Angryoptimist

http://robhuebel.com/post/274244625/sharks-with-people-teeth

( CD burned for driving )

So, I was googling for some kind of OSX API compatibility layer for Linux, like WINE, when I came across this.

Now, before I go any further, I'd like to disclose two things:

• what I typically use and why, and
• why exactly I was looking for such a layer in the first place.

To the first, I use Debian. It is what you'd call a 'Linux distribution', though they pack a few other kernels that I'm aware of. I use it because it's the only system that doesn't frustrate me into not wanting to use a computer, and when I say that, I mean:

• it's reliable
• it has very nearly any kind and sort of software package I could possibly want
• it's current and regularly updated
• it has the fewest crippling issues and annoyances of any OS that I've used
• setup from scratch is quick and easy
• as is movement and backup of configuration from system to system
• quick backup of configuration is startlingly complete and easy to do without hunting much
• hardware compatibility is good, drivers are automatic and stable
• honestly, there are virtually no barriers to me doing whatever pops into my head with my machine at any given time--things are just easier to do

Understand, I'm pretty satisfied with my choice. It has what I need, and does a great deal more of what I want than anything else.

So, the second thing. I play this game. It's available for two platforms: Windows and Mac OSX. I can run it on Windows. That isn't a problem. It also "Wines well", which is misleading, since Wine generally only works as well as Windows, at best, and Windows is a tragedy. So, I was looking into something similar for Mac OSX, because Mac OSX is somewhat less of a tragedy than Windows. I've looked for such a thing once before (for the exact same reason), but no such thing existed. The software library available for most distribution is larger and more complete than what's available for Mac OSX, even when you filter for quality. Simply put, nobody cares enough to make such a layer. I mean, hell, look at my own case: I only wanted such a thing in order to run a single program.

So, while I was looking about (finding that no layer exists, of course), I came upon that Slashdot article in the beginning.

And on that article, there were comments.

And in those comments, there were people suggesting the man was a fool for even wanting to run Linux on a Macbook, or, indeed, for wanting Linux over OSX. That Linux was a 'lawnmower' to OSX's 'Lamborghini'.

I won't lie and say that doesn't irritate me. I've used all the major operating systems. I don't think I'd every characterize OSX as a 'Lamborghini', and I sure as hell wouldn't characterize Linux as a 'lawnmower'. I'd think of OSX more as a Bently, and Linux more as a M1A2. An M1A2 that could fly and be used as an atmospheric reentry vehicle.

Now, I admit, it could all be just trolling, but one must remember that an Apple product is involved--we might be dealing with Mac users and, in that case, all rationality goes out the window. With that in mind, I'd just like to put something on the record here, just to make things perfectly clear.

Mac OSX is not superior to 'Linux'. There are perfectly legitimate reasons to choose 'Linux' over OSX, some of them being:

• greater freedom and control over your machine
• absolutely enormous software library that is constantly growing
• somewhat greater general capability
• wider hardware support
• ease of use, as opposed to 'ease of learning'

Really, most of the really cool things Mac OSX can do come from the similarity it has to Free operating systems on a technical level and a sharing of community. I don't need my computer to be pretty, I just want it to work better.

Happy Birthday, everyone other than me.

OH WAIT

Hi guys.

The time of the Panchos dinner on Saturday the 12th is now 5:30 to 7:30. Let me know if this is a problem.