the state of linux as i see it
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my honest view of the state of linux - as someone who is very interested in linux and, frankly, disgusted with miorosoft (their browser quirks doubled my development time hacking code to get it work in ie6 to the point freddie kruger left the room blushing... $40 billion in the bank and they have the worst browser major browser out on the market!) is quite simple...
once you get linux setup... IT ROCKS.
this is especially true in the server market because the software on the server is much more static than on, say, a desktop.
DFW, i wanna know about my mispelling! -lol- actually, i think this is a fair question (not to imply you are always fair... but i think both sides can have issues here...
fewer software downloads... less setup over time.
i have to say, though, getting linux setup is something many people will have to work at.
and is not permitted. You seem to suggest that Microsoft should do more to *protect* the "average" user. Most (not all), of said...
if all you need is a wired connection and some office productivity software, you likely won't have a problem. buttuming your hardware is picked up - and livecds help there.
but, if you have a usb 802.11g network adapter and you want wpa encryption...
it is time to go to work.
Skeets That was the bonehead Tooten wrongly accusing me. If I had wanted to attack your spelling you would have known it...
ndis wrapper. wpa supplicant. you better get to know them and develop a decent relationship.
i'm leaving windows b-c they don't care about their customers. really, they don't. ie6 is a disaster of epic proportions and microsoft couldn't care less.
you need min-width... take a hike.
i've tried two of the hacks that work most of the time... no dice.
computer savvy. WindowsXP when properly administered and and maintained is just as reliable, stable and secure as a Linux box that is treated the same that's correct, these folks are like 98% of...
no min width means my form breaks badly in ie... works perfect in ff, though.
i will be moving to linux shortly and i don't plan on giving msft any more of my money and i will be working hard to get others away from those greedy people.
actually, linux and windows have about the same amount of complexity...
however, microsoft is more in tune with human nature... they make it easy to get hooked and the complexities come over time... i'd bet most average home users wipe their hard drive once every 2 or 3 years using windows... if a chidl is using it... once a year.
linux can be a challenge (not always, but a significant amount of the time it is) up front... then it is much smoother sailing for the most part.
the fact is, the herd wants the lie up front and they want to rely on hope... they don't want the truth up front. microsoft happily lies to their marks... while linux tells the truth to their customers...
in america, linux is not making many inroads on the desktop (a few here and there, but not too many) just yet. msft dominates. i am glad to see other places in the world are really gravitating towards linux. i think america will, but not in this Credit Debt induced, punch bowl spiked economy... but when the hangover rolls in... they'll give it a look.
i will be installing simplymepis on a 2nd hard drive at home. if all goes well, i will dual boot my laptop with simply mepis.
i will set up a web, php and database server in debian on an old server i have laying around the house.
On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 19:40:32 -0700, Skeets I already think Microsoft does waaaay too much to try and restrict what is and is not permitted...
i expect to learn an awful lot... but that's nothing new for me... i just don't think most folks are like me.
i will say that if someone could develop an easy way (a couple clicks or a short text command) to find and enable wireless networking with wep and wpa-psk enabled... the interest in linux could easily double overnight in america... if someone has a wired network... it is probably a piece of cake already.
btw, did anyone else notice that microsoft's marketing process is more similar to a crack (rock sugar) dealer than different?
make it easy to get hooked (free software to coutnries, make it easy to start up and get going) and then, when they are hooked, soak them for all you can.
"just say no."
unfortunately, people in america have more cents than sense. this will change over time.
in the meantime, keep developing gnu-linux... it gets better and better and easier and easier... when it hits that level of commodity... it will eventually be as easy as msft to get into, but there will be know gotchas on the back end.
btw, i'm contacting charities and offering to donate time to install and configure linux (good way to help out others, good way to learn and good way to advocate for something that's really nice - win, win, win). something to think about.