[OSM-newbies] Which Operating System

[Bill Ricker]

On Mon, Mar 16, 2009 at 5:37 AM,  <henning at kaagmortensen.de> wrote:
> As I can choose to invest in either windows or Linux, I would like to know which of those two OS is most appropriate to with respect to OSM (and Routing). Any recommendations here?

Are you asking regarding building or using OSM tools? I am guessing
Russ's answer assumes 'using', so I will answer re 'building'.

On Linux, the whole toolchain is free and Free. Linux doesn't have XP,
Vista and 7 versions of the Api to re compatible with or trapped on.

For many purposes, Java as a portable platform is a OS/device neutral
choice. But artful choice of toolchain and technique is still
necessary to fit into a java-enabled portable device. And Java still
has a execution speed and space penalty against lower level languages
and a coding speed penalty against higher level languages.


As to hardware, one would think it costs the same, but since there are
'lite' editions of Linux, eg Xubuntu and Knoppix, five year old
hand-me-down laptops  are often free or cheap and can get a
performance upgrade (which isn't what happens with an XP or Vista
upgrade).

-- 
Bill
n1vux at arrl.net bill.n1vux at gmail.com