Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Changing Face of Linux?

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the stuff-to-read dept.

standards writes "Reuters is reporting that pony-tailed Linux Users have been seen mingling with executives in short-sleeved golf shirts. The article suggests that real technology guys don't wear shorts, T-shirts or baseball caps." the article is mostly about the business focus of Linux these days, although I think the writer is a couple years late since I think this was really the case about 4 LinuxWorld's ago ;)

134 comments

  1. A couple years late ? by tmark · · Score: 5, Funny

    the article is mostly about the business focus of Linux these days, although I think the writer is a couple years late since I think this was really the case about 4 LinuxWorld's ago ;)

    If so, doesn't this mean Slashdot is ALSO a couple years late with this story ;)

    1. Re:A couple years late ? by happystink · · Score: 2

      Nah, I'm sure they posted it at least 5 times in the last 4 years!

      --

      sig:
      See the "..for smart people" banners Wired runs here? Look elsewhere guys.

  2. Wear a tuxedo! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    To have Linux considered serious, every user should wear a tuxedo.

    That will do it...

    ...or not. ;)

  3. Yeah in a big way! by ObviousGuy · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Wall Street loves Linux!

    VA Software
    Redhat

    An interesting chart with comparisons

    --
    I have been pwned because my /. password was too easy to guess.
    1. Re:Yeah in a big way! by nutznboltz · · Score: 1


      Another interesting chart with comparisons

    2. Re:Yeah in a big way! by ObviousGuy · · Score: 1

      This would be interesting if Susex was actually a Linux company.

      Or if it was worth more than $3.00.

      --
      I have been pwned because my /. password was too easy to guess.
  4. Another way to contribute... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Come to EFNet's irc network and join #bsdcode. The key is 'i8thebabyjesus'. We are gathering ideas about this subject right now. And please, no *BSD is dying jokes, we have them already. '*BSD is dying, let's use Linux'.

    jmonroy

  5. Ah, yes. The days of yore. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You see, four years ago, back when Taco was a paper millionaire, he purchased some clothing that normal, self-respecting people wouldn't mind wearing in public. He is proud of this fact, and is therefore telling us this story which has about as much relevance to us today as my hot stock tip on VA Linux does. (Short it!)

  6. A better way to help by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    Come to EFNet's irc network and join #bsdcode. The key is 'i8thebabyjesus'. We are gathering ideas about this subject right now. And please, no *BSD is dying jokes, we have them already. '*BSD is dying, let's use Linux'.

    Fuck Fumerola!

  7. What pisses me off in IT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll
    What pisses me off in the IT business is the infantile attitude many people seem to have regarding appearances.

    It's like the way how you dress, how you wear your hair, whether you're morbidly overweight or even personal hygiene are viewed as secondary and shouldn't matter if you're just 3leet enough.

    No, you don't need to wear a three-piece suit and $500 shoes. What you need to do is wear something else than jeans and a t-short, shower at least once a day, wear some cologne/perfume, have your hair cut once a month and lose that goddamn beer belly.

    People who work with you and who do business with you will thank you for this.

    1. Re:What pisses me off in IT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

      It's my skills, not my appearance that they are paying for. As a Unix sysadmin, I won't be in front of clients or shmoozing with bigwigs. I will be in the back room making sure your goddamn servers don't go down and make all the other prissy fluff that you think oh-so-important completely useless.

      Seeing as I will be in the backroom, perhaps you could see the idiocy of requiring me to wear whatever clownsuit you want me to wear, demanding that I shower at least once day, wear cologne, and have my hair cut. None of these things help me do my job, none of them.

      Let me do my job of making sure that your ass looks good in front of the clients by keeping the company's systems running. Don't badger me to brush my teeth or comb my hair or bathe. If you need to contact me, you know my email address.

    2. Re:What pisses me off in IT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, I think I'd only thank you if you were using unscented deodorant and NO perfume/cologne. Maybe that's just me, though.

    3. Re:What pisses me off in IT by ericman31 · · Score: 2

      I've been a sys admin for about 10 years now, and I've spent plenty of time in front of clients. Maybe it's just the companies I've worked in, since they are IT services and integrators, maybe not. It has ranged anywhere from executives and clients taking tours of the data center to being the technical lead on various projects for the clients to architecting the solution for contract bids. Just because you are a sys admin doesn't mean appearance and hygiene isn't important. I have yet to see a company, at least a traditional IT company, that would have found what you describe acceptable.

      --
      In my universe I'm perfectly normal, it's not my fault you don't live in my universe.
    4. Re:What pisses me off in IT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, I see you are a consultant, something which I am not. That alone probably gives you infinitely more contact with clients than me.

      I sit in the air conditioned server room eating Doritos making sure users have their passwords and generally keeping things in order. My appearance is completely tangential to the work I do.

      Perhaps if I ever decided to give up the technical side of server administration and go into the side that prances for customers, then perhaps my grooming habits would change. As it stands, I'd rather keep my dignity and do a job that can be respected than sell my soul like that. And as long as I'm doing what I love, my grooming habits have no bearing on how well my duties are performed.

      As a consultant, I can understand how your appearance would make a difference, though.

    5. Re:What pisses me off in IT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Lack of "grooming skills" goes hand in hand with a gross lack of social skills: The ability to interoperate with other people in a productive way. Show me a bearded, stinky UNIX "guru", and I'll show you someone who absolutely no one can stand to be around (hint: They're the same person!)

    6. Re:What pisses me off in IT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Say what you will about my social skills, that isn't what I was hired for.

      If they wanted another nerf-warring, hacky-sack, frisbee pseudo-athlete, then I'm obviously the wrong choice. If you want someone who is dedicated to keeping the business computers in a usable state, then I'm your man.

      If you think the computers are put off by my attitude, register your complaint with /dev/null.

    7. Re:What pisses me off in IT by ericman31 · · Score: 3, Informative

      Actually, I have been everything from the guy who administers the servers while sitting in an air-conditioned room eating Doritos to a desktop support manager to a technical lead for project teams to a consultant supporting external employees. In every case I interacted with clients.

      As it stands, I'd rather keep my dignity and do a job that can be respected than sell my soul like that.

      Funny, I haven't changed, I still have my dignity, and I have a hell of a lot of fun in my job. I usually wear Dockers and a polo shirt, my hair isn't particularly short, but it is well groomed. Currently I'm a senior technology consultant. My job can be respected, my customers save money and implement better systems because of me. Some of the implement Linux because of me. Or is it somehow not respectable to provide expertise to people who don't have it? What is the open source business model? It's about providing services rather than intellectual property.

      As a consultant, I can understand how your appearance would make a difference, though.

