Ask HN: Anyone else planning to head back to Microsoft? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Anyone else planning to head back to Microsoft?

#91

Post by jinushaun » Fri, May 22, 2015, 5:32 PM UTC

stoolio wrote: post #86

rgacote wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not only the base Unix underpinnings, but the sheer lack of support tools on Windows vs. Mac is frustrating. - network problems? just try a quick curl (not on Windows) - did a file transfer properly? do a quick md5 hash (not on Windows) - need to do some quick data manipulation? write a quick Perl, Python, or Ruby script (not on Windows) - connect to one of our remote servers? bring up terminal and ssh (not on Window…

I have pretty much all of those tools on windows and all I needed to do was install Git for Windows, which is super easy. It was a bit more work to set ansicon + Console2/ConsoleZ (although cmder might be an easier option), but now I can use standard bash scripts and do most of what I need easy. In addition, this process was a one time deal. It's not like you have to set it up each time you want to ssh somewhere. Why…

Git and Console2 are the first things I install after Chrome on Windows, but Git Bash only gets you so far. You quickly run into a wall because Git Bash is not Unix.

Although my opinion of OSX has soured with each new unstable version, it's hard to give up the Unix underpinning + mainstream app combo (Office and Creative Suite). PowerShell with Unix aliases aren't the same.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone else planning to head back to Microsoft?

#92

Post by raphar » Fri, May 22, 2015, 6:16 PM UTC

jacquesm wrote: post #14

Not a chance. Once bitten twice shy. Switching to an all-open-source ecosystem did not come without costs but now that I'm there I'd have to make all those costs again and run the risk of another repetition. Open source software is about as stress free as it gets and less stress is a good thing in my book, a factor they never mention in those 'total cost of ownership' graphs. Stuff usually just works, usually works g…

I was bitten too and I'll probably avoid their products & platforms in the future. What I see very positive from them is the act of contributing back. Perhaps they are maturing...

Nonetheless, you can be a SOB of a profit and world domination seeking corporation and embrace open source at the same time. Think Oracle or Google (and many others).

Also I fear this new wave a little bit more.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone else planning to head back to Microsoft?

#93

Post by WorldWideWayne » Fri, May 22, 2015, 6:17 PM UTC

rgacote wrote: post #51

a2tech wrote: post #17

Nope. The Unix underpinnings of OS X are way too valuable for me. Powershell is (imho) a verbose mess and is the current best attempt at making a working scripting language for Windows. I use Powershell all the time but its..inelegant. Give me bash scripting any time. MS is always flirting with new technologies and sexy R&D, but at their heart they're never going to change.

Not only the base Unix underpinnings, but the sheer lack of support tools on Windows vs. Mac is frustrating. - network problems? just try a quick curl (not on Windows) - did a file transfer properly? do a quick md5 hash (not on Windows) - need to do some quick data manipulation? write a quick Perl, Python, or Ruby script (not on Windows) - connect to one of our remote servers? bring up terminal and ssh (not on Window…

I bet you still have to install things that you need on your Mac though. Why the false dichotomy then? Install what you need on Windows and you'll be able to do all of those things.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone else planning to head back to Microsoft?

#94

Post by Pent » Fri, May 22, 2015, 6:28 PM UTC

WorldWideWayne wrote: post #93

rgacote wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not only the base Unix underpinnings, but the sheer lack of support tools on Windows vs. Mac is frustrating. - network problems? just try a quick curl (not on Windows) - did a file transfer properly? do a quick md5 hash (not on Windows) - need to do some quick data manipulation? write a quick Perl, Python, or Ruby script (not on Windows) - connect to one of our remote servers? bring up terminal and ssh (not on Window…

I bet you still have to install things that you need on your Mac though. Why the false dichotomy then? Install what you need on Windows and you'll be able to do all of those things.

I find that you can get the same types of programs on Windows, but you have to deal with every UI being a unique snowflake and the (subjectively) high chance of malware from my experience.

Also the installing of CLI programs seems to be really hacky through powershell.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone else planning to head back to Microsoft?

