On the interface issue: the big problem here is that the UI is where Apple did a lot of interesting and original work (read: they spent a crapload of money on it). Apple’s HIG (Human Interface Guidelines) are well thought through and are strictly enforced. The reason the OS X desktop feels so polished is that all OS X programs must adhere to the HIG. Apple can therefore almost enforce a uniform look and feel for the desktop.

That is both a strength and a weakness. What happens if I want to do things differently than the One Way (TM) which Apple tells me is best for me? It’s a hell of a schlep to change anything substantial about the UI.

I’ll be totally frank and tell you that I’m a bit of a desktop environment whore… I alternate between Gnome, KDE, wmii, Enlightenment, XFCE, and always looking for cool design elements. I find Mac OS X’s Aqua sort of okay, but not something I’d want to do on an empty stomach, and especially not while having to quickly sort out a technical issue that a colleague or friend is having on their Macbook. Try explaining to a non-technical designer what a command line is…

A.

I was being ever so slightly facetious when I called OSX a “Mac skinned Linux OS”.

But on the other hand, maybe it’s still on the cards for some open source junkies to clone Mac’s interface on Linux? Apple will be livid, but there will be ZERO they can do about it, except seethe.

I would upgrade every 6 months, IF there was an appreciable difference. I’m not sure the development cycles are that short.

I want to get a 64 bit PC as a second PC, and yes, I plan to run Linux.

You’re partly correct and partly incorrect. Apple does use PC architecture, and their build quality used to be a lot higher than the competition, but these days a high-end Dell or HP can compete on that level too.

There is a misconception that Mac OS X is Linux-based. This is patently untrue, as I will explain:

Linux is a Free (as in Speech, not Free as in Beer) version of the commercial Unix operating systems. Linux is published under the Gnu Public License, or GPL. This license allows you access to the source code under the condition that you share back your improvements with the community.

Mac OS X is derived from a different Unix clone called BSD Unix. This clone is published under the BSD license, which allows you access to the source code with very few restrictions, so you do not need to share anything back to the community. This allows for all kinds of exploitation by evil corporations:

- Microsoft used the BSD Unix TCP/IP stack to provide TCP/IP connectivity in Windows for the better part of the decade. Microsoft is actually the biggest user of open source software in the world, if you count that :-)

- Nashua and other printer companies use BSD for the embedded OS on those big multifunction machines.

- Apple used BSD to make this awesome OS and get away with not actually sharing the code with the community on whose work they based this whole thing.

- I could go on all day…

Mac OS X is, therefore, definitely not a “Mac skinned Linux OS”.

On the hardware replacement side: there are already companies making their living out of leasing PCs to other companies and just replacing with upgrades every 6 months or something.

Lastly, on 64-bit: don’t bother, unless you’re going to run Linux. Windows (even 64-bit) does not really take advantage of this processor’s capabilities. I’d even hesitate to use it for a Linux desktop, unless you’re going to be doing video editing or something that requires heavy number crunching.

Hope this helps :-)

PS. Chris, which HP did you get?

Now the hardware is Intel based and the Mac OS is Linux based.

OSX is Linux with a Mac skin.

You can now hack a Mac and make it run Windows if you want to.

People pay more for Mac because of its brand and because of its Mac skinned Linux OS.

Do you remember when people used to pay a premium for “brand name” PCs such as IBM, Compaq, Dell, HP etc.?

Sorry, I just do not see any percentage in paying a premium for a brand name PC when 18 months later I am going to junk it in favour of the latest technology.

In fact PC hardware is becoming so darn cheap, that I think IT workers such as ourselves are going to start replacing PCs every 12 months soon.

I’m considering making the jump to 64 bit architecture though.

You’re on a mac buddy. Sit back and relax and watch the world burn. Unless you’ve installed windows on that machine, you’re sitting behind a pretty big wall (not a perfect wall, but a pretty darn big one). If you HAVE installed windows on your mac, well, you get what’s comin’ for ya :)