Corporate Hos

I have watched the MS/FOSS/Mac wars rage for years now. I will admit that for some time I jumped on the FOSS antiMS bandwagon. Over the years I have used various Linux distros, Windows XP and last summer purchased a Mac mini. All of these are solid operating systems and all have some bugs and flaws. The level of heat generated on forums debating this topic could solve all the worlds energy needs. There are fanboys for every operating system and each flavor there of. The arguments get ridiculous. After reading this article on Linux Today I feel compelled to put in my 2c.

I currently use Kubuntu as my main desktop, I use XP to play games and my Mac mini is waiting to become my media center. This weekend I am installing a third hard drive in my computer that will allow me to try different OSs without fear of damaging a system or file that I need. I enjoy playing with different operating systems. I like to see what they can do and how they are put together. I am glad that there is competition and choice in the OS market. I prefer to use free and open source software because I agree with the philosophy. I also like things to be easy and just work.

Kubuntu works for my day to day computing needs. I can surf the web, email, write, make spreadsheets, photo edit, compile DVDs, and watch TV. I even had World of Warcraft running great with wine. Gaming is just easier with XP. The games are written for it and it doesn't take a lot of tweaking and cussing to be playing.

I gave up using XP for day to day computing because I was tired of spyware, adware, malware, viruses, trojans, rootkits, etc, etc. Now I have a locked down box that is just used for gaming. I can also use Teamspeak and Ventrilo on XP without having to do workarounds.

I bought the Mac because I wanted to see what made Mac users so loyal and fanatical. It is a good operating system and I could do everything I need to do other than play the games I like. Yes there is a Mac version of WoW but the Mac mini just doesn't have the horsepower to run games. I would love to upgrade to a Macbook or a Mac Pro, cost is an issue for me however. I can't bring myself to spend the money that Apple charges. Not when I know I can put together a comparable system for less. Which is my biggest complaint with Apple. The hardware is all proprietary and any tweaking or modding is minimal. I tweak my hardware. The paint is worn off the screws on my case because I am inside it so often.

Pluses and minuses. It is simply a matter of what you use your computer for and what you are comfortable with. Find an OS that you like and become proficient using it. Hell if you are like me you can become proficient in a number of them. It is not a black and white argument. Use the tool that suits the job you are doing. Ranting on a forum or blog about how your OS is the best and anyone who uses X is a dipshit, fanboy, corporate shill, whatever is not going to win any converts to your cause. You are amusing in your corporate loyalty. I am sure the marketing people love the free publicity you provide. Which to me is where this all stems from. Marketing.

Advertisers work overtime convincing people that their product is the best and anybody that doesn't use it is inferior. People jump right into this nonsense. "I drive a insert make and it's the best. It's a vehicle sport. It is for going from point A to point B. It does not make your penis larger, make you smarter, stronger or more attractive. It propels you to a destination. The manufacturers and marketing people will gladly sell you a shirt, hat, jacket, whatever to advertise for them. This one truly baffles me. I am expected to pay for an item that advertises someone else's product. Yeah right, pull the other one!