What Operating System do you use?

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

I run XP on the notepad I uses for capture, Win7 64 on the one I use to do image processing, and Linux on everything else.

If there were Linux drivers and suitable software I'd use Linux all the time. Some things will not run under Wine so you wind up running a VM for them.

[Octane (Humayun)]

Wow, I remember XEphem from the mid-late 90s. That software was astounding, particularly for its time. I used to run Debian (the least broken Linux) back then.

H

Originally Posted by Steffen

One of the premier ephemeris applications I had used for many years was XEphem, which had no equal in the Windows world. It hasn't really kept up UI and graphics wise, so SkySafari Pro has mostly replaced it for me (even though it's lacking many of the useful features of XEphem).

[lepton3 (Ivan)]

Originally Posted by hpavlov

From what I am getting so far, 90% of the Linux users are using windows to control their telescopes and cameras because there is rarely drivers for Linux. So this tells me that if you prefer to use Linux you still have Windows anyway, mostly because of ASCOM, and will not have problems running windows only software if you need to. Is this correct for the Linux users that responded?

In my experience, that is the reality. When it comes to driving astro peripherals, you are usually running windows in some form, either in a VM or native on the bare metal.

-Ivan

[netwolf]

Pixinsight works on Linux and I know there was some talk about developing a image capture section for it.
There is no reason not to use Linux, as you can always use a VM to control the scope and do image acquisition. Possibly with the right tools you could perhaps even use a windows VM to just host a ASCOM hub and communicate to that from the Linux host.

I use Windows predominately but have toyed with Linux, there are pros and cons for both. Have not really used MacOS much. For me one OS is much the same as another, and all have there pros and cons. Windows tends to have the upper hand as most business applications have been written for it and hence people use it at work and then just want to use the same at home.

[rmuhlack (Richard)]

Like a number of others here, I run Win7 (64bit) on a laptop for scope control and image capture, and Linux (Ubuntu) on the desktop for processing (Pixinsight, Darktable). I did manage to get ascom and eqmod to work under wine in linux a few months back (see here), so if I could also control the dslr and guide cam in linux as well i might go that way for everything.

[pluto (Hugh)]

My experience is just with Canon DSLR control and not mount or CCD control.
I've used gphoto for linux and it gives excellent control for Canon DSLRs.
Also lately I've been using DSLR Controller for Android on both my galaxy tab and galaxy SIII and it is VERY good. I haven't taken my laptop out shooting since I got it.

[04Stefan07 (Stefan)]

Main PC at home is Windows 7 (image processing, etc).

Laptop to control telescope is Mac Snow Leopard. Still experimenting with the software