I have been a member of this list for many years and I have been a
GNU/Linux user for even longer and I can honestly say these past few
days have been the most enlightening and entertaining of my geek/hacker
career.
Someone said to me a while ago that one of my biggest problem was my
lack of "fanaticism" and my eagerness to point out that the "emperor has
no clothes".
Case in point: I love GNU/Linux and I said as such. As a server,
Cluster, Embedded, Real-Time, etc. OS there is simply nothing better.
However, I similarly have no qualms about pointing out that one the
Desktop it fall short (by a wide margin).
Yes, yes I know: around here such talk is blasphemy (and I was burnt at
the cyber-stake for such heresy); but the reason I felt the need to fall
on my sword is because I realize that GNU/Linux shortcomings are a
direct reflexion of all our (the Linux user & developing community,
myself included) shortcomings. We fail to realize and even dismiss the
need for GNU/Linux mass adoption (we even claim that doing such a thing
will result in the 'dumbing down' of a great piece of software
engineering. Gee, talk about elitist).
We are so entrenched in the mentality of 'Linux doing its own thing'
that we fail to realize most of the really crucial developers on which
GNU/Linux depends are employed by commercial ventures; ventures which in
turn depend on an ever increasing user base willing to pay (yes, paying
for open source software, who would have thunk it) for their products
and services. GNU/Linux entry into the mainstream and increase of market
share is not just imperative; but absolutely necessary for the long-term
health and vitality of not just GNU/Linux; but the open-source community
at large.
For whatever the reason (be it a more intuitive HMI, better hardware
support or ruthless business practices), the end result is that Windows
accounts for nearly 90% of the Desktop market. GNU/Linux, at best has
2.5% - 5.0% of the market (and please don't tell me this is due simply
to Microsoft deep pockets when Mozilla Firefox account for 35% of the
browser market). This for an Operating Systems whose components
(including portions of its graphic interface) predates that of both
Windows and Apple. Putting GNU/Linux long-term survival in the hands of
specialty/niche markets is not only foolish; but suicidal. Relegating
GNU/Linux to the clusters, internet servers (web, DNS, mail, etc),
research facilities and die-hard geeks will only hasten GNU/Linux fall
into irrelevance. GNU/Linux needs mass appeal. Period. But for whatever
reason (i.e it blows and sucks on the desktop, Microsoft is better at
marketing/selling crap to the masses, or [insert your favorite excuse]),
GNU/Linux (and by extension, its user/developing community) is getting
its collective ass kicked.
--
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Juan Alberto Cirez
CFAA/CFAT, AFSA/CFAT-CFET,CIPS/ISP, ASTTBC/CFET, CHI(e)
Sr. Field Service Technician/Project Manager
J. A. Cirez Integrated Technologies, Inc
Fire Protection | IT Services | Security | Home Inspections | Consulting
Tel. : (780)972-4739
Fax : (780)747-6078
Email: [email protected]
Web : http://www.jacintech.com
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