Two days ago I posted a fairly innocuous bit of self-analysis, looking at the change in my own attitudes about the cost of software over the last few years of being a Linux user. It’s critical of the Windows ecosystem, and to a lesser extent the Mac ecosystem, but it’s pretty mild criticism as I go. I’ve written far harsher posts on that subject. But for some reason this one is attracting some fairly vitriolic Windows defenders in the comments section. One guy came in from the link on tuxmachines.org; I don’t know how the others found me. But this particular article seemed to bring out some strong defensive reactions, including some categorical exaggerations or outright falsehoods: There is free software OR good software; all apps run better under Windows; Windows is more stable than Linux; and so forth. These people are riled up.
Why is this? I can think of three possible reasons:
- The issue of high cost is a sore spot with Windows users, and they feel a psychological need to defend it.
- Windows partisans see this particular post (wrongly) as an argument that one should use Linux only because it’s free, and think this position is vulnerable to attack.
- Sheer coincidence that I just happened to get a few extra pissed-off drive-by commenters this time.
I’m not sure which if any of these is the correct explanation. But it certainly seems to have hit a nerve.
Update: Comments are now closed on this post and the one that preceded it. This is to prevent myself from continuing to argue to no further effect. I regret that I allowed myself to be drawn into the argument in the first place. You may interpret this lack of self-control as a character flaw if you choose; draw whatever conclusions you like.
Update 02/01/2010: Now that things have cooled down, I’m reopening the comments.
Cognitive dissonance. “This cost me an arm and a leg and I am not an idiot, ergo it must be valuable”. Windows is thus a luxury good (Veblen, isn’t it?). The same mechanism may power unreasonable Mac nationalism.
I don’t know from Linux, but some functions — some as in “I can think of two” — work better in Windows than in OSX, which is not a fact that can be conveyed to the Applenik fraternity without there being much screeching and throwing of fæces.
4. You’re just another pretentious Linux user who thinks he’s superior because he downloaded an installation CD.
“There is free software OR good software.”
This type of nonsense is the reason people are commenting here. I didn’t see anyone say that. What I saw was “most free software on Linux is poor quality” which is so very true. Hey, FreeBSD is free. I’m not bashing BSD. Most people that hate Linux don’t hate BSD.
One of the reasons few people bash BSD is that BSD users aren’t out making false statements about their operating systems. Linux users typically believe and state that they’ve got an OS that is better than Windows on the desktop and that is completely false. You believe Linux on the desktop is cheaper than Windows. For you, that may be true. For most people, the time to deal with all the Linux BS is a much higher cost than just paying for a license.
The problem with Linux is that there is a plethora of software for it, but only a fraction of it is quality software. Worse, one of the poorest pieces of software under Linux is X. Now, that’s a big problem if you want to run modern GUI software, because pretty much all GUI software on Linux has to run through X. Almost every time I’ve brought up the fact that X freezes and crashes constantly, some Linux fanatic will say “That’s X, not Linux!” Sorry dudes, but having a solid kernel does me no good if all the user space programs crash. I guess with Linux we are just supposed to run the kernel and not do anything on the machine.
Time for stronger glasses, then:
And that makes you what? Another snotty Windows user who thinks popularity proves quality? I bet you buy American Idol contestant CDs too.
“Time for stronger glasses, then”
Interesting, because that comment you quoted says pretty much what I said. Not what you are saying.
Oh well, that’s why we take delight in mocking the Linux cult. Always seeing what they want to see and always having to twist words to try and make some kind of point.
Enjoy yourself while it lasts.
But… “rather than” indicates a choice between options. I like chocolate ice cream rather than vanilla. I like girls rather than boys. Adam King indicates some people use good software rather than free software (and implies that others use free software rather than good software). Free software? No thank you, I’d rather use good software. If that is not what he meant, then he did a poor job expressing it.
I’m going to shut off the comments to these two threads in a few hours, because I really didn’t intend either of them to turn into a flame war or pissing contest. But you can have the last word if you want, so better hurry up and get your last shot in.
Um… the quote is:
“you lot think that (free)price always trumps quality”
Note that “always” in there? Think that word might have something to do with what he is saying?
I don’t know you personally, but most in the Linux community claim to believe in free speech. I find it deliciously ironic that you are going to shut off the comments just because you don’t like what you are reading. It’s also nothing new to me. Hey, it’s your site, but if you believe in free speech it is rather funny that when it is in your power, you choose to disallow it. Again, I’m not going to lump you in with the crowd. We’re all individuals. But, it is funny nonetheless.
If I didn’t like what I was reading and wanted to shut you down, why would I have invited you to have the last word and post again? Why wouldn’t I just have deleted your comments entirely?
It’s not because I don’t like what I’m reading; it’s because a flame war is a major time suck and feels nasty, and I’d rather not get pulled any further into it, just like this. You’ve said your piece, I’ve said mine, people can draw their own conclusions. Anything further is just trading vitriol; lots of heat, very little light. It’s already turned into a contest to see who can be a bigger asshole to the other. Do you want that? I really don’t.
Now, once again, I’ll leave it open for another few hours so that you really can have the last word, and then I’m going to close the comments and move on.
Who’s being an asshole? What flame war? I’ve very nicely pointed out why people are commenting on your blog and you seem to be upset by that. Oh well.