      My first job in IT was as a help desk technician for a small ISP. I did that part time while I went to college. The owner expected decent appearance as well as ability. It's been that way ever since. It's not "as a consultant" that appearance makes a difference, it's in general. It is a matter of perception by employers, co-workers and customers. No matter the old saw about not judging a book by it's cover, perception and appearance is reality.

      --
      In my universe I'm perfectly normal, it's not my fault you don't live in my universe.
    8. Re:What pisses me off in IT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      It's morons like you that I love... I get your job, hell I even get to take it away from you.

      I dress like management. I dont wear a tie but I do wear dress shoes, slacks and a nice shirt. On casual friday I wear a golf shirt (nice one, nutral colors) and Kaki's. Management likes this and when a department is cut down in manpower I am the last to be considered to go. The ponytailed-tatto freaks are the first to go.

      Why? It's corperate culture you moron.. Management cant care less about you or your abilities, they know you are replaceable. Theyu dont know what to do about me, a highly skilled IT person that looks normal to them... they want me, they keep me and they usually give me your job.

      So keep being a spoiled brat.... I love it!

    9. Re:What pisses me off in IT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      And they call me arrogant.

    10. Re:What pisses me off in IT by COredneck · · Score: 1

      I can sympathize with you on dress codes. I have been a Unix Sys Admin for the past 8 years. Since I have moved to Colorado, I have wore jeans and hiking boots to work for the past 6 years which I have thoroughly enjoyed :) I, however, do bathe and use deoderant and also have my hair short which is my preference (low maintainence). I also like jeans because they are also low maintainence.

      The lifestyle of Colorado as with the other Rocky Mountain states is considered very informal. People wear jeans to Church as well as high class resturaunts as well.

      However, two months ago, I had my annual review with the boss and he mentioned that times are different now and because of the dot com bust, he mentioned that the jeans and the boots have to be left at home and I need to wear dress pants and shoes. Dress shoes are not that practical (especially with th snow) and are uncomfortable. Hiking boots on the other hand are comfortable and are nice when it snows.

      I was pretty pissed and I am still pissed about it. I inquired on why the change and he mentioned that some higer ups who work in the Wash. DC Office put out an edict saying that appearance and seriousness about business must come first as suggested by the Marketing group. WTF ! I myself have no customer contact and no "high up" contact. I do have to move equipment and nice clothes don't last long when doing physical labor.

      The Dot Com revolution was nice since it unshackled the workplace from all the unreasonable rules and regulations. From what I understand, this recessionary time is being used to return the shackles. Also a marketing group representing the clothiers who sell suits are pushing real hard to get the suit returned to the office and they have sponsored Dress Up Thursday. This means more of my hard earned money has to be spent on bullshit such as suits and the dry cleaning bill that accompany them.

    11. Re:What pisses me off in IT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I completely agree. if you have no customer contact, what's the sense in dressing up? hauling computers and dressing nicely makes no sense. marketing needs to be all prettied up sure, but's it's not practical for IT. I'm still working in dot-coms (what's left of em) here in Austin, but I'm worried that my next job will require some dress slacks and button down shirt. they seem to use the dot-com bust as a model for why causal dress failed, it didn't fail, companies with no business plans failed; dress had nothing to do with it.

      P

    12. Re:What pisses me off in IT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0


      Why? It's corperate culture you moron.. Management cant care less about you or your abilities, they know you are replaceable. Theyu dont know what to do about me, a highly skilled IT person that looks normal to them... they want me, they keep me and they usually give me your job.

      That's it. Keep patting yourself on your back. Kiss up. Make yourself look like a fool. Everyone else appreciates the chuckle.

      Me? I was hired for my abilities. Not only do I have the technical background, but I also have the ability to handle all levels of management and clients. I don't bullshit and I've never been caught trying to second-guess the right answer. And that honest accuracy has earned me a very positive reputation.

      I've already proven my worth and out-lasted political kiss-ups like you. And part of my "reward" is being freed from the normal dresscode of the "corporate culture" around me.

      I wear what I want. Sure - when there's a dog-and-pony show to do, I dress up a bit. But usually its jeans and a tshirt (both in good condition with no controversial language / imagry). No questions asked - not even from upper management who I come in to contact with occasionally. They don't even blink. They're more concerned with what I'm going to be explaining to them, rather than if I look CQ while doing it.

      Do I worry about my job? Sure. Nothing is guarenteed. But the day that someone walks in to my job because they "look like management" is the day I need to be out of there anyway. Whoever the sucker is who "gets my job" will be loosing it soon enough because the place is going down in flames (and yes, I've jumped ship at the right time once before to avoid this fate also).

      By then, I'll be on my next job proving my worth by what I do. And I'll be doing it comfortably.
    13. Re:What pisses me off in IT by Raiford · · Score: 1
      Dress codes also serve an important hidden purpose in the corporate world. It is an indicator of who will follow the rules and who will not. You get this indication right off the bat. Simple things tell a lot about people. Corporations for the most part want people to follow the rules and really don't want the free-thinking, free-wheeling creative types because they are too hard to manage.

      --
      "player 4 hit player 1 with 0 stroms"
    14. Re:What pisses me off in IT by Mr.+Slippery · · Score: 1
      ...because of the dot com bust, he mentioned that the jeans and the boots have to be left at home and I need to wear dress pants and shoes.

      "Our stock price is in the basement! What do we do?" "Let's all change our clothes! That'll fix everything."

      Any company whose management utters such a non-sequitor is in serious trouble. That makes as much sense as saying "because of the dot com bust, all employess must now shave their pubic hair weekly," or "because of the dot com bust, all employess must now whistle "Yankee Doodle" while walking backwards through the door when entering the office." It simply doesn't follow.

      If the corporate reasoning is that flawed, I'd suggest you start looking for a new position before natural selection takes its toll on this company...

      This means more of my hard earned money has to be spent on bullshit such as suits and the dry cleaning bill that accompany them.

      So tell 'em that if they want you to be a fashion model in addition to your other duties, you want a raise and an expenses allowance.

      --
      Tom Swiss | the infamous tms | my blog
      You cannot wash away blood with blood
    15. Re:What pisses me off in IT by antirename · · Score: 2

      I hope that's not true... in most cases creative types are hard to manage. Then again, what good does it do to even TRY to micromanage someone like that? Creative problem solvers don't need it. As my boss told me, "I want to be able to point you at a problem and have it fixed. I don't want to have to tell you how to do it, and I don't want you asking for direction 10 times a day. At that point I could do it myself. I'll step in if I think you're off on a tangent, though". Which works well for both of us. And yeah, we have a dress code (not supposed to wear jeans unless it's Friday, etc) but it's not enforced. You would really have to push it to get called on a dress code violation.

    16. Re:What pisses me off in IT by antirename · · Score: 2

      I agree... if the marketing droids in my company tried something like that, and my boss didn't try to stand up to them, I'd see more problems ahead than dry-cleaning bills. Companies do stupid shit like this when they're so desperate for ideas that when a marketing droid spews out some crap like this at a meeting it actually gets implemented. Not good.

