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Why do many Linux fans have a greater distaste for Microsoft over Apple?

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I am just curious to know this. Even though Apple is closed today and more tightly integrated within their ecosystem, they are still liked more by the Linux community than Microsoft. I am curious to know why that is the case and why there is such a strong distaste for Microsoft even to this day.

I would love to hear various views on this! Thank you to those who do answer and throw your thoughts out! 🙂
It’s not my case (I dislike both of them more or less the same way), but like most people I remember that Microsoft actively fought against FOSS in general, and Linux in particular.

While the company has changed a lot since then, I can understand that people still resent Microsoft for that.

Topic

A similar comparison

In reply to Why do many Linux fans have a greater distaste for Microsoft over Apple?

The same question could be asked for Intel vs. AMD processors or when Microsoft was trying to force PC manufacturers to install MS Windows on their computers.

Clearly, there has been more than one instance of computer hardware/software companies trying to monopolize their industries and a lot of deep-rooted resentment that still remains today. In general, we all like to root for the little guy when the bigger corporations try to muscle in. Also, no different with the cellular phone companies (At&t, Verizon/Sprint, T-Mobile).

Don’t get me wrong, I do think Apple is too monopolistic today (but not like it was in the 80’s and early 90’s) but you have to pick your battles carefully. It can be hard to pick out the “good guys” vs. the “bad guys” today.

Put Simply

In reply to Why do many Linux fans have a greater distaste for Microsoft over Apple?

Windows is a Microsoft Product and the Apple OS is based on BSD with a Apple Designed Front End and has nothing at all to do with Microsoft.

BSD Incidentally stands for Berkeley Software Development which besides Unix is probably the most stable OS running at the moment so I would suggest the Apple Fans consider their Open Source OS the most secure and stable as apposed to the rest of the freely available ones that have sufficient software to be useful.

Why do many Linux fans have a greater distaste for Microsoft over Apple?

In reply to Why do many Linux fans have a greater distaste for Microsoft over Apple?

Having been unwilling to pay Apple prices, I have never used it so can’t really have a distaste for it. I have used Windows from 97- Win7 and did not like the registry, the forced updates, and the Win8 convergence experience. I tried Linux and found many choices, and the ability to customize it to what I want.

[sherazsyed372]

Reply To: Why do many Linux fans have a greater distaste for Microsoft over Apple?

In reply to Why do many Linux fans have a greater distaste for Microsoft over Apple?

Many Linux fans have a greater distaste for Microsoft over Apple due to a number of reasons. Firstly, Microsoft has a long history of promoting proprietary software and stifling open-source development. This is seen as antithetical to the principles of the Linux community, which values transparency and collaboration. Additionally, Microsoft has a history of using aggressive business practices to gain market share and maintain dominance. This has led to concerns about privacy and security, as well as frustration with the company’s constant updates and changes to its software (link removed by moderator)

On the other hand, Apple is seen as less of a threat to the Linux community, as they have historically been more focused on hardware than software. While Apple does promote proprietary software, they are seen as less hostile to open-source development than Microsoft. Additionally, Apple’s focus on design and user experience is often appreciated by the Linux community, which values well-designed and user-friendly interfaces. While there are criticisms of Apple, they are generally seen as less of a threat to the principles of the Linux community than Microsoft.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 3 months ago by sherazsyed372.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by Wizard57M-TR.

Reply To: Why do many Linux fans have a greater distaste for Microsoft over Apple?

In reply to Reply To: Why do many Linux fans have a greater distaste for Microsoft over Apple?

Long-time Linux user here.

I too have been unwilling to pay Apple prices. Even my phone is Android. I have however had a couple of employers provide Mac laptops.

Coming from Linux the Mac is very familiar. I’m a web programmer. I have all the GUI programs I need, PhpStorm IDE, MySQL workbench, FileZilla for FTP, git from the command-line or IDE. For other things I can just drop into a terminal and get to it: ssh to remote server, manage files and directories, tail logs, grep files, quick edits, etc.

Anytime I’ve used Windows for work it has been frustrating. Something goes wrong, I spend way too long trying to fix it and when it works again I usually have no idea what was wrong or what the fix was.

The Mac has yet to lockup or slow to a crawl or get into any state that requires reboot.

I do have a Windows laptop that I use mainly for running QuickBooks. It has loads of RAM and HD space so I use that to run VirtualBox and spin up virtual machines (Linux web servers) to match whatever client project I am working on at the time.

[kyleejenner009]

Reply To: Why do many Linux fans have a greater distaste for Microsoft over Apple?

