"I was stuck in a prison of Microsoft Operating Systems, and I have been released." | Hacker News Reader

"I was stuck in a prison of Microsoft Operating Systems, and I have been released."

seekingalpha.com

7 pointsspking16 comments

PCs punt and leave you with all the choices to make, both hardware and software-wise. Windows doesn't come with anything for hackers out of the box. If you don't want to go through that, PCs will be very depressing. If you're willing to sit down and spend 1-8 hours tweaking and installing things the way you like it, you can have a very productive development machine on your hands, it just won't be a Unix-like one.

On the other hand, getting Xcode requires you to be involved with a stupid Apple Developer Connection program, and you don't get automatic package management like in Linux.

I just built a new PC dual booting Windows and Linux and I'm loving the hell out of it, personally; I can get performance and screen real estate that's a significant fraction of a $4500 Mac Pro system at a fraction of the price; $1500 will get you dual 22" monitors, a quad-core Intel Core 2 processor, 2 GB of fast RAM, a 320 GB SATA hard drive, and a very nice video card that's adequate for semi-serious gaming. I can be highly productive as a developer, reboot, play games for a little while to blow off steam, and then go back to my distraction-free development environment. Linux for productivity, Windows for timesinks.

getting Xcode requires you to be involved with a stupid Apple Developer Connection program

Xcode was on the install CD that was in the box my macbook came in. I hadn't heard of this Apple Developer Connection program until now.

you don't get automatic package management like in Linux

http://www.macports.org/

This is why, this is why, this is why it's hot:

For photo enthusiasts: I plugged my camera in, iPhoto opened, I pushed one button, and imported all of my pictures.

For hackers: system("say all done") if you want to hear when something's done, or system("say #{i}") if you want to hear each i in a loop.

I recently bought an iMac as an nth house machine. The software experience is very pleasant; the mouse and keyboard are terrible, but very pretty.

I was thinking it might be nice to switch to a Mac as my main computer. I already have a nice dual monitor setup and a nice keyboard, so I would want a standalone Mac box. I checked out the price of the only Mac which makes sense to use with external monitors - $2500 for the Mac Pro!! I was surprised - especially since the iMac seemed somewhat reasonably priced.

I operate at a lower dB level when I use a Mac. Windows brings out my best impersonation of an extra from 28 Days Later.

So true. Even though I use Linux myself (since I prefer it's flexibility and openness), I usually recommend a Mac to non-hackers who ask me for a recommendation on a new computer.

Disclosure: Author has a long position in AAPL

The whole thing read as if he was also on Apple's payroll.

This `Microsoft experience = viruses + popups + hardware problems` complaint may have been true as little as 5 years ago, but it certainly is no longer the case with XP SP2 and Vista, the author is being a bit dishonest here.

Doesn't invalidate his claim that Apple makes nice machines, though.

Viruses still overwhelmingly target windows, and though this is not related to the technical design of the OS, every manufacturer had their own crudded-up installation helped give windows a bad rep (re: popups).

It is still very true today. The worst cases I've seen are family computers where the kids will click "Yes" or "Allow" to any message they get on IE (thanks to their Vista training), basically installing every piece of malware imaginable. Then their parents wonder why it's so slow and get 20 popups "when they use the internet." sigh That's why I recommend Macs.

"Oh and where is the tower that comes with desktops? That's right. The Mac contains the whole computer in the monitor. You mean no wires? No pop-ups? No viruses? No freezing? I am pleased to say, No Sir, none of that. Life is great!!!!"

I laughed for a couple minutes. I'm sure this guy is probably middle-aged, still doesn't really have a clue how to use a computer (depsite thinking changing a few settings in the almighty Control Panel is serious hacking) and found the retardedly simple Mac interface a breath of fresh air.

edit: I have owned both a Powerbook and currently a Dell XPS-M1330. Both had their pros/cons, but neither really stood above the other. (Note: Have not tried Leopard yet)

"retardedly simple Mac interface"

Bold statement. But let's not start a mac/pc flame war. I think if we took a poll, you'd be surprised how many people on this board are using a mac (and would disagree).

How about us Ubuntu users? don't we count for anything these days? :-)

I was curious what his background was too. Turns out he's a 31 year old Wall Street analyst. Take from that what you will.

I wouldn't call the Mac interface retardedly simple, I'd call it intelligently simple--ever heard of Fitts' Law? or done anything in HCI?

Ah, so you're one of those people who still thinks Macs are only for artists, your grandma, and stupid people...

Released out of prison, straight into hell.

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