    17. Re:What pisses me off in IT by Raiford · · Score: 1
      In large corporations it usually is true. The exception would be large corporations that have a separate R&D campus that house strictly researchers. Smaller corporations are sometimes more tolerent of eccentric type as long as they contribute and are productive, but it is still hard to mix them in with the mainstream.

      If you are of that nature, best look for a government job, a National Lab or academia. That is what I did.

      --
      "player 4 hit player 1 with 0 stroms"
    18. Re:What pisses me off in IT by Derek+S · · Score: 1

      You really shouldn't be eating Doritos in the server room.

    19. Re:What pisses me off in IT by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I agree completely, I work for a fortune500 company as a windows system admin, and we are encouraged to make our appearence as pleasent as possible. Appearence of the employees reflects the company, and a repectable clean cut look can be the difference between making a big expensive deal or not!

    20. Re:What pisses me off in IT by ObitMan · · Score: 0

      When those edicts come down i just get a business case from my manager.
      I need to wear durable clothing because of the sharp edges servers have, along with the lifting and crawling around on the floor, etc... I hate having $40 -$50 pants ripped up with no reimbursement.
      For work clothes my wife just shops at the outlet for whatever brand khaki's are on sale and generic polo shirts. and for footwear I find a nice pair of Red Wing boots shined once a month are servicable for a year. After all its work, not a fashion show for me.

      --
      Who run Barter Town?
  8. What's going to be next? by Libor+Vanek · · Score: 1

    I'm just wandering, what kind of rebellion will next generation choose ;-)

    1. Re:What's going to be next? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Self-sterilization, hopefully.

    2. Re:What's going to be next? by umStefa · · Score: 1

      That's simple...

      Three piece suits, $500 shoes, etc.

      --
      Technology is most abused by the very people it was created to help
    3. Re:What's going to be next? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In the buff?

    4. Re:What's going to be next? by Libor+Vanek · · Score: 1

      I meant - like now is Linux revolutionary (maybe was because now everybody takes Linux as something "normal" - even maybe M$ :)))) - what revolution will be next one?

    5. Re:What's going to be next? by An+Onerous+Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Five years ago, a small upstart company wouldn't know it had made the big time until it was bought out by Microsoft. These days, we can tell that the "revolutionary OS" is a success, because dependable, non-revolutionary corporations are investigating ways to profit from it. That's always been the nature of most revolutions: They either die most miserably, or end up becoming part of the establishment themselves.

      Of course, the ideas inherent in the way Linux is written and distributed may nevertheless go on to infect these established businesses. I'm interested in watching how things change because of it.

      But which sort of rebellion will the next generation choose? Perhaps they could try showing their contempt for stuffy social norms by wearing their baseball caps backwards. Seriously, though, I doubt it will have anything to do with computers. They'll use them, sure. And no doubt Moore's Trend^H^H^H^H^H Law will give rise to some very disruptive killer apps. But computers themselves may be too much a part of the everyday landscape to be the focus of much revolutionary energy.

      --

      You want the truthiness? You can't handle the truthiness!

    6. Re:What's going to be next? by Libor+Vanek · · Score: 1

      Hmmmm, nice thought... I agree that computers are now on way to become as normal as microwave or vcr so nobody will in future give a fuck thinking computers as somethings unusual and revolutionary :)

    7. Re:What's going to be next? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In the buff is the best way to use Linux. After all, penguins don't really wear clothes, right? :)

  9. Happy Birthday Linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Linux is 11 years old today.

  10. bad news for Linux? by tps12 · · Score: 1

    While it's good to read about some Linux hackers (not crackers) who don't fit the stereotypical "GNU hippie" mold, I wonder whether this might have a negative effect on the position of Linux in the marketplace. It seems to me that Linux has always to some extent banked on the "outsider" images of its users and community. If it starts to look like we've all turned into suits, then we lose what little appeal we have. So don't shave your beards yet... ;-)D

    (that's me winking, with a beard!)

    --

    Karma: Good (despite my invention of the Karma: sig)
    1. Re:bad news for Linux? by garcia · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I really don't think the "appel of Linux" has anything to do w/alternative PHYSICAL appearances.

      The draw of Linux is speed, stability, cost.

      "Hippy hackers" aren't necessary going to come w/the product. Those that have already been working for a company that is going to begin using it are going to either a) already be familiar with it or b) will become familiar with it.

      "Linux-geeks" are growing-up just the same as the actual OS itself. That's why we are seeing more and more in the real-world.

      Just my worthless .02

    2. Re:bad news for Linux? by Reziac · · Score: 3, Funny

      Are you sure? I opened up this here linux package, and now I've got this big hairy bear shambling around my living room, going "Gnuuuuu, gnuuuuu...." ;)

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
    3. Re:bad news for Linux? by analog_line · · Score: 2

      In the regular world, the computer that the "outsiders" use is Apple, if statement-making is your goal. Linux users are percieved more like auto junkies who rebuild transmissions on their own and the like. A Thinkpad with Linux on it looks the same as a Thinkpad with Windows XP on it being carried around. A TiBook or an iBook stand out.

    4. Re:bad news for Linux? by Sunnan · · Score: 1

      What's that supposed to mean? You can run GNU/Linux on an iBook or TiBook just fine (I do).

      Being a GNU hippie is great. Not everyone is like that, not now, nor before, but some are and what are you suggesting, that we go install Mac OS X? That's neither free nor cool.

    5. Re:bad news for Linux? by boomer_rehfield · · Score: 1

      I beg to differ!!

      I am NOT growing up!!!

      --
      Carpe Canem - Seize the Dog
    6. Re:bad news for Linux? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, if the statement you're trying to make is "I like Starbucks and mock turtlenecks."

    7. Re:bad news for Linux? by Arandir · · Score: 2

      I saw "Revolution OS" yesterday. I was very surprised at the range of personal appearances. RMS was the only one that looked the sterotypicl hacker. ESR and BP looked like typical geeks. But Michael Tiemann and Larry Augustin looked like suits, dressed like suites, but talked like hackers. They don't fit the mold at all.

      And we all know that Linus looks so much like a family man (well duh!) that no one would ever suspect him of hacking code if they ran across him on the street.

      --
      A Government Is a Body of People, Usually Notably Ungoverned
    8. Re:bad news for Linux? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So what..do you troll Kuro5hin -and- Slashdot now fuckface?

    9. Re:bad news for Linux? by kfuq · · Score: 1

      "Hippy hackers" aren't necessary going to come w/the product. Those that have already been working for a company that is going to begin using it are going to either a) already be familiar with it or b) will become familiar with it. ----- or the guy who just actually knows how to RTFM !!

