# Re: Ruby, Rails & Linux - Which distro **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [April 23, 2006, 6:35pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-ruby-rails-linux-which-distro/58587 "2006-04-23T18:35:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bakki](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@bakki](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/bakki)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2006, 6:35pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-ruby-rails-linux-which-distro/58587/1 "2006-04-23T18:35:34Z")
Did I sound like our President? 🙂 I didn’t explain myself well. I am not thinking of buying the identically equipped PC laptop either at the same price. If I had a $2500-$3000 budget (laptop, Applecare + case etc) I might consider the Mac, but then in the PC laptop universe there are more options of going with the slower processors (T2300 or T2400) for about $1,000 less every thing else being more or less equal To summarize the important features, feature MacbookPro HP dv8233cl Toshiba A105-S4004 CPU T2400 T2300 T2300 RAM 512MB(PC5300) 1GB(PC5300) 1GB(PC4200) HD(SATA) 80GB(5400) 2x100GB(5400) 100GB(5400) Screen 15.4"(1440x900) 17"(1440x900) 15.4(1280x800) Graphics ATIX1600 NVidiaGo7400 Intel950 USB,1394 2 ,1 4,1 4,1 Co$T $1,999 $1,499 $1,099 So the conflict in my head is what I NEED vs. What is considered cool. For example would’nt the Toshiba get the job done with Linux or FreeBSD? -bakki ---
**Author:** ![bakki](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@bakki](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/bakki)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2006, 11:16pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-ruby-rails-linux-which-distro/58587/2 "2006-04-23T23:16:11Z")
One thing I find interesting about programmers is little they value their tools. If you compare lifetime wages and tool expenses for programmers -vs- carpenters or mechanics, you’ll find that our tools are very inexpesive -vs- our salaries. Yet…many carpenters and mechanics (particularly the best ones) buy quality tools because it makes their work a bit easier and more productive. Now, I understand that there’s a debate as to whether Macs make our work a bit easier and more productive, but just listen to your own language below: > For example would’nt the Toshiba get the job done with > Linux or FreeBSD? Get the job done? That’s just not enough for me. I find a very interesting dynamic these days in OS choice, and I _don’t_ want to start a flame war, so don’t bother… 5-10 years ago, the more technical you were the less likely you were to use a Mac, preferring either Unix or Windows. Today, the more technical you are, the MORE likely you are to use a Mac. The clear exceptions to this rule seem to be free OS devotees, but even then it seems many of them use Macs running the free OS of their choice… – – Tom M. ---
**Author:** ![bakki](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@bakki](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/bakki)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2006, 12:17am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-ruby-rails-linux-which-distro/58587/3 "2006-04-24T00:17:34Z")
On Sun, 2006-04-23 at 14:12 -0700, Tom M. wrote: > choice, and I _don’t_ want to start a flame war, so > their choice… * * * the tool of the day perhaps but the fact is that few people take the time to learn the tools that they are using. The benefit of most gui tools is that you intrinsically know how to use a substantial part of it without any training whereas a terminal based editor requires some learning. Once you really learn how to use your editor, there is probably little difference between them in productivity. Operating systems of course are a different topic as you suggest and I would take issue with your assertion that that the more technical you are, the MORE likely you are to use a Mac. I would suggest that the opposite is true, but I have a different perspective and there’s really no reason to get into that here on this list. Craig ---
**Author:** ![bakki](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@bakki](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/bakki)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2006, 12:42am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-ruby-rails-linux-which-distro/58587/4 "2006-04-24T00:42:10Z")
> Operating systems of course are a different topic as you suggest and I > would take issue with your assertion that that the more technical you > are, the MORE likely you are to use a Mac. I would suggest that the > opposite is true, but I have a different perspective and there’s > really > no reason to get into that here on this list. Instead of technical, the word productive (which is more important to me than knowing everything inside out) would be better placed here. I find myself being a lot more productive on my Mac than I have been on a PC (was forced to for some time). Quality and productivity are the two main reasons I love my Mac. I’m just lucky my employer thinks the same and is willing to spend some hard cash on that. Best regards Peter De Berdt ---
**Author:** ![bakki](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@bakki](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/bakki)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2006, 3:21am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/re-ruby-rails-linux-which-distro/58587/5 "2006-04-24T03:21:17Z")
On Apr 23, 2006, at 3:17 PM, Craig W. wrote: > I would suggest that the opposite is true, but I have a > different perspective and there’s really no reason to get > into that here on this list. Yeah, almost certainly got ahead of myself there, statistically, but I’ll be you understand my point. The idea of something as cool (for programmers) as Rails being developed by a Macintosh user 5-10 years ago was fantastically unlikely. And, I will tell you this: Many of the most technical, successful and competent programmers I know are using a Macintosh today, and that’s a sea change. Some of these people I would never have imagined ever switching form Windows and/or Solaris/FreeBSD/Linux. I will say that most of these people are self employed, and therefore have more control of their environments, and don’t need to toe the line in the corporate world, as they exist outside that world. – – Tom M.