QA with Canonical's Matt Asay: Why Linux Beats Apple | Hacker News Reader

QA with Canonical's Matt Asay: Why Linux Beats Apple

linux.com

22 pointsjennifercloer17 comments

I want to leave aside the question of whether Linux will beat Apple in the market. That's only relevant if you're thinking about building apps for Linux or if you're an Apple investor. However, I think there's a much more relevant question for many HN readers: is Linux better for everyday use than Apple.

My last three everyday computers were a Mac, a pre-installed Linux laptop from System 76, and now, a Dell that I picked up at Best Buy and loaded Ubuntu on. For a number of reasons, I'm much much happier with Ubuntu Linux than I was with my last Linux box or with my last Mac.

- I'm running the same environment as my production systems. I really like having code, and more importantly configuration, work the same on my laptop and my server.

- This question is largely moot these days anyway since my top applications are gmail in the browser, the 37signals suite, and ssh.

- Software and hardware have combined to make virtualization more practical. I split time between running a business and coding. The business stuff often pushes me toward Windows-only software so I often run a Windows instance during the day. Sun's VirtualBox has been great for me and this laptop is much more capable (enough RAM/HD) than my last one. This is also how I run itunes for syncing my iphone.

- Laptop configuration hell has largely gone away. Wireless and sound worked out of the box. Even my 3G USB card was detected automatically.

- I like the Ubuntu bling. I use Gnome Go, which is like Quicksilver on OSX. I like virtual screens. I like the window animations.

- I actually like having Windows around. There are the business reasons I mentioned above. But I also still play games. This laptop came with a 500MB HD, which means I felt comfortable leaving a Windows only partition.

- I almost hesitate to bring up price because I don't want this recommendation to be read as "Linux is a great cheap option." But it is! I paid $750 for a 17" Dell laptop with dual core, 4MB RAM, 500MB HD. The equivalent Macbook was over $2000. One of my theories on laptop pricing is that I don't want to spend more than I could afford losing--otherwise I'd be nervous every time the laptop was out of the house.

> work the same on my laptop and my server

I agree, which is why I use VMWare on my Mac with netatalk for access.

> I actually like having Windows around.

Me too, but that's not a point for linux. You can install a windows partition on macs too.

My experience has been mixed. I used an Apple machine for a 3 years, then when I picked up a serveresque power box, ubuntu for a year, now I'm using a win7 on the same box. I briefly tried the hackintosh route, but it was unsatisfactory.

Now I have a strange arrangement: "home" stuff like address books and calendars and music are in the mac world. Applications that require CPU like document creation, web browsing (e.g. with a working version of flash), movie viewing (netflix), games, etc are done on win7. And development/hacking are done on ubuntu (in a vm).

That pretty much characterizes my opinion of the platforms. Linux just completely lacks polish -- even with the latest and greatest ubuntu release, most of the apps you use outside of the web browser are... substandard, sometimes compared to even the same app running on windows -- and not well integrated. When I was running ubuntu, I would have to play sysadmin at least once a month to get some odd thing working.

OS X is great, but if you want a server box you have to pay 3x more than you really want to get it. Sure, you might get equivalent value, but I don't want an 8-core xeon machine in a fancy case, I just want a cheap reliable machine without a monitor built into a chassis.

Win7 is also great, but is similar to Linux with more application and hardware support. I don't have to play sysadmin as often or at all, but the integration is still fair to middling. Consider how contacts are managed on linux and windows compared to OS X, and the difference becomes striking.

Does anyone know if there's a company like System 76 in the UK? Dell's Ubuntu range seems to have vanished. Having someone else worry about hardware compatibility and edge cases would be awesome.

I got one of the regular Dell Studios (Windows pre-installed) mainly because my System 76 laptop died and I needed a replacement that day. I installed Ubuntu immediately and I haven't had any of the compatibility and configuration nightmares that I've had on previous Linux laptops. So, if you're willing to look beyond their Ubuntu line.

Yeah, I have a Dell too and haven't had any real problems, but this illustrates my problem - if I were ordering a new one I'd now be asking you what exact components you have, checking all kinds of forums, and in the end just have to hope I haven't ordered the wrong combination of graphics card and bluetooth module.

Whereas if there were a company that made it their business to put together tried and tested components I'd be all over them like a rash.

I suppose you mean 500GB (not MB) HDD, don't you? :-) Ditto for RAM.

Yes. But too late to edit it now.

"Can Linux compete with Apple" is a silly question as Matt pointed out. "Can Linux compete with OSX in the mobile/laptop/desktop market" is a better question. I believe that Linux is technically as strong as OSX (if not stronger) but on the Linux GUI side, there isn't the laser sharp focus on usability and good taste that Apple has put into their GUI. Maybe ChromeOS can change this, Ubuntu has made great strides in this area, but I believe that OSX is still pretty far ahead.

I really like what Ubuntu has accomplished so far. Karmic and Lucid are really solid. I think they're also getting the design down with some of the recent announcements.

The problem here is this: Canonical doesn't control the hardware. Will ubuntu start matching up with OS X? Sure. It might already in some aspects. People don't buy Macs JUST for OS X. If that were the case, Pystar would have sold more than 700 systems. People want the entire package.

So, it's a purely windows vs ubuntu fight. Apple just makes for some nice headlines in an interview. Ubuntu needs to start getting people to produce machines with Ubuntu on it and make them ultra visible. One half assed attempt by Dell doesn't count.

People don't buy Macs -just- because Apple owns the hardware, either. Their hardware isn't anything special, in fact (My wife, a die-hard MacGeek, hasn't owned a Mac that she hasn't had to bring into repair or gotten use out of her AppleCare in some way). Mac's have a perceived higher value, as well as top-notch support. This isn't to say that Apple itself has better support than PC repair. I much prefer Microbytes over the Apple Stores 'Genius' bar any day of the week, but Apple doesn't have the perceived "higher quality" in the shopping experience then HP, Dell, or others have.

Even if Canonical controlled the Hardware, they'd still have a long way to go before they reached the same experience that Apple provides from start to finish. I can buy an Apple product, and from the beginning to the end, I'm supported and assisted with almost every aspect of the mac in some manner, offline and online, even in person if I need it.

Edit: Added -just-

I should have used another word besides hardware. I mean everything from the industrial design, the support, the service, and full apple experience.

and the marketing materials, commercials, advertisements, distribution deals, etc. etc.

Every time I see Apple, hardware, and praise together I sort of reflect on my own experience of having to drive out a number of times over the course of a 6 week period, bringing out my wifes laptop and then bringing it back. Each time we brought it back, the problem hadn't been fixed, and by the time we were done, it had developed several new problems.

It was annoying. Granted, she did have AppleCare, and because of the countless problems, they did replace her old MacBook Pro with a new one.

Which has been experiencing problems with the keyboard and wireless connection for the past several months. >_< Of course, we are out of the original AppleCare now. Oh well. =)

Ask anyway and mention that it's a replacement. They're supposedly flexible.

It's a telling sign that the questions 3 years ago were "is Linux ready for the desktop" and today the questions are "is Linux better than Mac".

Linux as a product is obviously top notch now; from here on out it's just a matter of marketing.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com