Torvalds, founder of the Linux open source movement, is sure to piss off a few Mac faithful. According to him, Leopard OS X 10.5 is, in some ways, worse than Windows Vista.
Worse than Windows Vista? Whatcha smokin’ there, Linus?
At the linux.conf.au conference in Melbourne, Australia, the chief Linux nerd was asked his opinions about OS X.
"I don’t think they’re equally flawed - I think Leopard is a much better system," he said. "(But) OS X in some ways is actually worse than Windows to program for. Their file system is complete and utter crap, which is scary."
He also ripped on Apple marketing, saying he didn’t think the release of a new operating system update should be cause for celebration and marketing. He thinks an OS should be completely invisible.
Torvalds Is Missing Something
For one, the idea that an OS should be completely invisible is completely contrary to the reality that is Linux. Linux, despite the testimony of some long-time Linux users, is NOT easy to use. Just try to set up dual screens in Ubuntu and you’ll see what a nasty experience it is. Linux is still very much reliant on the nerdy command line. I have TRIED to use various Linux variants many times and am constantly thwarted by Linux difficulties.
So, no, Linux is NOT invisible. For most people, it is staring right at them, throwing up barriers to getting things done. I know that that is likely to rile the feathers of Linux guys, but if what I were saying weren’t true, Linux would be much more popular than it is with end users.
I agree - an operating system should be invisible. It should not get in the way of getting things done. And that is precisely why I say OS X is a better operating system than Linux. And Windows as well.
Apple probably offends every fiber of the Linux fanboy mantra. The fact that Torvalds mentioned the marketing of Apple is case in point. Linux is anti-commercialism, and Apple marketing is notably very blatant. But, that anti-commercialism is exactly why Linux is not used by the end user very much.
Linux is awesome for flexibility, and most of the Internet wouldn’t exist without Linux. But, there is a place in the market for both Microsoft and Apple - and that is a place that, quite frankly, Linux will never fill as long as it adopts this philosophy of Linus Torvalds.
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Justin Hitchborn (hitchface) said:
2/5/2008 8:15 pm
It has been said before, but the goal of Linux isn’t to necessarily come into stride with Microsoft and Apple. Considering what Linux is, I’m amazed that it is as good as it is!
That aside, even though we can call OS X a mainstream OS, it will never be beside Windows, regardless of how good it is, or even how bad Windows gets. Even though Windows was a struggling OS in the beginning, it managed to pull through with critically good timing, and now dominates the market as though it got there 1st. Typically, the closest Apple will get to Microsoft in terms of OS market share is 25%, and that is all things considered even insofar as consumer awareness. This puts Linux in the below-13%-range, once again, assuming that all consumers even knew about Linux. Any other ‘freelancing’ OS out there would consume the remainder.
What this all amounts to is that Linus probably knows that he won’t be able to compete effectively, even if he tries, even if he makes all the right moves. I’d say he is in a comfortable spot to take pot shots at the market leaders.
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The Open Sourcerer said:
2/6/2008 4:59 am
What a completely stupid article.
You take a statement Linus made “…Their file system is complete and utter crap, which is scary.”
And turn it into “Mac OS X is ‘Utter Crap’” which is plainly not what he said at all. “…I think Leopard is a much better system”
You should try and write something interesting rather than just grabbing at headlines for /.
[Reply]
Akylax said:
2/6/2008 8:57 am
Er, pardon my pointing this out, but, contrary to your headline, he didn’t say that OSX was “utter crap.” He said that Leopard was a better operating system, but that its file system was crap.
I realize that, to fanboys, implying that any part of any Apple product is less than perfect is considered heresy, but at least *try* to stick with the truth, huh?
Ak
[Reply]
EJ said:
2/6/2008 9:45 am
While I’m no Apple disciple, your headline is, at the least, misleading, and at the worst, sensationalistic crap.
According to your story, Torvalds did not pronounce OS X “crap”, but it’s file system. There is a HUGE difference there, and you’re just trying to drum up hits with the misleading headline. Shame on you.
[Reply]
Adam said:
2/6/2008 11:03 am
When apple fan boys get insulted I guess they stop reading and start retaliating.
I use Linux…mostly because I am sick of windows. It can be a challenge to use at time but I actually enjoy that. It really teaches me more about computers and heck even a little patience.
I would love to have a mac for simplicity’s sake. I like the fact that apple took unix and completely dumbed it down for the average user and actually made it work. However if you want to dig deeper there is the good ole console.
I wish apple would come out with more affordable hardware…no way I am going to spend 1,100 on a Macbook with an 80gig hd and 1gig of ram. That much money in any other brand would net me a much more potent machine.
Don’t get me wrong but it seems like Steve Jobs could make a “poo” and sell it to someone for $1700
Linux has come leaps and bounds in the past few years and it still has quite a ways to go…but I think with what the Ubuntu people and a few others are doing will bring Linux into the limelight at some point.
Linux would be awesome if the development community only had to support about five different types of hardware. Heck windows would be awesome if M$ only had to do the same. Apple has their overpriced hardware on lock down so I don’t think it is a fare comparison. I mean Linux will practically run on a toaster! Think of the implications lol.
I am not trying to sling crap around here. I love apple. I love Linux. I like Windows (luke warm there). LOL. they are all pretty good.
Cant we all stop arguing and just get along?
forgive the poor grammar I am in a real hurry.
[Reply]
Cirvin said:
2/6/2008 4:42 pm
Linux is not an operating system.
It’s a kernel, a layer of code that abstracts the computer’s hardware. It manages the memory, the file systems, and other devices. What you see on the screen when you use a GNU/Linux system is either the command line shell (BASH or what have you) or the X window system.
You say that it’s hard (if not impossible) to set up dual monitors in Ubuntu, and as a regular Ubuntu user, I completely agree. The GUI configuration utility that Ubuntu uses is utterly worthless, However, to blame Linux is completely uncalled for. What’s really at fault is the X.org server and Canonical’s terrible configuration utility.
If you have an Nvidia card, they have their own utility for GNU/Linux systems that configures the X server with no trouble whatsoever.
In short, Linux is not an operating system. Just a part of it. Do some research before writing something like this.
[Reply]
David M said:
2/6/2008 8:17 pm
Interesting…Someone responsible for Linux calling Leopard crap. Who has the more popular OS? Why is the Apple OS more popular? I don’t even have to answer the question it is so obvious.
Some people want to know whats under the hood of a computer and how it works. Other people could care less and just want their computer to do what it is supposed to do..run software. The vast majority of people fall into the latter category…I know its hard for us geeks to understand that but Linux is for geeks…and Apple is not. You dont need to be a geek to use an Apple.
[Reply]
Michael said:
2/6/2008 9:37 pm
You’ve done Torvalds a disservice by misquoting him. I suggest you fix the headline to reflect the actual quote. In fairness to Apple fanboys everywhere, I don’t think anyone thinks HFS+ is anything other than hoary 1980’s technology that has been patched and extended until Apple can get ZFS to the point that it can reasonably replace HFS+. Interestingly ZFS, which is a highly-regarded file system from Sun Microsystems, will most likely never run on Linux because the license isn’t GPL compatible. I’d say Linus has about another year to poke fun at HFS+.
[Reply]
Gary Ooi said:
3/5/2008 10:11 am
Haha.. I think Linus s joking by saying OS X is worse than Vista! I don’t agree to that!
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