I agree with pretty much everything said. But, let me say that the average Joe
computer user doesn't like this sorta talk. By the very fact that we are all
reading a mailing list, we are already much different than the vast majority of
computer users, and potential Linux users, out there. The average Joe hears
"cheap/free" and "powerful" in conjuncton with Linux. From this, they don't
want to make any choices of flavor, they just want Linux installed as easily and
running as transparently (up to some point) as possible. So, while we all
sit back and agree about things in theory, and about how this or that will or
will not affect various distbns, I think that things will not go this way. The
average Joe (and big $$) drives the market (hence, microslop). So, this
brings us back to the fact that like it or not, RedHat and their buddies are
on a track wholly different than the others; one in which they have paid some
attention to detail, at least as regards image and the like and being involved
with the "right" people. I know this does not a good product make. . .but
good products aren't what people spend millions on every year (again.,
witness microslop). But hey, I am still rooting for Linux generally, and
especially for SuSE. But SuSE can't even keep a website maintained and up
to date (6.0?), so how can they possibly keep the uneducated masses even vaguely
happy. . . .I fear they can't. Just wait until RH spends a little time and well
funded effort on German distbns. . . .I think SuSE's claim to German fame will
quickly fall by the wayside too. . . .$$$ knows no borders. . . ..boo hoo.
On 06-Feb-99 Michael Johnson wrote:
>> Personally I don't know what to think. I like SuSE, I like RedHat and next
>> month I will also be trying out Debian. I don't think I am willing, at this
>> time, to make any definite choice.
>> They all have nice and irritating features.
>> And I don't think there is any reason, at the moment, to switch from
>> one to the other (except 'personal compatibility and taste' reasons).
>
> I agree. I have mixed reactions to the 'competitive' attitude users have
> about the dists. I think most of the time, people prefer dists for
> personal reasons of taste, as opposed to reasons that are primarily of a
> logistic nature. I think some of this creates a hostile and divisive
> climate. I think S.u.S.E., RedHat ( especially now ), Debian, are all good
> distributions. The main thing that is needed is more common ground
> between distributions of Linux so as to
> merge with that larger world that has no vested interest in seeing Linux
> succeed, so that the growth can continue in a positive direction. I think,
> at the end of this we could have Linuxes with distinct personalities and
> flavours that retain their technical 'personality' while at the same time
> acknowledging those things that need to happen across the board to promote
> universal acceptance of Linux as a platform solution for a variety of
> services. I'll love it when the 'hacker' and 'wild man' image that still
> infests ( bad choice of words, sorry ) Linux--is traded in for one of even
> more increasing acceptance and respectability, not just for 'special
> interests' but for potentially everyone that wants to benefit from the
> technical superiorty (IMHO ) of inexpensive Unices for big companies and
> even single user workstations.
> -M
------------------------------------------
E-Mail: Chris Martin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: 06-Feb-99
Time: 09:24:54
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