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Why Open Standards Matter

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the why-behind-the-smile dept.

Tina Gasperson over at Newsforge (Also owned by VA Software) has an interesting writeup about her experience at the Government Day sub-conference at LinuxWorld Boston. Government Day addressed some interesting issues including some of the more tangible reasons behind supporting open standards. From the article: "Speaking to the audience of government workers, Villa said, 'Maybe 2006 is not the year that Linux ends up on your desktops.' But, he encouraged them, if they begin using software that supports open standards now, such as Firefox and OpenOffice.org, then when Linux is ready it will be that much easier to make a switch. 'And maybe you'll decide not to make that switch,' Villa said. 'But at least the choice will be yours.'"

1 of 158 comments (clear)

  1. Re:why it takes time... by stinky+wizzleteats · · Score: 0, Troll
    when you're at work you don't need to install things (the one thing I think windows makes so much easier than linux)

    What are you talking about?

    Installing something in Linux (Ubuntu):
    -run synaptic
    -click the check mark next to the program you want.
    -click the install button.
    -a few seconds to minutes later, your app is installed and ready to run.


    Installing something in Windows:
    -(no built in software management system - anything you install for Windows has to be manually found and downloaded or purchased from a store)
    -run antivirus against the install media/download file.
    -run antimalware against the install media/download file.
    -extract download file, as appropriate
    -locate install executable on install media, or trust autoplay to run it when you put the disc in.
    -click yes on license agreement.
    -click no on special offers.
    -click no on automatic updates.
    -click "yes, I'm sure" on special offers
    -install software.
    -reboot system (this is always required)
    -close daily tip screen for the software you just installed.
    -The software you installed put an icon in the systray - right click to close it.
    -You don't have the option to close the program, but you can hide the icon.
    -Close the messenger tool associated with the systray app that is now spamming you for some unrelated product.
    -Run hijackthis to determine how the systray app is running and to kill it.
    -At this point, you discover that the software also changed your default home page and changed the menus and added a toolbar to IE.
    -"Hijack This" successfully cleans out the crap.
    -You try to run the app - "This application has generated an error and will be closed by Wnidows. An error log is being created."
    -Thinking it needs the systray bullshit, you uninstall it.
    -You must then reboot the system.
    -The systray app crashes on startup because it can't find libraries (I thought I killed that thing)
    -You attempt to install the software again.
    -Install crashes - "you have a running copy of $foo. You must close all $foo windows before attempting to install $foo."

    ...time passes...

    -Your PC finally comes back from the IT department, who had to completely reinstall everything because $foo caused some bizarre and insoluble problem.

    Exactly what part of this is easier?