“My work involves administering Unix Web servers and a mix of office desktops, along with developing the applications we run on them. I use Mac OS X to do it because it is something like a superset of those other popular OS choices. While much of the software I deploy is free, both as in speech and as in beer, I’m willing to open my wallet for OS X.” Read the article at NewsForge.
My Workstation OS: Mac OS X
About The Author
Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSNews.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
Follow me on Twitter @EugeniaLoli
Using a Mac makes it easy to forget how hard this can be in the PC world. Apple makes “the whole widget,” as Steve Jobs likes to say, and this creates a setup experience unavailable anywhere else.
Just make Ubuntu bundled with a limited set of specified, thoroughly tested and working hardware, and there you have your cheap OS X.
This argument (we support only a limited set of hardware, but support it well) is none, because everyone can pull this one. But in reality, you just have to admit that there is a breadth of of hardware you dont support, which can never can turn out to be a real advantage.
This “whole widget” argument is as stupid as the Ipod shuffle’s “you never know what tune is next” inability to support the simplest playing list _and_ shuffle mode, in case someone likes it that way.
My Workstation OS: Vic20
My work involves hacking 6502 assembly code all day long so I need the right tool for the right job. I use the Vic20 to do it because it something like a superset of those other popular OS choices. While much of the software I deploy is proprietary, both as in I get paid for my work, I’m willing to open my wallet for the Vic20.
WHEN does this ‘Mac OSX is so damn superior’ finally stops??
This website is for OS enthusiasts. By definition, this is “the place” to get excited about your platform of choice with others. You don’t like all the “we like OS X” articles? Then quit clicking on the links and stop reading them! Or better yet, go make your own “I only have eyes for Linux and people who hate Windows” website.
That’s really funny. I bought a 12″ powerbook in December. It still doesn’t stream video properly, without TONS of hacking.
I prefer Suse Linux and Windows XP any day.
Macs do have one thing going for them however, the PowerBook I have is a beautiful work of art. But you know as they say, never judge a book by it’s cover.
Also the GNU/HURD will dominate soon! Be prepared for Red Hat Gnu/HURD.
ROFL
what are you, 10? everyone thinks their os of choice is the greatest, if they didnt it wouldnt be their os of choice. couple that with the fact that anything different to what your used to is frightening and inferior, in the minds of most people (and im not just talking about operating systems), and you get the kind of people that exist for every race, sex, nationality, and yes.. operating system. it has alwas been that way (just think back to the its vs unix thing), and chances are it alwas will be.
I like OSX myself, alot more than windows, but boy somethings sure tick me off to no end and make me wonder what apple is thinking.. like the horrible icon spacing in finder – arg! I like the icon view in my window managers, but it’s like over 1/2 an inch between icons on my 12″ — it gets nasty!
The second most thing is the missing ability to rename OTHER files while in a save/open dialog like in windows , you know – when you just made a file like index.html, and you dont want to erase your old work, so you try to rename the file in that dialog… OH NO.. you have to close that dialog (because it wont refresh if you go in finder and erase/rename it).
but the ups are better than the downs, I’m always finding a suprise or two on the mac that makes me wonder why that isnt part of every other OS.
What are you, 8? I don’t think my OS of choice is the greatest over all or for everyone, it’s just the OS that works best for me. That is enough for me.
I have a G4 here in my cube (hooked to a 24″ SGI monitor….I also have a NeXTStation…it’s cramped). I use it to do probably 90% of my work. I use it to administer a plethora of Unix machines (BSD, Linux, Solaris, Irix), VNC to a few Windows machines, and draw up proposals for new business. There’s not a lot I can’t do with it.
The author left out my preferred free software delivery system for OSX….pkgsrc.
Also the GNU/HURD will dominate soon! Be prepared for Red Hat Gnu/HURD.
My personal colo host runs GNU.
Mon Feb 28 17:05:02 EST 2005
GNU hurd 0.3 GNU-Mach 1.3/Hurd-0.3 i686-AT386 GNU
5:05:02 PM up 2.2 weeks, 10 users, load averages: 0.21, 0.08, 0.06
good for you, if everyone shared that point of view, os discussions would be alot more constructive. but of course, you were being sarcastic. at least i think so, not sure whats up with the calling me 8 because you agree with me…
that comment on comrads age was in reference to his shock that operating systems have zealots. at least im assuming it was the zealots he was referring to, because i cant believe anyone would be suprised that a company like apple has a marketing division.
