I'd Love To Smack Fanboys

Published on March 30, 2007 By MasonM In Misc

Warning: The following is a rant.

WTF is wrong with some people? The some people to which I refer are the fanboys of certain operating systems. I was just cruising through several Linux forums trying to help some folks out with some of their questions and problems and ran across no less than six threads where some asshat replied "if you used -insert Windows, OS/X, or a certain Linux distro here- you wouldn't have that problem.

I would love to grab these people up and just throttle the hell out of them. Nobody gives a red rat's ass what your favorite operating system is, they're looking for an answer to a question about the operating system they're using. If you can't answer the question move on to another thread. Asshats.

I just don't understand that mentality at all. Yes I prefer Slackware Linux over other operating systems but I don't answer every OS thread with "use Slack". As a matter of fact I tend to discourage Linux newbies from using Slack as it's a very hands-on type distro that requires a lot of knowledge or a very steep learning curve in order to set up and use correctly.

I do sometimes make the usual Windoze vs Linux jokes, but that's all they are; jokes. For some people Windows really is the best choice. For some, like myself, it isn't. So why do these fanboys insist on pushing their OS of choice on everyone else? If that's the only answer you can give someone it tells me that you actually know very little about operating systems in general and very likely don't know anything outside of the one you use or the problem being presented.

I have made a point of using and learning about just about every operating system out there today. Yes, most of them are Linux distros, and I am only expert in the Linux area, but I do often help people with their Windows related problems as well even though I do not like the MS systems. I am no MS expert, but have administered MS based networks and do have some working knowledge of their operating systems. I'm far more comfortable working with a Unix system or one of the Unix variants like Linux or BSD.

I wouldn't dream of answering someone's question by telling them they're using the wrong OS. Hell, I have no idea what their preferences, demands, or requirements are for their system so it would be very arrogant to tell them they're using the wrong one.

Sorry for the rant but the fanboys just piss me off to no end.

Comments (Page 1)

SanChonino

on Mar 30, 2007

You wouldn't get so mad at the fanbois if you used OSX or Windows.

Gideon MacLeish

on Mar 30, 2007

I agree...I pissed off the Mac fanboys with one of my articles and it came out in droves. They missed my larger point: that I am more loyal to hardware than software, and if Mac's O/S wasn't proprietary, I would consider it.

Frankly, I'm sick of Windows. I only use it as my primary O/S at the moment because I haven't got time or experience to redo the whole network. That being said, I know several people who love Windows. More power to 'em, I say!

MasonM

on Mar 30, 2007

Actually I think the Mac fanboys are the worst of the worst. How dare you insult their OS?

I'm not devoted to any hardware or OS. They're tools and I use what works best for me. I hate the Windows system with a passion, but not for some of the same "MS is a momopoly" political crap many Linux/Mac users do, but simply because I find it to be buggy as hell and "reboot" should not be the first solution to every damn problem. Why the hell should I have to reboot just because I installed a new application? That's just stupid.

But again, that's just me. For many folks it's the perfect OS. No insults towards them from me.

MasonM

on Mar 30, 2007

You wouldn't get so mad at the fanbois if you used OSX or Windows.

Yeah I would. I think the fanboi mentality is idiotic. Believe me, we have plenty of distro fanbois in the Linux community. Debian vs Slackware vs Redhat (aka Fedora) vs Mandrake (aka Madriva) vs Suse (aka OpenSuse). Morons all.

Gideon MacLeish

on Mar 30, 2007

but simply because I find it to be buggy as hell and "reboot" should not be the first solution to every damn problem. Why the hell should I have to reboot just because I installed a new application? That's just stupid.

For me, it's that, plus the terrible expense. As I'm trying to build a home network it occurred to me that because so many people practically give away their machines when they are about a year old, the O/S is by far the most expensive part of the system.

MasonM

on Mar 30, 2007

Well, yeah, I'll admit I'm also a tightwad. I'd much prefer something that's free over something that costs me money, but that really wasn't my main motivations for moving from DOS to Linux way back when (shit, I'm dating myself). I just thought it was better.

I'm more than willing to pay for quality. I am not willing to pay more for an inferior product.

But I still don't subscribe to the damn fanboy bullshit. They're idiots all.

Gideon MacLeish

on Mar 30, 2007

I'm more than willing to pay for quality. I am not willing to pay more for an inferior product.

I agree. I think the point where I really soured on Windows was when, twice in a 24 hour period I had to hunt down drivers because the SP2 upgrade put me back to 4 bit color. Like you said, an inferior product.

MasonM

on Mar 30, 2007

I'm more than willing to pay for quality. I am not willing to pay more for an inferior product.

But Windows is all like automatic and shit! It's easier! You don't have to waste time installing drivers and all that! Stuff just works!

Typical fanboy crap.

Nothing is perfect. I say use what works best for you, just don't go around telling everyone why they're stupid for using what works for them.

Gideon MacLeish

on Mar 30, 2007

I know what you mean, Mason. I had a fanboy tell me that that sort of thing couldn't EVER have happened...that I must have messed up some system files or something.

I had to remind them that I'm not exactly a dumbass here.

lol

MasonM

on Mar 30, 2007

Oh come on! MS systems never mess up, lose, or corrupt files! It had to be a PIC problem! (Problem In Chair).

Windows is like any other OS. It requires drivers and support files (libraries) in order to run. Period. They all do. Fanboys seem to lack the most basic understanding of how any OS really works. If they did, they'd shut the hell up.

Zoologist03

on Mar 31, 2007

You wouldn't get so mad at the fanbois if you used OSX or Windows.

Shucks, that's what I was going to say...too late on the draw, I suppose.

And I agree, fanboy mentality gets rather annoying when they push stuff on you like an overzealous drug dealer.

~Zoo

MasonM

on Mar 31, 2007

fanboy mentality gets rather annoying when they push stuff on you like an overzealous drug dealer.

Exactly.

Dr Guy

on Mar 31, 2007

I use Windows because it pays my bills. I like OSX the best, but like you hate the OSX Fanboys! I wish I knew more about Linux (I know enough to be dangerous), but right now, Cisco is my main area of study, so perhaps later.

I agree, to each his own. But I hope MS does not make Windows as stable as Linux. I will be out of a job!

Oh, and one other thing. The Task manager is your friend on Windows - Just dont tell the end users!

MasonM

on Mar 31, 2007

But I hope MS does not make Windows as stable as Linux. I will be out of a job!

I think your job is safe

SanChonino

on Mar 31, 2007

Shucks, that's what I was going to say...too late on the draw, I suppose.

"Too late on the draw", huh? That's what your girlfriend told me last night, too . . .

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