5 ms·

Way too broad a statement. Linux is clearly a future for a large segment of users, same as OSX. Actually, let me take that back - with the new 'post PC' world

by param 15y ago

Way too broad a statement. Linux is clearly a future for a large segment of users, same as OSX. Actually, let me take that back - with the new 'post PC' world coming where only techies will have laptops, Linux has a greater future. OSX will fade because all hipsters will just have iOS devices

NathanKP 15y ago
I don't think Apple will leave the desktop/laptop field any time soon. In fact the statements they have been making with regard to OS X Mountain Lion show that they recognize the importance of desktop/laptop form factor. They just want to provide some of the "hipster" features of iOS on the desktop.
rimantas 15y ago
You may be underestimating the number of techies liking OS X.
- fidotron 15y ago
  I think the problem is a lot of techies like OS X now, but not the way it's headed. Lion is enough to make me switch away, and I've been on OS X for a very long time. What's keeping OS X popular now is not its own merits, but that the alternatives are even worse.
  - NathanKP 15y ago
    I have to agree because I like Snow Leopard better than Lion and have not made the switch yet because of that. However I don't think this is a sign that OS X is endemic. I still have hope that Lion is just an ill planned stop on the OS X progression.
    - caf 15y ago
      endemic - I do not think it means what you think it means.
  - donw 15y ago
    Mind if I ask what you don't like? I upgraded a few months ago, and while I had to turn a few annoying bits off, it's overall much better than Snow Leopard.
    - fidotron 15y ago
      It's 99% that I hate (and I don't use that lightly) them screwing up Expose (to me this was the OS X killer feature on laptops) and the changes in scrolling. 1% is the unwelcome increase in skeuomorphism. Generally I don't get on with iOS either, so iOSification is a trend I'm not into. I accept that may not be a popular opinion, but there we are.
      - tikhonj 15y ago
        You should check out KDE--I think you'd like some of the standard window manager features there. They have some effects reminiscent of Exposé (as well as a bunch of other options). And the current version of KDE is also, overall, the best environment I've ever used (out of Unity, Gnome 2, Windows 95+ and OS X Leopard and Lion).
      - nknight 15y ago
        > screwing up Expose "Screwing up"? Works much better for me. Have you actually taken some time to play with it? > the changes in scrolling You mean the changes you can turn off? > 1% is the unwelcome increase in skeuomorphism. To what are you referring, exactly?
- tikhonj 15y ago
  And I think you're overestimating that number. As far as I know, about as many programmers use Linux as OS X, and Windows still dominates even among programmers. For example, the recent StackOverflow survey--probably fairly indicative of programmers in general--found that about 20% of the respondents used Linux and OS X with the rest on various versions of Windows[1]. As far as my own experience goes, about as many of my CS friends use Linux as Windows, with a slightly smaller number using OS X. But here, I suspect, there is some serious selection bias. [1]: https://www.surveymonkey.com/sr.aspx?sm=2RYrV_2bFw2aZ2RfedWHNW_2f0DgNnatyQnvvrorWEYhuAQ_3d https://www.surveymonkey.com/sr.aspx?sm=2RYrV_2bFw2aZ2RfedWH...

by param 15y ago

NathanKP 15y ago

I don't think Apple will leave the desktop/laptop field any time soon. In fact the statements they have been making with regard to OS X Mountain Lion show that they recognize the importance of desktop/laptop form factor. They just want to provide some of the "hipster" features of iOS on the desktop.

rimantas 15y ago

You may be underestimating the number of techies liking OS X.

fidotron 15y ago
I think the problem is a lot of techies like OS X now, but not the way it's headed. Lion is enough to make me switch away, and I've been on OS X for a very long time. What's keeping OS X popular now is not its own merits, but that the alternatives are even worse.
- NathanKP 15y ago
  I have to agree because I like Snow Leopard better than Lion and have not made the switch yet because of that. However I don't think this is a sign that OS X is endemic. I still have hope that Lion is just an ill planned stop on the OS X progression.
  - caf 15y ago
    endemic - I do not think it means what you think it means.
- donw 15y ago
  Mind if I ask what you don't like? I upgraded a few months ago, and while I had to turn a few annoying bits off, it's overall much better than Snow Leopard.
  - fidotron 15y ago
    It's 99% that I hate (and I don't use that lightly) them screwing up Expose (to me this was the OS X killer feature on laptops) and the changes in scrolling. 1% is the unwelcome increase in skeuomorphism. Generally I don't get on with iOS either, so iOSification is a trend I'm not into. I accept that may not be a popular opinion, but there we are.
    - tikhonj 15y ago
      You should check out KDE--I think you'd like some of the standard window manager features there. They have some effects reminiscent of Exposé (as well as a bunch of other options). And the current version of KDE is also, overall, the best environment I've ever used (out of Unity, Gnome 2, Windows 95+ and OS X Leopard and Lion).
    - nknight 15y ago
      > screwing up Expose "Screwing up"? Works much better for me. Have you actually taken some time to play with it? > the changes in scrolling You mean the changes you can turn off? > 1% is the unwelcome increase in skeuomorphism. To what are you referring, exactly?
tikhonj 15y ago
And I think you're overestimating that number. As far as I know, about as many programmers use Linux as OS X, and Windows still dominates even among programmers. For example, the recent StackOverflow survey--probably fairly indicative of programmers in general--found that about 20% of the respondents used Linux and OS X with the rest on various versions of Windows[1]. As far as my own experience goes, about as many of my CS friends use Linux as Windows, with a slightly smaller number using OS X. But here, I suspect, there is some serious selection bias. [1]: https://www.surveymonkey.com/sr.aspx?sm=2RYrV_2bFw2aZ2RfedWHNW_2f0DgNnatyQnvvrorWEYhuAQ_3d https://www.surveymonkey.com/sr.aspx?sm=2RYrV_2bFw2aZ2RfedWH...