@Gabriel: but lets look at the MACH(derivative at least)/MAC system. It is a standard kernel not developed by apple, that is running an apple built gui
This is mostly untrue. Apple did not create the original version of Mach, but it has been actively developing its own derivative of it for some time. It's not as if Apple is just doing the window manager on top or anything like that. If you poke around the sources for 'xnu' in Darwin you'll see what's going on.
In any case, I know Linux is very flexible and the kernel is not married to the window manager or desktop environment. I started using Linux ten years ago (along with SunOS, Solaris and FreeBSD). There's a lot to like. None of this is specific to Linux, of course. The same can be said for any Unix-based system.
I do think the overall difference in experience between Linux and the Mac is more significant than you say. But even if that wasn't true, there are some other big factors: Cocoa, TextMate, Final Cut, iLife, iTunes.
My verdict, let linux grow, let mac grow
Yep. I agree.
As for the hardware thing, you might have a point about the 15" laptop, but it's a tricky balancing act for Apple. If they had a 15" MacBook and a 15" MacBook Pro, consumers would be very confused. Their options are either to eliminate the pro features entirely or eliminate the low end entirely. It seems the current solution is an attempt to split the difference.
On the desktop side, I don't think there's a market for an entry level tower. Clearly some professionals need four hard drives and such, but that's what the Mac Pro is for. I'm not sure what an entry-level consumer looking to spend $1000 would do with all of that empty space. What would they put in the tower? The iMac seems like a better fit at that price range.
by Scott Stevenson — Mar 11
This is mostly untrue. Apple did not create the original version of Mach, but it has been actively developing its own derivative of it for some time. It's not as if Apple is just doing the window manager on top or anything like that. If you poke around the sources for 'xnu' in Darwin you'll see what's going on.
In any case, I know Linux is very flexible and the kernel is not married to the window manager or desktop environment. I started using Linux ten years ago (along with SunOS, Solaris and FreeBSD). There's a lot to like. None of this is specific to Linux, of course. The same can be said for any Unix-based system.
I do think the overall difference in experience between Linux and the Mac is more significant than you say. But even if that wasn't true, there are some other big factors: Cocoa, TextMate, Final Cut, iLife, iTunes.
My verdict, let linux grow, let mac grow
Yep. I agree.
As for the hardware thing, you might have a point about the 15" laptop, but it's a tricky balancing act for Apple. If they had a 15" MacBook and a 15" MacBook Pro, consumers would be very confused. Their options are either to eliminate the pro features entirely or eliminate the low end entirely. It seems the current solution is an attempt to split the difference.
On the desktop side, I don't think there's a market for an entry level tower. Clearly some professionals need four hard drives and such, but that's what the Mac Pro is for. I'm not sure what an entry-level consumer looking to spend $1000 would do with all of that empty space. What would they put in the tower? The iMac seems like a better fit at that price range.