PC != Windows

[R3450N]

It's annoying when you search for a game and filter it down by OS, you get the following options: Steamplay, PC, Mac and Linux. It seems fine and understandable at first but technically PC, Mac and Linux are all PCs but running different Operating Systems. PC isn't an operating system; it stands for Personal Computer.

As a Linux user, I regard my Linux machine as a PC. I even regarded my previous Windows machine as a PC. I would even regard a Mac OS X machine as a PC. Simply to differentiate one type of PC from another by OS requires marketing terms; hence Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. This may seem pessimistic but it's misleading to define Windows as PC because not only are the above reasons true, but Windows (humorously) doesn't even qualify to be a PC since it's also available on other devices, like Linux. If we were to filter our results by device then having PC under such options would be appropriate.

Btw, Mac is a brand name for a PC made by Apple. Mac OS X is the operating system used within the Mac devices.

[Tatsur0]

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090714212926AAOaEgM

No reason to be annoyed. It's clear to most people and the majority think in terms of PC/Mac/Linux no need to take the term "Personal Computer" too literally.

If you really want to take it further you could say that every letter we type is gibberish that we all tend to interpret however we like (which is not a false statement). We can go further to 0's and 1's or sounds, or how the cochlea sends information via vibrations that tell us there is sound.

Not trying to troll, just making a point that I hope you'll understand.

[bleed]

Well Mac users don't like to call their Mac a PC. I would say PC for Linux, Windows, Unix..., etc, and Mac for an apple computer.

[SKaREO]

Not sure if you're aware of this, but Windows has been a standard operating system for a long time. When you search for a Linux OS game, you are esentially getting a game with limited hardware support, stripped of DirectX and extensively optimized for OpenGL. Mac desktop computers similarly lack a lot of hardware support commonly seen on a Windows PC, regardless of the fact that all three operating systems run on personal computing devices.

"PC" is essentially an old IBM brand. Microsoft worked in collaboration with IBM to develop the Windows operating system in order to drive a brand of personal computers that were designed to make the home more productive, expanding from their traditional model of exclusively selling business machines.

Linux does not work in collaboration with major hardware developers, and hasn't aligned their goals with that of a capatalist society. Therefore, Linux has been generally left without extensive support from major corporations. The only support that can be found comes from privately funded work, and that of the hacker community.

Analysts believe that Linux has missed it's chance to penetrate the PC market due to a lack of hardware manufacturers developing new drivers for their operating system, leaving software developers to come up with their own solutions. This become costly and less appealing for developers, removing any chance of them becoming a direct competitor to the Windows operating system.

[jjb-54]

Linux would work wonderfully in a Star Trek World/Reality - but as one pointed out - in a Capitalistic Market - it is about $$$ and a return investiment for their time/effort/materials. If there is no return then obviously there is no investiment.

Before the 'anti-capilitist' start to pile up - let me just ask you one simple question:

Would you work for free? Knowing you would get NOTHING back from your time and effort except the 'warm fuzzy feeling'? Then how would you pay your bills with "warm fuzzy feelings"?

[Satoru]

jjb-54 の投稿を引用：

Linux would work wonderfully in a Star Trek World/Reality - but as one pointed out - in a Capitalistic Market - it is about $$$ and a return investiment for their time/effort/materials. If there is no return then obviously there is no investiment.

Before the 'anti-capilitist' start to pile up - let me just ask you one simple question:

Would you work for free? Knowing you would get NOTHING back from your time and effort except the 'warm fuzzy feeling'? Then how would you pay your bills with "warm fuzzy feelings"?

Ask Suse, Canonical and Redhat about that. They're doing fine. Open Source doesn't mean 'free'.

[76561198053545430]

Actually it is, pc == windows. You dont have mac, so you dont know, that macs are called macs. Windows computers are called pcs, and linux doesnt really have any dedicated hardware for it, so its called linux.

[Τhe Rolling Cheese Wheel]

It doesn't matter what you call it, the vast mainstream will still call windows a pc.

[jjb-54]

Satoru の投稿を引用：

jjb-54 の投稿を引用：

Linux would work wonderfully in a Star Trek World/Reality - but as one pointed out - in a Capitalistic Market - it is about $$$ and a return investiment for their time/effort/materials. If there is no return then obviously there is no investiment.

Before the 'anti-capilitist' start to pile up - let me just ask you one simple question:

Would you work for free? Knowing you would get NOTHING back from your time and effort except the 'warm fuzzy feeling'? Then how would you pay your bills with "warm fuzzy feelings"?

Ask Suse, Canonical and Redhat about that. They're doing fine. Open Source doesn't mean 'free'.

Oh, I know there are some that are $$'ing on it .... and I'm glad to see that happening. :)

[Satoru]

Colloquially PC refers to Windows based computers. Any more than people who refer to people who hijack their accounts or cheaters as 'hackers'. You can yell at me for using the wrong terminology if we're at DEFCON. But most people aren't going to make the distinctions between hackers, crackers, phishers, etc. That's just the reality of the colloquial nature of how MOST people refer to it.

[Satoru]

baravykas222 の投稿を引用：

, and linux doesnt really have any dedicated hardware for it, so its called linux.

Wow you really do NOT have any idea what you're talking about do you? THough thtat was evident in your other thread of ignorance.

[Rick McThiccdick]

Many people do not understand the difference between PC and Windows.

[Georges Baliverne]

is your portable phone (cell) its a iphone,android,smartphone or just a FREAKING DAMN PHONE... yea TELEPHONE, it is and not a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ iphone we dont care that its apple too -.-

bleed の投稿を引用：

Well Mac users don't like to call their Mac a PC. I would say PC for Linux, Windows, Unix..., etc, and Mac for an apple computer.

[R3450N]

Regardless of the colloquialism involved with 'PC' does not deter it from what it truly refers to. PC is not an Operating System and is simply a name designated to machines dedicated for users to complete basic user tasks. In order for this to be accomodated, an OS must be provided.

There is a difference between PC and Windows; for example, Windows like any other OS handles the hardware within the PC. It would be incorrect to call your Windows installation/OS a PC since they are two completely different aspects in computing. It's like comparing a pen to paper - they complement each other, but they are not identical.

[lichgod]

pc is just better

[ThePope]

I think the econmty is hjustasda lfasdfsa