Reply #32: Actually it is somewhat unfair to compare a Vanilla Windows installation..

[Solon]

With let's say Linux, the reason is because they AREN'T testing Linux alone, that's just a kernel, but also a shitload of third party apps like OpenOffice, e-mail programs like Evolution, and browsers like Firefox. Most of which are usually standard on installs of a distribution. Probably the fairest comparison is if they compared it to let's say DSL or Austrami, which are minimal distributions, and usually never need patching except to add new features. The Linux Kernel is the OS, the GNU software that is also distributed with the Kernel isn't controlled by Kernel.org, but by third parties.

ON EDIT: Another consideration is this, GNU software in general is patched much more often than propretary software, the reason is because any security or feature flaws are viewable by the users themselves, if they have the coding skills, and are usually patched in days, a week at most, to prevent the system from being vulnerable. This contrasts with Microsoft products, where it could be months between security patches, usually only AFTER the vulnerability is exposed by successful virus or hacking attacks.