#95

Post by WorldWideWayne » Fri, May 22, 2015, 6:40 PM UTC

lsiunsuex wrote: post #3

When Windows 10 comes out I'll probably pull the trigger and get a Microsoft Surface for testing, but I don't think I'll ever leave OS X for Windows. (to name a few) 1: Recently helped a friend install a new hard drive in a Lenovo Edge 15 only to find out the laptop has problems with Crucial SSDs (it brought back to many driver / hardware compatibility issues from my past jobs) 2: Features like Dashboard, Expose, Not…

1. At least you can replace the hard drive easily in a PC. I had to remove 21 screws with a special screw driver to get an SSD into my MBP.

2. Windows doesn't need Expose because Alt+Tab actually works. There are equivalents available for Dashboard and Notifications (like Growl).

3. I've never seen a Mac with as much freedom and flexibility as a PC, but I have seen touchpads that work well. Who wants to use a touchpad at all though unless you're forced to? I'll take a 5 button vertical mouse over a touchpad any day.

4. Maybe. I like running a Unix that's closer to production though and nobody runs OS X on servers. A VM is better IMO.

5. Visual Studio with Web Essentials is hands down the best web development tool there is. Javascript, CSS and HTML autocomplete throughout the entire project. Go to definition that actually works...throughout your entire project. There is no equivalent on any OS.

6. ~~Android Chrome and a PC can do the same.~~ (OK, it can't really but I don't need it and there are too many things that I do need on Windows that are so much more important, like a window manager that doesn't work against me.)

Re: Ask HN: Anyone else planning to head back to Microsoft?

#96

Post by bobm » Fri, May 22, 2015, 7:19 PM UTC

What puzzles me is that MS refuses to get away from the OS in many many versions: Home, Pro, Enterprise, Education, Mobile and Mobile Enterprise. You would think that they would have copied Apple on OS and Server and be done with it.

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_10#Editions_and_pricing

Re: Ask HN: Anyone else planning to head back to Microsoft?

#97

Post by rcurry » Fri, May 22, 2015, 7:35 PM UTC

I'm already there. Considering the moves MSFT is making towards open source, I think their future is a lot brighter than a lot of people might think. We could very well see a total renaissance for the .NET stack, with MSFT ultimately delivering cross-platform development tools that will run on Linux just as well as they run on Windows.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone else planning to head back to Microsoft?

#98

Post by WorldWideWayne » Fri, May 22, 2015, 7:38 PM UTC

Pent wrote: post #94

WorldWideWayne wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I bet you still have to install things that you need on your Mac though. Why the false dichotomy then? Install what you need on Windows and you'll be able to do all of those things.

I find that you can get the same types of programs on Windows, but you have to deal with every UI being a unique snowflake and the (subjectively) high chance of malware from my experience. Also the installing of CLI programs seems to be really hacky through powershell.

You're not limited to powershell though. There are at least 4 options that are more appropriate for someone like you like Cygwin, git bash or one of the terminal emulators (ConEmu).

Anyway, I think it's a tradeoff in either direction - Programming on Linux, the way it's most commonly done now, means cobbling together a tool-set to do that work. Windows programming tools are typically more streamlined. However, on Windows you have to cobble together your kit for other things such as advanced command line tools that you may depend on.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone else planning to head back to Microsoft?

#99

Post by asnyder » Fri, May 22, 2015, 8:01 PM UTC

spdustin wrote: post #81

asnyder wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

#2:I feel that Windows 8.1, and the coming 10 has much much better workflow savers. One such example is having grouped apps in the task bar where I can hover and select is wonderful, whereas in mac I have to go to another screen with some hidden finger incantation to see the current windows in an app. Perhaps I'm too windows focused, but as someone that spends about 25% of their time in Mac, I feel trapped and frustr…

Regarding your response to #2: Hyperdock [0] gives dock icons the same kinds of superpowers that Windows' Aero Peek gives. [0]: http://hyperdock.bahoom.com/

Thanks so much! You've reduced my suffering a bit.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone else planning to head back to Microsoft?

#100

Post by jebblue » Fri, May 22, 2015, 10:45 PM UTC

zorked wrote: post #20

No the best UI. Not Unix. Not a major mobile platform. Dominates a huge but dying market. Why would you do that?

I always over time consider options, Microsoft doesn't have Gates running it any more so maybe they really are turning over a new leaf. It was heavy on my mind this week and lead to the question, not making any hasty moves.