      --
      iF yOu WAnT to C YOUr iP agaIn gAThEr tWO MilLIon dOLLArS IN Non - cONsEcuTivE TweNtY's AnD AWaiT FuRThER iNstrUctIoN
    10. Re:bad news for Linux? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, that's just Richard Stallman. You can safely ignore him.

    11. Re:bad news for Linux? by Afrosheen · · Score: 2

      Yeah, that's just Richard Stallman. You can safely ignore him.

      You think you can ignore him until he starts singing the "Hackers" song. I'm still having nightmares from that. Watch The Code sometime..it's all over giFT.

    12. Re:bad news for Linux? by gclef · · Score: 2

      That's not a bear. That's RMS.

      But, you need to treat RMS just like you would any other wild animal. If you don't feel that you're up to the task of care and feeding of RMS, you should call animal control. They'd be happy to relocate him back to his natural habitat.

    13. Re:bad news for Linux? by tacocat · · Score: 1

      Actually, you got that one backwards. It is because the physical appearance of Linux users has changed from outside to something on the inside that it can flourish in the Big Business community.

    14. Re:bad news for Linux? by analog_line · · Score: 2

      Hippies aren't outsiders anymore, I hate to break it to you.

      And either way, you partly proved my point. I'm saying that the hardware defines the outsider these days, not necessarily the operating system you run on it. I run Linux on old iMacs and that tends to scare the normal computer people I know alot, for some reason. First I'm using "crappy flower power idiot" Apple hardware, and then I'm running that weird Linux crap on top of it, but the important (to them) part is that I'm using an Apple. Running Linux on my PC gets me a moment of "of cool, I've heard it's neat" and then that fades out.

      So, I was merely saying, if outsider status is what you crave, you've got to start with an Apple machine. If you really want to scare/awe people, sure, put Linux on it, but the Apple logo on the hardware is what will put you way ahead of the outsider game.

    15. Re:bad news for Linux? by Reziac · · Score: 2

      [calls animal control] Will you come get this noisy beast outta my house? he's scratching my Windows!

      And I think he IS singing... egad, what a racket! :)

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
  11. Here's a suggestion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Cut the ponytails, shave your unkempt beards, and take some showers, YOU FUCKING FREAKS!

    Maybe THEN Linux will get some respect.

    1. Re:Here's a suggestion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      And don't forget to wear a three-piece suit and $500 shoes.

      Fucking dress-code nazis...

    2. Re:Here's a suggestion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

      No, fuckwad, I'm not suggesting you wear 3-piece suits and $500 shoes. I'm simply suggesting YOU LOOK HALFWAY RESPECTABLE.

      Show some fucking RESPECT for the company you work for. Christ! What the fuck is so hard about taking a god damned shower in the morning? And, be completely honest...look in the mirror at your Taliban locks and ask yourself, "is this REALLY improving my appearance??"

      Fucking losers. Yeah you can code, so can I, the difference between is I'm the guy employed for the big bucks and picking up the chicks on the side. You, on the other hand, are unemployed and picking up the nits. (No, there's no glut of tech workers. You're just a fucking slob who doesn't exactly look like hiring material!)

    3. Re:Here's a suggestion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

      Just because you so much of a scrubber that you can't keep you hair long and have to cut it short doesn't mean that everyone is quite as filthy as you.
      Christ , Taliban and God in one sentence and you probably didn't recognise the link.

    4. Re:Here's a suggestion by Theom · · Score: 0

      What does the lenght of hair to do with respect?

      --

      mp3: l33t term for empty.
    5. Re:Here's a suggestion by ergo98 · · Score: 1

      What does the lenght of hair to do with respect?

      That question goes either way: While one could rant about the tyranny requesting that they look presentable in the workplace, on the flip side what exactly are they hoping to achieve through their look? Let's face it: Most people pursue a certain look because they want to be stereotyped-> Wear gangland outfits to be perceived as "tough" and not to be messed with, and grow a big beard and forsake things like bathing and you'll be a "Unix guru", regardless of actual knowledge of skill.

    6. Re:Here's a suggestion by Theom · · Score: 0

      What does the lenght of hair has to do with a presentable look?

      --

      mp3: l33t term for empty.
  12. I can choose my own poison by USS.Spock · · Score: 1

    Well, it's up to me to choose my poison. I can drink beer or even apple juice. Who cares ?. I'm still a linux geek at heart.

    --
    -- Live Long And Prosper
  13. Haha. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The funny thing that I found about this is that most "real" IT guys are clueless idiots.

    It isn't about what you wear. Besides, if you business has a dress code (most do), then you are going to have to abide by it.

    What a stupid article.

  14. I Don't buy it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait
    I think the majority of Linux users are still smelly teens living in their parent's basement.

    Tell me I'm wrong.

  15. Same errors as always. (slightly off topic) by the_mind_ · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Rant level: high.

    Why, oh why, must every non-technical magazine make these 3 stupid things every time there is a linux article?

    stupid thing 1: Every linux article seems to mention that only X% of the _sold_ servers are running linux.

    And non-internet servers? What about intranet servers. file servers and so on?
    What about all those servers that the admin has bought a $5 magazine with a linux CD and installed linux on?

    stupid thing 2: Linux users spent only $80 million on the software, less than one percent of the amount spent on all operating systems for all computers.

    yes, what is so suprising with this? even if you buy a boxed version with support it's still a lot cheaper then windows.
    Why can't a single article mention this?

    stupid thing 3: Linux sales are expected to grow...

    yes... that's good. But what about _actual_ usage?
    Don't forget all those computer that uses a downloaded or magazine bundled copy.

    I all basicly boils down to one thing.
    There is no way to really know how many computers/servers are running linux.
    So stop compare it with how many windows/other servers there are.

    --
    You feel sleepy. Close your eyes. The opinions stated above are yours. You cannot imagine why you ever felt otherwise.
    1. Re:Same errors as always. (slightly off topic) by leviramsey · · Score: 1
      What about all those servers that the admin has bought a $5 magazine with a linux CD and installed linux on?

      Yeah, an admin is going to install Linux because he saw a magazine with a CD with Red Hat 6 on it.

      Right.

    2. Re:Same errors as always. (slightly off topic) by lecter,hannibal_md · · Score: 0

      I think that, given the reputation for stability and usability that linux has achieved, this is a very good possibility

    3. Re:Same errors as always. (slightly off topic) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The point the original author was making was that Linux is so readily and cheaply available that you might find it bundled with a $5 magazine. How often do you find a production version of Windows (as in non-trial, non-beta, etc) tossed in for free with a magazine?

