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It's gonna suck though for those doing tech support/computer repair. Suddenly, you're going to have to know 3-4 operating systems instead of only 1. It's hard enough removing spyware from somebody's Windows box... now pile on top of that trying to figure out why the hell Compiz isn't working with some off-brand integrated graphics solutions.

Having only one dominant platform sucks in some areas, but definitely has its advantages in others.

Edited 2008-12-04 01:54 UTC

I thought I might harp on a bit about "having only one dominant platform sucks".

Then I thought ... it would probably be much better to let other people harp on about it:

http://www.computerworlduk.com/community/blogs/index.cfm?entryid=15...

http://www.linuxpromagazine.com/online/news/ex_microsoft_developer_...

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/01/a-microsoft-veteran-embrac...

http://www.lulu.com/content/4964815

http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS4759851685.html

http://www.consortiuminfo.org/standardsblog/article.php?story=20081...

These links are just from the last day or two, BTW.

I'm sorry, but your argument that having just one standard operating system is better because it makes life easier for IT professionals / Technicians flat out doesn't fly in my book. Competition is always better then monopolies; for myriad of reasons. If IT people are afraid to learn more than one operating system then they're simply lazy and shouldn't be in the business to begin with. It's like saying linguists shouldn't have to learn more than one language to be successful. The very idea is absurd.

Edited 2008-12-04 03:40 UTC

It would make life much easier for mechanics if we all drove the same brand of car, but yet somehow they manage to get by, despite our stubborn and naive insistence on choice and value.

Sorry, but that attitude looks like laziness mostly.

But let's say that your work place gets news Linux work stations, when having used Windows only previously. Of course the employer should also guarantee their IT staff enough time and education to learn and know the new operating system and everything related to it. That's also how it would naturally go. So, what's the problem then?

But I'd claim that also in general there are all too many lazy system admins (granted, sometimes they may have all too much work and stress too, but then again who wouldn't), not willing to learn new things. I've seen many such people oppose Linux deployment or oppose some other new things only because they wouldn't like to learn new things.

Even with one platform, like MS Windows, it sucks to ask such lazy system admins to get something done over and over for weeks, and when you also sometimes know that you could have done the same thing yourself already days ago (but you can't because it is their job, not yours according to the job rules).

Operating systems are not that different from each other, not any more than, say cars are. A real IT pro should be able to quickly learn and understand the basics of other operating systems too. If he wants to, and is not all too lazy to do so. Heck, a real pro - from his own initiative - is willing to learn about all new things related to his work field, including other operating systems too if he is an IT pro.

Well, of course, it is also ok and fine that some tech experts specialize in some tech brands only and know those brands better than others do (a bit like some doctors specializing in some field of medicine). But if not, then it is very much their job to at least learn and know something about other tech bands too than the brand mostly used at their work place. If they are not willing and capable of learning new things, I'd say they may not be the best persons for their jobs then.

Edited 2008-12-04 12:10 UTC

My heart bleeds for those poor bastards who actually, you know, have to keep up with the times. I doubt anything will change in any event, considering 99% of the shops out there still refuse to work on Macs, but as a Network Admin all I can say is cry me a river.

It's gonna suck though for those doing tech support/computer repair. Suddenly, you're going to have to know 3-4 operating systems instead of only 1. It's hard enough removing spyware from somebody's Windows box... now pile on top of that trying to figure out why the hell Compiz isn't working with some off-brand integrated graphics solutions.

Having only one dominant platform sucks in some areas, but definitely has its advantages in others. "

You obviously didn't think through your post very well at all. I would welcome the change of ditching all of these Windows computers and going with Linux or OSX, where I don't have to worry about viruses and spyware. I use PING, so I have an image for each computer model at work, so if something gets hosed beyond repair - no problem. Restore the image to it.

Compiz isn't needed at work, and I personally turn off all of the eye candy on my Linux box when I'm working.

You have a lot to learn about the real world, and what an IT Professional actually is vs some zit faced "PC Technician".

For some of them. But it also gives a competitive advantage to techs who are capable of supporting multiple OSes.

some people that do pc tech support just know how to fix windows more common problems and they are lazy to learn something else if they are not good enough they should do something else, there are a lot of people capable and happy to learn more and it will be people specialized in each or all the areas of computers if the market share is big enough.