Umberto Eco on Mac vs. DOS (was Re: MSOFT versus...)

[Maureen Anderson]

>There are some annoying things here & there, but they certainly 
>don't suck suck suck. Is it just the OS's you hate?

Speaking of OS's, last week I came upon this gem, apparently an Eco 
classic, while surfing for a journal citation.  As a Catholic raised 
Mac devotee maybe I found it especially delicious.

The real Clash of Civilizations:


The Holy War: Mac vs. DOS
by Umberto Eco


Insufficient consideration has been given to the new underground 
religious war which is modifying the modern world.  It's an old idea 
of mine, but I find that whenever I tell people about it they 
immediately agree with me.

The fact is that the world is divided between users of the Macintosh 
computer and users of MS-DOS compatible computers.  I am firmly of 
the opinion that the Macintosh is Catholic and that DOS is 
Protestant.  Indeed, the Macintosh is counter-reformist and has been 
influenced by the 'ratio studiorum' of the Jesuits.  It is cheerful, 
friendly, conciliatory, it tells the faithful how they must proceed 
step by step to reach -- if not the Kingdom of Heaven -- the moment 
in which their document is printed.  It is catechistic: the essence 
of revelation is dealt with via simple formulae and sumptuous icons. 
Everyone has a right to salvation.

DOS is Protestant, or even Calvinistic.  It allows free 
interpretation of scripture, demands difficult personal decisions, 
imposes a subtle hermeneutics upon the user, and takes for granted 
the idea that not all can reach salvation.  To make the system work 
you need to interpret the program yourself: a long way from the 
baroque community of revellers, the user is closed within the 
loneliness of his own inner torment.

You may object that, with the passage to Windows, the DOS universe 
has come to resemble more closely the counter-reformist tolerance of 
the Macintosh.  It's true: Windows represents an Anglican-style 
schism, big ceremonies in the cathedral, but there is always the 
possibility of a return to DOS to change things in accordance with 
bizarre decisions; when it comes down to it, you can decide to allow 
women and gays to be ministers if you want to.

And machine code, which lies beneath both systems (or environments, 
if you prefer)?  Ah, that is to do with the Old Testament, and is 
talmudic and cabalistic...