The problem with Ubuntu here is that the disk goes into power saving mode while the OS is still using it. This is clearly inefficient. You can fix this either by having drive manufacturers all agree to get together and tweak their defaults, or you can fix it once in software. Either keep the disk spinning or cluster your IO access patterns more (pretty sure the update does the former). No need to hate on Microsoft here.

Don't bother writing your script either. Efficient would be linux finishing all its IO in 9 seconds instead of forcing the disk to keep spinning while spreading out IO over a longer period of time. I think you've drank a little too much of the Kool-aid...

quit whining, use wine