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My comparison between going iPad-only and using Linux on the desktop was more about suggesting that both appeal to people who like to figure out how to do thing

My comparison between going iPad-only and using Linux on the desktop was more about suggesting that both appeal to people who like to figure out how to do things that may be a bit more complicated in their chosen environment than they are in mainstream ones. (I'm aware desktop Linux is easier to use these days, but it seemed to be a good analogy. I wasn't really intending it as a slam against either Linux or iOS.) So I think you're actually making a case for a somewhat different point. :) But it's a very interesting comment. I haven't really been keeping track of Chromebook development, but I know it's rapidly growing in school use, which can be immensely valuable. The iPad can do very well in an educational setting, but Apple so far hasn't been willing to make the compromises necessary to keep it competitive with Chromebooks. (That's something they used to take much more seriously than people might remember: there was actually an "eMac" model only available to the education market for a while!)

benologist 10y ago
I skimmed your article the first time, sorry. I just spent a bunch of time thinking about them both as desktop alternatives too before all but replacing my MBP with a Chromebox heh.
technofiend 10y ago
Hey, interesting article. I can tell you I don't use Linux because I like a challenge. I use it because I trust it and have control over what it does. Don't like Ubuntu's sending searches to Amazon? Turn it off. Don't like Chrome? Switch to Firefox. Don't want to apply security changes right now? Click cancel. I use Linux because it's not Windows. As a fellow Scrivener user trust me I was deeply saddened when Literature and Latte dropped support for my favorite platform; I realize I'm in the minority with this view about Linux and for that matter Android. Which is too bad because Android addresses your other complaint about controlling which app handles an action. Android's Intents allow multiple apps to register their ability to handle given user requests and unless the user explicitly chooses a default an app chooser presents the user with the list of apps to satisfy the current request. Want your PDF to go to a viewer this time and editor next time? No problem. This control is most obvious when you click the share option in any program - you get a long list of other programs and delivery options. E-mail this time, text the next, publish to instagram the one after that. It's one of the things I like about Android most versus Apple's walled garden.

benologist 10y ago

I skimmed your article the first time, sorry. I just spent a bunch of time thinking about them both as desktop alternatives too before all but replacing my MBP with a Chromebox heh.

technofiend 10y ago

Hey, interesting article. I can tell you I don't use Linux because I like a challenge. I use it because I trust it and have control over what it does. Don't like Ubuntu's sending searches to Amazon? Turn it off. Don't like Chrome? Switch to Firefox. Don't want to apply security changes right now? Click cancel. I use Linux because it's not Windows. As a fellow Scrivener user trust me I was deeply saddened when Literature and Latte dropped support for my favorite platform; I realize I'm in the minority with this view about Linux and for that matter Android. Which is too bad because Android addresses your other complaint about controlling which app handles an action. Android's Intents allow multiple apps to register their ability to handle given user requests and unless the user explicitly chooses a default an app chooser presents the user with the list of apps to satisfy the current request. Want your PDF to go to a viewer this time and editor next time? No problem. This control is most obvious when you click the share option in any program - you get a long list of other programs and delivery options. E-mail this time, text the next, publish to instagram the one after that. It's one of the things I like about Android most versus Apple's walled garden.