If Windows supported more file systems (eg. ext4, lvm) then I would be happier with it then I've been in years. They can do whatever they want with the GUI, if you really want to, you change that or live with it. I just wish they'd get with the times and stop pretending that ntfs and fat are the only storage systems in existence.
Here is a simple, uninformed comparison between ntfs and ext4 from pcworld, clearly written by someone who has only ever used Windows. And here is a much more technical article from wikipedia comparing all file systems. Basically the main reasons that ext4 is far superior to ntfs is the way in which it writes data to your hard storage. There is no defragmentation needed ever and when it comes to moving data or deleting data it does it in such a way that requires the least writing and over writing possible. The life span of an ext4 formatted drive will far exceed that of an ntfs formatted drive. Personally, the more I read about ext4, the more I fell in love with the idea of it. Ntfs is chaotic and barbaric and archaic in comparison.
However, a lot of the differences are really too small for the average user to even notice. Personally, I don't mind that Windows has to run on it's own brand ntfs file system, it's the fact that Windows ignores completely the existence of any other. For example, my ext4 formatted partitions and drives are non existent as far as Windows is concerned, I have to use file recovery software if I want to access any of my files. This means that if you dual boot Windows and Linux, your are forced to either make a much larger Windows partition then you'd want to or to create another ntfs partition to share files between. This also forces you to put all of your stored files (music, movies, software etc) onto a ntfs partition or jump through hoops every time you want to access it.
I don't care if my Windows partition has to be ntfs, but I find it absolutely petty and pathetic that I cannot even access any other file systems. In free, open source Linux's corner we have support for every file system in existence. In paid for, mega corporate Windows' corner we have support for ntfs and fat, the end. It's ridiculous. Linux allows to use whatever you have in the way that you want to use it. Windows dictates to you how to use your own computer from beginning to end, holds it hostage and makes demands, take it or leave it.
If Microsoft doesn't want to get with the times and use a modern file system, good for them. But the very fucking least that they can do is allow us to access modern file systems. Even read only access would be a major improvement.
[–] lawofchaos 0 points 4 points 4 points (+4|-0) ago
If Windows supported more file systems (eg. ext4, lvm) then I would be happier with it then I've been in years. They can do whatever they want with the GUI, if you really want to, you change that or live with it. I just wish they'd get with the times and stop pretending that ntfs and fat are the only storage systems in existence.
[–] fat_baby_ 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
What's the benefit of other file systems over ntfs and fat? I have no idea.
[–] lawofchaos 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
Here is a simple, uninformed comparison between ntfs and ext4 from pcworld, clearly written by someone who has only ever used Windows. And here is a much more technical article from wikipedia comparing all file systems. Basically the main reasons that ext4 is far superior to ntfs is the way in which it writes data to your hard storage. There is no defragmentation needed ever and when it comes to moving data or deleting data it does it in such a way that requires the least writing and over writing possible. The life span of an ext4 formatted drive will far exceed that of an ntfs formatted drive. Personally, the more I read about ext4, the more I fell in love with the idea of it. Ntfs is chaotic and barbaric and archaic in comparison.
However, a lot of the differences are really too small for the average user to even notice. Personally, I don't mind that Windows has to run on it's own brand ntfs file system, it's the fact that Windows ignores completely the existence of any other. For example, my ext4 formatted partitions and drives are non existent as far as Windows is concerned, I have to use file recovery software if I want to access any of my files. This means that if you dual boot Windows and Linux, your are forced to either make a much larger Windows partition then you'd want to or to create another ntfs partition to share files between. This also forces you to put all of your stored files (music, movies, software etc) onto a ntfs partition or jump through hoops every time you want to access it.
I don't care if my Windows partition has to be ntfs, but I find it absolutely petty and pathetic that I cannot even access any other file systems. In free, open source Linux's corner we have support for every file system in existence. In paid for, mega corporate Windows' corner we have support for ntfs and fat, the end. It's ridiculous. Linux allows to use whatever you have in the way that you want to use it. Windows dictates to you how to use your own computer from beginning to end, holds it hostage and makes demands, take it or leave it.
If Microsoft doesn't want to get with the times and use a modern file system, good for them. But the very fucking least that they can do is allow us to access modern file systems. Even read only access would be a major improvement.