Well, this may seem like a forgone conclusion (based on http://linux.sci-tech.co.uk/ as one of our sites), however here at WhyDontYou we are always open to debate.

Today I was in a discussion about the merits of Windows vs Linux and vice versa. One of the main arguments against the wonder that is linux was the boot time.

Now, everyone knows Linux is a powerful server operating system which is why it takes for ever to boot up and let you do things. Windows is soooo much quicker.

Or is it?

Yes, this is a loaded question! To prove a point I booted up a Dual Boot (WinXP and SuSE10) computer. The time to go from GRUB choice to log in screen was, indeed, about twice as long for the Linux machine as for the windows machine. (Both run roughly the same software). In fact, compared to the Linux machine the Windows system provided a log in prompt almost instantly.

However, this is where things went wrong. From entering the password to having a useable machine in windows took about half the lifetime of the universe. Each of the USB devices was checked, MSN started, tried to log in, failed because it had come up before the network device (etc.). Absolute chaos. While it is easy to be fooled into thinking the log on prompt means the machine has “booted,” in windows this is FAR from the truth.

In comparison, the Linux box had a fully loaded desktop (connected to the internet and running more server software) in about a hundredth of the time the Windows machine managed it. The difference made the delayed boot sequence inconsequential in comparison.

If you dont believe me, try it yourself!