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Finding an Alternative to Mac OS X

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Re: Finding an Alternative to Mac OS X

#31

Post by josephby »

Kolberht wrote: post #13
mcphage wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The author specifically excluded Windows because they're a Rails developer.

It's a shame, because that excuse makes no sense.

I agree; it would be great to hear from developers who've experimented with switching from macOS to Windows 10, and use Ubuntu userspace on Windows.

I switched about a month ago and, to be honest, I've been pleasantly surprised with Windows 10, with modern, top-of-the-line Windows hardware, and especially with Ubuntu on Windows.

Re: Finding an Alternative to Mac OS X

#32

Post by twblalock »

notheguyouthink wrote: post #27
twblalock wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use Macs at work, and I've been using Windows 10 at home since June, with my old Apple keyboard and everything. My impression is that both operating systems are very close to parity. I use the same apps on both, including a lot of Unixy stuff that now works fine on Windows. Even the Windows font rendering is a lot like the Mac's now. The Mac ecosystem still has a huge advantage in hardware quality, but I think Micr…

Except the stupid decision(s) they continue to make, like advertisements in my operating system. Seriously, i can't comprehend why they take a paying customer (me) and frequently think i want to see their ads my operating system is some kind of blog. (The ad in question is for me to try some new microsoft product.. i forget which one offhand, Office Live? no idea. I usually see too much red when it happens to even re…

That never happens to me.

Re: Finding an Alternative to Mac OS X

#33

Post by notheguyouthink »

grhmc wrote: post #25

Not even a mention of NixOS. May I ask why not? Edit: I'm appreciating the feedback for "why not?" and am sending it around to people in the community. :)

(not the OP) Complicated, is my reason. I have a hell of a time making sense of the configuration syntax.

NixOS is one of those "this has to be the future" things for me, but a future i can't currently use, despite wanting it. I hope someday i can make the switch.

Also, Elementary is pretty.. and call me vein, but that is nice. Generally i want the OS to "just work" and pretty gives me the false, emotional impression that it will.

Re: Finding an Alternative to Mac OS X

#34

Post by wezm »

drvdevd wrote: post #18
Clubber wrote: post #12

>Note that I don’t currently consider Windows a viable alternative. For the work that I do (Rails) and tools I use something *nix based is the best choice for me. For what it's worth Windows 10 now has a bash shell based on Ubuntu available. http://www.howtogeek.com/249966/how-to-install-and-use-the-l...

I'm not Windows' biggest fan, but I'd consider it + Linux/BSD in hyper-v to be a nice start (say on a Surface Pro) -- if you need something that Just Works. The bash subsystem is interesting, but I'd go with the virtualization solution first.

This is a solution I will test out later in the year. I like the idea of a 2-in-1 computer and I've ordered a http://eve-tech.com. I'll certainly be trying out the VM on Windows option when it comes.

Re: Finding an Alternative to Mac OS X

#35

Post by rangibaby »

I installed Ubuntu + GNOME on my Mac a couple of years ago as a toy but a have slowly been migrating to it as my main OS.

For what I use it for (light web dev) it is the same or better than OS X.

The only thing stopping me from throwing out OS X completely are the Adobe apps (InDesign in particular) but even with that I have switched to doing most of 90% of my work on paper or in a text file then only complete layouts in OS X.

Re: Finding an Alternative to Mac OS X

#36

Post by gnufied »

wezm wrote: post #22
gnufied wrote: post #7

I have been watching elementary from the sidelines and I am wondering how deep is the keyboard integration in Pantheon? I moved from OSX to Linux recently too and I am generally pretty happy with multi-monitor and pseudo-tiling support in gnome3. I can do most of my window movement and application switching with few shortcuts (it requires few gnome extensions). Such as - 1. switch application with shortcut rather tha…

The keyboard integration in Pantheon seems pretty comparable to GNOME. I just finished importing my 1Password data into https://www.enpass.io looks like it might turn out to be a good option.

I use https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/413/dash-hotkeys/ thing for Unity like single shortcut Window switcher. It is absolute life saver. I used to use apptivate(http://www.apptivateapp.com/) on OSX for same thing. Is there a elementary alternative? A quick google search doesn't turn up anything.

Re: Finding an Alternative to Mac OS X

#37

Post by whyileft »

> The interface is clean and refined.

Can we stop using the term "clean" to describe interfaces? Clean doesn't really mean anything in design and also is a one sided term without an opposite term that is not disparaging. Are all other interfaces that are not clean, dirty? Or unsanitary? Or cluttered? It becomes and absolute term like beautiful or professional which are all really just fluff terms for "good".

Re: Finding an Alternative to Mac OS X

#38

Post by grhmc »

notheguyouthink wrote: post #33
grhmc wrote: post #25

Not even a mention of NixOS. May I ask why not? Edit: I'm appreciating the feedback for "why not?" and am sending it around to people in the community. :)

(not the OP) Complicated, is my reason. I have a hell of a time making sense of the configuration syntax. NixOS is one of those "this has to be the future" things for me, but a future i can't currently use, despite wanting it. I hope someday i can make the switch. Also, Elementary is pretty.. and call me vein, but that is nice. Generally i want the OS to "just work" and pretty gives me the false, emotional impression…

NixOS is what got me to switch back from Mac to Linux. Being able to copy someone else's config for my MacBookPro and have a pretty damn good, working system was incredible. It really opened my eyes.

Perhaps coming by #nixos on Freenode for an afternoon could get you over the configuration hurdle?

I remember I tried NixOS in a VM on a Thursday and was so smitten that I replaced OSX on Saturday.

Edit: I really appreciate your feedback on this!

Re: Finding an Alternative to Mac OS X

#39

Post by sudhirj »

nkozyra wrote: post #10

I'm full-time OSX user/developer, but if Rails is really your sticking point, shouldn't the linux subsystem make Win10 at least viable for a trial? Or, frankly, anything that can run VMWare or Virtualbox?

I switched to Windows hoping to use the WSL - looks great for the most part, but there are still lots of blocking bugs. Ruby and Git install, but not OpenSSL, which makes Rails development difficult. Lots of niggles here and there, basically.

Should be great when it comes out of beta, though - a good terminal and we'll be all set.

Re: Finding an Alternative to Mac OS X

#40

Post by wezm »

josephby wrote: post #31
Kolberht wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a shame, because that excuse makes no sense.

I agree; it would be great to hear from developers who've experimented with switching from macOS to Windows 10, and use Ubuntu userspace on Windows. I switched about a month ago and, to be honest, I've been pleasantly surprised with Windows 10, with modern, top-of-the-line Windows hardware, and especially with Ubuntu on Windows.

Reading Dave's (https://daverupert.com/tag/davegoeswindows) experience switching to Windows turned me off considering it as an option. However I've ordered an Eve V so will try it out when that comes later in the year.
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