OS X vs. desktop Linux

[Richard Pieri]

On Jun 21, 2009, at 2:06 AM, Tom Metro wrote:
> So if you've achieved adequate hardware support with Linux, and you  
> don't need any proprietary applications that only run on OS X, and  
> don't have a personal preference for the look or UI behavior, then  
> I'm not hearing any clear compelling reasons that would suggest OS X  
> would lead to a more efficient and productive working environment.


Then I suppose I really didn't try hard enough. :)

As I said, there really isn't any one big thing that makes OS X better  
than Linux.  It's that I don't have to deal with any of the plethora  
of little things that I did (and do) with Linux.  I don't have to  
worry about hardware support.  I don't have to worry about tools that  
are incomplete, inconsistent, and sometimes just barely adequate.  I  
don't have to worry about GNU changing libc and breaking every legacy  
program I have and use.  I don't have to worry about my distribution  
of choice switching from ALSA to PulseAudio and breaking sound.  I  
don't have to be a sysadmin when I go home.  I can if I want but it  
isn't necessary like it is with Linux.

I haven't had a Mac as my work machine in several years but when I did  
it was the same: I didn't have to be a sysadmin at my desk.  That made  
being a sysadmin for real production just a little bit easier.

--Rich P.