Wow! This is the first time somebody has actually agreed with me after I've slammed a Microsoft product. I must be getting better at being more diplomatic or something.
I agree 100% with your post, except I'd say that QuatroPro was actually a really GOOD spreadsheet and I'd use it instead of Excel if I had the need. The problem, I believe, with WordPerfect is that it has the perception of instability with all the name changes through the years. I know WordPerfect for Mac in the mid 90s was awesomely fast (because it didn't have all the bloat that Word 6 and up brought). For most home users, we just need something to type in with basic formatting. All the other stuff is business/education/not home use related. I've often wondered why nobody has come up with a $29 home word processor that is compatible with Word (maybe they have, but it never made it main stream).
The only reason (and getting back on topic) that Microsoft can charge $400 or whatever they charge nowadays is because business will pay that. Home users certainly shouldn't (but do anyway, because they "think" they have to have it). This concept that businesses overpay for hardware/software and are no discriminant in their choices is why the Mac vs. PC argument is moot. The PC is a work tool and the Mac is a home electronic device (often used for totally different reasons than a work PC). As soon as people can see that distinction, these petty arguments about what is better will go away.
Well since Apple DOESN'T have a 95% market share, nor will they ever it IS irrelevant. Pretending they might in the future only gives you the ability to try and shoot Apple down on a hypothetical situation. You can bad mouth boastful Mac users all you want. Their insecurity is more the issue here than anything else. I've been a Mac user since 1988, and one of the biggest supporters, but the days of evangelism are long gone. The Mac stands on its own now, with no need to inform the masses. That's all most of us ever asked for.
Oh, I liked the message. That's not why I called it a rant. I called it a rant because you kicked ass and took names. I just don't understand how Linux could be the right tool for you, though, given how strong your rant was against it. It almost takes credibility away from your otherwise well stated post. "This things sucks! Just for the record, I choose to use this thing, so I know what I'm talking about".
I use MacOSX because, a) I'm not a nerd, b) I can do EVERYTHING I like to do as a home user, and c) I'm an artistic person (musician and graphic designer). I guess OS X is really tailor made for me. The shortcomings that others describe don't affect me one bit (such as not being able to customize the GUI, which isn't entirely true anyway). The lack of software argument is dead. I run XP in Bootcamp for games and and Parallels fo Microsoft Access (all one times a year I need it) and any weird WinProprietary crap I get off the net.
I think what is worse than fanboys is people who come on here and try to tell me why Mac OS X sucks and the only reason I could possibly not find any shortcomings with it for MY needs is because I'm some sort of fanboy. In reality, I just don't have time to try out all the different platforms out there to find the "perfect" one for me. Brand loyalty, for me, has stemmed from the concept of, "overall, they have made appealing, solid products for my needs, so until they goof that up, I have no need to shop around elsewhere". Works for cars, why not computers? Every day at work I'm faced with a new hassle with our WinBoxes that just aren't worth it to me on my own time at home. Until MS can show me that is no longer the case, I have no interest in trying their products. Luckily for most of us, we get to test drive MS products for free at work. Unfortutanately for the market, most sheeple just buy what they have at work, even if it is a POS, because that's what they "know".
hostile user community...
I don't agree with this, but even if that was the case, I doubt this does anything to adoption.
I've been willing to open up to Linux for years now, but the damned hostile community pushes me away. I'm not a geek, therefore I'm not welcome in their cirlces. This is a bigger problem than you are letting on. It's so much a problem, it is even in the Linux user bylaws to be as accomodating and non-confrontational as possible.
The "games" argument is very egocentric and not based in reality. MOST people above the age of 25 don't care about games on their computers. A few *might* take it into consideration when buying a new computer (for the comfort of knowing they CAN play games, even if they never do). Even when people do play games, they are often the casual variety that can be found for free anywhere on the net for both Macs and PCs.
PowerPoint is garbage and always has been. It's obviously designed by non-designers. Excel is great; it's the defacto standard because it's good. Word is the defacto standard, but is a steamy pile that tries to do everything for you, but does so poorly. Ever try to write an APA paper with Word? Nice grammar checker too....not. Who convoluted that otherwise decent word processor (version 4.0 for Mac, circa 1995?)? Word: best example of bloatware ever.
