OS Snob?
I’m sitting here tonight reading some interesting thoughts on all sorts of things. From wondering what the future direction of social networking is, to computer hardware to operating systems. The post over at TechCrunch about gOS has me thinking… are both us Windows and Mac OSX users snobbish over our OS?
They both have a long history and a great rivalry. Could both camps be missing the point? Could a $200 computer from Wal-Mart gain real ground running an unknown OS? Does it matter? It’s simply a Linux PC and is running some great open source software, leverages many great free ‘net services, and could be easy for newbie’s to get started.
Are OSX and Windows the snobby Lexus/Infinity or Land Rover/Hummer of the OS world? If so, what do we get for our premium outlay that makes them better than the open source world?
What do you think?
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Definitely something I’ve given thought to over the past few months as I went from being a die-hard Microsoft fanboy, to a forced Linux user, to a happy-go-lucky Mac fanboy. I’ve found, as I finally broke my Windows dependency, that none of these operating systems are limiting me. It’s merely a matter of learning the ways in which each allows me to access the things I want to do with my computer.
With Windows, I knew exactly where to look for whatever I needed. Any software I wanted could be bought or downloaded and installed fairly easily. Support was just a properly phrased Google search away.
Under Linux, I was bewildered. I accomplished one thing under this OS (OpenSUSE dist. btw) and that was successfully emulating DirectX so I could play World of Warcraft under Linux. I didn’t give Linux the fair chance it deserved by really seeking out information and software.
Now, under Mac OS, I’m in love with my computer again, but it wasn’t so at first. In this case, I had to drop a hefty sum of money on a new machine, so I knew I needed to learn the OS. There was no going back. This motivation led me to actually look, and lo and behold, I found websites with all the support I needed, software to accomplish whatever I desired, and I can still play World of Warcraft.
Bottom line, Mac OS and Windows are, I think, the “premium” operating systems. Linux isn’t there yet, but with the right effort behind it, it can get there. As long as a computer allows users to accomplish their tasks, it’s a perfectly viable machine, regardless of the cost.