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Caldera's 'Consumer Friendly' Linux
An anonymous reader sent us a link to a news.com story
that talks about Caldera releasing a
'Consumer Friendly Linux' designed to allow the newbies
to use it without touching a CLI.
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Are you talking about free speech here, or free beer? It's not clear from the context.
TedC
It does, in a way.
Contrary to what MS would like people to believe, there's still MS-DOS code left in Windows 95. Not a lot, maybe, but it's waaay down deep.
TedC
I would prefer a nice, dark Linux Lager myself. :-)
TedC
Why is everyone saying that Linux has to offer MSOffice in order to be competitive against Microsoft? Are these reporters so dense that they can't see the irony in what they write?
The writing is on the wall, proprietary formats won't survive the millenium.
A Government Is a Body of People, Usually Notably Ungoverned
It was a 1 when it made me snicker. Let's see which way it goes.
Save the whales. Feed the hungry. Free the mallocs.
I have no idea how my car works, yet I drive it every day.
Why should people have to know how their computers work just to write email, browse the web, etc?
The big benefit of a real Consumer Linux is that its probably way more stable than doing the same level of tasks on a Windows box, and its much easier for your techie friend to quickly fix something (or even remotely!) than wading through a bunch of dialog boxes under windows.
Perhaps a consumer Linux should work kind of like the way Kai's Power Tools does? Exposes more functionality to users that explore all the tools available?
Reward the curious users, and give the others the benefit of a crash-free desktop experience.
Turning the task of learning Linux into a kind of discovery process seems a lot better than just dumping a CLI on someone and saying, "Here you go! Feel the power yet?".
My opinion on a "user-friendly" Linux is always in a state of flux. Right now, Linux is NOT as newbie-friendly as Windows it. KDE is the best thing we have going for us there, but even with KDE, useability is just not quite that of Windows. Such being the case, simplifying the install is not necessarily in everyone's best interest. So a newbie installs Linux just fine, but doesn't know what this "root" thing is. Perhaps there is something that (for the time being) requires the use of the CLI. You can just hear the newbies saying "bash? What the heck is this?" as they stare blankly at an xterm. I fully believe that KDE will fill most of the gaps for newbies, but it's just not 100% there yet.
... Just some of my opinions.. :)
But there are also some things that newbies may never get if they don't take the time to learn. The kernel (invariably spelled kernal by them) is a mystery. What does compile mean? Why should I change my kernel? What IS a kernel? Let's not also forget that Linux is a networking OS. There are lots of services running (normally) and what if one is exploitable? Sure, your distribution may release a new package or such, but a newbie doesn't know what Bugtraq is, or doesn't even know that he is running an exploitable service. He goes onto IRC and before you know it, he's been rooted (Or 0wned if you try to sound "kewl"). Of course, this is Linux's fault, not his, and this would never have happened in Windows! Don't tell me newbies (for the most part) don't think like this.
I think it would be great if Linux got more popularity, but we need to realize that it is NOT Windows. I think if someone wants to run Linux, they need to take the time to learn things about it. If you want an idiot-proof (well, fairly idiot-proof) OS use MacOS or Windows. But if you have a NEED for what Linux offers (Server usage, and otherwise) or if you're curious and actually have the initiative to READ and LEARN, then I think using Linux is a good idea. You really do learn lots of great things while using Linux, as long as you don't expect it to do everything for you.
OK, so my post rambles and doesn't have any clear point
Posted by Mike@ABC:
Have to say, you hit the nail on the head. Would that others would learn from your insights...!
Posted by Mike@ABC:
Sure, there's not a lot of demand for newbie Linux distributions, but you can bet RedHat is kicking itself for not doing it first. Eventually, Linux will find its way to the consumer space, and Caldera will be ready, willing and able. Heck, there are already consumer-folk out there wondering about Linux.
It's a gamble, but it's a very good one.
If you folks think that RedHat's install is some paradigm of ease, you shouldn't be participating in this discussion.
The partition editor only works sometimes, and furthermore, it's pretty non-obvious to the newbie what to do (create a / partition).
LILO is a major problem with all Linux systems. Yea, sure it works, sometimes, in certain conditions. (I've had it spontainously change my partition type codes on FAT partitions.) Look at the NT Boot loader, it just works. Don't believe me on this one -- search DejaNews for "LILO AND LI" and see what you get.
The RedHat install is not at all clear on what network services you're installing, and provides no descriptive information and no ablitity to alter the configuration during the install.
Once RedHat is installed, you are presented with a confusing Control Panel full of really ugly icons. By futzing around with this you can perhaps find certain options you're looking for, but it's usually extremely non-obvious. RedHat also provide the linuxconf program, but the thing just seems too klutzy to trust. It's also real slow and has many drawing bugs.
