Just another data point: I've used Linux as my main desktop from about 1999 to 2008. I'm familiar with installing it from 80 floppies (before anyone points it out, that was before 1999, more like 1994) and recompiling <1.0 kernels to get the drivers I want installed. I actually make money off customizing embedded linux-es (arm boards) and writing software for them. I prefer the command line to mouse clicks and "wizards".
I moved to OS X because I want a desktop that actually works. I have several Linux VMs - one per project - which I use mostly from the command line.
At the moment, OS X and iOS are the least annoying desktop and mobile operating systems. Note that I said least annoying. They all suck in different ways and I wouldn't use OS X as a server. I also think Apple has no idea how to do online services; for example I don't use iCloud for anything. Still, the operating systems beat the alternatives.
Only problem is, you have to use OS X for a few months to realize how much invisible polish has been put in. I first bought a MacBook, and it took me a year or more to decide to switch my desktop to a Hackintosh as well.
Hello, unrelated to the OP but, concerning the Linux and Floppy experience. I had installed Slackware 3.6 (with a 2.0.36 Linux kernel) from floppies in 1998. This was a great experience because Slackware at this time was actually distributed in floppies (!)
Notice that I had downloaded these floppies through a 55.6 kbps dialup line (!!) from the Slackware ftp server (!!!)
The great thing about the Slackware distribution was that it was separated in "subsystems" each one being more or less standalone and being able to download and install separately. So there was the "base" subsystem which was on N floppies (I can't remember probably around 6) that contained the Linux kernel, libraries, bash and a couple of other useful utilities which could be downloaded, installed and with this you could start using Linux! And then there were various extra subsystems, for example the "development" subsystem that contained gcc, the "X" subsystem (with the FVWM window manager IIRC) etc. This made it really great to be downloaded through a dialup line.
I can remember various great stories from my installation and configuration process, for example becoming an expert in how disk partitioning works, configuring the modem by giving it AT commands (to dial my ISP's phone I needed to issue the ATX3DT command followed by the number), to make my (ISA) sound card work I needed to boot on windows (95) so that it's IRQ and memory address was configured properly and only then then (cold) reboot on Linux so it would work (!), using autoconfigure/make/gcc to compile stuff (this actually is needed and in 2017), configuring X by editing text files and playing with my monitor resolution and refresh rate etc.
Very interesting! My question is, how did you find a solution for a problem when you got stuck? Ask a friend? Trial and error? But what about things like needing a specific command for partitioning disks a certain way? Books?
I had a dialup connection so I could search the internet! There was a bunch of mailing lists back then where you could ask questions, also sometimes I checked the USENET (alt.os.linux.*) and there were some excellent how-tos... It seems there still are some how-tos (I'm not sure if they are the same as they were back then):
I still remember installing Slack around the year 2000 and completely borking Xorg.
Luckily I had ethernet and a cable modem - Lynx to the rescue!!! A lot of the linux forums were very 'text' friendly in those days - I dread to think what it would be like nowadays trying to navigate a forum from the cli.
I left slackware about 5 years ago for Xubuntu, mainly because I needed to use my laptop for work and not just having fun tweaking and learning.
The whole "Apt get into it!" just really works for me now. I think the final straw for me was last minute trying to compile a video editing suite (Cinelerra?) on slack, getting frustrated and then finding out it was much quicker for me to nuke the HDD, install Ubuntu Studio and an hour or so later I was happily video editing.
Now nostalgia is knocking at the door so maybe I will make a new partition and see how slackware has developed in the last few years...
man and the Internet. Yes the internet was around in 1998 :) . News groups, IRC, mailing lists... all existed.
Trial and error as well of course.
Being from that time period myself (18 years old) and installing Slackware as well RedHat (and even Caldera ... anyone remember that?) there was plenty of documentation.
However unlike the parent poster I got a bunch of Linux distributions by either mail ordering or going to conference. In fact I went to Linux conference in Atlanta circa 1997 and meet Linus himself... but more importantly picked up some distribution CDs/disks.
Oh man, the days of needing to go to a conference to pick up Linux CDs. Yes, I definitely remember Caldera. Only thing from that list I haven't done is meet Linus though I guess I will get around to it at some point.
Actually come to think of it, Ubuntu really hit the CD nail on the head with Shipit, those of you with 28.8 modems will know this feeling. I still have my 7.04 CD.
This is a single datapoint and I am a senior systems engineer using a lot of Linux at work but its desktop experience is not even remotely close to be as good as MacOS. It reached the level that I can give it to people who do not work in IT though.
Depends. In some regards I like Gnome 3 UI as it comes with Fedora more, than Finder. With some details under the cover (doesn't have trouble browsing samba shares after connecting to another network, or per-network interface DNS, so you can resolve hostnames on internal network even when connected to VPN) are something, you get used to really fast.
I'm sorry people keep recommending vanilla Ubuntu to you. Unity is awful, and Ubuntu will be rid of it soon anyway. Until then, use Kubuntu, or Ubuntu GNOME.
> OS X and iOS are the least annoying desktop and mobile operating systems
I assume you're not including Windows Phone in that, because its surely less annoying than either iOS or Android (apart from lack of apps, which I consider to be a blessing in disguise)
No, I'm afraid I stopped caring about what Microsoft does long ago. I have a Windows 7 install on my desktop, but it only has games on it and I almost never boot it any more.
Unfortunately I am cursed with a long memory and I keep grudges forever, and I'm old enough to remember the old Microsoft with the patent threats against Linux and the illegal monopoly abuse practices.
I moved to OS X because I want a desktop that actually works. I have several Linux VMs - one per project - which I use mostly from the command line.
At the moment, OS X and iOS are the least annoying desktop and mobile operating systems. Note that I said least annoying. They all suck in different ways and I wouldn't use OS X as a server. I also think Apple has no idea how to do online services; for example I don't use iCloud for anything. Still, the operating systems beat the alternatives.
Only problem is, you have to use OS X for a few months to realize how much invisible polish has been put in. I first bought a MacBook, and it took me a year or more to decide to switch my desktop to a Hackintosh as well.