DjemboS
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Posted - 2007.12.11 22:35:00 -
[1]
I'm not any sort of authority on the subject, but I read this thread and couldnt help but add my two cents to this discussion.
First of all, I have been dealing with the XP vs. Vista vs. Mac vs. Linux battle for a long time now, and I've had enough experience to feel like I can voice my experiences without feeling like a fanboi. My first computer was a custom-built 386, but since then Ive owned two macs, run a few linux distros, and of course many versions of OS. My experience is, microsoft has so far created the OS most useful by the most people.
Just as always, theres the hardcore group who loves linux and max, and hates MS. There are many valid points- less viruses are written for macs, and apple has always been the best in allowing applications to work together, aka itunes and ipod for most people, but more importantly, stuff most people dont see, like trying to use after effects and premiere. they work under microsoft, yes, but the workflow is much better under mac. Plus, the idea of the Mac as a closed platform allows apple to write more reliable code and not have to deal with as many driver issues. Linux is nice, too, but for the opposite reasons. I am currently studying CSCI at W&M, and all of our computer science computers are running a build of SUSE. I dual-boot ubuntu and xp on my laptop, and its really useful, not to mention fun, to write small applications into the os to make it easier to use. Drivers are not that hard to find, and most items can be made compatible with some research and a few coding tweaks.
On my main desktop, I boot ubuntu/xp/vista, and use all three. Xp is especially useful to run legacy programs like ulead MSP 8 or micrografx picture publisher, neither of which are made anymore and will never be patched for vista. The driver situation for vista has only recently become good enough that I now use it for most of my computer use. I like the fact that anything I plug in is recognized, and Vista has incorporated most of the reasons I ever used Mac.
The reason Im posting all this, though, is because most people here are probably like me- they can adapt, can handle multiple oses. And Each of these oses has something they are best at. However, when it comes to choosing one, most people would choose microsoft, and that is a good thing for everyone. Ive tried to switch my roommates over to linux, and a few of my peers have owned macs. Almost every time, though, they end up switching over to MS for the same reason people buy ipods. It may not be the best at everything, but its just good enough for the most common uses to get everything done, and its well known that it can do that. And when you want to share a program, or present a powerpoint, or play a game together, or network computers, or... well, you get my point, its 90% likely that the other person will have MS. and that it will work. I agree that for competition purposes, we might be better off if the market share was split evenly, but most people dont care. They're willing to spend the extra $$, and sacrifice a little innovation to make sure that their OS will work with everyone elses OS. This isnt just a random comment though- out of everyone I go to school, barely 5% run anything than MS, and those who either own a desktop or know enough to install a new os, run vista. I feel like this is an important generation, too: college students and younger are the ones who are going to be in charge of the economy when the time comes.
I do agree that it is changing, but I dont think novell or mac or even open source will take down MS. Over time MS will lose power, but just like a lot of the previous innovations and changes of power, it will happen slowly and due to some newcomer, some new idea. Mac and linux have had a ton of time to take down MS, and it hasnt happened yet- can someone else do it? If anything, mac seems to be going more MS- intel, x86, runs windows? but then again, who knows. Those are my thoughts, but remember its just an opinion
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