Well, that's the rant. Just wanted to point out that there's a way to go.
--
Business. Numbers. Money. People. Computer World.
Good for Caldera. I'm glad it's them doing it. In my opinion Caldera's always represented the business side of Linux better than the other distributions. Plus they've showed some balls taking MS's ass to court. That's the kind of company that should be representing the business angle. Funny but I thought it'd be Corel doing this before anyone else.
Personally I don't think Linux is hard to setup. It's no harder than installing dos on a blank disk and setting up your gui of choice.
When I was first getting into Linux I was blown away by Caldera's desktop that came w/ the retail OpenLinux. I never bought it since I didn't have the cash but it looked impressive. I wound up downloading slack 3.3 via a 14.4 dialup and using wmaker.
I don't see anything wrong w/ OpenLinux for Linux workstations. It's not like anyone's being forced to use it so nobody has a right to complain about it. I know alot of people are going to piss and moan about this but think about how great it'll be having developers jump on the bandwagon with the users. Plus the need for linux techs will be more in demand. The world needs a clueless-friendly, stable OS for a change.
Bundling PQMagic might not have been the best choice though. I think Wabi might have been a better one. Anyway if Linux starts to get lame, there's always BSD.
"Unix is a proprietary operating system intended to compete against Microsoft Windows" --Patrick Reilly
I know a lot of people believe that something like this will make Linux worse and not better.
However, it isn't true.
Just because someone is selling something that makes it easier for people to use Linux, it doesn't
mean that it's going to make Linux "Just as bad as Windows."
The CLI and steep learning curve isn't what makes Linux good. What makes it good is the Openess and
the great programmers behind it.
The one thing that has been SEVERELY over-looked IS
the user-friendliness.
The only thing that making something easier to use is going to do is let more people use the operating
system without having to know as much in advance. I know those of us who have already done it the
hard way may feel cheated because the new users don't have to go thru everything we did... but so
what?
And another thing... Making something more user-friendly DOES NOT mean that it is going to be less
powerful. Those of you who think that have a lot to learn about software design. Basically it all
comes down to the masculinity argument. Many people feel that their balls are bigger because
they can memorize a man page about a particular piece of software.
Yes, I have felt the same way sometimes. However, I would much rather have the option of a quick GUI
with a couple checkboxes instead of having to open an Xterm, reading a man page, and memorizing the
sequence of options I have to enter. Don't get me wrong, I like the speed that you CAN do stuff with
the CLI once you do remember the commands. I just understand how many new users can feel.
Another thing that has been overlooked that could easily be implemented in many X-based programs is
something like an "Advanced Options..." option. Show the simple stuff, then if they want to, show
everything. Even though their programs do suck, M$ has got this UI thing down. Not many people
complain about the UI in M$ programs. (Except maybe for that little paperclip guy...) Which
brings me to something else... Help systems. Let me just say this:
The man system in Linux is awesome. The GUI based help sux.
IMO, Linux users *should* be happy about new users coming in, even if they have been dumbed-down by a
Micro$oft OS.
More users mean:
More programs
More drivers
More support period.
Sorry for getting a little bit off-topic (kinda) in that. It's just something that has been bothering me about many Linux users.
They think that if something comes in that makes Linux easier to use, it's going to ruin the Linux
community.
C'mon people, it's ok.
Let 'em in, even if they can't work a CLI.
~enucite~
/me puts on his asbestos suit in preparation of the flames.
I'm going to take a gamble and bet some comments will be up soon as to the elite and special nature of Linux, and how this is going to ruin everything...
Or on how by dumbing down the OS this way, Linux will be no more and no better than Windows...
Or how Linux is their OS, meant and built for hackers, and not meant for idiots, newbies, the clueless, or the Great Unwashed Masses...
Please, I just gave all three, so don't feel you need to add any more.
That out of the way, I feel this is a good thing, but not perfect. Consumer space is important, especially if you feel that M$ doesn't deserve it and that Apple repeatedly makes routine screwups in the arena. Linux needs enough support to garner first class citizenship from consumer hardware manufacturers; USB drivers and support, AGP and 3d acceleration, perhipherals like TV tuners, scanners, sound cards, and most importantly, consumer space Applications.
User Friendly Linux, regardless of distro or brand name, needs to have an easier setup than M$s. Fill in a bunch of checkboxes and defaults in one dialogue, and allow install without further user interaction. Automatic repair, in case the user screws up or something goes wrong... Refer to some sort of image, and restore from CD or something. Automatic update of safety image as user adds or removes components and hardware. Default security and protection, without the user worrying about patches and updates and holes... Like Netscape's or M$'s autoupdate, check routinely for patches and such, and if possible, download and ask for user permission to install, detailing the changes and allowing for selective removal and uninstall...
Am I missing anything?
AS
-AS
*Pikachu*