For MIFit downloads stats are 63% windows, 27% Linux (no fully functional
Mac port yet).
I have been doing crystallography on moderately high-end Windows laptops
for a few years now - mostly MIFit with CCP4 but SHELX, MOSFLM, d*TREK
etc are also fine. Performance is NOT a practical issue as far as I can see -
image data processing typically 5-10 minutes, refinements often 1-2
minutes.The upsides are that you don't need to think in terms of getting
a 'special computer for crystallography' and have all office work, chemistry
applications and software etc on the exact same disks. Everything generally
just works from the installers so I would say you are more likely to be able to
just get on with your structure-related science on this OS that Linux. One
deciding factor is what software you need outside crystallography and on
what platforms it is supported.
I see a little bit of conflicting issues getting into the thread - optimal OS for a
server or for development is a different question.
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