I have been told that people don’t think I should link to obvious link bait posts, I can see why. Instead of causing a direct link, how about I provide [this link](http://swizec.com/blog/ubuntu-better-for-app-management-than-apple/swizec/1672) to the post and we go on to dissecting this load of drivel.
Some guy that goes by the handle “Swizec” posted an article titled: “Ubuntu’s app management better than Apple’s”. Obviously this grabbed my attention and caused me to read the post — after all it has been a while since I was last using Ubuntu and I was curious to hear about the improvements made to the OS.
>But what I wanted to talk about today was how a bunch of opensource geeks have managed to beat the paragon of usability and App Stores and all things shiny and awesome when it comes to managing apps, installing software and so on.
Clearly from the the article title he is meaning Apple — meaning Ubuntu has created a better App Store interface than Apple has. At this point I am incredibly excited and I want to hear more, because I don’t think the current App Store for Mac OS X is quite up to par.
Next “Swizec” breaks down the 15 steps he identifies one needing to do before getting a new app on a Mac or Windows box — 15 steps, you have got to be kidding me. What he seems to forget is that we have Google, type in one line, read the article and download the app — that’s pretty straight forward and far less than the 15 crazy steps he takes. But, I will agree that it is not always easy to find a good app. I took way more that 15 steps to find a good seating chart app when I was planning our wedding, but I digress.
He then lists 9 steps for the average “package manager”. Now having used linux for a while I know what a package manager is, but I would guess that 90% (probably more) of computer users don’t. So then really steps 4 and 7 must be confusing for people when they have to `apt-get` something — do you know what that means? ((Yes I know what it means.))
>The most notable difference is that suddenly you have this authoritative source of applications where everything is available in a single place. Sure, if you have specific needs you might still have to visit a website or two, three, four, five to get the specific version of the package you need just in case the one your distro offers is too old … but all in all, the process is much nicer.
No the most notable difference is actually the fact that only command prompt geeks know what you are talking about at this point. The most notable difference is that my mom couldn’t download an app using this method — hell our average high schooler probably couldn’t either.
Me: “No, Mom, listen you need to go look on Google for version X of the package because the distro you have is too old.”
My Mom: “…can you come over and do that?”
>Recently Apple has done some improvements and became more like Linux with its variety of App Stores, the one on iOS works pretty well, the one on MacOS is … well it’s just a dash bit strange to be honest.
Wait… what? Macs are more like Linux — no, my friend, you simply have that backwards.
>It doesn’t feel right. It isn’t tightly integrated into the OS itself, it doesn’t really offer anything to make me want to use it.
Now I buy that, the Mac App Store was clearly intended for 10.7, not 10.6.
>Another big issue with the App Store that I have is that it only works for Apps. What about all the other software I need on my computer?
Wait, now we are arguing the semantics of what an “app” is? Let me explain, it is the same as software. You’re welcome.
He then devolves the conversation into a plethora of screenshots from Ubuntu and Mac OS X 10.6 with the apparent point being that in the App launcher folder on Ubuntu you are also recommended apps that are similar. Meaning you are shown ads in the app launcher in Ubuntu — perhaps that’s just the way I view it, but most people turn off Genius recommendations in iTunes for a reason.
Then we get his conclusion, which states:
>All in all, I think Ubuntu has made a great leap to making the whole experience of using third party software much much easier on the palate.
Agreed, but that’s not what you said the whole time — your posit is that it *is* better than everything else, not that it simply made the experience easier.
>There’s still a long way to go and a bunch of geeks are already complaining that the whole interface sucks, but they keep forgetting just how much it sucks for everybody else who isn’t using linux. We’re just spoiled.
Keep the above in mind for later.
>Of course there is still a long way to go and the new interface does have its issues. There’s also a big chance that cometh MacOS 10.7 everything might change. The App Store was meant for the new version after all and the fact we’re even allowed to use it already is supposed to be a grace of the Gods and so on.
Or just Apple pushing out a new product, either way I agree that it seemed rushed out to 10.6. This statement though is a “hedging my bets” statement, whereby he is trying to make sure that everyone knows that what he started off by saying is 100% fact, is now only a vague opinion — you need to own and article like this.
>We’ll see, I really hope they come even close to Ubuntu Natty Narwhal because my laptop is (and always will be) running a Mac OS.
Remember that passage I asked you to keep in mind — read it again, now. So life sucks for everyone not using linux and the new App Store is better than Apple’s, but alas he will always be running Mac OS even though he knows it to be crap compared to Ubuntu. Does this confuse anyone else?
The title sets that the writer believes that Ubuntu has created a better App Management system than Apple. He then explains in detail why he believes that to be the case. Then, in the **conclusion**, he says that linux users are now “spoiled”, yet he will always use Mac OS. It’s not like he can’t boot Ubuntu on his Mac, he can (for free), but no he is choosing what he just got done explaining to be inferior. Odd.
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