Why is this rated insightful? He basically calls all non-programmers murderous cowards. That is just plain stupid.
Having a well-rounded personality and skill-set goes along way in this world, and you can still have all that and be a good coder. You'll find these self-actualized individuals at the head of projects and departments at companies everywhere. Some of them are head the company itself. As it reads in the Hacker's dictionary, real hackers have interesting hobbies like mountain climbing and flying airplanes, many well-thumbed books, and dabble in the arts or music. The fat guy in the cubicle drinking Dew over his keyboard for 16 hours a day is not the hero you make him out to be. He's a sorry, unhappy fellow. (and anyone can be good at just one thing.)
Don't under-estimate the virtues of living a balanced life.
Breaking up Microsoft would only unleash three or four abusive corporations on the market where previously there was only one. It doesn't automatically address/solve the real crimes that have been/are being committed. For example: any or all of the Baby Bills could force OEMs to bundle software. Any or all of the Baby Bills could levy inconsistent and unfair licensing against vendors and customers. Any or all of the Baby Bills could share secret APIs to give each other advantages over other developers.
These issues will have to be address directly - with or without a break-up. Each separate infraction should be listed, and a penalty/restriction should be offered as a response for each one.
Actually, Linux IS probably better suited for embedded systems than for the desktop. Case in point: device support in Linux is "inserted" deeply into the kernel. Even in a case where the device support is built as a module, the kernel must know the module is there which requires it to be compiled in. Whereas a system like MS Windows is message-based; an application can send a message saying "I need to print", the OS gets the message and simply passes it on; if there is anything on the system that listens for that type of message (i.e. a printer driver) it gets the message and handles the print job. Thus, drivers can be inserted and removed easily in Windows. The tight control afforded by Linux is perfect for embedded systems, but a pain in the butt on the desktop.
It would help emmensely if this functionality was more modularized a la object model. I believe Konqueror is based on the KOM object model so it derives its various functionalities from objects that are also available to other applications. An object is available to serve up HTML support for apps (clients) that need it; an object for displaying gifs, etc. For what it's worth, this is sort of what IE4 does, too. Unfortunately, I don't think Mozilla (or Netscape) are that forward-thinking.
Or perhaps people who actually have systems expertise want their voice to be heard over all of the extremist, reverse-FUD that has been going around/. for too long. Many of us use Linux because we like, not because we hate Microsoft or anyone else. Many of us are tired of this silly little war. Many of us are not afraid to admit Linux's shortcomings, or Microsofts strengths. Many of us are actually doing something about it besides bitch bitch bitch.
CAD is one of THE primary workstation applications.
So you know what "most people" do? We're talking about the Enterprise here, and I don't think you know as much as you think you do. And besides, all that common funtionality you mentioned isn't as strong on Linux as it is on Mac and Windows. I don't like it, but it's true.
Mr. AC, First let me say, I am a Linux advocate: I use it at home, and I like it. I'm on the Board of Directors of my city's LUG.
From your note, I would say you sound like one of the people who have no idea what is really being done in offices around the country, since you referred to it as "esoteric". Is CAD esoteric? Is a decent ready-to-use object model/ActiveX replacement esoteric?
I'm not even going to touch the comment about Amiga.
I'm glad it's coming out. It's progress. But it alone cannot change the situation. Are all those IT managers going to change their minds just because of Corel Office? Nope. And they shouldn't.
All people who are willing to admit that Linux is not ready for the desktop, stand up and be heard. The zealots shout almost daily on/. about how superior Linux is to MS Windows and the others. Based on what criteria? A strong, stable kernel, and an open license. These are virtues to be sure, but how many of you get your work done with a kernel?
The opponents will alway say that they need a user-friendly GUI and productivity apps. So the zealots shout "We have KDE! We have StarOffice!"
Alright then, let's go back to the original arguement that Linux is better than Windows... are you saying the KDE is a better GUI than MS Windows ? Are you saying that StarOffice is a better, more stable office solution than the others? Obviously, they're not. So when you really dig in at look at this, you see already we're starting to erode the zeolots' platform. It's also worth noting that I've had just as many crashes as a result of using KDE and StarOffice as I've ever had using MS Windows. Sure the kernel didn't crash, but as I said, you don't get work done with the kernel.
Zeolots will also say that Linux has 300+ apps. I suppose this includes every old, rinky-dink app like gnuplot and xeyes. Suppose I want need CAD? Suppose I need to balance my budget and do my taxes? Can my Linux "desktop" do that? Now suppose my office needs to do some custom programming and integration of various apps and systems. We want to tie together our office applications, a central database, and an automated package-shipping system (lifts, conveyers, barcode readers, etc.) Can I do this more easily with Linux and it's 300+ apps?
These are the kinds of practical needs facing corporate America. Those who believe Linux is ready to tackle these problems have no idea what people are really doing in those offices. The IT professionals (who are constantly derided as being ignorant for not implementing Linux) know what their offices need, and that's why they DON'T choose Linux.
Creme rises to the top. When a platform is good at something, people will use it for that. That's the reason Linux is known as a server OS: it's speedy, stable kernel make it ideal for that. Maybe if we spent less time shouting about how Linux is ready for the desktop, we'd have more time left over to make it so.
Let's applaud the efforts of those who've brought us great apps like the GIMP and StarOffice, but have the maturity to see that the day is young and the road is long. And let's make Linux great because we believe in it, not because we hate Microsoft!
This is how IE works. It uses COM objects that are available for any other app to use as well. That was the central point of MS's defense at the anti-trust trial... and they have a point as much as we all hate to admit it. GNOME and KDE are doing something similar with their object models. Can't stop the tide.
