CIOS 110 Lesson 11 #2

There are three "big" OS on the market today: Windows, Mac OS and Linux. However, Linux has a tiny fraction of the market in comparison to the others, even though devotees will corenr you for hours to tell you how superior the system is. If it's so great, why are so few people using it? I think it comes down to a few issues: ignorance, convenience and public perception.

Ignorance: As a free OS, Linux certainly isn't making money selling systems. And if it's not making money, it certainly doesn't have a lot of money to spend on advertising. I don't read computer magazines, so there may very well be Linux ads that I'm not aware of, but I doubt it. The main way people hear about Linux is through word of mouth, and that usually means one computer geek talking to another. It's hard to imagine word of mouth managing to trickle down to someone like my elderly aunt who can barely figure out how to connect to the Internet. She is not and never will be a Linux user.


Convenience: Most people hope that when they make a major purchase, they will not need to put in additional efforts afterward. I know that I would not buy a car if the motor was not installed yet, even if the price included a perfectly good (or even superior) motor. For me, when I decide to spend the money on a car, I want it running right away. Many people feel the same way about computers, which is why companies like Dell can thrive. They offer a complete package: a computer with an OS, monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer, etc. No shopping for peripherals, no deciding between numerous options. This is why Windows is the most-used OS. It is the standard OS on all PCs. It comes already on the machine, and the new owners don't have to worry about anything other than plugging in. For most computer users, the idea of installing their own OS is terrifying, let alone installing an unknown OS. People take their computers to the shop when Windows starts crashing instead of trying to fix it themselves.

Public perception: Despite the problems of both ignorance and convenience, there is still a group of loyal Linux users. To cast a broad generalization, they are usually computer nerds, the sort of people who will happily build their own system and install their own OS. And unfortunately, when the public thinks of Linux, they think of these nerds. And nothing strikes fear into the heart of an average computer user like the thought of having a nerd try top teach them how to install an unknown OS.

Until Linux can find a way to convince the lowest common denominator that it is easy install and use their OS, their share of the market will remain limited to hard-core computer enthusiasts.

CIOS 110 Lesson 11 #1

On the surface, it may seem as though Mac OS X is just prettier than OS 9. Sure, there's the dock and the scalable icons, and we can't forget the little drop shadows under each open window. It definitely puts the G in GUI, and looking back at OS 9 makes one realized how dated and archaic 9 looks. But under the surface of the pretty graphics are some serious changes.

The multitasking abilities and memory protection of OS X allow the system to run many applications simultaneously without the system bogging down. The system is based on Unix, meaning that Linux software can be reconfigured to run on OS X.

Currently, Mac is moving forward with OS X, and each new development is emphasizing the visual elements and the "digital lifestyle" applications like the iLife suite, which includes iTunes (music purchasing, organization and sharing ... how this program is not considered music piracy is beyond me), iMovie and iDvd (which combine to let users easily import their raw video footage from camcorders and create movies with effects such as titles and transitions, plus dvds with menu templates and chapters). Need more proof that the OS is evolving? Well, a picture is worth 1,000 words. (Apologies for the Windows comparisons - I found the image online.)