July 2005 is a huge milestone: Linux just overtook Windows 95... 10795

The pages may not have much to do with linux, but the overall purpose of the site is to appeal to the techie sort of person, it would seem. The average computer buyer is not a techie sort of person and so acquires no knowledge of the existence of linux. Or Firefox for that matter. You really think that there are a lot of people who search the web for reasons to dislike linux, at least enough to bias a sample? That seems a little paranoid to me.

Well obviously I choose to say that your numbers are not representative of the general Consumer Debt in the OS platform-personal computer market, Ray. I think I said that already.

That has nothing to do with the issue, Ray. You're trying to change the subject. My point was that linux advocates have to educate the Windows user into believing that linux is a better choice than Windows. Where would you start? With linux users or with Windows users?

It is easy to reach the gear heads, they read the tech news. Not so many succumb to the OSS-linux offers, though, indicating that it may not be such an easy sell to a smart market. I think that the buying influences for computers have gone away from the techie crowd and merged into the general population. People buy computers like they buy TVs, telephones, and coffee pots. It is a mbutt merchandising kind of sales situation and techniques appropriate to the mbutt merchandising are more effective than anything else.

I think you are wrong and so far the scoreboard is showing that.