On Monday 26 July 2010 21:43:16 Damion Alexander wrote: > On 7/26/10 5:28 PM, Chris Knadle wrote: > > There's got to be a reasons that people are choosing to run OS X over > > Linux, although I'm not sure what they are. One reason I was explained > > about is that on OS X it's easier to update a particular program to the > > latest version than it is on Linux. I can understand that, but I think > > there's more to it than this. I would be interested in hearing comments > > on the subject, which preferably refers to features rather than program > > names. > > When I ran Linux on my personal desktop, I spent more time tweaking it > to look good and do things the way I thought I wanted it done, than > actually using it. In 2005 I bought a Mac Mini, just to play with it > and see what all the hype was about. Two days later it was my primary > machine.
I get the "just works" argument. Unfortunately Linux and OS X are not on a level playing field in that area because OS X is only meant to run on Apple- made hardware, meaning that they know ahead of time what devices they have to support in the OS for the computer itself. When it comes to external devices like connecting cell phones, Linux and OS X are comparable and in my experience Linux slightly has the upper hand there. Basically you have to research ahead of time before purchasing the device whether it will work with Linux or Mac OS X, otherwise it's a crap shoot. When I recently switched cell phones I wanted to be able to transfer files to and from it. After reading the PDF manual for the device, I found out neither Linux nor OS X was supported at all, but took a chance and picked up the phone anyway -- an LG Cosmos VN-250. File transfer can be done via USB or Bluetooth, but only to/from a MicroSD card when one is connected (and which is not supplied). Result -- transferring files works just fine in Linux. Since then I've had quite a bit of fun making my own custom ringtones with audacity and assigning them to particular people for when they call, as well as transferring pictures and contacts from the onboard camera. Contacts must be copied over to the MicroSD card, but then come over as vCard files. vCard files likewise can be copied to the MicroSD card and then imported. The phone seems to accept at least MP3s, WAVs, and MIDI files. Another thing to keep in mind is that when you purchase hardware for a Mac you often have to buy the "Mac" version of the device, such as video cards or scanners, yet there are no "Linux" versions of the same devices. That there is a "Mac" version of these things makes them easier to buy and know that they're supported, but again it means that Linux and OS X are not on a level playing field there. -- Chris -- Chris Knadle [email protected] _______________________________________________ Mid-Hudson Valley Linux Users Group http://mhvlug.org http://mhvlug.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mhvlug Upcoming Meetings (6pm - 8pm) MHVLS Auditorium Aug 4 - Samba Sep 1 - BOINC Oct 6 - Creating Firefox Extensions
