Interesting Link (Rant?)

While finishing up a few things with our History of IT project, I found a blog that talks about Apple computers in schools.  I found some of the points made to be valid (like discussing if spending $2,000+ per computer was really worth it or the advantages of using open-source softare) and some to be ridiculous (like questioning if computers should even be in schools).

One point I completely disagreed with was the author's conclusion:

"I think schools should buy components and build computers that can run any OS that the students want to put on them.  Make Windows 7 and OS X open source and let them compete with Linux.  Let the OSes battle it out for 10 years and then let’s pick the UniOS for the world standard starting in 2020."

While schools buying components and teaching students to put them together is a great idea, the idea of a universal "UniOS" is NOT.  Each of these operating systems have advantages and disadvantages.  The competition between companies like Google and Apple has greatly advanced what our phones are able to do.  If there was only one OS, we would not have seen the progress in mobile devices that we have over the past three years.  I feel people should be able to make whatever choice they want to when it comes to a computer's OS.  Some like the ease and power Apple provides, some like the familiarity of Windows, and some enjoy the open-source quality of Linux.  Let the user decide!!