Get APLawrence.com by RSSLinux vs. Mac
2006/10/16
Recently I mentioned that I usually recommend Macs to PC owners who have asked me about buying a new computer. The Linux folks could feel a little slighted by that, so I think I should explain a bit.
First, I do recommend Linux sometimes. If the person I'm talking to is technically savvy and adventurous, I'll definitely mention Linux. However, those people usually already know about Linux and are less likely to be seeking my advice anyway. I'll also recommend Linux to someone very concerned about cost. As I live in a retirement community now, I see more people with fixed incomes, so I definitely mention Linux as a possible choice: you can't beat the price of the OS itself and you can run it on hardware too weak for modern Windows.
But Linux is more likely to need care and feeding during the initial install. After that, of course, it will probably just run and run and run for years and years with no attention, but somebody has to get it set up initially and while that MAY be as easy as a Mac, it might not be. Again, if the potential convert is technically savvy, that's not a problem. It's not a problem for your aging aunt if YOU are the one who's going to get the machine set up. It is a problem for me if I'm the one who's going to get called by the person who asked my advice. I can't afford to help every person who's asked me what to buy.. the "safe" answer for me is "Buy a Mac".
And do I ever recommend Windows? Yep, I'm afraid so. Unfortunately, there are still too many Windows only programs out there. If the person's need is only occasional, I can recommend a Mac with Parallels Workstation, but that adds the expense of buying Windows if they don't have a copy unbound from hardware (a lot of Windows OSes can't be legally installed on anything but the OEM hardware they came on). So, as much as I hate to, there are times I just tell someone to go buy a Windows PC.
But mostly nowadays I recommend Macs. Safe for me, good for them.
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Mon Oct 16 02:24:49 2006: Subject: Good point Sledge
However, modern installs go pretty smooth and there are some distros that install in four or five clicks. My wife (not technical) was using the Linux box I set up as the only desktop for two weeks before I realized it. I found out when she called to apologize for breaking it. The PPP dialer was set to respawn and she had tried to logoff the machine without logging off the internet so it wouldn't shut down.
I had shown her once how to log in. X started automatically in her account. and there were icons on the desktop for everything she did. Just like any other GUI. I was proud of her.
Now there is a Windows box in play and a PDA and I have to make the hot sync work in order for it to succeed. No reflection on her, PDA's under MS are a pain.
Mon Oct 16 09:14:35 2006: Subject: Mike
I'm not a programmer or a techy, so this is a user's view (which may have its own interest). I've got all three OSes - Mac OS X on my desktop, and Windows and Linux dual-booted on my laptop - available to me (at least I have when I'm not on the move) but I find I most often use OS X. This may be partly because it's more comfortable to use a desktop - to sit at a keyboard low enough and still have a screen up high enough and so on, but mostly I think it is because OS X is so much further into the comfort zone in usability terms. OS X may be something of a mess under the hood - didn't Anandtech call it a hodge-podge? - but it presents a very usable interface to the user.
Now I'm not one of those ubiquitous Apple fanboys who'll praise the company come what may. I've actually no time at all for Apple for several reasons - and particularly because they refused to replace a defective logicboard whose serial number was actually listed on their site, as a result of which I now have an iBook that is no more use than a doorstop. (They said they'd changed their policy and now didn't replace.) Not a nice company; not a trustworthy company. And the current batch of hardware problems might well make one hesitate before recommending an Apple to anyone. And yet for all that I have to like OS X. It is probably the easiest to use of all - for example, out the box you've got capability for bluetooth syncing with phones. You haven't got that on XP, and I don't imagine it would be a picnic to set up: I dread to think of what it'd be like on Linux. It's also good to have applications in /Applications as bundles and their preferences in ~/Preferences as XML files. None of that nonsense with files from programs sprayed all over the machine in different places. No Registry, no dependency hell.
Even on the laptop I probably boot into Linux more rarely than into Windows. It's fine, but you're more likely to run into problems or things that don't function. And even just for very standard functions like emailing and web browsing I don't find it quite as good. Evolution is a very nice program, but it does seem to be prone to lock-ups and crashes. Even importing a VCard - a valid one not a malformed one - can lock it up ... and repeatedly on restart to the point where you have to find the address book in your home directory with the file manager and delete it, then re-import your contacts from backup. Could you imagine that with Apple's Address Book on OS X? Similarly with browsing: if a site needs flash, you'll be out of luck. I haven't got round to jury-rigging that on the install I'm using yet. I have in the past: it worked ... sort of ... on-and-off. Also, I'm more likely to boot into Windows, because I've got iTunes available to me then, and I'm used to that program from OS X. Familiarity with particular applications is always going to bring inertia with it. Sometimes it's nice to play with a new program and work it out, but often you just want to use a program for its intended purpose/s, and then the ones you know win out.
So for me Linux is OK. I'll use it for some things. For example, Open Office is nice, and I can't afford the cost of Microsoft Office on the OS X machine on the Windows install - and it's nice to know that you can save into an open format. But I find I don't use Linux a lot - less than I expected to when I installed it.
Mon Oct 16 21:59:15 2006: Subject: drag
I don't recommend Linux to non-technical users, not unless I am there to install it and set it up for them. However it's perfectly usable by average persons.
The main issues people run into when running linux on the desktop is:
- Propriatory drivers needed to play video games
- Favorite applications on Windows don't install in Linux
- Wireless is still hit or miss, but it's gotten much better.
- Multimedia capabilities is spotty. For instance wmv files are common and Linux can play them back, but only using slightly illegally using win32 codecs with compatability layers. The end result is that performance is slow, picture quality is poor, and compatability is low. Of course with more open stuff like mp3, or mpeg4 files there is no such problem.
- many websites are tailored IE-only and often have propriatory things not compatable with Linux. Such as 'shockwave'.
- A level of technical ability is assumed by most distribution makers
- Most distributions will ship updates that may break things requiring technical knowledge to do updates.
- UI is confusing to new users.
Neutral.
- Things like IE, MS Office, Photoshop, World of Warcraft, Halflife2 and other popular apps can be made to run in Linux, but requires extra work and technical skill to be done.
Advantages to Linux over OS X
- Makes a better server OS.
- Performance is better.
- Hardware compatability is better.
- Wider selection of applications. (although not in all cases.. For instance NLE for video editing)
- Much more inexpensive.
- Does not require purchasing a new computer when upgrading from Windows.
- Can be made to run on old hardware (for example: Damn Small Linux will run that old Win95 machine you have laying around)
- Can handle non-traditional installs (for example: Knoppix live cd or installing a OS on flash key to be used from computer to computer)
- No invasive licensing restricts (can't give OS X to your brother to just install on his machine like you can with linux.)
And stuff like that. Both things, of course, are better then Windows (IMO), except in roles were you need applications that are only going to be aviable on Windows.
Or if you want it simple:
The major advantage that OS X has over Linux is a fellow can run down to the local 'Apple Bar' and buy a new laptop and be able to use it with no fuss and no muss. For instance a freind's mom is a teacher. Previously I spent weekends trying to get Windows to work well for her and her family. No chance that they could figure out how to fix it or how to reinstall it along with their applications. But she runs down and buys a new ibook and is happily running it no problem.
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