> That’s really funny. I bought a 12″ powerbook in December. It still doesn’t stream video properly, without TONS of hacking.
Return it. Yours is broken. Get another. Ours all work. 😉
I agree i have a 3 year old titanium and an even older titanium , mine srteam perfectly fine video, off the net and DVD or XVID. One thing that has me mesmerized is that while OS is beautyful and its a perfect marriage between Unix and a pretty GUI (IMHO), everyone always needs to bash it. You have to pay for it, ok. you can only useit on Apple hardware, ok. so what? its for who wants to use it. Some of the people I hae shown it to now own a mac, some don’t because all OS’s ave showstoppers. I think its just refreshing to use OS X instead of Windows or Linux. The world is about CHOICES. ou have them, use them. Wanna stic witht he general “herd” stick with windows. Wanna use something different, use Linux *nix or OS X.
my 2 cents
//FR
http://www.2blocksaway.com
I wish i could be an ethnic looking clipart model…
How can you guys like OS X when the filesystem is case sensitive? That seems like a horrible awful decision.
UFS/FFS is case-sensistive, and works natively with OSX.
HFS+ can do case-sensitivity. You have to know how to turn it on in the workstation version….in the server version, you’re asked at install.
“Just make Ubuntu bundled with a limited set of specified, thoroughly tested and working hardware, and there you have your cheap OS X.”
Okay, I’ll bite. Why don’t you just do it? I’m sure it can be done, but the point is that it hasn’t yet. I’ll never understand why there’s always someone ready to jump all over other people’s choices. OS X works for me, Linux (presumably) works for you, Windows works for millions and millions of others. I love that. What, the thought-Nazis can’t stand the fact that choices abound and that people are willing to exercise them?
What, are you all 3?
🙂
Pretty OK article.
My favorite part was at the end:
“What’s your desktop OS of choice? Write an article of less than 1,000 words telling us what you use and why. If we publish it, we’ll pay you $200. So far, we’ve heard from fans of FreeBSD, Mepis Linux, Debian, Xandros, Slackware, Windows XP, Lycoris, SUSE Professional, NetBSD, Ubuntu, FreeDOS, Libranet, Mandrakelinux, and Arch Linux. Coming soon: Linspire, Knoppix, Gentoo, Fedora Core 3, and more.”
Sooooo … what are you waiting for? You can do “better”, no?
I noticed that in Windows articles you have the majority of Windows users chiming in how Windows sucks with a few people sticking up for Windows. In the Mac articles its the opposite. The majority of Mac users like the Mac and the ones who don’t even own one or had even used a Mac talk with some strange expertise on how awful using a Mac is.
[i]What, are you all 3?[i]
I’m not ashamed to admit it 🙂
To the guy who was complaining that his new G4 Powerbook wouldn’t stream video: maybe the problem is that your internet connection is too slow? My 3 year-old G3 iBook streams video just fine. Actually that’s 3.5 years by now.
i’m one of the people wishing to own a powerbook, but its too expensive..
Its because apple PR is so much better at brainwashing.
re: viridian
<quote>
“Just make Ubuntu bundled with a limited set of specified, thoroughly tested and working hardware, and there you have your cheap OS X.”
Okay, I’ll bite. Why don’t you just do it? I’m sure it can be done, but the point is that it hasn’t yet. I’ll never understand why there’s always someone ready to jump all over other people’s choices. OS X works for me, Linux (presumably) works for you, Windows works for millions and millions of others. I love that. What, the thought-Nazis can’t stand the fact that choices abound and that people are willing to exercise them?
</quote>
Because no one wants to. Who in their right mind wants to limit themselves to a small subset of hardware, rejecting everything else, and forever be stuck at a 2-3% userbase where the only users who actually uses the damn thing thinks its somehow “better” than the other OS’s out there?
Who in their right mind wants to limit themselves … and forever be stuck at a 2-3% userbase where the only users who actually uses the damn thing thinks its somehow “better” than the other OS’s out there?
You just described 98% of all the self-righteous Linux users who frequent this site. Mac users tend to like their Macs ( GASP!! THE HORROR).
