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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Recently I reported a simple trial with Windows XP
Pro SP3 and Mandriva Spring 2008 installed as a dual boot.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It appeared that the Mandriva Linux system
performed better at rendering web pages. Windows XP was extremely
slow.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>One of the members asked if I was using Intel
products.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>My hardware is an ECS k7s5a mainboard with an AMD
Duron 1200 MHz, 512 MB of SDRAM, an 80GB hard drive, a CD Burner and a DVD
Burner. The graphics card is a Nvidea TNT.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The mainboard sold in large quantities 6 years ago.
It was cheap.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I asked the Tesco Internet Service if there were
giving priority to Linux users. They said no.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Here is a copy of their reply:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial
size=2>**************************************************************************************</FONT><BR>Dear
John,<BR><BR>Thank you for your recent e-mail.<BR><BR>The reason for the speed
difference is nothing to do with the broadband or internet provider, such as
ourselves, but the architecture of the operating system itself. As Linux systems
are designed in a completely different manner from Windows you can find that
they operate much faster for standard tasks such as web-page rendering. I would
suggest you speed test on your Linux system, and then on a Windows system. You
will find both results are very similar.<BR><BR>If you are looking purely at
performance speed it is possible to say that Linux systems are 'better' than
Windows, but you have to bear in mind that Windows systems are designed, and
have been, to run on a wide variety of machines, supported massive amounts of
different hardware with minimal configuration, whereas you may find that a Linux
system doesn't support a particular scanner or camera for example.<BR><BR>It is
only in the past few years that the popularity of Linux has grown, and as it
relies on Open-Source software, the range of the operating system has increased
exponentially. More and more users are migrating to Linux from Windows due to
reason such as you have listed, software license costs or power of operating
system itself.<BR><BR>At the end of the day it comes down to personal
preference, for example I found Linux myself to be head and shoulders above
Windows for standard tasks, but as soon as I started to play games, I rapidly
found it inferior due to poor compatibility. Please be aware that due to the
size and complexity of all the different Linux packages (for example there are a
large number of standard desktop 'distros', Ubuntu, Mandriva, Red Hat as well as
all the business and power systems), we as an ISP do not support any Linux based
systems.<BR><BR><BR>If I can be of any more help, please do not hesitate to
contact me again.<BR><BR><BR>Kind regards,<BR><BR><BR>Evan<BR><BR><BR>Tesco
broadband support team<BR><FONT face=Arial
size=2>*********************************************************************************************</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>It appears that Linux is recognised as
better than Windows for browsing the web.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I have considered the possibility that there may be
a rogue program running on my Windows XP. Unfortunately I am unable to identify
such a program. I have the Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, and Quick time
installed as well as AVG 8.0 and Spyxbot S and D. That last two are
probably necessary on Windows systems.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I also have an other computer supplied by Conrad in
Germany. It has an MSI mainboard with a Via Chipset and Sempron
2200MHz processor. 512MB of ram and 80GB hard drive.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I conclude that Windows XP SP3 needs a fast
processor to run satisfactory.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Windows makes use of temporary files on the hard
drive. A newer faster drive can sometimes improve the
performance. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
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