernel in which u can add.change anything you want, inspect anything, hook anything and the software components of Apache, php, java allows decent development to make the appliance works. These factors just makes Linux win easily as the choice OS for appliance.

Apart from that, design wise, there is nothing in apache, php that IIS and .net doesnt win.
Yes, PHP has tons of supporter, i use it too! However once u use both tools, you cant help but admire the design that the .Net has put in for web development and dynamic content. Basically its makes php looks really dated.

There is a reason why Windows was the best seller and popular choice OS for all time, for some, the reasons seems uncomprehensible, for others, its not a choice. For many programmers the choice is more emotional than logical, we all remember how MS crush netscape, how MS crush Borland C++, how MS this and that , deep down, nobody like to give in to a monopolizing Giant.

What if today MS suddenly declares that Vista will be sold at RM 50 and Windows
Server 2008 at RM 100? I bet the market share for MS will grow exponentially crazy.

Now...Linux is free isnt it?