Bye Bye Microsoft - Ubuntu (linux) vs Mac OSX?

[Net]

Originally Post by capeconsultant

I have the option of OSX if I feel I need it. Has a GREAT chess game!

I really like this. I'm an avid chess fan and like that they posted the source in their open source section http://www.opensource.apple.com/source/Chess/

I have "write a chess engine" on the todo list of projects to do after this summer. With their game being open source I'll see what would be involved to hook it up to their GUI and connect it to www.freechess.org if its not already able to.

 

[escrow4]

I gave Apple a shot, way too limited in the end (and overpriced), dabbled with Linux on and off, then gave that up too. Nothing can match Windows for sheer flexibility and basic ease of use. Click and install drivers too without worrying if X will take a dump or if you are getting full performance out of your hardware. It is true, most will come back. I've given up on OS's beyond Windows. Even bought a WP8 too.

 

[jameslr]

In my opinion use what is more productive for you. I have used linux since the early days (Debian Potato era) and I like the OS for what it is...a reasonably solid multi-user, highly configurable, powerful, time intensive platform. I can be just as productive in linux as in windows, but to me linux is more for someone that likes to tinker.

I work in an area where I have to work in multiple platforms (AIX, Linux, Windows Servers), and I can honestly say in a business setting it helps to have Windows as my base platform (not that I really have a choice). I think the switch to linux or Mac OS X will definitely affect your productivity in a bad way if you're a windows developer. I can't imagine what Windows Live could have done to turn you off of Windows completely, but I get that you're frustrated with it. Do your best to make a level-headed decision about it before doing anything rash.

 

[Zaap]

OP sounds like perfect candidate for a Hackintosh. (If talking a self built-desktop.) Use hardware that's compatible with OSX (sites like Tonymacx86 have tons of tried and tested hardware and setup guides) and then run any/every OS as you see fit. OSX, Windows, Linux- it all works fine on the same hardware, no need to buy into any make-believe hardware monopoly to enjoy all the major OS's.

I prefer OSX myself, as most of the software I use runs on it, but ever since Apple switched to x86, it's been nothing but an illusion that there's anything special about Mac hardware (besides a few specialized outer-design features.)

They are just custom commissioned PC's with non-standard form factors, and far too often, last-year's (at best) graphics hardware. I'd rather roll my own than pay Apple an overpriced rate for laptop hardware masquerading as a desktop. The Apple faithful lose their minds over it, but built correctly -and operated by someone that's more into fact-based computing vs. myth/marketing-hype/spin/based computing) a Hack is just as stable in OSX as the real thing, and of course runs Windows and Linux the same as any other PC.

 

[Obsoleet]

Install Debian stable.
Ubuntu I'm less of a fan of. Ubuntu is based on Debian anyway. Debian is the big daddy for servers and desktop GNU/Linux OS.

I wouldn't suggest against a Mac if you bought a new laptop though. They do have the best hardware. Competitors -at best- could match them, but aren't going to have superior build quality. That said, don't listen to anyone here, go judge for yourself. You'll see that I'm right about that.
OSX is also based on FreeBSD so it's also Unix based like Linux.


What I suggest and use myself-
Desktop machine- Win7 if you already have a copy and you play any games. Debian if you don't. Opensource takes a while to become mature, so I'd use an existing copy of Win7 until it's no longer viable to do so. Unless MS can fix Win8+ by stopping the jarring effect of going between the desktop and Metro, and simply allow Metro apps to run on the traditional desktop.
Laptop- whatever you have now with Debian stable installed, or if buying new, MacBook Air.
Server- Debian stable.

 

[SammichPG]

Hi everyone. I've always resisted, for the most part, using any OS but Windows. After a horrible experience with a Microsoft Product (Windows Live) i've changed my mind. I will probably be blogging later about it and will be happy to link the blog entry to this post but after tonight experience i would say i have a strong dislike for the company.

Why have i resisted? I'm not a gamer. I'm a microsoft developer by trade (SQL Server, Visual Studio/C#/Ect..). You can easily build an affordable machine with 32GB of memory that gives you a lot of flexibility in that i can run multiple virtual environments (Hyper-V) but after tonight experience i'm giving that up. I will still need to run windows for specific development work but i'm either going to use parallels/bootcamp on the MAC or VMWare on Ubuntu.

Now i need everyone help in making a choice of which direction to go here. I've used linux/ubuntu very casually. I can tell you one think i love about ubuntu is apt-get. Very easy to get new software and very easy to update all your existing software. I know some basics on structure for example fstab and etc but i'm definitely not an expert. One think i know that can be negative about ubuntu is support for hardware (especially newer hardware). For example Ubuntu 12.10 still doesn't support intel's HD 4000 and when i first got my I7-3700 and then upgraded the kernel it would lock up hard as soon as i booted. I ended having to choose one of the older kernels in boot menu.

One thing thats really great about macs i guess is they just work. You get some of the goodies of linux like native ssh support. Of course the negative is expensive. I'm not going to be able to get a loaded 32GB machine. I'll probably just get an 8GB Mac Air. Would you guys think you get most of the advantage of linux along with being being very user friendly without the technical headaches of trying to get everything setup up correctly with linux or trying to troubleshoot problems?

What do you guys think? Any advice on direction?

It's not a choice really, do you plan to buy a new computer? Running osx on standard intel hardware is possible, but would you trust your work running on a hacked together system? It's perfectly legal in many countries if you buy the license but I'm pretty sure the US is not among them.

Try ubuntu in a vm for a few days and see how it goes for you, it's free. If you despise unity fedora or suse are a choice as well, debian is too server oriented for desktop usage imo.