So yeah, since businesses depend on spreadsheets, office is pretty good, as long as you don't have to use Word or Powerpoint. The problem is, most HOME users need a good wordprocessor and something to play around with graphics. Personally, I have no idea why anyone that doesn't work or study from home would ever purchase MS Office for home use.
No, all I'm saying is being really good at one aspect of intellect (like being a computer nerd) doesn't make you smart in the big picture. It would be like the really good programmers I work with...they are good with code, but couldn't tell you which political party held a Presidential debate last night (let alone who Mike Huckabee is, for example) or who is playing in the NFL game tonight.
The harm of being really smart in one area is that you come across as a complete buffoon in others. I used to work for the NSA. We call them wall walkers and shoe talkers for a reason. Not that they aren't smart, you just wouldn't know it if you didn't work with them.
Oh man, that's my favorite book, seriously! Apologies to Robyn Williams for not citing her. I guess her credo has become so ingrained in my daily workings that I forgot I got it from her!
I'm a designer, and I'm good enough to be slightly dangerous with code (albeit easy stuff like Flash's ActionScript). I wish I knew more code, but I don't have time. The way I see it, one can always learn code, but the visually challenged out there can't learn design.
The failure here isn't with the technology as much as it is with management and procurement. I spent a decade in the US Army, only to see one horrible tech implementation after another get approved by the highest ranking dude, who knew nothing about tech. In the military, the highest ranking guy makes the decisions, not the smartest. That high ranking guy doesn't have time to become an expert in tech, so he caves to special interests and the good-ol'-boy system of procurement.
But Tiger Woods was born with that long lean torso that allows him to have the great golf swing that he does. Had he been 5'6" and round-ish, he wouldn't be a pro-golfer. He'd be a hopeless romantic, dreaming of making the PGA one day.
Sorry, hit the submit button too quickly. You are doing a great thing with your daughter, I just meant to say that just because you value technical skills liked coding.html and engineering (fixing the car), doesn't automatically mean your daughter is gifted/talented/etc. How's her writing? How about her knowledge of the humanities or perhaps a foreign language or music? I've always felt the smartest people span multiple skillsets and defy classification. Show me a programmer who can also do graphic design (or vice-versa) and I'll say, "where did they find that guy/girl?".
It's about time slashdot started posting substantive articles again. While I agree with the premise of the article, it is important to teach kids to recognize their strengths and go with them. This is in contrast to the article's position of never giving a child a hint that they might actually be good at one thing or another (whether it's innate ability, or through learned experiences). This tip-toeing around kids so as not to set them up for failure will do exactly that.
To be fair, Apple gets out-of-proportion press when something goes awry. We expect stuff not to work with Microsoft, but Apple is held to a higher standard (unfairly).
Even with a few hiccups, the HUGE difference between Mac OS and any flavor of Windows is that a quick and easy fix is generally available, even to new converts, with a quick visit to the Internet. For example, when I upgraded to Leopard, my built in web-cam stopped working. The fix, according to a google search, was to unplug the computer for ten seconds, plug it back in, and reboot. The physical unplugging reset something on the motherboard (inaccessible in iMac form factor). Total time lost: 5 minutes. Four minutes to find the fix online, then 1 minute to reboot.
Every time one of these negative articles pops up on/., it is an obvious attempt to try and knock Apple down a rung or two. If ONE user has a bad Leopard experience, suddenly it is front page news.
Parallels is a slow steamy pile. And it broke my Boot Camp partition all on its own. It's ok for a quick open of a Windows only file, but not capable of playing games very well (which is really the only reason I'd need Windows in the first place).
I've been advocating Macs for "home use" for over 15 years now, and unfortunately, it's only setting in a little bit with the masses. People are still just convinced that they HAVE to have a PC because that's what they use at work. I always ask people how much work do the actually do from home. If it is "none" (like most people) then a Mac is perfect. Now that you can run Windows on a Mac (with a little skill required), I think people are eager to jump on the Mac. The few people I know that bought Macs felt "safe" that they have the PC capability, yet they never use it. As soon as THEIR word gets out, I think Mac sales will take off.
