Why switching to the Mac is a better idea... for now.

I read a blog post, "Switch to Ubuntu Linux not Apple Mac OS", where the author cited several issues that justify his stand. Switchers, mostly from Windows, are often left with two choices, either the more expensive Mac OS X or the free Unix variants, e.g., Linux, Solaris, BSD. However, it is not always easy to switch. One has to consider a lot of things and whilst the author of the blog post above has pointed out valid arguments, I am wondering if he has ever used Mac OS X at full length, even for a full 24 hour period. Let's see some of his points.

Point 1.

Ubuntu has a large number of hardware drivers in it making it very close to being the best distro for plug-n-play. In fact in a few areas it surpasses the great Apple Mac OS. Here’s an example. The Linksys WUSB54GC USB Wireless Adapter worked out of the box on Ubuntu 8.04 whereas in Mac OS it did not.

This point is valid but not entirely. For one thing, Linux is rapidly gaining ground in getting the support of device manufacturers. The author's argument that the Linksys WUSB54GC USB Wireless Adapter did not work on the Mac is because IT DOES NOT NEED TO. Almost all shipping Macs have built-in WiFi support already so it DOES NOT MAKE SENSE for Linksys to invest time and money making a device driver for the Mac OS X.

If this were a USB HSDPA modem, then I will definitely agree, since device manufacturers concentrate on providing Windows drivers, if not exclusively. However, do not be discouraged since it was not that long when Windows VISTA users were on the same boat - that of not having device drivers for their favorite peripherals.

Point 2.

In the look and feel department, Linux has improved in leaps and bounds. In Gnome and KDE you have two of the best windowing systems. With the KDE 4.1.1 environment, users get a light, responsive, and aesthetically appealing desktop that can rival even the Mac OS. Also with Compiz it is possible to extract effects from a Linux desktop that were hitherto unavailable on any other system. I doubt it exists in the Mac.

Again, I agree that the UI has improved considerably over the past two years. However, the Mac OS X still stands as the ultimate in end-user computing experience. Otherwise, why would Mark Shuttleworth set his eyes on the Mac OS X?

Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, has historically been very, very deferential to what we call our upstream communities – GNOME, KDE, and so on – in the definition of the desktop experience. Our view, very strongly, is that they hold the real expertise in defining that. And that, as a distribution, our primary job is to be a very efficient conductor of their good work into the hands of users. Which sometimes sounds like mooching, but in fact it’s a very significant and serious responsibility and implies a tremendous amount of work when it’s done well. And we sort of specialized in doing that, playing that role: we’re a conductor and our highest goal is to not get in the way.

Because we’ve increasingly been engaged in the definition of the desktop experience for some of these consumer electronics products, however, we’re now in a position to actually start engaging with those upstreams and investing in that desktop experience.

And so we started to build out a team that will focus on the specific user experiences that your reader is probably referring to, and our goal, very simply, is to make sure the Free software ecosystem can deliver a Mac OS-like experience, or an experience that will compete with the Mac OS.

C'mon, let's face it, Linux's desktop experience is improving... it is just not there yet.

I don't know but I have been using Ubuntu Linux and Mac OS X for quite awhile already and I must say that each one has its strengths and weaknesses. However, for switchers, unless switchers are power users, Linux, even Ubuntu, may be a tad complicated to use.

Some issues to consider for switchers:

1. Cost. The only way to use Mac OS X legitimately is to buy new hardware that comes with it. If you have investment in hardware, I recommend getting Linux. No point in getting a hacked Mac OS X installer.


2. Support. The open source community has plenty of support -- but only if you know how to use it. A single point of contact for support is what you pay for when you buy a Mac. Yes, you read that right - you PAY for it. However, this does not mean that you do not have communities that can help you for free.


3. Software Management. If you are like me who loves to try out new software often, then the software package management system used by the Mac is far better than Synaptic or apt-get. On the Mac, you simply drag the software package to the trash bin, locate the preference (plist) files and delete it and that is it - software gone. On Linux, whilst it has been point-and-click easier now, you may still encounter issues with library dependencies.
   
   On the plus side, on Linux you have the benefit of having a single point of access for software that you want to install. Just point and click and your software is already there. This system is also available on the Mac, at least for open source software that have been ported to run on it.


4. Hardware drivers. Whilst it has been pointed above that Linux is getting support for a lot of software drivers, I always find myself tinkering with the kernel, i.e., compiling, unloading and loading device drivers, to make some stuff work. Don't deny the fact that Linux needs some tinkering still - no matter how you look at it. Whilst this may be ideal for the power users, for ordinary consumers, this is just a waste of time.


5. Freedom. This one is where Linux bests all other popular OS out there. HOWEVER, owning a Mac now does not prevent you from running Linux as well. On my Macbook Pro, I run Ubuntu Linux-based GOS on top of Mac OS X. I enjoy the best of both worlds without having to worry that work will be disrupted because I could find or configure the proper Linux driver for my network card or something.

So, it is all about choice (and money). My take here - if you can afford it, get a Mac and run Ubuntu Linux on it alongside Mac OS X. Once Linux gets easier to use and competes with the Mac on end-user computing experience, then maybe, just maybe, it will be my prime OS of choice.