What is needed is a iteration of IBM's /Compaq's software select for Linux. About 10 years ago IBM/Compaq had a disk called software select. This disk allowed the customer to install the OS of his choice. I was thinking that the group could distribute linux disks at Frys or Best buy. One potential issue is that Redhat and Suse sell packaged distros so the stores may see this as competition.
----- Original Message ---- From: Doug LaRue <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Main Discussion List for KPLUG <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, June 5, 2008 4:52:32 PM Subject: Re: fed up with firefox, java and fedora ** Reply to message from Andrew Lentvorski <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> on Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:21:27 -0700 > > how is that a "front end" cost? Are you saying they see a Flash issue at the > > store? > > PDF form issues at the store? > > No, but they'll see it within the 30 day return window. And that's more > than sufficient. Unlikely IMO but my main question is who is preloading Linux and not installing Flash or Acroreader? Are they not including a DVD player? What preloaded systems are you talking about? I ask this because it is the responsibility of the hardware vendor to make sure the system is configured for their customers. Do you remember when that was allowed on the Windows side? It used to be the norm since it was the hardware vendor who knew who their customers were. I will say that Dell can not be listed because they are required by Microsoft to not be too aggressive with Linux. There was a leaked memo from Microsofts top sales director stating that OEMs could satisfy customers requests for Linux but they could not "lead" with Linux. This puts quite the shackle on Dell because they get a large portion of their profits from Microsoft marketing programs. Same goes for HP. I don't know about Asus but it appears they are not letting Microsoft dictate too much on their Linux based systems. > Because they're *NOT* always installed right out the door. The issue is > that on Windows a little "Click here to install" pops up and Does The > Right Thing(tm). > > This is, of course, anathema to A) good security practice and B) the > Linux way. I can install Adobe Acrobat and Sun Java with clicks on Ubuntu and tens of thousands of other apps too. Flash is still a dumbass tgz file or an rpm but eventually they, or Canonical, will put a deb in the repos. And it is the responsibility of the OEM to provide basic functionality for their intended customers. And that should mean Acrobat reader, DVD player, MP3 player, and Flash at the very least. Also they should include various video player codecs. > First, the distinction between consumer and business is artificial. > There is no difference. A small to medium sized business (<100 people) > is in the same boat as a generic consumer--ie. no IT staff. a business machine does not need MP3 licensing, DVD player licensing, Windows media playing licensing. There might be video conferencing and VOIP along with various office productivity products but the multi media stuff should be locked out of most business systems. Sorry, use your iPod in the office instead of the businesses CPU. > You can spit randomly and have a 50-50 chance of hitting someone who > thinks they can fix your Windows PC. using that logic then every restaurant without a menu hanging from the ceiling should just close down because McDonalds are everywhere. Same goes for you BMW, Porche, and Jag drivers, too many Chevy's, Fords, and Toyotas around and their dealers are everywhere. Give em up because it makes no sense to have em. > You couldn't get Linux into schools which have been perennially > under funded since forever. Period. It doesn't matter if you could save > them $10,000,000. Nobody is held accountable for that money. > sorry to tell you but it is happening. Maybe not here yet, but it is happening across the US already. > Look. We couldn't get SDCOE to let us buy them a light bulb for the LCD > projector. Someone would have to take responsibility. That simply > won't happen. Responsibility == can be blamed if it fails. Did you think to ask to be put in contact with the person who installs the LCD light bulbs? I'd bet that if they have such a person, you could probably hand him a bulb and he'd find a way to install it. > You keep talking like this is a technical battle. The discussion was whether Linux was ready for consumer computers. You are the one who changed it into all kinds of offbeat discussions. And look, there are already over 10 million users of Linux today and there's atleast another 2 million being added to that this year just with the Eee PC. Talk about your fringe cases all you want, the facts are it is ready for users, many users, not all users but many. And your Mac falls under many of the issues your brought up yet we hear of it being used more and more by home users and businesses. Where are all the Mac techs to spit on? .... Linux is and has been ready for users. The politics of network effects, resistance to change, and tactics Microsoft uses to block uptake are another topic IMO. Doug -- [email protected] http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-list -- [email protected] http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-list
