21 Mar
2006
21 Mar
'06
12:02 p.m.
Hi Steve,
in previous years a lot of the development effort
was specifically targeted at the linux kernel, but I feel that this is
becoming less true with time. In particular a small but significant
ammount of linux audio software now runs on OS X.
Sure, and I think it strengthens the case for using those applications
that they aren't tied to a single platform. However from a
linuxaudio.org point of view, I have reservations about promoting free
software on OS X, as it is a semi-proprietary platform under the control
of a single company - something I hoped UNIX could get away from :-)
The forced switch to Intel processors is a classic example of why a user
shouldn't put their faith in a closed-systems vendor. I was an Apple
user ten years ago, and I always had the feeling I was being taken for a
mug. At least in the early days you could make a case that Apple
hardware was superior, and worth the extra cost - SCSI drives instead of
IDE, for example - but over the years, the Mac became more and more like
a PC inside, so I guess Intel processors are the logical final step.
But I have a more serious reason for distrusting Apple. It's quite
obvious to me that with the acquisition of Logic at the producer end and
the iPod and iTunes music store at the other, the company is attempting
to establish monopoly control of the entire music technology chain.
They're cutting out the labels by signing bands directly to iTunes, and
even making a push for the amateur market with the likes of Garage Band.
Apple is now well positioned to become the Microsoft of music, and of
course that's not a future that I want to see. So I find it hard to
advocate that musicians should use OS X, particularly if the alternative
is GNU/Linux.
Cheers!
Daniel