A lot has changed over the past decade. But one thing that hasn’t are the worn out sets of beliefs, ideologies and arguments spouted by hardcore fanbois. Let’s take a quick look at just a few of these outdated modes of thinking.
There’s a war between Microsoft and Apple!
No there isn’t. Both are companies, and the ultimate goal is to sell products. Sure, that sometimes means getting one up on the competitor, but more often than not it’s better to work with those in the same industry than to work against them.
There’s more to life than the OS, and even Microsoft and Apple now acknowledge this. Rather than alienate those who have chosen a competitor’s platform, it’s far better to try to sell them something else, like an iPhone or a copy of Office for the Mac.
That’s not to say that there aren’t battle lines drawn between companies, but right now there’s far more of a battle going on between Apple and Google and Apple and Adobe than there is between Apple and Microsoft.
Get over it!
Year of the Linux desktop is coming!
No it isn’t.
Linux, while making a fine desktop OS, is just outgunned by Microsoft and Apple. Sure, OEMs pay lip service to the OS to satisfy the geeks, but when you’ve got the Redmond and Cupertino giants pouring ad money into making people aware of their platform, no OEM is going to carry a large line of Linux systems. It just doesn’t make sense.
The strengths, and success, of Linux have nothing to do with the desktop. Linux will get all the success and recognition is needs on mobile devices.
Open source = secure code!
Then why do I still have to patch software such as Firefox?
Bugs are an unpleasant fact of life, whether that code be open or closed source. Learn to live with it. If you’ve got the skills, then open source allows you to look at the code and make it more secure, but for most people out there, the only option is to wait for a patch. The open/closed source argument is moot.
You’re safe from malware on a Mac!
No, you’re not. Even if the OS was itself 100% bullet-proof, most modern malware relies on the user being stupid enough to install it rather than a slip on the OSes part.
Users don’t like “walled gardens”!
There’s no doubt that devices such as the iPhone and iPad create a walled garden that have a built-in set of enforced rules and regulations. But the argument that people will reject such devices because of the limitations they impose of users.
Hmmm … 3 million iPads in 80 days. Doesn’t seem like rejection to me. As much as some people hate “walled gardens” (or “walled prisons” as they are sometimes known as), user en-masse don’t really care.
Apple/Microsoft/Aliens paid you to say that!
Say something to upset a hardcore fanboi, and one of the first conclusions they jump to is that their view is so perfect that anyone who disagrees with it must have been “paid” by the enemy.
I get accused on a regular basis of being “paid” to say something. In the minds of fanbois Apple and Microsoft are constantly writing checks to pundits to promote a product or service.
I can’t speak for all pundits, but as far as my experiences go, the only way money has flowed between myself and Microsoft/Apple is from me to them. Sure, journalists get free stuff, but if you think that free software or a USB flash drive is enough to buy someone’s vote, you’re demonstrating your own lack of self-worth.
Duke Nukem is coming back!!!!
Give it a rest. The Duke’s not comin’ back. Wait a minute …
