The point is, while Doctorow likes to pretend anything open-source is automatic fairy princess goldenflower time and anything closed is , all of these platforms have drawbacks.

As annoying as his penchant for extremism is, that's not the most grating part. No, the most grating part is this:

Why I won't buy an iPad

(Emphasis the Macalope's.)

Doctorow's the annoying, overly-skinny aunt who judges every bite of food you put in your mouth. Buy an iPad, don't buy an iPad. Buy Windows, don't buy Windows. Use your own Mandrake fork on a homebrew steampunk tower, don't use your own Mandrake fork on a homebrew steampunk tower. It's no fur off the Macalope's hide.