From a NY Times Bestseller

[Chris Linstid]

On Jul 11, 2006, at 6:33 PM, Ben Scott wrote:

> On 7/11/06, Chris Linstid <clinstid at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Apple's computers haven't really been proprietary for quite a while
>> now.  ... it's a combination of the controlled set of
>> hardware and software ...
>
>  That's the very definition of "proprietary" in my book.
>

Well, more specifically they have a controlled set of standard, off  
the shelf hardware... so I wouldn't call it proprietary per se, but I  
see your point.  I guess you could say the collection of hardware and  
software is proprietary, even if a majority of the individual pieces  
aren't.

>
>  Controlling things so tightly necessarily means the opportunities
> for competition are reduced.  That's one contributor to the higher
> prices you note.
>
>  Apple's tight control also tends to offend the sensibilities of
> many, myself included.  We prefer more control, or at least, the
> illusion of more control.  Once reason for my preference for
> Linux/FOSS.
>

For me at least, I just got tired of configuring everything.  I found  
it easier to just find an interface I could live with and conform to  
it.  The only reason I use a Mac at all is because I got sick of  
laptop after laptop not fully working in Linux.  You can always  
install Linux on Macs and be free of the fascist Apple regime.

>  The quote "Unix was not designed to stop its users from doing stupid
> things, as that would also stop them from doing clever things" is
> somewhat appropriate here.
>
> -- Ben "Stupid more often than clever" Scott

Yes, but as my family's free tech support (and I'm sure many people  
on this list are in the same boat), I would argue that a great  
majority of people who use computers are better off not trying to do  
something clever. :)

	- Chris


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