Tech Zeal... Actually, Zealots in General

I was reading an article this morning about total cost of ownership of various operating systems. The author linked to discussions about OSX, XP/Vista, and Linux as enterprise solutions in the workplace. The only common ground I could see was Linux and Mac junkies bashing every solution that didn't match their "my way is the only way" mantra.

It's one thing to be stubborn. It's another thing entirely to be stubborn to the point of refusing to consider alternatives. It's impossible to say "_____ is the best solution for the enterprise" without knowing what "the enterprise" really is. Are there legacy applications? Is there existing infrastructure that precludes a changing of the guard? Can your staffing handle the transition? Are there opportunities for you to leverage or re-purpose existing assets?

The list goes on. There is no "right way" there is only what works for your situation.

The sad truth is that the software industry isn't a meritocracy. People use what they use for a myriad of reasons - usually not centered around overall product quality. Mac and Linux users hate this and shout about it from the rooftops at every opportunity. I am guessing Windows users refrain because windows users are less likely to be zealots about their software choices. Windows users use Windows because they know it, they probably use it at work, and it came pre-installed on their computer.

This philosophy is socially pervasive. Music, movies, TV, cars, science, politics. You see it everywhere. People who demand that others seek out the obscure simply to separate themselves from the lowest-common-denominator, reality-TV, double-decaf soy latte fed masses. While I agree that we should all be open to alternative choices, there are better ways to educate than screeching in the town square.

Besides... sometimes I like a good latte.