In reply to Why do many Linux fans have a greater distaste for Microsoft over Apple?

Many Linux fans have a greater distaste for Microsoft over Apple because Microsoft has a history of anti-competitive practices and proprietary software, while Apple has a reputation for better user privacy and a more open-source approach in some areas.

Link Removed by Moderator.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by kyleejenner009.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by hal 9000.

Reply To: Why do many Linux fans have a greater distaste for Microsoft over Apple?

In reply to Why do many Linux fans have a greater distaste for Microsoft over Apple?

Hey there! Yeah, I totally get where you’re coming from. I think the matter mainly boils down to the historical rivalry between Microsoft and the Linux community. Microsoft had once viewed open source as a threat, which led to a lot of bad vibes between the two.

Reply To: Why do many Linux fans have a greater distaste for Microsoft over Apple?

In reply to Why do many Linux fans have a greater distaste for Microsoft over Apple?

Hi,
As a Linux fan, I have a greater distaste for Microsoft compared to Apple for a few reasons.
First, Microsoft is known for its dominant position in the software industry, which has led to concerns about monopolistic practices and limited choices for users.
Linux enthusiasts often value the freedom to customize and modify their operating system, which is more readily available in the Linux ecosystem.
Secondly, Microsoft’s history of proprietary software and closed-source code contrasts with the open-source philosophy embraced by Linux.
The Linux community appreciates the collaborative and transparent nature of open-source development, which allows for continuous improvement and community-driven innovation.
Lastly, Microsoft’s approach to privacy and data collection has been a point of contention for Linux fans.
Linux distributions, on the other hand, prioritize user privacy and provide greater control over data collection and system settings.
As for your issue with PAM, not all Linux distributions use it. To address a similar problem, I encountered, I narrowed down the question to focus on networking for files or the IP stack.
By doing so, I was able to find relevant solutions and resources across different Linux distributions.

Reply To: Why do many Linux fans have a greater distaste for Microsoft over Apple?

In reply to Why do many Linux fans have a greater distaste for Microsoft over Apple?

The sentiment of Linux fans toward Microsoft and Apple can vary among individuals, but there are a few reasons why some Linux enthusiasts tend to have a greater distaste for Microsoft compared to Apple. Here are a few possible explanations:

Historical Context: Microsoft has a long-standing history of dominating the personal computer market with its Windows operating system. In the past, Microsoft’s business practices were seen as anti-competitive, leading to a perception among some Linux fans that Microsoft had a negative impact on the open-source community. This historical context can contribute to a lingering animosity.

Openness and Freedom: Linux is built on the principles of open-source software, which emphasizes transparency, collaboration, and user freedom. Some Linux fans appreciate the ability to access and modify the source code of their operating system. Microsoft’s Windows, being proprietary software, is seen by some as restricting user freedom, which can create a disconnect between the values of Linux enthusiasts and Microsoft’s approach.

Compatibility and Vendor Lock-In: Microsoft’s software ecosystem is tightly integrated, with Windows being the dominant operating system in the consumer and business markets. This dominance can create a perception of vendor lock-in, where users become dependent on Microsoft’s products and have limited options for alternatives. In contrast, Apple’s market share is smaller, and its ecosystem is more self-contained, which can be seen as less restrictive to Linux fans

Monopoly

In reply to Why do many Linux fans have a greater distaste for Microsoft over Apple?

Monopoly.

Microsoft is considered a monopoly in the market, which means users are often compelled to use its products, which is not the case with Apple.

In general, the aversion to Microsoft among Linux fans stems from its history and approach to software, while Apple is seen as less threatening to Linux values.

Reply To: Why do many Linux fans have a greater distaste for Microsoft over Apple?

In reply to Why do many Linux fans have a greater distaste for Microsoft over Apple?

Linux distributions as well as Apple OS are based on common Unix system while Microsoft is a different story. Besides Linux is more flexible, faster, lighter, secure, adjustable and you can have many distributions on your computer running. In case of Microsoft this is just not going to happen in such way. These are just most fundamental differences for me.

Why do many Linux fans have a greater distaste for Microsoft over Apple?

In reply to Why do many Linux fans have a greater distaste for Microsoft over Apple?

Many Linux enthusiasts appear to have a greater dislike for Microsoft compared to Apple due to historical competition, philosophical differences, concerns about business practices, security issues, perceived vendor lock-in, and a strong sense of community identity within the open-source ecosystem. It’s important to note that not all Linux users share this sentiment, and perceptions can change over time. Microsoft’s recent embrace of open-source development has improved its image among some Linux users.

[Author]

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