    4. Re:Same errors as always. (slightly off topic) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just as off topic and I apologize for the alanon-moose post but I can't(won't) log in from where I am...
      I very much agree with your rant in a sane sort of sense.. but you need to change focus to understand that you are ranting at a differnt world that cares nothing of the quality, quantity, usefulness, efficency, good, evil, up, down, social benefit or any other atribute of anything other than it's profitability/marketability and the direct impact on the portfolios of those entities that invest in it. In an capitalist economy all things are valued in this manner so having freely distributed non-revenue generating instances of a product out in the wild is not a positive atribute but a negative one. Efficency of materials use in product production and distribution is a considered a positive only in pre-market accounting, and the maximizing consumtion in the post-sale area is an imperative goal. This is especially where, as is currently the case, the funds used in cleaning up the mess of gluttonous consuption is booked as revenue... But I digress You just have to put on a $ hat....

    5. Re:Same errors as always. (slightly off topic) by grahammm · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Or the admin who purchases a single boxed set and (legally) installs it on multiple computers.

      This is another factor which the magazines/PR people do not take into account.

    6. Re:Same errors as always. (slightly off topic) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Glad you caught this one, surprised the parent missed it! It's the single largest factor, IMO. :)

  16. history? by oliverthered · · Score: 1

    Dress code has frequently come down to praticallity.
    Long hair has long been the choice of the gentry because they it takes a hell of a lot of looking after and shows that you are of a high enough class to have long hair.
    Finger nails are the same, a working class woman could never praticly keep long finger nails, they would break, long nails show you status in society.

    During the revolutions accross europe that shunned the upper classes short hair became the fassion because it was a pratical way of not dieing! and it has been that way ever since.

    --
    thank God the internet isn't a human right.
    1. Re:history? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Sorry but I don't agree. Long hair was never, nor will ever be in style.

      The only thing under a pony tail is a horse's ass.

    2. Re:history? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      goddamn...thats hilarious. pony tails...LOL

    3. Re:history? by antirename · · Score: 3, Funny

      Yeah, but now we have showers, and running hot water, which do help. I used to buzz my hair, because combing it was a pain. Now I'm letting it grow, because keeping it cut was a pain. And I have a beard because shaving is a pain. I'll bet a lot of other long-haired, bearded professionals have a similar reason: the less you have to do to be ready for work when you wake up in the morning, the better.

    4. Re:history? by jx100 · · Score: 1

      .. and an enormous penis

  17. As seen in the movies by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In the latest Clint Eastwood movie, Blood Work, the computer geek was a Linux guy (based on his bookshelf full of Linux books).

  18. what is the point of this article by XavierXeon · · Score: 1

    so buisness is using linux more. so what ?
    i don't mind if people make money out of linux or save money by using it as long as they don't make it "un-free" !

    1. Re:what is the point of this article by Tuqui · · Score: 1

      do you mean no-libre? or no-gratis?, For the first, can't be do(need to start another OS from the scrach). For the second, is no-gratis if you want.

  19. does it really matter? by lecter,hannibal_md · · Score: 0

    i think that as long as the developers keep cranking out the level of software that we have come to expect, i could care less what they wear.

    1. Re:does it really matter? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I always do my best programming right after I shave. :)

    2. Re:does it really matter? by kfuq · · Score: 1

      yeah... Happy employees are productive employees

      --
      iF yOu WAnT to C YOUr iP agaIn gAThEr tWO MilLIon dOLLArS IN Non - cONsEcuTivE TweNtY's AnD AWaiT FuRThER iNstrUctIoN
  20. You still need the geeks by gosand · · Score: 5, Insightful
    No matter how much the guys in the golf shirts and suits pretend to know about linux, you will always need the true geek to get the most out of it. Who cares if the people on the "front lines" are business people. I think that linux has it's heart in the right place, and no amount of posing and shlubbing can change that. If it does, on the corporate level, there will always be those in the trenches who can just have fun with it and hack it. I don't look at it as a change, just an evolution. If you want to attract more people, you are going to get all kinds of people. Even marketing drones. It comes with the territory. I think there is enough room in the linux pool for everyone. The key is, the technology is the base of it all, so without the tech people, it won't exist.

    Being a geek used to be bad (80s) then trendy (90s) and now it is seen as necessary.

    --

    My beliefs do not require that you agree with them.

    1. Re:You still need the geeks by garcia · · Score: 2

      define "geek".

      The way you are defining it is negative.

      Linux is becoming less geekish as it grows. It is no longer necessary at all to be a geek to use it, understand it, and implement it.

    2. Re:You still need the geeks by Arandir · · Score: 2

      It is no longer necessary at all to be a geek to use it, understand it, and implement it.

      How about to grok it?

      You don't need a pony tail, beard and fading USENIX tshirt to be a geek. You just need to love the guts of technology.

      --
      A Government Is a Body of People, Usually Notably Ungoverned
    3. Re:You still need the geeks by SectoidRandom · · Score: 2

      I hate that old image of geeks, black shirt, long hair, whatever.

      Forget that! I've been a geek since I was 8 years old programming my C64, I wear thousand dollar suits because I damn well want to! I keep my hair respectable just how I want it, I date girls often, I'm *able* to communicate effectively, and more than anything else I hate talking endlessly to geeks about the intricacies of Xyz protocol or Abc's new gizmo! Argh!?

      Heck maybe I'm not a geek, and there is hope for me yet? :)

    4. Re:You still need the geeks by gosand · · Score: 2
      define "geek". The way you are defining it is negative.

      I didn't define it really, but I can say what I think it means. It is someone who loves technology, and isn't afraid to embrace it and try to learn about it. Geeks are "hands-on" people, and while there are the "theoretical geeks", most of them aren't afraid to dive into things and check them out. I would have used the term hacker, because that is the truer term, but hacker has been given a bad image.

      And I don't think the way I described geeks as being negative. I think it is a positive thing that we have these kinds of people. Have you ever met a scientist? Those guys are wacked out. Same with mathematicians, and physicists. But that is good, that is what their role is, it is OK. True, they can be socially capable, but for the most part they have their niche. Same goes for artists, musicians, etc. And the same can be said with marketing people. While it is possible that they can interact with the geeks, usually they can't really connect. And that is a good thing.

      --

      My beliefs do not require that you agree with them.

    5. Re:You still need the geeks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I hate that old image of geeks, black shirt, long hair, whatever.

      I hate that people think there is some 'geek image' period. Even you included a 'whatever' in your description. I'm quite sure the only 'geek image' that exists, is strictly opinion and varies greatly from person to person. :)

  21. This is the new face of Linux. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_545271.html?m enu=news.latestheadlines

    A man has been jailed for six months after a trainload of commuters saw him having sex with a goat.

    Stephen Hall, 23, of Kensington Road, Hull, pleaded guilty to one charge of buggery with an animal after the assault on the female goat in August last year.

    Sentencing HIV-positive Hall, Judge Michael Mettyear, at Hull Crown Court, described the incident as "bizarre and disgusting". Hall had a previous conviction for indecent assault against a six-year-old girl.

