Apple vs. Linux: Which Will Win Disgruntled Windows Users?

Earthweb ^ | December 13th | Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

Apple and Linux are engaged in battle – a battle to win over disgruntled Windows users. But who will win, and what will the consequences be for the loser?

The most commonly held belief amongst Apple and Linux fanboys is that both factions are engaged in some kind of a war with Microsoft. The truth is that if you look at the market share figure for Windows, Mac and Linux, both Mac OS and all the Linux distros that have ever been released are dwarfed by Windows.

Any idea that there’s a war going on can be dismissed – it’s not war, it’s more like two overly optimistic ants fighting on the back of an elephant.

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

There is one area where Linux could well gain traction in 2008, and that’s at the cheap end of the spectrum. As prices fall and $200 PCs become a reality, neither Microsoft nor Mac will be able to provide an OS cheap enough to offer value for money. $200 PCs don’t have huge appeal and are going to have to sell themselves (because two hundred bucks won’t allow for a lavish advertising budget) but they are likely to sell well nonetheless – after all, every geek could do with a cheap PC.

[rockrr]

Yep. Apple has a “high-gloss” polish to it that I doubt Linus will ever have, but you pay through the nose for it.

[rockrr]

Linus = Linux

(I think even Linus likes Macs ;’}

[doc1019]

Both Mac and Widows have the ability to recognize new software and automatically configure … is there a version of Linux that will do the same?

The last time I tried to install Linux, I had to spend hours configuring all my drivers to work … gave up and installed Windows.

[Terpfen]

Linus runs a version of Linux on a G4 Mac, I believe.

[Terpfen]

It’s about quality first, price second.

OS X is head and shoulders above Linux and Windows right now. That will likely change in the future, but OS X is only gaining momentum right now.

[RayChuang88]

I'd go with a Mac over a Linux-based computer for a couple of reasons:

1) A lot more hardware support, especially for USB external devices.
2) No need to constantly tweak the OS to get best performance.

[ShadowAce]

[gridlock]

Linux wins for me. I still use Microsoft, but for fun I will use Linux. Apple is expensive and Linux is free!

[max americana]

Linux is open source, ergo free. OS mac is fantastic and “almost” hack free judging by this year’s hackers convention in Vancouver BC. But Mac’s have a disadvantage: scalability. Those with a budget would have to go with a Windows and put up with the updates/wteaks while Linux peeps have to put with the constant tweaks as well. There’s a weakness to everything.

[martin_fierro]

Running Ubuntu Gusty on an ollllld AMD K7 system.

It seems to run a little slower than Edgy Eft, but you can't beat the price.

[tubebender]

it’s not war, it’s more like two overly optimistic ants fighting on the back of an elephant.

The Big Three auto makers said something similar when that pesty pissant Datsun came to the US in the 1960s...

[martin_fierro]

Gusty = Gutsy

[evad]

So, why exactly am I disgruntled with Windows??

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

Apples are well-supported, gorgeous, beautifully built, high-performance, reliable and competitively priced.

But if you already have PC hardware, some of the better Linux choices will give you a fresh machine that’s easy to use and far more secure than Windows. (I’m using and recommending http://www.PCLinuxOS.com in particular— pretty, full-featured, smooth-running and more hardware-compatible than other alternatives like Ubuntu.)

For new machines, my top recommendation is definitely a Mac.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"The last time I tried to install Linux, I had to spend hours configuring all my drivers to work … gave up and installed Windows."

There's been much progress, but even today that can be a problem with some Linux distros, including some of the majors. It had me bollixed, in fact, until a Freeper turned me onto PCLinuxOS. Very nice, and loaded without issue onto two laptops that Ubuntu couldn't handle.

[doc1019]

Thanks, just what I was looking for. Will give it a try.

[twntaipan]

You point to one of the cool facts about Linux. If Ubuntu doesn’t work for you, something else probably will.

And the price doesn’t change! Free!

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"So, why exactly am I disgruntled with Windows??"

Insecurity, susceptibility to viruses and malware, poor multiuser support, increasingly intrusive content-licensing facilities, bloat, cost. If you're still running Win98, you are seriously insecure. Unfortunately, upgrading to XP or Vista means a new computer, usually. But you can rejuvenate your old computer with something like PCLinuxOS for free, and it'll be secure and fast.

[postaldave]

did you REALLY just say that? you pick mac for hardware support?

“I’d go with a Mac over a Linux-based computer for a couple of reasons:

1) A lot more hardware support, especially for USB external devices. “