In today's open source roundup: Should Windows users move to Mac or Linux? Plus: How you can hire the best Linux talent, and what happens when Linux distros die? Should Windows users switch to Mac or Linux? While some Windows users are quite satisfied with Microsoft’s desktop operating system, others are not. Does it make sense for Windows users make the jump to Linux or Mac? Mihir Patkar reports for MakeUseOf: Microsoft is launching a new version of Windows and that means everyone has one question on their minds: should I stick to Windows and upgrade or is it time to look beyond to Linux or Mac? The quick answer: if you’re on Windows, stay on Windows—and don’t worry about upgrading just yet. I run a dual-boot system with Windows 7 and Linux Ubuntu (occasionally changing to Windows 8 as well as every new Linux distro worth trying). I also have a MacBook Air for on-the-go work. I use all three operating systems every day, partly because knowing technology is my job and partly because I’m a geek. But I keep gravitating back to Windows whenever an important task looms large and I have to get things done. If you are a long-time Windows user, you are better off sticking with it and not changing. Here’s why… Is Windows the best operating system? It doesn’t matter You have already invested in Windows It’s the little things that matter It’s all about you, not the operating system More at MakeUseOf Informatics-Tech listed the pros and cons of all three operating systems and spawned a discussion with 194 responses: With almost 90% of the operating system market share, you can’t miss Windows. It’s in commercial buildings, industrial facilities, as well as home computers. Apple’s Macintosh OS is even older than Windows. It is the first ever successful graphical-based operating system, being released one year before it’s Microsoft counterpart. Linux is GNU’s answer to Mac and Windows. Yes, this means that Linux is FREE! By free, you can download, modify and redistribute it without spending a dime! …no operating system is really better, the choice is up to you. If you’re a gamer, then you have no choice, go for Windows. Programmers might prefer Linux and video/graphics producers will probably tend towards Mac. The best thing to do is probably to try each OS and see which is best for you! More at Informatics-Tech Hire the best Linux talent The Linux job market is red hot right now, but it’s not always easy for companies to attract top Linux talent. Linux.com listed some ways that companies can go about hiring open source and Linux employees. Amanda McPherson reports for Linux.com: Hiring top Linux and open source talent isn’t as easy as initiating a search with your favorite recruiter. Linux and open source developers and SysAdmins are among the most sought after talent in tech; companies like IBM, Twitter, Facebook and many more understand that to attract these folks, they have to do things differently. I’ve been working in open source since the late 90s and have seen first hand many of these changes. Learning how to contribute and participate in the Linux community is an important step in attracting talent. We see this as one of the primary drivers in companies becoming members of The Linux Foundation. Living and breathing collaborative development is essential. Once that process is underway, here are a few tips for hiring top Linux and open source talent: Become a member of the Foundation or project you are using Support open source events Use the right certifications in your job descriptions …consider having your employees or candidates take Linux certification exams that you arrange Make sure your developers are contributing to Linux projects Treat your employees well More at Linux.com What happens when Linux distros die? The recent death of CrunchBang Linux has a writer at FOSS Force considering the effects of dead distros on users and developers alike. Ken Starks reports for FOSS Force: How many users were left afloat amid the wreckage of those distros? I say it was in the tens of thousands. But it could have been much worse. My organization Reglue had become deeply invested in the progression and development of both these distros. Reglue was ready to throw full in to SolusOS 2.0. Fortunately we had a plan B. If you are going to rely upon a Linux distro, you would probably do yourself a favor by having a plan B yourself. Many of us distro hop as a hobby…seeing what the new various releases bring. But some of us use a Linux distro as a means of conducting our business. Reglue depends on a stable Linux distro to bring computing into the homes of hundreds of kids who cannot afford a computer. We bring the full force of the Linux community to bear within those computers. We’ve learned that it’s prudent to build our house on rock and not the sand. It seems the sands under our feet are more than capable of swallowing entire Linux distro projects whole. We’ve placed our trust in distros that are build upon rock. Sure the same thing could someday happen to them…but my bet is that it won’t. I’ve staked a lot on that belief. More at FOSS Force Did you miss a roundup? Check the Eye On Open home page to get caught up with the latest news about open source and Linux. 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