    The judge expressed frustration at being unable to order that Hall be banned from working with children in the future, adding: "You have pleaded guilty to buggery with an animal, a goat. It was committed in open air with people about, with people who could see.

    "You were acting in an indecent manner, indeed, there was an seven-year-old boy in a position to see, although he was protected by his grandfather."

    The court was earlier told how Hall had been returning from his sister's home on August 14 when the assault took place at the Argyle Street allotments.

    A seven-year-old boy out walking with his grandfather had witnessed the attack together with a train-load of commuters on board a Hull to Bridlington service that had stopped at nearby signals.

    Hall was seen holding on to a belt that had been put around the nanny goat's neck with one hand, while masturbating with the other. He was then seen with his trousers around his ankles having "penetrative sexual intercourse" with the animal.

    Forensic tests matched semen taken from Hall's clothing to that found at the scene and samples of the goat's hairs were also found in his underwear.

    Reading from the pre-sentence report, Mr Mettyear said Hall had shown evidence of being "preoccupied with sex", having "emotional instability" and problems maintaining relationships. It added that he targets "vulnerable" victims - "a child in the first instance and now an animal".

  22. Ellen Feiss mpegs -- smoke a bowl, buy a mac! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Stoner Chicks Rule

  23. Reuters - clueless? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hmmm...not only does Reuters not want to call those that attacked WTC and the Pentagon terrorists, (we don't want to OFFEND the Islamic world, now do we?) they also can't figure out that Linux went mainstream quite some time ago. Go figure.

    It's time to put an end to media giants. Vote with your wallet.

  24. Dress code mayhaps? by sielwolf · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Well in the corp I work for, a dress code is mandatory. Sure, it's business casual but that does imply collered shirts and pressed slacks.

    Sure, some of those dudes have the classic pony-tail and guru beard, but the clothing doesn't make the man. Hawaiian shirt or not, the guy in the polo and dockers is just as big of a loser as the rest of us.

    Wait a minute...

    --
    What is music when you despise all sound?
    1. Re:Dress code mayhaps? by Mr.+Slippery · · Score: 2, Funny
      Well in the corp I work for, a dress code is mandatory.

      Never understood companies that do stupid stuff like that...do they want software developers, or fashion models? I mean, I could do either sort of work, but I want to know what pay scale to negotiate on...

      "Real technology guys" don't give a shit if other people are wearing t-shirts, three-piece suits, or are naked. Show me results, and so long as it's clean and doesn't smell bad I don't care what you're wearing.

      --
      Tom Swiss | the infamous tms | my blog
      You cannot wash away blood with blood
    2. Re:Dress code mayhaps? by Sip · · Score: 1

      That's why I like to work in my small company: 3 friends,jeans+T-shirt and a lot of beer in the company refrigerator. We work for big corporations too, still mantaining our funny indipendence. And tequila-parties in the office are great.

    3. Re:Dress code mayhaps? by sielwolf · · Score: 2

      Well that was the "not going to a meeting with a supervisor or external exec." Dresscode.

      The purpose of a dresscode is this: the way you dress reflects what you think of those you work with.

      It's the God's honest truth. Why do you think you go to an interview in a suit? Or a date in a clean pair of Underoos? To get a positive reaction from the other party. "Wow! We're just this little start up and I'm only just the senior engineer but this guy came in wearing a suit! Today I feel like a big man..." Dress has little to do with comfort but with providing a pleasing presenation.

      In our corp as long as you are wearing long pants and a non-profane shirt most managers didn't care.

      But if an exec was touring the building or you had to go to a meeting, you were expected to not look like an idiot.

      People subconsciously rationalize that the amount of attention someone puts into their appearance equates to the commitment to the relationship.

      Or that is what Esquire says anyway.

      --
      What is music when you despise all sound?
    4. Re:Dress code mayhaps? by Rudeboy777 · · Score: 1

      Are you hiring? :O

      --

      From hell's heart I fstab at /dev/hdc

  25. Not impressed with LinuxWorld Conference by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This year was the first year I ever went to the LinuxWorld Expo and let me tell you I was very dissappointed. It was ALL business. And it was like all the companies were jerking each other off. We've partnered with this company, that company, we have this product with this company, that product with that company. The HP party was even pretty much all exec's trying to look cool as linux tech heads, but you could see through the fake pocket protectors they were giving out at one of the booths

    My opinion, return linux to its root, give it back to the people. There seemd to be NO innovation with in the linux world(except at the open-source boothes:debian, bayonne, etc etc). Despite what business people tell you, businesses actually hinder innovation.

    Just my opinion.
    B.C.

    1. Re:Not impressed with LinuxWorld Conference by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The first one in NYC was the best one. Companies had tons of money to throw around. Slashdot had a _massive_ booth with beanbag seating and the whole place had a party atmosphere to it.

      I've been to 2 others since then and each year it gets worse. Its so depressing now that I don't even bother to go anymore.

  26. The ReactOS Project by isolation · · Score: 0

    ReactOS, WINE and Mingw are the next step. It only took 9 years to clone UNIX via Linux. Now it is time to take the battle to the next step. We need to do what is left to make WINE and Mingw share a common header system while importing the WINE dlls in to the ReactOS win32 subsytem. The best part is with it being free and not M$ you can have a working posix subsystem.

    --
    Free Unix? Free Windows. http://www.reactos.com
  27. Real Technology Guys by npsimons · · Score: 3, Interesting
    The article suggests that real technology guys don't wear shorts, T-shirts or baseball caps.


    Really?


    (/me looks down at shorts and "Got Root?" t-shirt, as well as Teva sandals)


    Hmm, guess I must not be a "real technology guy".


    Seriously, who do these people think they're kidding? There will *always* be a contingent of us who wear shorts and t-shirts, and quite frankly we don't *care* what other people think of that.


    To conclude, I leave you with a quote:


    Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes, and not rather a new wearer of clothes.
    -- Henry David Thoreau

    --
    Nathan's blog
    1. Re:Real Technology Guys by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      (/me looks down at shorts and "Got Root?" t-shirt, as well as Teva sandals)

      You mean people actually buy that ThinkGeek crap?

    2. Re:Real Technology Guys by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      yea a kid in one of my classes had one, really fucking stupid looking. but oh its sOOO COOL TO be a geek, or at least thats what geeks are telling themselves.

    3. Re:Real Technology Guys by npsimons · · Score: 2
      but oh its sOOO COOL TO be a geek, or at least thats what geeks are telling themselves.


      Actually, I could care less about what is "cool" and what others think of me; as long as I am doing what makes me happy, that's all that matters. I like the "Got Root?" t-shirt and think it's funny.

