Re: [PyMOL] OT: platform discussion

[DeLano S. <de...@de...>]

=20
> Convenience is a subjective term.

Yes, but not in this case: the on-topic issue is the convenience of
accessing accelerated OpenGL graphics hardware, as required by PyMOL.
General platform discussion leans off-topic, as you correctly point out.

> Everybody has probably good reasons why he uses osX osy and osz.

Agreed.  But if you seek the flexibility to run all three, there is only =
one
hardware brand which can support that.=20

Cheers,
Warren

-----Original Message-----
From: pym...@li...
[mailto:pym...@li...] On Behalf Of Martin
H=F6fling
Sent: Saturday, January 20, 2007 8:01 AM
To: pym...@li...
Subject: [PyMOL] OT: platform discussion

Am Samstag, 20. Januar 2007 00:55 schrieb DeLano Scientific:

Hi all,

> Of course not: cost is a pragmatic consideration, but cost should not=20
> solely be defined in terms of purchase price.  You must also include=20
> costs in terms of your time and frustration.  (However, having once=20
> been a graduate student, purchase price alone can be THE overriding=20
> factor at that time in your life...)

I agree with you that cost in terms of money is a minor factor. But
frustration can also be greatly due to the closed source character of =
the
software. E.g. IBM ships no native intel mac client for Tivoli Storage
Management. Same is the case for linux but  here, you can easily set up =
a
32bit library set or java-vm which satifies the requirements.

> By ideological reasons, I mean, for example, preferring Linux over=20
> MacOS because it is pure "free software" as per the FSF dogma whereas=20
> OS X effectively combines open-source software in synergy with =
proprietary
code.

At least for me, noble motives aren't the reason why i prefer linux. I =
need
a flexible system that adapts to my workflow and not the other way =
round. I
am using kile as my favourite tex editor. We tried to install that thing =
for
a colleague of me on his mac. It was pain in the ***. Although macos =
root's
are those of an unix system installation of not precompiled software is =
not
as easy as it sounds.

> It is a very good thing that some noble individuals are willing to=20
> accept less convenience and extra hassles in order to keep Linux alive =

> on the desktop, thus supporting the many positive long-term impacts=20
> open-source code and "free software" have on society.

Convenience is a subjective term. Everybody sees it's favorite
system/editor/wordprocessor/... as the most convenient one. Habits play =
also
a very big role in considering sth "convenient".

One thing that is very often difficult to explain to otheres is that =
many
people do not use linux for ideological or monetary reasons. If one =
thinks
back two or three years or so, linux was the only pc-compatible 64Bit =
os. Or
if you need a "supercomputer compatible" os for your reserarch work, =
most of
them here run on linux and it's nice to have a compatible system for =
local
tests. Mac OS always forces you to use Apple's hardware and not everyone =
is
happy with it.  Personally i like the "good old ibm-quality" of my t40
thinkpad. Others prefer ugly sony stuff etc. so mac os is not a choice =
for
everyone. Several commercial sofware performs bad on mac os due to =
emulation
through rosetta...
Everybody has probably good reasons why he uses osX osy and osz.

Cheers
	Martin

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