Gangsta? You're the one going on about ignoring the tasing and then promptly killing the bastard who tased you. In any case, I'll let you do the research and post it here, but I doubt you can cite one case where a cop was killed after the suspect recovered from a tasing.
Like to take me up on a challenge? I get to taze you in any way I like, and you get to be the manly man you claim to be and come kick my ass once you just shrug off the tasing like you claim you can. Funny, nobody else on the planet seems to be able to. Maybe you should market your skill to criminals or something.
Slashdot Mirror
I agree 100% with your post, except I'd say that QuatroPro was actually a really GOOD spreadsheet and I'd use it instead of Excel if I had the need. The problem, I believe, with WordPerfect is that it has the perception of instability with all the name changes through the years. I know WordPerfect for Mac in the mid 90s was awesomely fast (because it didn't have all the bloat that Word 6 and up brought). For most home users, we just need something to type in with basic formatting. All the other stuff is business/education/not home use related. I've often wondered why nobody has come up with a $29 home word processor that is compatible with Word (maybe they have, but it never made it main stream).
The only reason (and getting back on topic) that Microsoft can charge $400 or whatever they charge nowadays is because business will pay that. Home users certainly shouldn't (but do anyway, because they "think" they have to have it). This concept that businesses overpay for hardware/software and are no discriminant in their choices is why the Mac vs. PC argument is moot. The PC is a work tool and the Mac is a home electronic device (often used for totally different reasons than a work PC). As soon as people can see that distinction, these petty arguments about what is better will go away.
Well since Apple DOESN'T have a 95% market share, nor will they ever it IS irrelevant. Pretending they might in the future only gives you the ability to try and shoot Apple down on a hypothetical situation. You can bad mouth boastful Mac users all you want. Their insecurity is more the issue here than anything else. I've been a Mac user since 1988, and one of the biggest supporters, but the days of evangelism are long gone. The Mac stands on its own now, with no need to inform the masses. That's all most of us ever asked for.
I use MacOSX because, a) I'm not a nerd, b) I can do EVERYTHING I like to do as a home user, and c) I'm an artistic person (musician and graphic designer). I guess OS X is really tailor made for me. The shortcomings that others describe don't affect me one bit (such as not being able to customize the GUI, which isn't entirely true anyway). The lack of software argument is dead. I run XP in Bootcamp for games and and Parallels fo Microsoft Access (all one times a year I need it) and any weird WinProprietary crap I get off the net.
I think what is worse than fanboys is people who come on here and try to tell me why Mac OS X sucks and the only reason I could possibly not find any shortcomings with it for MY needs is because I'm some sort of fanboy. In reality, I just don't have time to try out all the different platforms out there to find the "perfect" one for me. Brand loyalty, for me, has stemmed from the concept of, "overall, they have made appealing, solid products for my needs, so until they goof that up, I have no need to shop around elsewhere". Works for cars, why not computers? Every day at work I'm faced with a new hassle with our WinBoxes that just aren't worth it to me on my own time at home. Until MS can show me that is no longer the case, I have no interest in trying their products. Luckily for most of us, we get to test drive MS products for free at work. Unfortutanately for the market, most sheeple just buy what they have at work, even if it is a POS, because that's what they "know".
There. No I've ranted.
Just curious: why do you use Linux at home, given your well thought-out rant?
The "games" argument is very egocentric and not based in reality. MOST people above the age of 25 don't care about games on their computers. A few *might* take it into consideration when buying a new computer (for the comfort of knowing they CAN play games, even if they never do). Even when people do play games, they are often the casual variety that can be found for free anywhere on the net for both Macs and PCs.
So yeah, since businesses depend on spreadsheets, office is pretty good, as long as you don't have to use Word or Powerpoint. The problem is, most HOME users need a good wordprocessor and something to play around with graphics. Personally, I have no idea why anyone that doesn't work or study from home would ever purchase MS Office for home use.
