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Nerds Switching from Apple to Ubuntu?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the different-bell-curve-entirely dept.

Mindpicnic writes "The recent switch of two lifelong Mac nerds to Ubuntu hasn't escaped Tim O'Reilly's radar. He cites Jason Kottke: 'If I were Apple, I'd be worried about this. Two lifelong Mac fans are switching away from Macs to PCs running Ubuntu Linux: first it was Mark Pilgrim and now Cory Doctorow. Nerds are a small demographic, but they can also be the canary in the coal mine with stuff like this.'"

18 of 957 comments (clear)

  1. Mac nerds? by linvir · · Score: 5, Funny

    Mac nerds? Are they the same sort of people as Windows hackers and Linux gamers?

    1. Re:Mac nerds? by pyce · · Score: 5, Funny

      "Oh no! Apple should be worried about two guys! Two guys have switched. What ever will Apple do about two guys?"

      The other two Mac users were unavailable for comment.

      --
      Hellenologophobia, n. -- a fear of Greek terms or complex terminology
    2. Re:Mac nerds? by mrbooze · · Score: 4, Funny

      Come on, if they were *real* nerds they'd be switching to Gentoo, not Ubuntu.

    3. Re:Mac nerds? by Millenniumman · · Score: 5, Funny

      Real nerds build their own distro.

      --
      Stupidity is like nuclear power, it can be used for good or evil. And you don't want to get any on you.
    4. Re:Mac nerds? by bursch-X · · Score: 4, Funny

      No mouse pointer in the middle of the keyboard like is found on the Thinkpads or the Toshiba Tecra line.

      Oooh, I would never trust a computer with a clit.

      --
      There are two rules for success:
      1. Never tell everything you know.
  2. Two users! by pedantic+bore · · Score: 5, Funny
    OMG! That's 0.0004% of their installed user base! In a single week!

    Nerds are a small demographic, but they can also be the canary in the coal mine with stuff like this. Or not. Jeepers. Someone out to FUD Apple this week, or something?

    --
    Am I part of the core demographic for Swedish Fish?
    1. Re:Two users! by Millenniumman · · Score: 4, Funny

      Closer to .00001%. If that occurred every week, and no one switched to the platform, no one would be using Macs in 20,000 years.

      --
      Stupidity is like nuclear power, it can be used for good or evil. And you don't want to get any on you.
    2. Re:Two users! by pedantic+bore · · Score: 4, Funny
      That's assuming that mac users live 20,000 years. Otherwise, Apple will have to pick up some new users -- they don't necessarily have to switch from windows, but they do need to be born.

      --
      Am I part of the core demographic for Swedish Fish?
    3. Re:Two users! by Millenniumman · · Score: 4, Funny

      That's assuming that mac users live 20,000 years.

      That's always been my experience, or did you think we used Macs for the intuitive interface?

      --
      Stupidity is like nuclear power, it can be used for good or evil. And you don't want to get any on you.
  3. Oh no. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Cory Doctorow has switched to Ubuntu GNU/Linux?

    Not PROMINENT INTERNET BLOGGER Cory Doctorow!

    NOT PROMINENT BLOGGER CORY DOCTOROW!

    1. Re:Oh no. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      If Cory "Self-Promoting Trendoid is my Middle Name" Doctorow is doing it, it's guaranteed to be a fad.

      If Doctorow heard that the "cool kids" were removing their own testicles with a fork, he'd quickly do the same.

    2. Re:Oh no. by NoMaster · · Score: 4, Funny

      And that's the point, really. Two people, who owe their positions in the pantheon of 'Internet celebrities' to a certain amount of nerd-cred, find they have to [be || appear to be] even nerdier to keep those positions. What better way to do that - and generate a nice little publicity storm in a teacup at the same time - than to "switch" to Linux?

      Wake me up when RMS buys a Mac...

      --
      What part of "a well regulated militia" do you not understand?
    3. Re:Oh no. by colmore · · Score: 4, Funny

      Meanwhile I switched from Slackware to Gentoo this week and nobody seems to notice.

      Maybe if I put Plan 9 on my FreeBSD box, someone will care.

      --
      In Capitalist America, bank robs you!
    4. Re:Oh no. by Chemicalscum · · Score: 4, Funny
      If Cory "Self-Promoting Trendoid is my Middle Name" Doctorow is doing it, it's guaranteed to be a fad.

      Oh so you mean the Mac fad is over now. Thats my view too.

  4. Re:Apple has it coming by BitwizeGHC · · Score: 5, Funny

    No, no, you don't get it.

    The original Macintosh was the UI Bible, 1984 King Steve Version, the only version which can claim to be divinely inspired. All other UIs are apostate.

    --
    N4st0r, trixx0r h0bb1tz0rz! Th3y st0l3 0ur pr3c10uzz!
  5. Canaries and coal mines by mattsucks · · Score: 5, Funny
    Nerds are a small demographic, but they can also be the canary in the coal mine with stuff like this.
    Witness the overwhelming popularity of BeOS these days.
  6. Why God? by Omniscientist · · Score: 5, Funny

    Why can't there be a Retarded or Slightly Confused mod? I have mod points but they are no good here!

  7. You should learn to use the "clit" by AHumbleOpinion · · Score: 4, Funny

    "No mouse pointer in the middle of the keyboard like is found on the Thinkpads or the Toshiba Tecra line."

    Oooh, I would never trust a computer with a clit.

    Someday, when you get some experience with one, you will learn to love it. Learning to operate it truly is the best way to move things in the direction you want. Good luck and have fun.