1. Ignorance hurts only ourselves

Because although we all have our preferences, ignorance hurts only ourselves. As convenient as it would be for the whole world to switch to a single perfect OS, or at least the best available, it just ain’t practical, or sensible.

2. Opportunity

Clever chaps who can still program in assembly languages are never short on jobs, if anything their prospects increase as their skills become rarer. Large companies with an existing code-base often can’t afford the time or resource to rewrite systems from scratch to keep up with the latest trends in programming.

While Vista tends to frustrate me, so does Leopard from time to time. We learn to deal with it. If I decided, as so many do, to pick an OS and announce that all others confound me, I’d be limiting my career, my skills, and my friends.

3. Versatility

I’m in 2 minds over this one. On the one hand consistency helps us work faster, on the other hand versatility keeps our brains ready for change. And change is good. I rarely have a problem with Ctrl+C / Cmd+C, or with the location of close window buttons, my brain seems to happily switch contexts. Most people work hard to carve patterns and routines into their minds, and resist change like the devil. Change necessary, it is good to learn to deal with it.

4. Competition

Everyone knows competition is good, it drives business. As long as I don’t directly work with either Microsoft or Apple, I can happily encourage the use of both. While building GetSignOff we found competing products inspired us, and spurred us on to build a greater product.

5. Make friends & Alienate people

I love being able to talk knowledagbly with Mac fans and Windows fans alike, despite often being accused by both sides as a traitor. Making friends is great, and ridiculous comparisson based arguments are fun, being a regular on both sides of the game makes life more interesting. And life just ain’t worth it if it ain’t interesting.

What does everyone else think? I’m not the only one, why do other people? Other than, ‘I have to’, of course.