Categories
Computers and social media

Operating system flamewars

As a longtime Mac head, I’m always rather amused by just how emotionally invested people become over a mere tool like an operating system for a computer. A reminder of this popped up over at Pharyngula today, when in the course of echoing a call from the Mothership for reminiscences of the primitive computers we old farts of ScienceBlogs, P.Z. mentioned how excited he was that the new Macintosh OS (OS X 10.5, a.k.a. Leopard) is being released tomorrow, finishing with an off-handed comment about how Leopard is going to haul Windows up a tree and eat it for lunch.

As is typical whenever the topic comes up, a rather–shall we say?–heated discussion broke out in the comments between Mac heads and Ubuntu and Linux geeks. Oddly enough, there was almost nary a supporter of Windows Vista to be found (although the Mac bashers did make an appearance).

So, at the risk of having the same thing happening here (first abortion, now mentioning how much I like the Mac OS–I’m asking for trouble today, aren’t I?), I echo some of P.Z.’s anticipation. However, I do plan on waiting at least a couple of weeks to see how things shake out and make sure there aren’t any major bugs or major applications that I use that break. Then, you can bet that I’ll be upgrading both my Mac Pro and my MacBook.

Oh, and the only way they’ll get me to stop using my Mac is if they pry it from my cold, dead hands.

By Orac

Orac is the nom de blog of a humble surgeon/scientist who has an ego just big enough to delude himself that someone, somewhere might actually give a rodent's posterior about his copious verbal meanderings, but just barely small enough to admit to himself that few probably will. That surgeon is otherwise known as David Gorski.

That this particular surgeon has chosen his nom de blog based on a rather cranky and arrogant computer shaped like a clear box of blinking lights that he originally encountered when he became a fan of a 35 year old British SF television show whose special effects were renowned for their BBC/Doctor Who-style low budget look, but whose stories nonetheless resulted in some of the best, most innovative science fiction ever televised, should tell you nearly all that you need to know about Orac. (That, and the length of the preceding sentence.)

DISCLAIMER:: The various written meanderings here are the opinions of Orac and Orac alone, written on his own time. They should never be construed as representing the opinions of any other person or entity, especially Orac's cancer center, department of surgery, medical school, or university. Also note that Orac is nonpartisan; he is more than willing to criticize the statements of anyone, regardless of of political leanings, if that anyone advocates pseudoscience or quackery. Finally, medical commentary is not to be construed in any way as medical advice.

To contact Orac: [email protected]

Comments are closed.

Discover more from RESPECTFUL INSOLENCE

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading