On Fri, 27 Aug 2004 21:26:40 +0200, "Meindert Sprang"
wrote:

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
.. .


I agree with everything you said. Still, some minor quibbles.

On Fri, 27 Aug 2004 16:42:29 +0200, "Meindert Sprang"

And because it's a whole new learning curve to climb, not the most
user friendly system in the world

Mmm... ever tried to install the lates SuSE? Almost like windows...

But it's not Windows, is it? What is the compelling reason to change?
Other than frustration with Microsoft, which I share, but is not a big
issue for most people. New mail client, new browser, new newsreader,
new imaging software for your digicam, new word processor. Somewhat
better ones, in some cases, but not compellingly better.

and there's not much help
available in the world outside of technology shops.

This is really amusing. Have you ever tried to get help for a windows
related problem? Most computers are sold with XP OEM, where the dealer is
supposed to support you. Most dealers only have the knowledge to tell you
how to reinstall in case of a "dark" problem. Call microsoft and you have to
draw your plastic first.

Yup. So you go to a windows related newsgroup and either get a fix or
learn you have to live with it. Not particularly comforting, but at
least it's unambiguous. More on this later.

Now in case of Linux, your just post your question in a linux related
newsgroup and within the hour you have a dozen suggestions how to solve your
problem. For free!

Hehe, I was a UNIX internals guy (mostly SVID4) back in the 80s. The
saying then was that if you had a problem you needed to solve on your
UNIX system and couldn't think of a dozen *different* ways to solve
it, you didn't really know UNIX. I believed it then and it sounds as
if it is true still.

The problem is, this will not be perceived as a benefit by the average
user. It is a fine example of ambiguity, and most people aren't
comfortable with ambiguity. Also, of those dozen fixes, how many will
be things that the ordinary user is comfortable doing? Finally, and I
know this sounds insane, most computer users I know don't read or even
know about newsgroups.


All that, plus
the lack of a standardized graphical user interface, means that its
going to be a while before Linux shows up on our laptops.

For eons, long before the conception of a windows-like thing on a PC there
was X-windows for unix. And it's still there. Standard. The only thing that
varies amongst installations is the window manager, responsible for the look
and feel. But every linux distribution comes with the same set of window
managers, of which KDE seems to be the most popular and the most
windows-loolalike. How do you mean, there's no standard?

All true. Windows GUI is a pretty clunky interface and it's not hard
to beat or equal. I have more of an issue with the design and
usability variations of individual utilities and programs. This is
fast gaining attention in the open source community as a crfitical
issue.

Meindert

I want a viable alternative (linux would do) for Windows as much as
the next guy. Competition is a Goode Thing. For servers, we have one.
For corporate desktop users, we are very close, if only because there
is the ability to mandate the users' standard platform. For Joe
Homeuser, not close at all, because there is no compelling reason to
change. When we start to get significant trickle-down of corporate
users opting for a linux system at home to match their office systems,
then we start to make headway. All in my ever so humble opinion, of
course.

Glen

PS Where are the Mac users in this thread? They should be foaming at
the mouth by now...
__________________________________________________ __________
Glen "Wiley" Wilson usenet1 SPAMNIX at worldwidewiley dot com
To reply, lose the capitals and do the obvious.

Take a look at cpRepeater, my NMEA data integrator, repeater, and
logger at http://www.worldwidewiley.com/