      --
      Nathan's blog
    4. Re:Real Technology Guys by pengwyn · · Score: 1

      that's some crap your spewing
      i like the thinkgeek stuff.. it's amusing - don't have any myself but i know a decent # of knowledgeable people who do
      i'm wearing a modified t-shirt saying "oops i went to hell" & some rolled-up jeans that i've worn since friday...
      not to mention a pair of >very awesome brown adidas
      i'm not at work...
      at work i'm either in some sort of chino-type pants or a skirt & a shirt that won't offend people
      sneakers aren't allowed @ my work... i tried that once... & got snotty, incredibly immature remarks when i walked out of the elevator from the IS 'professionals' that are at least 10 years older than me... but the shoes were kind of bright orange so i guess i had that coming.
      but if someone can wear a RED, LEATHER pants-suit, (which was just ridiculously inappropriate in every way for anything besides prostitution) why can't i wear my orange pumas?!??!!
      frickin' dress codes are lame - as long as shite gets done what the f*ck's it matter? ...but i digress.

    5. Re:Real Technology Guys by dohcvtec · · Score: 1

      On the other hand, many people think that "real technology people" are the ones who have "the latest cell phone" or who buy "the latest PC." On the contrary, the real geeks/hackers are the ones who realize that it doesn't matter whether or not you have "the latest $device," rather it's what you are capable of doing with $device. As far as the suits go, I think that as Linux has made inroads into big business, Linux and its proponents are being taken seriously enough that the rest of the "suits" would like or expect to see Linux people wearing suits.

      --
      -- Never hit a man with glasses. Hit him with a baseball bat.
    6. Re:Real Technology Guys by npsimons · · Score: 2
      As far as the suits go, I think that as Linux has made inroads into big business, Linux and its proponents are being taken seriously enough that the rest of the "suits" would like or expect to see Linux people wearing suits.


      Screw that crap, man. If I have to wear a suit to get a job, the job's not worth it. I mean, I'm not applying to be a fashion designer, am I? I work best when I am comfortable, and that includes wearing comfortable clothes that I can afford.

      --
      Nathan's blog
  28. The ReactOS Project by isolation · · Score: 0

    As stated in sub-thread

    ReactOS, WINE and Mingw are the next step. It only took 9+ years to clone UNIX via Linux. Now it is time to take the battle to the next step. We need to do what is left to make WINE and Mingw share a common header system while importing the WINE dlls in to the ReactOS win32 subsytem. The best part is with it being free and not M$ you can have a working posix subsystem.

    --
    Free Unix? Free Windows. http://www.reactos.com
  29. Slightly OT: History by cant_get_a_good_nick · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Strange how fashion at times has come down to un-practicality, proving chic-ness and how rich you are by how impractical your actions are.

    Blue bloods were called that because they were so pale that their veins showed through their skin. They weren't like the field workers, out in the sun all day, and they wanted to prove it. Now that normal jobs are inside and not outside, I find it a bit ironic now that having a tan now is chic, showing that you're not stuck inside all day.

    A couple Halloweens back I had one of those long frilly shirts (don't ask) with the lace on the cuffs. I was thinking as I wore it, I'd end up ripping them to shreds or accidentally killing myself if I wore it regularly. Totally impractival. But it proves I don't have to do anything, I have servants to do it. How cool I am!!

  30. Dress codes by pvera · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What is so bad about slacks and polo shirts? I like jeans like everybody else, but after 10-12 hours in front of a keyboard the jeans stretch and look like crap. At least dockers look the same way by the time you are out of the office.

    Plus let's be realistic. Until you own the business, somebody else is going to set the rules. It is obvious that if you are going to spend the day laying down ethernet cables and shifting racks and PCs it is completely retarded to force you to wear slacks, but if you know that for the whole day you are going to be playing meetings jockey or sitting at your desk answering emails and phone calls, then the slacks don't hurt.

    At my previous job we got rid of the dress code and let managers set it to whatever. Within operations we let the production guys wear shorts, since they were spending the whole day lugging around video equipment. Everybody else was free to wear whatever they pleased as long as:

    1. It was clean.
    2. It was not torn, ragged, etc.
    3. If it had any text printed it was a neutral messsage ("F*ck Microsoft" was not tolerated, but "All Your Base are Belong to US" was ok, etc.)
    4. You understood that with reasonable advance notice you will be required to dress up to business casual or full business attire (client visits, business trips, etc.).

    When I started interviewing for my new job I noticed that new employers did not really care about wearing a suit for the interview. They told me it was too hot to make me wear a suit plus they trusted me as a professional to know when and how to dress up. My current dress code: geek casual (dockers and golf shirts). The owner could care less as long as you don't walk into the office in flip flops and a mesh top, but he cares about our investors and clients walking into the office and see us looking like total slobs.

    And yeah, I play golf too.

    --
    Pedro
    ----
    The Insomniac Coder
    1. Re:Dress codes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      4. You understood that with reasonable advance notice you will be required to dress up to business casual or full business attire (client visits, business trips, etc.).

      Traipsing "visitors" through the area that your software people work is a clear violation of Peopleware principles. You need to shelter those folks from distractions as much as possible, and piping clients and investors into your software work area is no good at all. You don't regularly invite people to walk through your master bedroom, do you? What good can come of having suits walk through the coders' sanctuary(s)? If you are going to regularly do this, at least give coders an office a door they can close for privacy. It's not a zoo, people. Those aren't lions you are keeping in those cubes or, hopefully, offices.

      Imagine if publishing houses tried to force their authors to work in a corporate environment in cubes, with no way to shut out noise and interruptions, forced to sit by a phone that can ring at any minute, and subject to all the silly whims of management - "business-casual", dopey "status" meetings, etc. The process of writing code is very much like writing a book. No wonder corporations are always scratching their heads about missed deadlines for software projects - if they ran the publishing biz the same way, there'd be scads of failures, there, too! I'd like to see [insert favorite author here] complete their next novel under the thumb of contemporary corporate management!

  31. OS preference vs. hair length by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    Oh Lord, not this old myth again. For the record, here are the real statistics on average hair length related to OS usage:
    Linux: 4.13 inches
    GNU/Linux: 7.98 inches
    FreeBSD: 4.23 inches
    OpenBSD: 6.03 inches
    NetBSD: 1.71 inches
    Windows 98: 8.51 inches
    Windows 2000: 10.40 inches
    Windows XP: 16.82 inches
    Windows NT: N/A*

    *No Windows NT administrators with any hair left could be located.

    As you can see, it's just an old wives' tale. Let's move along people.
    1. Re:OS preference vs. hair length by Badanov · · Score: 1

      Where's the 1/8 inch long row? What OS do they use?

      --
      Dawn of the Dead
    2. Re:OS preference vs. hair length by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      --I'm an oddball. Primarily a mac classic guy, but shudder, I am not a *graphics artiste*, as I am red/green color blind! HAHAHAHA!

      Hair length, about a foot and a half I guess, + beardage, short, trimmed (kinda).

