[Qgis-user] What is the matter with QGis versus MS Windows?

[Agustin Lobo]

I do not find the win versions working significantly worst than
the linux (ubuntu in my case) version. It's true that the standalone
windows installer misses the complementary GRASS installation, which
is a problem because QGIS on its own still lacks some critical functionalities.
On the other hand, the osgeo4w installation is a bit tricky, but probably
it's still a better option for serious users.

I think that having QGIS working on any OS system is a goal that implies
obvious advantages, but also some disadvantages. Being a linux user
for my own work but using win for teaching, sometimes I feel bad for
the long hours of excellent brain work devoted by some developers to make things 
work under windows: so many improvements and new progresses could be a
reality if that time was invested on developing for linux only!
On the other hand, I think that a QGIS version for windows offers
the opportunity of reaching many users.

So, in short, my position would be the opposite. I would devote more
effort on developing mainly for linux even at the price of having a
lower profile (meaning less features not more bugs) version for Win.
The fact that 90% of PC users work under win would be an essential
concern for a commercial software, but this is not the case...

Agus


Mats Elfström wrote:
> Hi! (this is a bit OT rant)
>  
> What it the matter with Qgis versus MS Windows?
> According to w3schools, the windows family operating systems account for 
> 90% of all users world wide.
> There is nothing to indicate that GIS people should differ from this 
> pattern.
> Open source should not be platform dependent but I still claim that QGis is.
> There are dozens of Mac and Linux versions with funny names but only two 
> Windows versions that apparently never works satisfactorily.
> I have all but given up recommending QGis for Windows systems.
>  
> For those of you who like me belong to the unimaginative majority of 
> windows users, take a look at MapWindow Open Source GIS
> http://www.mapwindow.org/
> which installs and runs flawlessly on 90% of the worlds computers.
>  
> Cheers, Mats.E
> 
> 
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