Wow what a review!-I didn’t know OsX was that good! And I have been using it since 2000 (and Os 9/classic before that). Moving up from Os 9 to 10, we had to give up some stuff we liked, but switching from Windows and Linux must feel like heaven- for Os X to receive such a glowing review. Before anyone pooh-poohs the review, one would be encouraged to actually live in Os X for a while to get a real feel for it, like this author did. Its the whole enchilada and not individual features that may or may not be present in competing Oses.
http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=applehaters8bn.gif
Kingsley you are clueless. MacOSX is going on its 5th version and keeps getting better. These aren’t my words or from Mac heads it comes from Anandtech, Tom’s and Arstechnica. I know its killing you because the only articles you post your troll jibberish is on Mac articles and you don’t even own a Mac yet know anything about them. You probably don’t even have the fiscal discipline to even save up for one.
So your posts are really amusing because we all know it comes from someone who knows nothing about Macs yet you consistantly post as if you have a clue.
P.S. Your fired.
<quote>
Who in their right mind wants to limit themselves … and forever be stuck at a 2-3% userbase where the only users who actually uses the damn thing thinks its somehow “better” than the other OS’s out there?
You just described 98% of all the self-righteous Linux users who frequent this site. Mac users tend to like their Macs ( GASP!! THE HORROR).
</quote>
Well you see the problem here is that you’re Blatently wrong.
1. GNU/Linux supports more hardware than windowsXP, (thanks partly to the fact windows don’t support really old hardware), granded at least half the stuff is still beta, but its still supported. In fact, another reason for this is that you can actually run Linux on other processers other than PPC and x86. Linux even full supports amd64 x86-64, and windows still havn’t release a 64 bit OS for that CPU.
2. I agree with you mac users tend to like their macs, afterall, ignorance is bliss.
Who is really limiting itself ? Don’t you think it’s people that are hardworking just to recreate unix, this fucking old behemoth, and two concurrent desktop that don’t aim anything more than to clone Windows, the worst GUI ever ?
Please, just take time to try OSX and really use it (rent a Mac !). Just try to understand what Cocoa is, at last. And if anything proprietary is against your religion, then look at GNUstep. It’s the same thing, but in square and gray.
Then, try to look forward, document yourself about Raskin (R.I.P.) ‘s works, like the ZUI concept that deprecate GUIs. SUN’s Looking Glass project is going this way. OSX is already ready for it.
At the time, OS X is the only thing i should call a *modern* OS wich is available for production use.
There were great things in AmigaOS that haven’t been seen elsewhere, just like its multidisplay systems or the fucking great datatypes. There were probably lots of great technologies in BeOS and RiscOS too.
Then, if you think that a computer should only be used to piss some C code in Vi just like in the good ol’days or tweaking an Luna-like theme for GTK+ when you’re bored, stay with Ubuntu.
If you’re smart enough to think about what should be an OS and what should be a GUI in 2005, then you will quickly want to buy a Mac to use it right now or you’ll start working on projects like GNUstep, Aros, Haiku, Hurd/L4…
Who in their right mind wants to limit themselves … and forever be stuck at a 2-3% userbase where the only users who actually uses the damn thing thinks its somehow “better” than the other OS’s out there?
I want to limit myself to a machine that works the way it needs to, and leaves me with an enjoyable computing experience… that doesn’t try to second guess what I’m trying to do (“There are unused Icons on your desktop”)… Believe it or not, there is enough software for OSX to give most users everything they want or need. Notice I said most… hardcore PC gamers need not apply.
I agree with you mac users tend to like their macs, afterall, ignorance is bliss.
Well, this is one Mac user who loves OSX. It’s not because I’m ignorant… I’ve run 95/98/2k/XP AND Redhat/Suse/Gentoo for YEARS. The *funny* thing is that people who are so against the Mac/OSX mostly haven’t tried it… Ignorance is bliss, indeed.
I did own a Mac with OSX (why I bought it) and though I did like it, I wasn’t amazed with it as most are. I will say it was nice to have a nix platform with a 90% stable dekstop and way of installing apps.
As far as the GUI argument goes. I think OSX is PRETTY yes but as far as being more natural to use than windows/kde/gnome….I dunno about that. I guess its what your used to.
that and the my iBook couldn’t use an external attena for my wifi heheh….under the keyboard weirdness.
