Mac look alike?

[Dotan Cohen]

2009/11/29 Mark Traceur <marktraceur at gmail.com>:
>> When one is expecting a Mac, and the system does not behave like a
>> Mac, then the behaviour is wrong. A skin might look like a Mac, but it
>> does not behave like a Mac.
>
> Naw, that means they bought the wrong computer, not that the system
> has failed them.

Now we agree. Ubuntu is the wrong computer (OS) for what was asked
for. It is not wrong in itself, it is simply the wrong tool. I am glad
we got that out of the way.


> If someone wants to be blinded and handicapped, they
> can buy a Mac, otherwise Linux has roughly the same features for no
> price.
>

Many people prefer the Mac experience over the Ubuntu experience. I am
glad that you agree that they have that privilege.


>> You are suggesting that I be expelled from the list. No problem,
>> complain to the list admin about my behaviour on the list. Would you
>> like me to google his address for you?
>
> No, I'm suggesting that if you think that lack of MS Office is such a
> terrible thing, there are plenty of other Operating Systems that will
> more appreciate your help.
>

I fail to see the line you draw between "acknowledges that MSO is the
right tool for many jobs expected of a student" to "other operating
systems will appreciate my help". In any case, I do regularly
contribute to the mailing lists of several Linux-based operating
systems and I feel generally appreciated at all of them. I fail to
understand why you even mention it.


>> No, the "guy" is a girl and she is asking for a Mac. He wrote writes
>> the check asked if Ubuntu can step in as a Mac to reduce the cost.
>
> It's the girl's father, but I digress...
>
>> Are there settings that could be used for a similar look and functionality on the desktop?
>
> That's not asking for a Mac, it's asking if Ubuntu can emulate certain
> functionality of a Mac system.
>

You carefully edited out the rest of the question, which included
statements such as "But I've never used a Mac so I've no idea really
what she is looking at" and doubts about "things that a Mac does that
can be cloned". Answering partial questions is a manipulative tactic,
please try to present Ubuntu in an unbiased fashion as it is perfectly
capable of standing on it's own merits without manipulative
persuasion.


>> That is about as valid an argument as saying the prostitutes do half
>> the work that gym instructors do, yet the prostitutes get all the sex.
>> Open source developers specifically license their work in a way that
>> does not require monetary compensation. If the dev found that unfair,
>> he would license his software differently. If you find that unfair,
>> most projects have facility for you to donate or otherwise show
>> appreciation. The only application that ever flatly refused my
>> donation was Zim, and when the software releases a 1.0 version (not on
>> the near horizon) I will try again.
>
> I'm not complaining that OSS devs don't get money--I'm saying it
> ridiculous that people still pay for software when free/libre
> alternatives exist.
>

I do not think that there is a free/libre replacement of MS Windows,
Solidworks, Quicken, or many other proprietary applications. I know
about ReactOS, various FOSS CAD tools, and GNUcash, however, none of
them perform all the functions of their proprietary counterparts. For
many users (arguably most) the FOSS replacements are good enough. But
not for everybody.


-- 
Dotan Cohen

http://what-is-what.com
http://gibberish.co.il