Linux Creator Linus Torvalds Declined to Join Apple • Hacker News Board

Re: Linux Creator Linus Torvalds Declined to Join Apple

#11

Post by azov » Thu, Mar 22, 2012, 9:34 PM UTC

ootachi wrote: post #2

That was a dumb decision on Linus' part. Apple is the future; Linux is the past.

Probably over 80% of shiny content that users consume on Apple devices is served by Linux servers. Ever heard of that little thing called cloud? It's powered by Linux for the most part.

By making operating system a commodity Linux changed computer industry forever, and it's not going anywhere. Don't underestimate it.

Re: Linux Creator Linus Torvalds Declined to Join Apple

#12

Post by DHowett » Thu, Mar 22, 2012, 9:35 PM UTC

Not working for Apple is possibly the best decision Linus could have made. One can argue that Linux would have kept moving forward without him, but it's really a shame when great talent leaves the open-source community. The man might be opinionated, and some might not like him, but where would we be without his continued contribution?

Re: Linux Creator Linus Torvalds Declined to Join Apple

#13

Post by rimantas » Thu, Mar 22, 2012, 9:36 PM UTC

param wrote: post #4

ootachi wrote: post #2

That was a dumb decision on Linus' part. Apple is the future; Linux is the past.

Way too broad a statement. Linux is clearly a future for a large segment of users, same as OSX. Actually, let me take that back - with the new 'post PC' world coming where only techies will have laptops, Linux has a greater future. OSX will fade because all hipsters will just have iOS devices

You may be underestimating the number of techies liking OS X.

Re: Linux Creator Linus Torvalds Declined to Join Apple

#14

Post by DHowett » Thu, Mar 22, 2012, 9:38 PM UTC

npsimons wrote: post #9

ootachi wrote: post #2

That was a dumb decision on Linus' part. Apple is the future; Linux is the past.

That was a dumb decision on Linus' part. Apple is the future; Linux is the past. This sounds so familiar; where have I heard it before. Oh yeah, it's what the MS fanboys were saying ten years ago :) Not that I'm anywhere near Linus' capabilities, but I would turn down a job offer from Apple too. I don't much fancy working for evil.

Honestly, I wouldn't work for Apple either. I'd hate to give up the community I've spent most of my programming life a part of - the jailbreaking community. It'd take more than a giant salary to rewrite my values. :P

Re: Linux Creator Linus Torvalds Declined to Join Apple

#15

Post by burgerbrain » Thu, Mar 22, 2012, 9:40 PM UTC

ootachi wrote: post #2

That was a dumb decision on Linus' part. Apple is the future; Linux is the past.

> "Apple is the future; Linux is the past."

Even Apple itself doesn't believe that. They left the server market when they killed Xserve.

Re: Linux Creator Linus Torvalds Declined to Join Apple

#16

Post by fidotron » Thu, Mar 22, 2012, 9:40 PM UTC

rimantas wrote: post #13

param wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Way too broad a statement. Linux is clearly a future for a large segment of users, same as OSX. Actually, let me take that back - with the new 'post PC' world coming where only techies will have laptops, Linux has a greater future. OSX will fade because all hipsters will just have iOS devices

You may be underestimating the number of techies liking OS X.

I think the problem is a lot of techies like OS X now, but not the way it's headed.

Lion is enough to make me switch away, and I've been on OS X for a very long time. What's keeping OS X popular now is not its own merits, but that the alternatives are even worse.

Re: Linux Creator Linus Torvalds Declined to Join Apple

#17

Post by LukaD » Thu, Mar 22, 2012, 9:41 PM UTC

ootachi wrote: post #2

That was a dumb decision on Linus' part. Apple is the future; Linux is the past.

Bullshit!

Re: Linux Creator Linus Torvalds Declined to Join Apple

#18

Post by NathanKP » Thu, Mar 22, 2012, 9:46 PM UTC

fidotron wrote: post #16

rimantas wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You may be underestimating the number of techies liking OS X.

I think the problem is a lot of techies like OS X now, but not the way it's headed. Lion is enough to make me switch away, and I've been on OS X for a very long time. What's keeping OS X popular now is not its own merits, but that the alternatives are even worse.

I have to agree because I like Snow Leopard better than Lion and have not made the switch yet because of that. However I don't think this is a sign that OS X is endemic. I still have hope that Lion is just an ill planned stop on the OS X progression.

Re: Linux Creator Linus Torvalds Declined to Join Apple

#19

Post by dfc » Thu, Mar 22, 2012, 9:46 PM UTC

I take a guess and predict that many of us mortals would have taken a chance.

This is the worst lead sentence from any article I have seen on HN.

Re: Linux Creator Linus Torvalds Declined to Join Apple

#20

Post by tikhonj » Thu, Mar 22, 2012, 9:46 PM UTC

rimantas wrote: post #13

param wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Way too broad a statement. Linux is clearly a future for a large segment of users, same as OSX. Actually, let me take that back - with the new 'post PC' world coming where only techies will have laptops, Linux has a greater future. OSX will fade because all hipsters will just have iOS devices

You may be underestimating the number of techies liking OS X.

And I think you're overestimating that number. As far as I know, about as many programmers use Linux as OS X, and Windows still dominates even among programmers. For example, the recent StackOverflow survey--probably fairly indicative of programmers in general--found that about 20% of the respondents used Linux and OS X with the rest on various versions of Windows[1]. As far as my own experience goes, about as many of my CS friends use Linux as Windows, with a slightly smaller number using OS X. But here, I suspect, there is some serious selection bias.

[1]: https://www.surveymonkey.com/sr.aspx?sm=2RYrV_2bFw2aZ2RfedWH...