      Shirt, right now (looks down) have an alien head T shirt on, the big eyeball kinda classic-looking alien.

      I own a few suits, from back when I was a sales weasel, but honestly can't remember the last time I wore one of them, been several years now.

      Started experimenting with linux this year, it's rather hard to go CL from many years of relatively minor troubles and mostly extensive just "click and do" computer background. I enjoy linux sometimes, but not all the time. Sometimes I just plain want to just do what I want to do without spending hours of googling and head scratching to find out the hows in the RTFM mode.

      Business wise, using linux, no idea, other than I can't see companies staying with microsoft forever and ever. At one time it seemed somewhat of an operating system you could "do business" with, but now, there's so much other choice out there, that apparently works just dandy, especially with pros running it, I think it's just laziness and inertia that maintains the redmond machine. I do think though that apple will increase market share faster than anyone might think now, from what I'm reading anyway, with the improvements to OSX. I haven't tried that yet, waiting for the dang used macs to get cheaper, I can afford like 4-5 year old tech, that G4 used is still a ways off for me unfortunately,. and I don't want to try OSX on anything smaller than a G4, although I know it's possible.

    3. Re:OS preference vs. hair length by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think you'll find you've mixed up the hair length and cock length data.

  32. 9 years to clone Unix by IXI · · Score: 1

    "It only took 9 years to clone UNIX via Linux."

    I'd rather say 10 years -- 1984, the start of the GNU project to 1994, when the Linux kernel version 1.0 came out. Cloning the OS kernel only took 2 years.

    --
    He saw some dirty arabs and fired. Too bad it was just some friendly kurds, BBC reporters and his fellow cowboys.
  33. Ponytails? Pffft! by Cally · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Ponytails are for yuppies, and people who work in advertising. Be like me - let your freak flag fly - just say NO! to hairbands, and let your shaggy mane fly as free - free as the wind - as the software we use!


    NB: joke... I keep it in a ponytail, outside the comfort & security of my own home...

    --
    "None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." -- Goethe
  34. Damned ugly by d2002xx · · Score: 0

    Why the hell it must wear the undesirable suit and take an old cell phone?

    It should look like this

    1. Re:Damned ugly by Oryn · · Score: 1

      whats that app thats running on the right side of the screenshot?

    2. Re:Damned ugly by d2002xx · · Score: 0

      clock, mixer, ... You may find them in blackbox

  35. The draw of Linux by einhverfr · · Score: 2

    Is freedom, relative ease of migration for UNIX LOB apps from legacy systems, and the flexibility of the open source development model.

    Let's face it, very little of your cost is in the upfront licensing costs. A Lot More is in the development of business tools etc. The more reusable code that exists, the better. The better application stacks that exist, the better, the better environments for server software development, the better.

    But Linux is not yet the most scalable operating system in the world (probably Unicos/MK is). But it is getting better.

    --

    LedgerSMB: Open source Accounting/ERP
  36. linux is bad for the computer industry by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Linux has set back the state of computing by inventing nothing new and reimplementing everything wrong. Witness the unstable under load VM that it's had for years and the lose-date-on-crash ext2fs that is prompting all those new filesystems to be written (and which will take years to debug). We need to let people know they have a choice in free operating systems. They can run FreeBSD, which is already stable and performs better under load than linux.

  37. Extrapolating where Linux really is by jeffwolfe · · Score: 1
    ...although I think the writer is a couple years late since I think this was really the case about 4 LinuxWorld's ago ;)

    Absent an expensive media blitz, it takes the mainstream media a while to catch up. Sure, the fact that the "suits" are trying out Linux is yesterday's news. This kind of article indicates that Linux has reached the next stage. It's here to stay, and there's nothing Microsoft or anyone else can do to keep it out of the mainstream.

  38. wear some decent clothing and shut up, hippy boy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    nuff said

  39. tech people are necessary, not geeks by Trepidity · · Score: 2

    It's not entirely necessary for someone thoroughly familiar with technology to have a scraggly beard, pony-tail, and D&D tshirt.

    --
    10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
  40. The part I liked.... by Xtifr · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The casual mention of MS's booth at LWE really pleased me. Yeah, just another company making Linux credible to the business types. No mention of any MS FUD or speculation on their possible ulterior motives. Just the bald fact: they were there, lending credibility. Somehow, I doubt that's the spin MS wanted (though I'm sure they were aware it was a possibility).

    The rest of the article was pretty mundane, but no worse than I'd expect from the mainstream press (as opposed to industry press). Yeah, we've had suits at the shows for years, but the reputation of a system for "freaks and geeks" is still alive. Yeah, they got a few details wrong, but that's the press for ya. But the oh-so casual mention of MS I liked.

  41. Does it matter what you wear? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I almost always wear a shirt and proper trousers when I go out - does that affect my ability to earn a living writing php and mysql based applications, doing *nix admin, and general consultancy work?

  42. re your sig... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    > How do you know a /.er was 15th on Mars?

    There is a flagpole with a sign reading "First Post"

  43. Inaccuracy by Bouncings · · Score: 2
    Linux was created as the people's software, free and open for everyone to use, in an attempt to thwart the commercialization of technology.
    Ugh, no, it was Just For Fun. Really. Linus uses Bitkeeper for crying out loud!!
    --
    -- Ken Kinder ken@_nospam_kenkinder.com http://kenkinder.com/
    1. Re:Inaccuracy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Linus uses BK because it's the best tool for the job (at the moment), that he can use freely. Don't read into that too deeply and don't be surprised when Open-BK (or whatever) comes along, surpasses BK's abilities, and everyone in the free software community starts using it instead. ;)

      That said, kudos to the BK guys for being so kind!

  44. big Inaccuracy by twitter · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Some software is created just for fun. Other software is created to insure that you have control of your computer. Don't confuse "commercialism" with the evil practices of current commercial software vendors. They are stupid and will be replaced. Much software created just for fun is of great use to all of us becuse it was licensed as free. Go visit clarity to learn what why and how.

    --

    Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.

  45. A nice middle grounds by AELinuxGuy · · Score: 1
    Instead of jumping directly from pony tails to business casual lets settle for the mullet. Business in the front, party in the back - we all win.

    Baby steps people.

  46. the changing face by sstory · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    i hope the face of linux is changing. because right now it resembles gerald, the guy who was briefly in my physics program. The breast pocket of his XXL t-shirt (think Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons) was always stretched down a foot, because he kept a 20oz bottle of mountain dew there. What an uberdork. He lasted 2 semesters before transferring to Comp Sci.

  47. dress experience by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In my experience, you always have to watch out for the best dressed people at companies. They're usually dressed that way in order to compensate for their lack of anything else valuable to offer the company, but it's hard to get rid of someone who *looks* more professional that the people doing the actual work.