Mac vs PC? Who cares?!

I'll admit that I have enjoyed Apple's recent Get a Mac ad campaign. A lot of it is half-truths and innuendo, but many of the spots do make excellent points.

As a user of Linux- and BSD-based operating systems, however, I couldn't care less about whether Windows Vista or Mac OS X provides a better experience. Both are closed software products that willfully ignore reality; the cost of distribution is as close to zero as is reasonably possible, and it's only going to get cheaper. Free Software is only going to get stronger, and it's going to be a brighter future for everyone*.

Anywho... This morning I happened across some 'Get a Mac' spoofs created by Novell. They're certainly not as professionally-made as those in the Apple campaign, but in terms of content I'd say they're about on-par with The Real McCoy: vague and condescending, but true nonetheless.

The first ad simply points out that there is actually an [attractive!] alternative to Mac or PC. The second ad is less straightforward, but it hints at key strengths of Linux: rapid-as-you-want-them updates and a community built on sharing, openness, and continuous improvement. The third ad, my least favorite, hits on a couple more points; one, that you can run Linux on computers originally sold with either Windows or Mac OS and two, that all those features the Mac and PC are discussing are things that Linux can do.

Ad #1 (Linux is real, and it's spectacular): YouTube, MPG download, or OGG download
Ad #2 (Linux does what /you/ want it to): YouTube, MPG download, or OGG download
Ad #3 (Linux see, Linux do [better]): YouTube, MPG download, or OGG download

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* With the exception of the stockholders of those software corporations which have made their billions by disrespecting their customers and squeezing them for every penny they have. For a handy list of these wonderful companies, just check out the Business Software Alliance's member list.