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Bane of the PC

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BobTheHob:
Have any of you ever thought about how the biggest problem with UNIX/Linux on the PC seems to be Hardware support and lack of proper drivers? I'm sure many of you have noticed but not given it any time in thinking. I myself have realized recently a controversial argument.

What if we shouldent even be expecting support from hardware manufactures, what if the PC should infact be running only Windows and no other OS? Don't get the wrong idea, I'm not saying leave UNIX/Linux, quite the reverse in fact, I'm saying leave the PC.

I have heard discussion before entailing the way Apple with MacOS is different because they control their hardware. What if this was not the fact, but in fact they were no different from every other OS company. Alas, if you think about it, every Platform has its own majority OS, a monopoly of sorts. MIPS has its IRIX, SPARC has Sun, PPC has MacOS. You don't see SGI driver support for NetBSD, Sun supporting drivers for FreeBSD, or even Apple for Yellow Dog.

I'm know all of you know all to well the monopoly charges against Microsoft. We all know Microsoft basically has free reign of hardware changes on the PC. What if this aspect was exactly how it is supossed to be, what if it is morally correct? Think about it, all the other Platforms are controlled by the OS makers. The OS makers on these platforms choose the availible hardware. Yes, I'm saying maybe Microsoft is not a monopoly in some ways (albeit not many), although I will still concur with you all that it is an evil corporation till the day i die.

Join me in the quest for the alternative platform. The cold hard truth is as far as the PC goes, Windows will always be the majority. Maybe we were all on the wrong platform. The PC is well known for being cheap, for price, but also quality. You all deserve better than the PC platform. The only pc i have left is a laptop, and today is the day I'm calling to finance a shiny new UltraSPARC laptop, that will be the latest to by expanding collection. I now have four HP-UX, and one SGI IRIX. I have to say I have never been happier.

What many don't realize is that by paying more for a workstation like a Sun or SGI pays out in the longrun. They will last you for year and years, still operating and performing useful tasks. Other platforms don't have hardware that is outdated in a mere six monthes. A purchase is well worth it. Using OS's that are so well funded that arent windows is possible on these other platforms. Sure games are lacking for IRIX, but if the game devs will port to other platforms, SGI's today could play with better graphics than any new PC in the next 3 years. Sure we are making efforts to run games on alternive OS's, but why waste the time when other platforms are better. Most of you that had PC's when you were little remember how expensive they back then, people can afford it, that shows it. Many of these expensive workstations are availible with very flexible payment options. With my laptop I have my choice of a lease or financing or rent to own, many options with each even.

Join me in the abandonment of the PC platform. Just using an alternitive OS is not enough. For even to build or buy a PC without using windows is still fueling the PC revelution, its an endless cycle. What is in motion stays in motion actually applys here although in merly a theoretical sense, the best that is microsoft will only be stopped by starvation.

toadlife:
no thanks. I like cheap commodity hardware. It's possible to build high quality PC's that last upwards of 5-7 years using good brand name parts (ASUS/Kingston/Crucial/Seagate/Antec/Etc.).

Aloone_Jonez:
Yes I agree look at this thread. I'm glad we're not all using Macs as things would be a lot worse. Microsoft don't have complete control over the hardware like Mac do. Imagine having only one choice of harware and software company that would be really fucked up at least we only have to put up with a software company being a monopoly.

BobTheHob:

--- Quote from: Aloone_Jonez ---Yes I agree look at this thread. I'm glad we're not all using Macs as things would be a lot worse. Microsoft don't have complete control over the hardware like Mac do. Imagine having only one choice of harware and software company that would be really fucked up at least we only have to put up with a software company being a monopoly.
--- End quote ---
Macs arent the only other platform besides PC you know. I can think of several platforms that blows macs out the water. You seem to be missing the point though, mac is not the only one who does that. I mean come on, I wrote two whole paragraphs in there about that alone. You may not know it, but Microsoft does control the hardware for the most part albiet indirectly. You can bet if microsoft holds a conference stating that things need to be done this way, thats how it will be.

piratePenguin:
If I had one of these not-Mac, not-PC computers... I'd more than likely want to get GNU/Linux on it.
Would that be a bad idea?

How much do these other computers cost anyhow?

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