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Xara X to Be Released as Open Source
zero-one writes "Xara today announced that they are releasing an open source version of their vector drawing program, Xara Xtreme. They already have a Linux demo but source code is not available quite yet. Xara Xtreme on Linux will not only bring a leading-edge graphic tool to the platform, but with community assistance, has the potential to become the world's most powerful, easiest-to-use and simply the world's best graphics program. If they get this right it could bring the Linux desktop into whole sectors of the market that is has not been able to address before."
Linux is *not* user friendly, and until it is linux will stay with >1% marketshare.
/tmp or the installer will dump core. After the installer is done, edit /etc/X11/XF86Config and add a section called "GL" and put "driver nv" in it. Make sure you have the latest version of X and Linux kernel 2.6 or else X will segfault when you start. OK, run the Quake 3 installer and make sure you set the proper group and setuid permissions on quake3.bin. If you want sound, look here [link to another obscure web site], which is a short HOWTO on how to get sound in Quake 3. That's all there is to it!"
Take installation. Linux zealots are now saying "oh installing is so easy, just do apt-get install package or emerge package": Yes, because typing in "apt-get" or "emerge" makes so much more sense to new users than double-clicking an icon that says "setup".
Linux zealots are far too forgiving when judging the difficultly of Linux configuration issues and far too harsh when judging the difficulty of Windows configuration issues. Example comments:
User: "How do I get Quake 3 to run in Linux?"
Zealot: "Oh that's easy! If you have Redhat, you have to download quake_3_rh_8_i686_010203_glibc.bin, then do chmod +x on the file. Then you have to su to root, make sure you type export LD_ASSUME_KERNEL=2.2.5 but ONLY if you have that latest libc6 installed. If you don't, don't set that environment variable or the installer will dump core. Before you run the installer, make sure you have the GL drivers for X installed. Get them at [some obscure web address], chmod +x the binary, then run it, but make sure you have at least 10MB free in
User: "How do I get Quake 3 to run in Windows?"
Zealot: "Oh God, I had to install Quake 3 in Windoze for some lamer friend of mine! God, what a fucking mess! I put in the CD and it took about 3 minutes to copy everything, and then I had to reboot the fucking computer! Jesus Christ! What a retarded operating system!"
So, I guess the point I'm trying to make is that what seems easy and natural to Linux geeks is definitely not what regular people consider easy and natural. Hence, the preference towards Windows.
It was a delightful and funny read. And it's funny because it's true.
Yes we all know that as soon as a program makes it to linux it automatically becomes easier to use than any Windows program.
Another second rate product runs to Linux... and the Linux crowd embraces it with open arms, and immediately drinks the Kool Aid.
Newsflash: Xara is, and always will be, a second rate program with a shoddy interface, less-than-insignificant industry penetration and porting it to Linux will only help with the 1% of the planet that cares about Linux.
You must of course, per the demands of your religious cult, now mod me as flamebait.
But this isn't flamebait, its a serious reality check.
And we've been through this before: GIMP is awful. Its third-rate, hideous and underpowered/underfeatured. Why is it that the Linux crowd is so willing to hold second-rate products aloft and say proudly "See? Its
Wake up. When it comes to industrial applications being used by serious workers,
'pretty good' software matters about as much as software that 'smells good'.
And "free" doesn't matter nearly as much as you think it does.
Flame away kids.
That sounds like the same bullshit open-source zealots have been spouting about The GIMP and Blender for years, and in that time, neither one has been able to displace their competitors in their respective industries. If this software was really good, it would be selling enough units that it wouldn't be getting released for free to try and get some publicity. And if it isn't that good now, there's no reason to think that a bunch of OSS coders are going to make it any better.