The harm of being really smart in one area is that you come across as a complete buffoon in others. I used to work for the NSA. We call them wall walkers and shoe talkers for a reason. Not that they aren't smart, you just wouldn't know it if you didn't work with them.
I'm a designer, and I'm good enough to be slightly dangerous with code (albeit easy stuff like Flash's ActionScript). I wish I knew more code, but I don't have time. The way I see it, one can always learn code, but the visually challenged out there can't learn design.
The failure here isn't with the technology as much as it is with management and procurement. I spent a decade in the US Army, only to see one horrible tech implementation after another get approved by the highest ranking dude, who knew nothing about tech. In the military, the highest ranking guy makes the decisions, not the smartest. That high ranking guy doesn't have time to become an expert in tech, so he caves to special interests and the good-ol'-boy system of procurement.
Knowing obscure code makes one a geek. I'm not sure, but I think only geeks think that makes them smart.
But Tiger Woods was born with that long lean torso that allows him to have the great golf swing that he does. Had he been 5'6" and round-ish, he wouldn't be a pro-golfer. He'd be a hopeless romantic, dreaming of making the PGA one day.
Sorry, hit the submit button too quickly. You are doing a great thing with your daughter, I just meant to say that just because you value technical skills liked coding .html and engineering (fixing the car), doesn't automatically mean your daughter is gifted/talented/etc. How's her writing? How about her knowledge of the humanities or perhaps a foreign language or music? I've always felt the smartest people span multiple skillsets and defy classification. Show me a programmer who can also do graphic design (or vice-versa) and I'll say, "where did they find that guy/girl?".
Raising your daughter to have strong nerd skills dosn't make her smart.
It's about time slashdot started posting substantive articles again. While I agree with the premise of the article, it is important to teach kids to recognize their strengths and go with them. This is in contrast to the article's position of never giving a child a hint that they might actually be good at one thing or another (whether it's innate ability, or through learned experiences). This tip-toeing around kids so as not to set them up for failure will do exactly that.
so people who have violent tendencies like to play violent video games?
Oh, my bad. I'm an American but lived in the UK for a few years. My English is otherwise a mess.
Thank you for making my point.
Even with a few hiccups, the HUGE difference between Mac OS and any flavor of Windows is that a quick and easy fix is generally available, even to new converts, with a quick visit to the Internet. For example, when I upgraded to Leopard, my built in web-cam stopped working. The fix, according to a google search, was to unplug the computer for ten seconds, plug it back in, and reboot. The physical unplugging reset something on the motherboard (inaccessible in iMac form factor). Total time lost: 5 minutes. Four minutes to find the fix online, then 1 minute to reboot.
Every time one of these negative articles pops up on /., it is an obvious attempt to try and knock Apple down a rung or two. If ONE user has a bad Leopard experience, suddenly it is front page news.
Parallels is a slow steamy pile. And it broke my Boot Camp partition all on its own. It's ok for a quick open of a Windows only file, but not capable of playing games very well (which is really the only reason I'd need Windows in the first place).
I've been advocating Macs for "home use" for over 15 years now, and unfortunately, it's only setting in a little bit with the masses. People are still just convinced that they HAVE to have a PC because that's what they use at work. I always ask people how much work do the actually do from home. If it is "none" (like most people) then a Mac is perfect. Now that you can run Windows on a Mac (with a little skill required), I think people are eager to jump on the Mac. The few people I know that bought Macs felt "safe" that they have the PC capability, yet they never use it. As soon as THEIR word gets out, I think Mac sales will take off.
Gangsta? You're the one going on about ignoring the tasing and then promptly killing the bastard who tased you. In any case, I'll let you do the research and post it here, but I doubt you can cite one case where a cop was killed after the suspect recovered from a tasing.
Like to take me up on a challenge? I get to taze you in any way I like, and you get to be the manly man you claim to be and come kick my ass once you just shrug off the tasing like you claim you can. Funny, nobody else on the planet seems to be able to. Maybe you should market your skill to criminals or something.