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AOL's new Linux PC
minus_273 writes " MSNBC (of all places ) has an intersting article about AOLs new PC. We have already heard of Lindows , WALMART PC and there was speculation of AOL Red Hat. Well, it looks like this is what AOL decided to do. All 3 are mixed into one. AOL now has a beta 7.0 client that is distributed with Lindows along with AIM and Netscape. I wonder if this stuff will work on normal Linux without WINE."
You know, choice of OS or ISP isn't a measure of intelligence
Indeed it is not, nor did I mean to imply that it was. OS choice is however, often a measure of proficiency (sometimes computing intelligence, but not intellectual).
It's also a measure of judgement, not getting suckered in or brainwashed by a big name which you hear on TV or see in banners every minute. This seems to be a large part of AOL's strategy, hear the name, buy the product. AOL isn't better than others, it isn't cheaper than many. It's becoming more and more visible as they attempt to push their way into every aspect of life, and that lends to an increase in marketing audience, which is probably what this is mostly about.
The idea is to make computers easier to use, not more difficult.
As for those that use linux, they don't use it because it's easier, the use it because it's functional. Making computers easier to use doesn't help much if they're not functional enough to do what I need. Calculators are easy to use.
One of the big problems is in that making everything "easy", we make people less proficient. As soon as the GUI as gone, 95% of users will probably crap their pants at a CLI. Not to complain, it keeps me employed, but we're making things prettier and users dumber, PC skills wise.
Do you know how many people can't even format a disk, or run a program that's not in the start menu or desktop? It's scary. Linux is an operating system of choice. GUI's have been made that make it nicer, and easier, but by far the most useful part of it is still within the little icon entitled "terminal." AOL users moving to lindows will likely not be any more PC-smart than their windows counterparts, not will the learn much about linux.
However, I do hear screams of anguish resonating from MS-headquarters - phorm