No wonder Windows 7 is the best Windows yet...

[WoodPeckr]

As Censored says, OS X came out of NextStep which means that it predates Ubuntu.

Not so.
Ubuntu came before OS X, since OS X was developed as a mutant form from NextStep which went back to open source BSD.

As censored notes: OSX relies on a slew of open source tools, many of which owe much of their development to Linux-based developers.

Therefore it's best to view OS X as a mongrel bastard of Unix/BSD/Darwin/Linux open source development....

 

[NiceShoes]

I could be wrong, but I think Steve Jobs used a lot of ideas from Next step in developing newer generation of OS for Mac. When I first used Next step for the first time in late 90s, i can see lot of resemblance.

Anyway, I use Win 7 and Snow Leopard, but I use Snow everyday and rarely use Win 7.

 

[censored]

As Censored says, OS X came out of NextStep which means that it predates Ubuntu.

True, in a sense. Though, oddly enough, the NeXtStep look was running on Linux well before it came to the Mac: Afterstep. Even the good (?) old Mail.app was there. And the project to bring NeXtStep to Linux began before OSX/NeXtStep came to the Mac as well (the project is alive and (sort of) well, with an expanded goal of supporting Cocoa APIs too).

 

[danibbler]

Not so.
Ubuntu came before OS X, since OS X was developed as a mutant form from NextStep which went back to open source BSD.

As censored notes: OSX relies on a slew of open source tools, many of which owe much of their development to Linux-based developers.

The question is, what ideas can you show were taken from Linux and then used by OS X? It's not a question of whether or not OS X was developed using open source tools, it's whether or not you can show that Apple has taken features from Linux and used it in their OS.

And FYI, OS X came out BEFORE Ubuntu. Ubuntu's first official release was back in 2004.

http://www.ubuntu.com/community/ubuntustory

 

[WoodPeckr]

Don't know that much about OS X but one item Apple lifted from Linux open source was Samba which was around before OS X. I'm sure there are others.

 

[censored]

The question is, what ideas can you show were taken from Linux and then used by OS X? It's not a question of whether or not OS X was developed using open source tools, it's whether or not you can show that Apple has taken features from Linux and used it in their OS.

http://www.ubuntu.com/community/ubuntustory

Quickly, off the top of my head: Multiple virtual desktops, as mentioned above, were on Linux before appearing on OSX (as Spaces). WebKit (the core of the Safari web browser). CUPS (the printing system). And yes, Samba too.

 

[djk]

Quickly, off the top of my head: Multiple virtual desktops, as mentioned above, were on Linux before appearing on OSX (as Spaces). WebKit (the core of the Safari web browser). CUPS (the printing system). And yes, Samba too.

Anything Apple uses that is OSS is released according to the license -- http://opensource.apple.com/

Have at it.

 

[censored]

I was trying to think of things that were more visible or directly used by typical end users (printing, browsers, network shares and the like). Much of what's on that list are not directly used by end users even though many are of course essential to the system. Many are tools and libraries typically used by developers or "power users".

But the list does serve to show how much open source software is inside OSX (the overwhelming majority of which orginated outside of Apple).

 

[WoodPeckr]

This is one reason the Linux community generally jokes and refers to Mac as the Linux distro you have to pay and pay through the nose for.....

 

[NiceShoes]

This is one reason the Linux community generally jokes and refers to Mac as the Linux distro you have to pay and pay through the nose for.....

Linux is for geeks and OS X is for artistic minded geeks. Whenever I use Linux GUI I just feel like I am using OS from the 90s.

 

[censored]

This is one reason the Linux community generally jokes and refers to Mac as the Linux distro you have to pay and pay through the nose for.....

OSX is still a nice OS though. Quite like it.

 

[censored]

Linux is for geeks and OS X is for artistic minded geeks. Whenever I use Linux GUI I just feel like I am using OS from the 90s.

