Thank you, thank you, thank you. These stories are DRAINING and I can't believe they keep making their way up that high on Digg. Who honestly cares? Switch to Ubuntu.. have fun with that circus. I've been using 6.06 on a test machine for awhile and it really needs some polishing.

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It sounds to me that Bryan O'Bryan had some bad experiences with bitchy Mac users and can't separate that from the Mac as a whole. The other of his three reasons seem pretty tacked on. I feel for the guy -- he's providing a free service and people attack him because its not precisely what they want, but does that warrant a platform switch?

I also find it funny that so many (okay, three of four high profile) Mac users are switching to Linux, because in many ways Linux is the anti-Mac. From a user experience point of view, I'd much rather switch to Windows.

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mark pilgrim and his corrupted databases (iTunes, iPhoto) sounds so sketchy. i hate to say it, but those issues have got to be user error or some bad beta plugin. so, maybe he should go to ubuntu. good luck with that. i'll stick with something that works and actually looks shiny.

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Jeez.. who cares.. use what u have to use and move on...
Resexcellence sucked big time anyway..

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Actually, I'm quite enjoying my install of Ubuntu. A friend recently gave me an HP laptop w/a dead battery that he didn't want anymore. I knew that I didn't want to run Windows, so I installed Suse 10.1 on it. I could not for the life of me get Suse to recognize my WiFi card, so I replaced it with Ubuntu, which saw my WiFi card and joined my network with zero configuration. Sweet.

In the two weeks I've been using this machine, I haven't been left wanting. I'm able to do all of my blogging, image editing, email, music and photos without a single problem. Plus, the UI is very snappy indeed (and easily made "Shiny," Stephen). Best of all, everything is free (as in beer). I've found it very pleasant to use and I haven't had a "Uuh, how do I do this" moment yet.

In a way I agree with freakfunk, use what you want and who cares, but at the same time I'm not too much of a fanboy to be threatened by an alternative OS.

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Sure, try loading Ubuntu or Xandros or anyother linux on your wireless laptop.

When your wireless card no longer works because of spotty to non existent driver support, you won't even have to worry about the internets any more, let alone corrupted iTunes data.

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"Since when did a person's computing platform of choice become a matter that must be announced to the public?"

Its kinda like putting up posters in your dorm room proclaiming your musical tastes for everyone to see. In other words, college freshman stuff.

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Good choice, man.

For a good part of last year and a small part of this one, I used Ubuntu and OS X side by side. And while it's thrilling to apt-get universe for image editing apps and office suites, these dudes have NO IDEA how frustrating Linux can be if they've been scared off by a little malformed xml in iTunes.

Now I'll admit that I wasn't using Dapper Drake, but hell if all the UI inconsistencies and totally nonfunctioning software has been fixed since then. They actually bundle a ton of software that does not run at all under the default config, and that I didn't know how to or couldn't be bothered to fix. Getting working MP3 jukebox software was a hassle; getting it to play MP3s involved quasi-legal activity. But by far the worst experiences I've had with any software on any platform were trying to get gDesklets to run normally, and getting Wine to do ANYTHING AT ALL.

My experience wasn't irredeemably awful, but I think in part it was because I had Mac OS X to lean on. If it were my only machine I would have been seriously unproductive.

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If the editors of the ResEx of yesteryear had switched, that would be a different story.

As it is now, ResExcellence has gone from my homepage, visit-it-every-day awesome to the bottom of my Bookmarks menu, that I check maybe once a week.

Was I surprised when today I head over there to see that after killing off most of the features on their "upgrade" to the site and driving away readers left and right, not to mention no change to the lackadaisical update frequency, they're straight up killing the site? Completely changing its M.O. and how it works, changing it into something it never was and will not succeed as? No, not really.

It has shown from the start that these buffoons have no respect for the incredible resource that was handed to them, a hugely popular site with a base of readers many web slingers would kill to get, with a rich history and well-established features, sections, and management systems. These guys have personally overseen the death of one of the best destinations of the Mac-oriented web, and I, for one, have no plans to go back and witness any more of its demise.

Ian Meyer
Several-time contributor to ResExcellence

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"Since when did a person's computing platform of choice become a matter that must be announced to the public?"

uh...you mean like when you run an Apple blog? ;)

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"About The Unofficial Apple Weblog
The best Mac weblog in the world(!)"

I agree. I visit several times a day because:
a. timely
b. visually pleasing
c. I learn about new things (software mostly)

TUAW has become my favorite.

,dave

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I'm the casual mac user. Nothing too technical. There is no reason for me to use that Linux or Windows crap. Unless they have drivers for USB blowjob machines I'm out.

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I've been in the "Mac Community Twister" after the latest release of RapidWeaver. in the forum you could see some messages of encouragement, some of disappointment, and sometimes some debate. I personally was a bit disappointed in the release and voiced my opinion along with suggestion. That's it. If they don't make the soft better, i'll go WordPress, or DreamWeaver, simple as that.
The two main elements is 1) for the users to make *constructive* criticism programmers can learn from, 2) for programmers to separate acidic comments from the community as a whole.

What strikes me in the resexcellence story is the way he is trying to find a reason to ditch the thing. Apparently, the site is not as good as it used to, and he blames the flaming users. Too bad for him.

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Can someone explain why any of these people are high profile? WHo the hell is Bryan O'Bryan and why should I care what platform any of them use or are switching to besides the 500 million other livejournal blogs out that there talk about there windows or macintosh computers followed by frowny or smiley emoticons.

If Branjelina, Paris Hilton, Vince Vaughn or some other person talked about switching from Mac to Ubuntu, then it would really be a high profile cause that I could give a crap about. The developers at Apple are really working their ass off now reading every lamewads blog to see what tiny problem they have so they can fix it and maybe win them back.

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I have a Mac at home, I have a linux box at home (Suse 10.1).

When I use the Linux box, I work _on_ the linux box, usually having to update a package or two to get it to support the file I need to edit, view, etc... And often enough banging my head on bad UI design and unintuitive features.

When I use the Mac, I work _with_ the Mac, and just get things done. Amen.

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What you doing in Canterbury... I live 10mins away from there, check out the Jag garage and the cathedral. Also you should go into the apple store in Bluewater and say hi....

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Aaah I see..... Im from lovely Medway..

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Hello from folkestone! A little bit further. My mate's parents used to own the pharmacy in Bridge.

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