During troubleshooting for the tunneling article below, I ran across this article. The author outlines pretty well my primary problems with OS X. Of particular note is the discussion that runs through the comments. I have noticed that mac users tend to fall into the ‘you don’t need it, don’t worry about it’ defense. Why should I let some company decide on how best I can use my computer? I use gnome on Ubuntu which is my preferred os, gnome is famously non-customizable. The intention of course is to create a minimalistic and confusion-free interface that still allows a user to get things done. OS X is designed from a similar perspective, but for those who complain about not being able to easily customize gnome, using OS X must be like moving from a cramped cubicle to a coffin. The ‘you don’t need it’, ‘you’re just missing Linux/Windows’, and ‘you’ll get used to it’ excuses are lame cop outs the speaker has no idea they’re adopting because they’ve been indoctrinated into the mac way of doing things, the ‘best’ way. Since they’ve adopted it as their way they no longer see or care how shackled they are. Blind acceptance has never been respected, why should this be any different? Why shouldn’t I want my operating system to allow me to use it in a way that I choose? This site outlines my feelings the best I think, specifically:

All the stewards, captains, baggage handlers, and ticket agents look and act exactly the same. Every time you ask questions about details, you are gently but firmly told that you don’t need to know, don’t want to know, and everything will be done for you without your ever having to know, so just shut up.

That being said, I do appreciate how tightly integrated everything is on OS X. Doing things the mac way is a pretty worry-free experience and a pleasant change from the slavering, lumbering beast that is Windows. The terminal and Darwin provide everything I could need from a Linux perspective. In the end though, the deal-breaker for me is the menubar. If I could move it even that would be enough. That is not the case though, so at some point I will be returning to Ubuntu.

No operating system will ever be perfect I suppose. However is it too much to wish for an ‘Advanced’ user mode that gives you more access to the workings of the system?

Edit: After further reading of the comments, a lot of interesting points stuck out. Here is an example of another annoying mac zealot quoting the tired ‘you don’t need it dumbass’ line:

FWIW, heres a stab at each, pointless, point

<i>Separating Menu Bar from Window Is Stupid.</i>

Says you

<i>Apps Don’t Really Close When You Close Them.</i>

Its a window your closing

<i>Maximizing Is Broken.</i>

Its not maximising, your understanding is broken.

<i>Alt-Tab to a Minimized App, and It Stays Minimized.</i>

What are you going on about?

<i>Too Many Option Keys.</i>

Not enough brain cells

<i>No Dedicated Page Up, Page Down, Home, or End Keys.</i>

See <i>Too Many Option Keys.</i>

<i>Only One Desktop.</i>

Seriously, who the hell needs this? If you want it, get linux.

<i>The Clock Sucks.</i>

you suck

<i>iPhoto Sucks.</i>

See <i>The Clock Sucks.</i>

Safari Sucks.

See <i>The Clock Sucks</i> and <i>iPhoto Sucks.</i>

So basically, what your saying is that you bought a bike, and its great, only youd just like to have 4 wheels and a roof.

I cant believe youve used a Mac for as long as you claim, or even any computer for that matter

This is a good counterpoint to the party line ‘it’s not maximize, it’s zoom and you don’t need it windows loser’:

Some people are saying “you don’t understand, that isn’t a maximize button, that’s a zoom button, which acts differently in different applications.” Yes it acts differently, which is pretty useless. If you thinks the random unpredictable behavior of a zoom button is worth keeping, fine, then we need to add a maximize button.

Some people are saying “most windows don’t need to be maximized” Don’t try to tell me what’s good for me. I WANT the window maximized! Give me a button that does it.

This is the best argument I’ve heard so far in favor of the ridiculous menubar:

On Windows and Linux, you have to (fairly slowly) move your mouse to a specific place height-wise. On a Mac, you shove your mouse forward and bam, you’re at the menu bar.

Lots of good points made, mostly against OS X. Its unfortunate but most mac users tend to be zealots, angrily defending their chosen system by a method of screaming instead of discussion. A depressing trend that seems to be taking over almost every issue our society and culture deals with.

Final Edit: I love building my own machines. I can’t do this with a mac. So, the only way I’d ever own OS X is if I bought a Macbook or Macbook Pro. Because of the menubar and the fact that there is more than one manufacturer selling Ubuntu preloaded on laptops now this doesn’t seem likely to happen. However I would buy a 2gs if I could.