The OSX GUI really is just a polished-up version of a 90's GUI (the NeXtStep GUI).

 

[NiceShoes]

The OSX GUI really is just a polished-up version of a 90's GUI (the NeXtStep GUI).

I know NexTStep had really nice GUI to begin with. And at that time, the idea was so out there that general users could not comprehend the idea behind it. OSX has been so polished that it is well suited for 21st century computing in terms of visual appeal, UI, and usabilities. With Linux, it will always feel dry and boring to use. Let's face it, you don't use Linux for graphics or art. I have to say that OSX has been most pleasing OS to use for me.

 

[danibbler]

Ahh...found it. Even Mark Shuttleworth of Ubuntu admits that it needs to be more like the Mac in order to lure mainstream consumers over to it. Article is a year old but still...

http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/osrc/article.php/12068_3757246_2

"But right now I see it is true – that for an average user at home, a Mac would give a better experience."

"And so we started to build out a team that will focus on the specific user experiences that your reader is probably referring to, and our goal, very simply, is to make sure the Free software ecosystem can deliver a Mac OS-like experience, or an experience that will compete with the Mac OS.

We see Apple as the gold standard of the user experience. We believe that, while it can be a challenge, the innovation inherent in the Free software process can deliver an experience that is comparable and in many ways superior.

So Canonical will in fact launch an effort to try and spearhead that. And over a period of 2 years, really move the dial forward on the desktop experience."

So, according to Canonical, it will take them at least another year before they can fully copy the OS X experience. Good luck boys!

 

[djk]

The OSX GUI really is just a polished-up version of a 90's GUI (the NeXtStep GUI).

Polish, progress and innovation is good.

 

[djk]

Ahh...found it. Even Mark Shuttleworth of Ubuntu admits that it needs to be more like the Mac in order to lure mainstream consumers over to it. Article is a year old but still...

http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/osrc/article.php/12068_3757246_2

"But right now I see it is true – that for an average user at home, a Mac would give a better experience."

"And so we started to build out a team that will focus on the specific user experiences that your reader is probably referring to, and our goal, very simply, is to make sure the Free software ecosystem can deliver a Mac OS-like experience, or an experience that will compete with the Mac OS.

We see Apple as the gold standard of the user experience. We believe that, while it can be a challenge, the innovation inherent in the Free software process can deliver an experience that is comparable and in many ways superior.

So Canonical will in fact launch an effort to try and spearhead that. And over a period of 2 years, really move the dial forward on the desktop experience."

So, according to Canonical, it will take them at least another year before they can fully copy the OS X experience. Good luck boys!

It won't happen. Too many cooks spoil the broth. Not to mention, I've noticed that most programmers have awful (if any) sense on usability.

 

[censored]

Polish, progress and innovation is good.

I see a lot of polish, yes, and progress (compared to, say, OS 7 and earlier), but could you list the innovations completely unique to OSX? (Not bashing, interested. I'm a long term Mac user.)

 

[NiceShoes]

Well, if a Linux distro can be like Mac OS then that wouldn't be Linux anymore (at least it will lose Linux's true heritage). That distro most likely won't be free either, hence average Linux users will be against it. Linux is for pure hardcore geeks and it should be reserved for that market segment.

 

[wollensak]

Wrong

. Linux is for pure hardcore geeks and it should be reserved for that market segment.

I personally know several youngsters using Ubuntu and they are defintely not hardcore geeks.

The one Laptop Per Child - (OLPC) - the hundred dollar laptop project - promoting computer literacy among young African children uses Fedora-based open-source LINUX software.

I think your comments and those of djk and danibbler show a lack of understanding of many elements of the "Linux Community".

Why not just enjoy the social status of having the best OS without the need to berate
Linux,

 

[WoodPeckr]

Linux is for pure hardcore geeks and it should be reserved for that market segment.

Would that include my 6 year old nephew who has been using Ubuntu for a couple months now?
He uses it with ease and likes the games....