Other than that I think Apple makes a good product. If they ever port to x86 I would use it in a heart beat and pay for it! But I still think that their machines cost too much and I know how to build a pc so..its more cost effective for me that way. I also don’t care about size of the machine.
huxley:~ risc$ hostinfo
Mach kernel version:
Darwin Kernel Version 7.8.0:
Wed Dec 22 14:26:17 PST 2004; root:xnu/xnu-517.11.1.obj~1/RELEASE_PPC
Kernel configured for up to 2 processors.
2 processors are physically available.
Processor type: ppc970 (PowerPC 970)
Processors active: 0 1
Primary memory available: 2048.00 megabytes.
Default processor set: 67 tasks, 303 threads, 2 processors
Load average: 0.20, Mach factor: 1.79
huxley:~ risc$
I also have a brand new PowerBook G4 1.67 GHz sitting in a bag next to me, after using Linux as my primary desktop OS for nearly a decade all I can say is if ignorance is bliss _DAMN_ I wish I had become ignorant earlier in the piece.
God bless all the Linux/Windows users and their constant badgering of OS X, oh btw you forgot to mention the Mac only has a 1 button mouse.
/me pets his 8 button Logitech mouse, and goes back to playing World of Warcraft on the only desktop UNIX OS that has World of Warcraft – mmm Linux kicks ass, shame about the lack of software!
Looking at all the people, who until a few short years ago wouldn’t have wanted to be found dead next to a Mac, who are now expressing their appreciation for the platform and what it can do, doesn’t that give the people who systematically don’t like Apple at least -some- pause?
Ok, not everybody will be going overboard like Anandtech who tested Mac OS X and several computers -for months-
, bless his heart, but some of the people who write thoughtful reviews on Mac OS X are doing so from the perspective of the Windows/Linux admin/reviewer with tons of experience on their respective platforms, and they have a positive take on the Mac. Of course, as with all platforms, there are things that can be improved, but overall they seem to be well-pleased with the system.
Isn’t that, even if only in the slightest way, an indication that there might be something to it that makes it worth investigating after all? Could it not explain why Apple has kept so many loyal fans when the rest of the world derided them for their choice?
I’ve used all sorts of systems myself, although not too much in the Linxu/Suse/whathaveyou variety, but I hear about people configuring their machines like there’s no tomorrow. That’s not actually what I want to do with my Mac. Configuration is so 5 minutes ago.
It’s my reason for wanting Apple to be around for at least as long as I am: imagine having to deal with configurating systems again. Like : YUCK! Dude, wtf!
It’s not as if I haven’t downloaded hundreds of drivers for all manner of Windows hardware before, because I have, that’s the whole point.
Oh, and whoever came up with: “it looks like you’re writing a letter”? If I ever heard they died in one of those Hollywood-style obscenely excessive violent ways, I would understand [though not condone, promote, encourage or in any way support] why it was done. That is so not-nice to do to users.
/rant off
I’m not a typical computer geek, but I am a technology freak.
I’ve made my living at various occupations, for over 30 years, either operating machines, or fixing machines.
I’ve been a trucker most of the time, but I’ve also been a power engineer in a hospital and a bio engineering facility, a musician, a roadie (sound and light), a mechanic, a metal fabricator, a photographer, a maintainance tech in a hospital, and a host of others.
That’s a significant technical library, and a wealth of real world experience I carry around with me.
I am acutely aware of what real world value is, and I practice it religiously.
In the industries I’ve worked in, price is not the deciding factor, it’s merely a factor.
Life expectancy, reliability, durability, energy consumption, TCO, time to payback, ease of use, comfort, accessabilty, warrenty, etc, are other concerns.
It’s my opinion, that simplicity, and fuctionality, are two of the most important factors, when purchasing anything.
When I purchased my first computer, it was a Mac.
I knew it cost more, I knew I would be limited, (no games, software, viruses, etc), but I bought one anyway, and I never regreted it.
My neighbours hate me, my friends hate me, and my co workers hate me, because I own a Mac, but I’m the first one they call, when something needs fixing.
Other products I would endorse.
