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Public Confused by Tech Lingo
the_helper_monkey writes "The BBC has an article about how tech jargon confuses the public. It's based on a survey done by AMD asking the definitions of words such as megahertz, MP3, and Bluetooth. " I was recently reminded of how big a deal this is while trying to help my tech novice brother select a computer. If you don't know what a gigabyte is, it's hard to know how large of a hard drive you need.
Sorry, but in the US it's not "leenoox" it's "linux" - just like it's not "leenoos" and charlie brown, it's linus and charlie brown. If you wanna quibble about minor uses of the language perhaps you won't mind also commenting on the (mis)use of words like "buff-ay" (no, goddamnit, do you buy a "buck-ay" of flowers?) and "bedroom suit" (er... do you mean "suite?") or even "pork" and "beef."
Our cars don't have "bonnets" they have hoods; we don't by "petrol" we buy "gas" or "fuel" and it's not "leenoox" unless you're just trying to show how cool you truly think you are.
Bollocks. Linux is based on Linus's name, which he pronounces leenoos. In English Linus is pronounced lie-nus, so lie-nux is quite right for anglophones.
Or do you pronounce Paris as par-ree?
I think this is an area where Microsoft has done extremely well. Their products are technically superior to the competitiors but more importantly they are easy to use because they cut down on jargon.
Think about it, while linux still uses outdated terms such as root and grep the Windows equivalents are administrator and find. If I mention GNOME or KDE then people look at me with blank faces but if I mention Word people know exactly what I mean because it does exactly what it says.
What would be really interesting would be if someone could produce a linux distro without the jargon. call the start menu the start menu and replace RPMs with linux update, then we might see significant numbers of people using Linux.
All that glitters has a high refractive index.
It's all a conspiracy by large computer manufacturers to be able to dazzle and impress you with large numbers and obscure illogical alien like acronyms in order to sell you more products that will aid you and your family throughout the technological world of today, and tomorrow!
It's backed by HP, Compaq, SCO, MS and aliens that are in league with the US Government so that they can obtain their resolve of using human beings as batteries for their new amusement park located on the inside of our moon.
It's lucky I have my tinfoil hat and my rubber boots.
how the fuck is this off topic? IT'S IN RESPONNSE TO A POST
fucking retarded moderators
You're an asshole.
Interviews are little traps set by people who think they're smarter than the people they're hiring. They prove nothing. The more elaborate the trap, the more it proves about the interviewer at the expense of learning anything meaningful about the hire.
Be straightforward with people--nobody wants to work with (or for) a jerk who's trying to trick them. If you want to know if person X knows technology Y, explain to me how fabricating the existence of technology Z and watching someone squirm will help you understand how much they know about Y?
Nothing.
So fuck you, you fucking fuck.
Well, you are obviously delusional, and so are the poor sods who modded up this sad post.
-- Slashdot: When Public Access TV Says "No"