When comparing Microsoft Windows Desktop vs Plan 9, the Slant community recommends Microsoft Windows Desktop for most people. In the question“What are the best Operating Systems for x86 PCs?” Microsoft Windows Desktop is ranked 3rd while Plan 9 is ranked 18th. The most important reason people chose Microsoft Windows Desktop is:
Since Windows runs on the majority of PCs it supports almost any hardware you can find.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Best universal Hardware support
Since Windows runs on the majority of PCs it supports almost any hardware you can find.
Pro Cheap
You can buy a legal key for ~$15.
Pro Best Software support
The majority of software is available for Windows. You can find a software for any task.
Pro Backwards compatibility
It can even run software that was made over 20 years ago.
Pro Basic Linux support
With a growing subsystem in active development and a stated goal of eventual full cross compatibility.
Pro Well designed
Plan 9's design is very orthogonal and well done.
Pro Designed to allow for multiple computers to work as if they were one
With Plan 9, computers are turned into terminals where you can access files and processing units which can be located elsewhere. Data storage is handled by another external server. This means that instead of each person having their own individual computer with all the required parts, all of the computing and storage is done in a central area and everything is networked in together.
Cons
Con Data collection
Per default Microsoft is collecting many data on newer Windows versions, and it is very unconfortable to turn them just off(eg you have to do it for every service seperately...)
Con Vulnerable
Due its high distribution and the use of many third party code(eg: software/drivers) it is more vulnerable than any other OS.
Con Not free/open source
Con Tied to Microsoft
Windows suggests the use of Microsoft services (however, it does not force it like Apple does)
Con Terrible and inconsistent UI/UX
Con Not modular/Big fat package
Due all the included drivers, 32bit compatiblty packages and Applications/utilities Windows 10 64Bit needs ~20 gb of hard disk space.
Con Poor performance
Windows is slower than Linux in many cases.
Con Low current cross compatibility
Unix support requires many tweaks and installations of secondary software. No MacOS support and few choices for Apple’s olderOSX and System software. All via third party.
Con Difficult to use software made for other systems
Plan 9 is very different from most other operating systems, and as such it's extremely difficult to bring in software designed for other operating systems ('porting').
Con No fully featured web browser
As indicated on the official Bell Labs webpage, there is no full featured web browser currently working on Plan 9, except abaco.
Con Not supported by most tools
Not supported by most dev tools beyond text editors.