Bucyrus Erie, Caterpillar, Kenworth, Spicer, Eaton, Mopar, Indy, Ray Barton, Carrier, Cleaver Brooks, Honeywell, Meyers Audio, ElecroVoice, Midas, Bryston, Nikon, Ampex, Canon, Apple, Sadowsky, Ashdown Engineering, Snap on, etc, etc, blah blah blah………..!
They cost a little more, but you get a little more.
So I’m ignorant.
I’m also lazy, and hate fixing/tuning things.
I would rather they just work, period.
Most importantly, I’m happier than you are, with my computer.
Anyone else, who’s lazy, isn’t in a hurry, is looking for good value, and wants to be happy, buy a Mac.
WHEN does this ‘Mac OSX is so damn superior’ finally stops??
As soos as Mac OS XI is released…
Personally as a Unix SA i prefer having a workstation running the particular flavor of Unix that i happen to be administrating at the time. Mixed environments i do prefer my powerbook however very few businesses let me connect my mac to their network(why i will never know)
Alright it seems I’ve gotten your attention.
And most of you seems to think I dont’ like OSX?
Since when did I say I hated OSX? As far as I was concern, I was aiming most of my comments to apple.
I’ve use OSX extensivly, and I’d admit its a good OS, and for people who doesn’t want to know about their computer/OS internals, OSX is an excellent platform.
But it seems pointless agruing with you.
<sarcasm>
is it good for people who would rather play with configuration files and troubleshoot incompaitble hardware then get real work done?
</sarcasm>
——————————
if you dont like it, dont use it. not too hard.
if you dont like it, and have intelligent, fact based reasons for that, then you may have a chance at an interesting discussion. that is if you can find someone on the “other side” who shares your level of maturity.
if you dont like it, and your opinions are along the lines of “its a bit more expensive then a dell”, “one button mice are dumb”, or “theres no software written for it”, please, please, please stfu. mac users will just see you as someone who is so dumb he actually thinks he’s smart. just to be extra sure, copy/paste your post into google and check how many results come up. if the number is over a million, chances are you are rehashing tired old arguements and embarking on a complete and utter waste of time.
the second half of that post wasnt really a reply to kingsley, more along the lines of general advice for win/lintrolls.
Why is everyone drooling over OS X’ fonts these days? If you run GNU/Linux, freetype2 (which about any recent X11 program uses) provides similar ignore-all-hints “smoothing”, including subpixel rendering. With the additional advantage that you can adjust it, in case your subpixel order is the other way round, or if you like a different type or size than Lucida Grande for your menus.
…I don’t get it. Mac OS X isn’t rocket science, but it is a pretty damn good operating system and it is pretty much rock solid. It may not be the best performer (BeOS kicks its butt there), it may not be free (linux has whoop ass all over OS X for being free and super configurable) nor may it be the most popular development platform (Windows kicks everyone around in that dept.) But hell, it WORKS. It works well, it gets better (faster, more useful) with every release and it is (for most people) a pleasure to use day in and day out.
I have 3 machines. One runs BeOS, one (my new Mac mini
) runs Mac OS X and the other, Ubuntu. I use WindowsXP at work as well as RedHat Linux. I was an OpenVMS Engineer too.
Why are people so crazy?!? Every operating system has pluses and minuses, strengths and weaknesses. People get so fanatical and take these reviews so friggin’ personally… I think the now famous quote from William Shatner fits quite nicely here… “Get a life!”
Your computer, the OS on it, isn’t the end all of everything!! Go to a movie or something, go out with your girlfriend/boyfriend… then come back and play with your computer and be happy about your computer running the operating system of your choice. Sheesh.
For the most part because this is “osnews” where we rant about the good/bad about the various OS.
re: mattb
<quote>
if you dont like it, and have intelligent, fact based reasons for that, then you may have a chance at an interesting discussion. that is if you can find someone on the “other side” who shares your level of maturity.
</quote>
Well I though I made my opinion unambigiously, and considering the response, it seems that I did ;-D
B*llsh*t. That’s not ranting. That’s being persnickety. And OS News isn’t about “ranting”. It’s about being critical, perhaps, but not foaming at the mouth stupid.
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=persnickety
I guess the NyQuil I took is getting the better of me. Sorry everyone for my outbursts.
At the same time BSD and Solaris ain’t dead.