Ten years ago, I bumped into a digital designer college buddy of mine. When he found out I was a trainer for Dell technical support, he blurted out he was a Mac user and let out the immortal ditty, "Once you go Mac, you don't go back." I sincerely wanted to reply with a snappy comeback but all I could think of was: "Once you go Linux . . . you go . . . " Well, darn it, it was tough to think of a word that rhymed with Linux. A few days later, I though of "Once you go Fedora, you can't go wrong-a" and "Once you go openSUSE, you can't ever lose (-a)". But it just didn't have that Apple sex appeal.
Although I've been a Linux evangelist for years, I use both Windows and Mac OSX at work and at home. I have mixed feelings about everyone and their mother criticizing Microsoft and Windows 8. In truth, I actually applaud anyone in the tech forums who have the balls to defend Microsoft and Windows. People take Windows for granted so much, it's easy to throw stones at it. Contrary to popular belief, Linux users like me get almost as much flak despite the rise in closeted Linux users all over the world. In fact, I think Linux users are encouraged to buy a Mac more than Windows users are!
Agnosticism in the IT industry
The advantages for IT professionals being platform agnostic are pretty clear. Linux penetration in enterprise is pretty much an unpopular fact - but it's still a fact. Unix and Linux veterans can pretty much work on any hardware or software out there. It's not the sexiest bullet point on a resume but it is a practical skill. Serious Windows professionals have lost a bit of luster but regardless if you pray to Steve Jobs every night for Windows to literally "close" it's not going to happen immediately. Despite all the bad press and prejudice against Windows users, the most technical (and dangerous) people out there are Windows users. A little research will tell you that certification for many of Microsoft's technologies are still pretty much popular, OSX worship be damned. Regardless of how useful these certifications really are, it does get you started to greater things. As for being well-versed in Mac OSX . . . well, you not only look good doing your work, you don't get any snickers in the coffee shop unlike Fedora and Windows 7 users with their Acer and HP laptops. Plus, imagine the look of the interviewer/HR guy when you show off your Keynote presentation using a Macbook AND an iPad.
Knowing the "most sophisticated operating system in the world" well and being good at Windows and Linux gives you a very broad access to today's technologies (and tomorrow's) - which is exactly what companies needs.
The Web itself is Platform Agnostic!
It doesn't matter if you're using Mountain Lion, Windows Vista, or Fedora 17, the technologies that make up the Internet is accessible and malleable regardless of what plaftorm you're running. Programmers may have their preferences when it comes to tools, but server technologies and programming languages cross boundaries (and don't get me started on hardware).
Superficial Reasons
To wit, here are five reasons (that aren't related to your career) why being platform agnostic is a good thing:
1. It builds character. As hokey as it sounds, learning something new and stepping out of the familiar benefits you as a person. You probably won't become a Certified Linux administrator by installing Linux Mint, but you will learn new things. Plus, even the most casual Linux user would have more patience than a Windows or Mac technical support representative. Did your Windows 98SE computer trigger your Bruce Banner tendencies? Buy a Mac. The price tag alone will help you learn anger management really quickly.
2. Productivity to the max. You can choose what works best. Video-editing on the Mac? Check. Programming on openSUSE or Fedora? Sure. Porn, torrents, gaming, and hacking on Windows? Of course.
3. The world is not enough. Android, iOS, Windows 8, and the dependency towards cloud services are signs of things to come. Being blindly loyal to one platform only limits the possibilities of tech. Having a good grasp of Mac OSX, Windows, and Linux will allow you to enjoy and use products and services that will be made available in the future even if these new products are a different platform altogether (like maybe Tony Stark's Extremis technology).
4. Think of being platform agnostic as one more item on your bucket list or in your list of Manly Skills (or Lady Skills). You can help out family, friends, or that potential one-night stand with her/his kernel memory dump. Gentlemen and ladies in the 19th century had to learn odd things like standing up straight, drinking from a cup, and folding a handkerchief. You, on the other hand, can run Unix commands to set up file sharing, install software via RPM, and build a complicated Excel macro.
5. You won't get bored with your machines. Ever.
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