Ok Dennis, you're starting to sound like the stereotypical UNIX geeQue(your
little exclusive club is becoming more mainstream). Get over it, consumers
are flocking to this OS and finding out that it has not the flexibility,
nor the learning curve of Win95(from the console). Linux/unix MUST become
"like MS"(if that's what you want to call writing compatible drivers and
giving a consumer an easy install), if it is to pull the market away from
MSoft.
If Linux does not become more flexible with hardware constraints and
availability of drivers for ALL(at least 90%) of all hardware, especially
graphics accelerators, it will not fly, trust me(and it is the OS maker's
responsibility to write the drivers necessary for today's hardware if they
want to "sell" OS to the general market, not the hardware manufacturer's).
As an experienced hardware builder and MS OS installer, I can tell you that
setting up mandrake was at the very least trying, and at some times
downright unreasonable.
Had I been your standard consumer, and not an IT hardware salesperson, I
would have given up the install, and Linux, once again would have given up
their market share to MS all over again.
Linux has quite a ways to go before it will be able to pull share from
MSoft, until it is closer to plug-n-play, it will not appeal to your
typical user. When they've succeeded there, they will finally appeal to the
general public.
No offense, just my 2 cents worth.
At 12:10 PM 12/21/99 -0600, you wrote:
>On Tue, 21 Dec 1999 11:16:04 -0500, you wrote:
>
> >Original message from: John Aldrich
> >>My take on this whole "newbie who doesn't want to learn
> >>Linux" is as follows:
> >>If you don't want to learn Linux, then hire someone who
> >>knows or will learn Linux to administer your system for
> >>you. If you're too cheap or just can't afford (like a kid
> >>who downloads and installs Linux) to hire someone, then you
> >>MUST learn Linux, whether you like it or not!
> >>
> >>It's that simple:
> >>1) Learn to administer your system
> >>or
> >>2) Hire someone to administer it
> >>
> >>Can't afford #2? You got two choices:
> >>
> >>1) Learn Linux yourself
> >>2) Format the hard drive and go back to Windows!
> >> John
> >>
> >
> >I think that's a valid opinion, except that if people want Linux to
> >become a mainstream, well-accepted OS, then it's going to have to take
> some cues from MS. I
>
>WHY? Do we really want linux to go the road of MS?
>
> >mean, really do you expect a person that uses a computer for work
> >and a little at home to write reports, surf, check email, etc to have to
> learn everything that
> >goes into getting Linux up and running.
>
>There isnt that much to learn in getting it up and running.
>
>Besides...most folks buy their computers with the OS pre-installed.
>And if anything happens they go running to their support folks for
>their computer.
>
> >Not only that, but with hardware
> >compatability issues it's kind of difficult to convince someone that
> their new machine that
> >they paid good money for is all but useless if they want to use something
> >other than Windows.
>
>That seems to be a problem of manufactorer not linux.
>
> >I know that a lot of this is not the fault of Linux, but we also can't
> >be a cadre of snobbish techno-elitists and say that you must know your
> machine inside
> >and out in order to use this OS. That only accomplishes one thing; turning
>
>No one has said that the newbies need to know their machine inside and
>out. That statment is disenginuous. What has been said over and
>over is that the newbie needs to be able to learn to do some basic
>things to tweek their systems and to make some changes, such as
>updating kernels, etc. But they have to be willing to learn. If
>they cannot at least try learn a little bit about the OS then they do
>have an alternative...windoze.
>
> >a lot of people off to a viable alternative.
>
>What viable alternative if all you want is just a clone of windoze?
>
>
>
> >
> >Adam Koch
> >"Nothin in here 'cept a trunkful of dead bodies"
> >
>
Regards,
Sam Roza
Lead Customer Service Representative
(408) 527-2926
GE Capital - IT Solutions
Onsite@Cisco
