Two words: POSIX COMPLIANCE Windows (out of the box, no additional installs) does not have this...just about every other operating system in common use does. P

Two words: POSIX COMPLIANCE Windows (out of the box, no additional installs) does not have this...just about every other operating system in common use does. Patching and tweaking anything (not just Ruby) to get around this can be a pain. If it seems more prevalent with Ruby than with, for example, Python, it's probably because Ruby is younger, not as widely used in IT, a hobby language for many, etc. In my experience, Ruby-ists don't use Macs because they have something against Windows. They use Macs because they need a Unix, but also want the ease of use that comes with a commercially supported OS.