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Switching from macOS: The Basics

blog.elementary.io

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Re: Switching from macOS: The Basics

#111

Post by INTPenis »

kybernetyk wrote: post #33

So I went to their main page to download an ISO to give it a try in a VM. They hid the download button really well: You have to type in "0" into the "how much you'd like to pay" field for the "Purchase" button to change to "Download". I mean I understand that open source projects need funding. But if you want people to try your niche OS at least make it obvious how to download it. Ask for money later after people had…

I wish I had known that trick. I payed some money for it, which isn't unusual since I often donate money to open source or activism.

But this time I regret every cent. Coming from Mac OS, or even Fedora, Elementary seems unpolished and unstable.

Re: Switching from macOS: The Basics

#112

Post by jordigh »

matzipan wrote: post #80
toyg wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a long-standing criticism of Elementary. I think they initially didn't even provide a way to get a free download, and eventually settled for the current UI. Basically the founder-owner is adamant that someone has to pay for his time, and tbh I don't begrudge him.

The argument is that the potential user needs to be aware of his action when he's entering in "0". Otherwise, it's just automatic - you don't even think about it.

But I think it's counterproductive, because it looks adversarial. Apparently the best way to get the donation is to bring up the payment screen after the download has happened. This is because risk-averse buyers can first try the product and then feel less pressured to decide how much it's worth:

https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/53376/

Re: Switching from macOS: The Basics

#113

Post by deadbunny »

pjmlp wrote: post #77
pmlnr wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Take Mac away and high quality desktop apps will go away. Well... no. Ubuntu, Gnome, KDE, XFCE; they are all high quality desktops. Don't mix the desktop with the applications you're running on it. > We'll have to endure multi-platform Electron stuff. Now that is indeed a real issue, and yes, ugh. Edit: I've misread the original, sorry, so adding a few things: if you're using the default apps or the ones built for…

Not really. GNU/Linux doesn't have desktop stack capable of matching Objective-C, Swift frameworks both in feature set and related GUI tooling.

Because most people using linux on the desktop (thus the development target) value functionality over aesthetics.

Do I like it when things are pretty? Sure.

Do I need them to be pretty to get shit done? No

Re: Switching from macOS: The Basics

#114

Post by vetinari »

keeganjw wrote: post #32
tambourine_man wrote: post #22

Unfortunately, no Photoshop, no go

You can use programs like Wine to run Windows applications. That makes switching a bit less painful, at least.

It also makes sure that there won't be native ports of these applications.

Adobe won't make a Photoshop port, unless it is 100% obvious to them, that they are leaving more money on the table by not porting it than is the cost of porting and support.

Which may suck for you, if your business or job requires Photoshop right now. You aren't going to switch to Linux then, because you will get Photoshop and whatever OS it requires in the state it is today - which decreases the motivation for Adobe from previous paragraph.

Re: Switching from macOS: The Basics

#115

Post by r3bl »

divanvisagie wrote: post #96
StavrosK wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a tradeoff between getting more users and getting more money, which I'm sure he knows. He's chosen to be more towards the "money" end of the scale, which is fair enough.

Isn't this a dark pattern though?

No, it's not. It says "pay what you want" and you can literally pay what you want (including nothing).

Re: Switching from macOS: The Basics

#116

Post by etatoby »

matthewking wrote: post #54
kornakiewicz wrote: post #35

I'm long term Linux user and I played with Elementary sometime ago. While just after installation everything is great and beautiful, it changed shortly when I need to install apps outside the ecosystem. Experience gives you feeling I could compare to using old-java application on Windows 10.

Along with seemingly everyone else, I had a quick look at my options to migrate away from Apple over the last few days. First thing I looked for was a decent mail app, was immediately put off the whole idea, exactly as you describe.

I recently switched to Mint Cinnamon and I'm completely satisfied. There is not one thing I miss from Mac OS X and many where GNU/Linux is much better.

As for mail, Thunderbird is not so bad.

Re: Switching from macOS: The Basics

#117

Post by dictum »

StavrosK wrote: post #93
toyg wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a long-standing criticism of Elementary. I think they initially didn't even provide a way to get a free download, and eventually settled for the current UI. Basically the founder-owner is adamant that someone has to pay for his time, and tbh I don't begrudge him.

It's a tradeoff between getting more users and getting more money, which I'm sure he knows. He's chosen to be more towards the "money" end of the scale, which is fair enough.

Incidentally, it's the same tradeoff Apple may have made.

Stare into the abyss etc.

Re: Switching from macOS: The Basics

#119

Post by coldtea »

Void_ wrote: post #39

I'm really hoping this is just a phase. Hoping that Apple will reduce prices of new laptops and we'll be back to normal. Right now everybody is using Macs. Walk into the Bay Area coffee shop, you see Macs everywhere. I love that. I build desktop software for Macs (focuslist.co). My apps are prettier than any others. They are easier and faster to use. This is the reason why people pay me $5 while they can get the job…

>I'm really hoping this is just a phase. Hoping that Apple will reduce prices of new laptops and we'll be back to normal.

Because there's some price spike? If anything things are as cheap or expensive as ever.

Re: Switching from macOS: The Basics

#120

Post by askmike »

kybernetyk wrote: post #33

So I went to their main page to download an ISO to give it a try in a VM. They hid the download button really well: You have to type in "0" into the "how much you'd like to pay" field for the "Purchase" button to change to "Download". I mean I understand that open source projects need funding. But if you want people to try your niche OS at least make it obvious how to download it. Ask for money later after people had…

Ubuntu is doing something very similar: https://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/contribute?version=1...
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