[wplug] wired resp

squeegy chiodi at squeegy.org
Fri Sep 14 10:34:00 EDT 2001


I have three client OSes running in my home enviroment and one server OS.
Well I am sure all of you are aware which OS is my server OS.  Nothing I
have worked with is as nice as linux is as a server OS.


Now to the clients.  I am running linux, mac os 9.1 and windows 98.
Which do I prefer for casual home use?  The mac os.  Why?  well it is
simple and clean and easy to admin.  It has some wonderful programs
written for it.  I use it to read my mail, surf the net, play a game or
two, manipulate an image, listen to music.  I have a windows 98 because
there is software that there is no equal on the mac or linux.  Mainly
multimedia.  cdrecord on linux sucks for burning cds.  even with a GUI to
control it.  I use easycd and copycd.  Now when I am working I want linux
or UNIX.  I am on a sun blade 100 running solaris 8 right now.  For admin
or developing work, you can't beat it.  But there is no good browser or
multimedia software for it and it would not fly in my house as the default
OS.

But what the article points out is very true.  Linux will not at least for
a very long time be able to make much head way getting on the home pc.
It is not easy to use for Aunt Tilly.  The mac has gained some market
share in the last few years by making a computer that anyone can use.
When someone in my family with a windows machine has a problem, they go
without that computer for weeks, because I hate fixing problems on that
platform and they can't fix it themselves.  When they own a mac, if they
ever call which is rare, I can help them on the phone.  Linux is a good
home os for the geek or geek in training.  I have been in this group since
the very beginning and can't think of one person that we have as a member
or have installed linux on that remains an "Aunt Tilly".  If they aren't a
geek yet, they become one.  Linux demands it.  Windows appears to be easy,
but if you have a problem even a geek can't do much beyond reboot or
reinstall.  Unforunately, those that write very good software for the evil
OS, can not make the same profit for the effort to port to other better
OSes.  So like others I wait for better software for linux and try to help
where I can by assisting a project in developement or as a tester for a
good project.

Alright I am done.  I am begining to ramble.

Jt

 >
> >Linux will never be the desktop operating system
> >that Windows is, so let's stop pretending that it might.  We use Linux to
> >develop software, act as a super stable server, whatever.  It is a
> >different type of tool for a different type of task.
> >
> >--patrick
>
>
>
> With this attitude, how could it ever compete?  Yes, I agree that linux
> isn't Windows.  Things change.  I already use linux in with a really dumbed
> down interface on my tivo.  Yes, it might have been possible to do that with
> windows, but it isn't.  It's linux.
>
> By saying "Linux will never catch up to windows", you aren't accomplishing
> anything.  You can say "Linux isn't yet ready for the desktop".  I'll agree.
>   But if you put arbitrary limits on linux... just because it isn't Windows,
> it's counterproductive.
>
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-- 


___________________

Jt "The Squeegy" Chiodi

http://www.squeegy.org/
squeegy at squeegy.org




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