Ask HN: Is the virus/anti-virus story on Windows any better today?
The last time I ran a Windows (8) computer was years ago. You "had" to have anti-virus software and most of the anti-virus software was bloatware that only seemed to slow the computer down. Reinstalling the entire operating system every few months was simply a matter of course. I am still amazed by how zippy OS X, Linux, and FreeBSD desktops are compared to the Windows I am used to.
However, I need to be able to run Photoshop so I'm looking into Mac and Windows desktops again. If I wanted to go with a Mac, I'd be dropping at least $1k on a good Mac mini. If I went with Windows, I could simply reinstall Windows on my FreeBSD desktop ($100 for the Windows license). But I'm very wary of going back to the days of the bloatware that you "needed" to install to protect you from... worse bloatware?
Is Windows still like this? Or has the state of virus/bloatware-protection improved?
However, I need to be able to run Photoshop so I'm looking into Mac and Windows desktops again. If I wanted to go with a Mac, I'd be dropping at least $1k on a good Mac mini. If I went with Windows, I could simply reinstall Windows on my FreeBSD desktop ($100 for the Windows license). But I'm very wary of going back to the days of the bloatware that you "needed" to install to protect you from... worse bloatware?
Is Windows still like this? Or has the state of virus/bloatware-protection improved?