July 10, 2007
Why I Dislike Apple and Linux (Not Really) and Like Microsoft (Really)
Macs suck! Linux sucks twice! I hate them both! Microsoft rules! Prove me wrong. Actually, I don’t really believe that, but if you’ve met me professionally you’d think I do. I’ve been a Microsoft enthusiast for a long time. I actually really enjoy the platform. So if you read a little bit about me and maybe visit my web site you’ll find that I have had a history of education and professional experience on the Microsoft platforms. From DOS to Vista.
NOTE: Okay, I started writing this post a couple days ago. A few things have changed, you can read my previous post on Ubuntu Linux to see what I’m talking about. In good faith, I am editing and publishing this post using my Ubuntu laptop. See, I’m open! :)
The whole OS thing is an easy debate to fall into. It’s fun and it gives you a chance to flex your mental muscles. But for many it is a personal, ethical battle to fight. People can get aggressive, people can get defensive.
So, since I’ve been having this faux debate with my younger techie brother (he’s a Mac guy) for the last few years I thought I’d share some of my views and start some faux arguments or, even better, some discussion on here.
During my history I’ve evaluated or administered a number of operating systems… Mac, Linux, Solaris, BSD, BeOS, CaOS (that’s for you Tom), and maybe one or two others. Personally, as a software developer I’ve always come back to Microsoft. I think there’s a few reasons why:
- Visual Studio is amazing, especially the current versions. I’ve tried environments from Borland Builder to Eclipse, from Sun to IBM. Microsoft with Visual Studio takes the cake and 2005 is great, minus a couple performance issues (I’m glad I have a fast desktop).
- A coordinated community and support network. Microsoft, starting with MSDN and branching out to many other online and offline networks, communities, and resources has an amazing level of information and assistance that developers can tap into. Their discussion groups and news groups have active Microsoft employed developers as well as MVPs to converse with. The resources are vast and coordinated. And the outside network of resources is phenomenal.
- Software design. Microsoft has developed a lot of pioneering technologies, like the FOSS community they have evolved and matured over time. Microsoft introduced the technology that allows Ajax to exist, developed the .Net framework, extended the development platform tightly to Microsoft Office, SQL Server, Exchange, etc., and Vista has some interesting new implications for software developers.
- End to end integration. Microsoft attempts, not always successfully, to provide an end to end experience between operating systems that is consistent. From mobile, to embedded, to desktop, to server. This consistency also applies to software development, even more so now with the .Net and mobile .Net frameworks as well as Silverlight.
- From a business perspective, there is a huge market of users on the Windows platform. If you are breaking into the corporate environment, Windows is almost mandatory. In addition the Microsoft partner programs are also amazing, for example check out the Microsoft Action Pack Subscription for small businesses. I also like the MSDN subscription for development organizations.
I’ve chosen to not try and get into the technical merits of the platforms, that’s a big topic and has so much contextual necessity that it would be of little value.
So I’ve got my Ubuntu device all setup and am going to use it as my general machine for a while and keep the Vista computers for development for a while. Immersion.
In a few months I’ll get myself a MacBook and see what this Leopard thing is all about. Sometime next year I’m sure I’ll have something interesting to say about this stuff. If you have any suggestions on readings to check out or applications to install, let me know!
One thing I think will remain constant for at least the next five years… Microsoft provides the best overall development experience and Windows is the largest target market for software.
Would you buy ice cream from the local street merchant if you new he was sprinkling cocaine on his cones? No, you wouldn’t and you would warn everybody to stay away from his ice cream no matter how “good” it tasted. It’s fundamentally no different for Microsoft. They just use different methods for “lock-in”.
If you like the “taste” of Microsoft then by all means use it. Just try to realize what’s really going on.
Thanks for being the first unsolicited commenter on my new blog!
Yes, I see what’s going on and I agree with you.
I do understand the nature of proprietary industry, in software as well as others. My iPod, my gMail account, my Calabria Pro V, my Zune, my Dodge, my Dell laptop, my gym membership, etc. They all do it to me.
They all provide a service or product that I have to commit to. I have to invest myself, my time, and my money into it. There is a high barrier to exit. But it’s worth it to me. I like my gadgets, I like my cars, I like my boat, and I like my gym membership.
I pay for proprietary products and services with “lock-ins” because the services are valuable to me. Are there alternatives? Yes, I could run Linux (I do), or run in the park (I do), or listen to FM radio (I do), or walk or bike (I do). But that doesn’t mean I don’t find value in proprietary products and services that “lock” me in.
I like all the “free” and “open” services but they don’t provide the same level of value for me in my chosen field, software development.
Here’s a related example, I started blogging with blogger.com. I didn’t like feeling locked into their system so now I host my own WordPress installation. The open alternative was of greater value to me.
I see what’s going on, yes, I lock myself in to Microsoft professionally all the time. I do it consciously because it’s the best option for me and it provides value that I haven’t found elsewhere.
Here’s an example follow up as to the value organizations get with closed software.
http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/07/17/1815210&from=rss
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