In recent weeks I’ve been researching backup options for my home computers. At the top of the list, of course, is Windows Home Server. Other options I’ve tried include Amahi running on Fedora 10. Now, as I’ve written previously, I’m pretty OS agnostic. I work with all of them and really don’t have a preference. Well, I do have one preference: If I’m aiming to get something accomplished, rather than just futzing around with it, I’ll choose the product that helps me do that. After all, Isn’t that the purpose of computers: to make life easier?

The challenge — and frustration — is that every time I try to get reasonable information from an internet site, some idiot has to interject his personal opinion in a way that basically says anybody that doesn’t agree with him is wrong. Even when he’s posting on a site that has a very clear focus on a given topic.

Let me give you an example. Windows Home Server is a very good product. It does exactly what it says it’ll do and it does it with virtually no intervention on my part. Nor does it require any significant skills to get set up. In other words, it helps me to quickly and efficiently accomplish the task of ensuring that my network is properly backed up.

Now, yes, I can do that with Amahi, too. Except that it isn’t as easy to do. And, for the person who isn’t as technically adept, it doesn’t provide (yet) that easy setup and essentially hands off operation. I think it’ll get there, but it’s not there yet.

But, go to any WHS website and you’ll find somebody who has taken on himself the responsibility for evangelizing Linux. To me that’s about like going into a synagogue and preaching Christianity. It’s just plain disrespectful and betrays the ignorance of the evangelizer. There is a time and a place.

More importantly, and the real thrust of this post, is that some people like Fords, others like Chevy. Neither is wrong, just different. Why can’t people just accept we’re all a little different, with different tastes, interests and preferences and leave it at that? why do some people feel the need to abuse others who don’t believe as they do? Especially on something as trivial as OS choice?