*sarcasm*MTV's journalistic integrity is in question? Noooo. This can't be.*/sarcasm*
It shouldn't be surprising that MTV is not interested in the true story of hackers, which is usually only interesting to other hackers. They can get much better ratings from the Hollywood-inspired bull. I honestly wonder if our response to this should be to simply ignore it.
I might have to disagree on your point that "computing isn't the land of milk and honey." It is a very prosperous industry. Allen and Wozniak are very rich. Paul Allen owns TicketMaster, a sports team or two, among other things. And there are dozens (if not hundreds) of millionares at the companies they started (MS and Apple).
I don't care what the dominant OS is either. This isn't about that.
If some people are happy just playing MP3s and surfing the web, I'm happy for them.
If some people are happy with a powerful stable server OS for their website, I'm happy for them.
But I need different things from my system than that. Some of those things are already available in Windows, and I'd like to see them in Linux.
Those features will come to Linux inspite of all those who think it's just fine already, because, frankly, those of us who are programmers understand the technology better, and will endeavor to include it in Linux, even if many end users aren't interested (yet).
embedded objects are the core of KDE and Gnome's functionality. You may not see it as an end user (although I think it will be hard to miss in KDE 2.0). It's useful for a lot more than just dropping a chart into your documents.
I submit to you that we are already adapting, and in some sense that puts us head-to-head with MS. Not because we want to replace Windows, but because we want to take advantage of the latest trends and technologies, many of which will find their way into Windows too.
I want to differentiate what "we" want at home, versus what "we" want at work. The customers I spoke of are people like us, in offices, with IT managers.
My point is that alot of people here on/. like to say that Linux already has all it needs to be rolled out for business use. I'm sorry, but there is still alot missing. But we're on the right track.
For example OLE (and now COM) has been a staple of the Windows universe for years. People using Linux at home might not think this is important technology. But it is very important. Now with CORBA, and the KDE and Gnome projects, a Linux alternative object model is emerging.
This article sounded like a sobering reminder to all of us, that if we don't "adapt" (as it's called in the article), Win2K will do to Linux what Win95 did to OS/2.
Let that be a clarion call to developers everywhere to make Linux the most feature-rich OS around... ...features that customers want, not just what we want.
It works fine on my custom kernels. As long as you have 4bpp fb compiled into the kernel (not a module), and vga=274 appears in lilo.conf, it should work. It did for me.
If MS ever owns anything having to do with Linux, you can bet it would only be a matter of time before they began to subtly and not-so subtly imply that Linux was their idea in the first place. And millions of clueless idiots would believe it.
I'm not sure how Oracle and SAP compare. I've actually heard both touted as the second largest. I probably got the stats from a news article, and as we all know, reporters and columnists don't always check their facts. I think they also tend to forget that there are big companies outside the US. (SAP, if I'm not mistaken, is German.) Many news articles these days report that Bill Gates is the richest man in the world, when in fact he is the second richest (last I heard, Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei, was the richest). Anywho, I think SAP is No.2, but I could be mistaken.
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Why is this rated insightful? He basically calls all non-programmers murderous cowards. That is just plain stupid.
Having a well-rounded personality and skill-set goes along way in this world, and you can still have all that and be a good coder. You'll find these self-actualized individuals at the head of projects and departments at companies everywhere. Some of them are head the company itself. As it reads in the Hacker's dictionary, real hackers have interesting hobbies like mountain climbing and flying airplanes, many well-thumbed books, and dabble in the arts or music. The fat guy in the cubicle drinking Dew over his keyboard for 16 hours a day is not the hero you make him out to be. He's a sorry, unhappy fellow. (and anyone can be good at just one thing.)
Don't under-estimate the virtues of living a balanced life.
Breaking up Microsoft would only unleash three or four abusive corporations on the market where previously there was only one. It doesn't automatically address/solve the real crimes that have been/are being committed. For example: any or all of the Baby Bills could force OEMs to bundle software. Any or all of the Baby Bills could levy inconsistent and unfair licensing against vendors and customers. Any or all of the Baby Bills could share secret APIs to give each other advantages over other developers.
These issues will have to be address directly - with or without a break-up. Each separate infraction should be listed, and a penalty/restriction should be offered as a response for each one.
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People who moderate down just because they disagree are offensive to those of us who use the scoring to weed out trolls.
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CAD is one of THE primary workstation applications.
So you know what "most people" do? We're talking about the Enterprise here, and I don't think you know as much as you think you do. And besides, all that common funtionality you mentioned isn't as strong on Linux as it is on Mac and Windows. I don't like it, but it's true.
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First let me say, I am a Linux advocate: I use it at home, and I like it. I'm on the Board of Directors of my city's LUG.
From your note, I would say you sound like one of the people who have no idea what is really being done in offices around the country, since you referred to it as "esoteric". Is CAD esoteric? Is a decent ready-to-use object model/ActiveX replacement esoteric?
I'm not even going to touch the comment about Amiga.
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The opponents will alway say that they need a user-friendly GUI and productivity apps. So the zealots shout "We have KDE! We have StarOffice!"
Alright then, let's go back to the original arguement that Linux is better than Windows... are you saying the KDE is a better GUI than MS Windows ? Are you saying that StarOffice is a better, more stable office solution than the others? Obviously, they're not. So when you really dig in at look at this, you see already we're starting to erode the zeolots' platform. It's also worth noting that I've had just as many crashes as a result of using KDE and StarOffice as I've ever had using MS Windows. Sure the kernel didn't crash, but as I said, you don't get work done with the kernel.
Zeolots will also say that Linux has 300+ apps. I suppose this includes every old, rinky-dink app like gnuplot and xeyes. Suppose I want need CAD? Suppose I need to balance my budget and do my taxes? Can my Linux "desktop" do that?
Now suppose my office needs to do some custom programming and integration of various apps and systems. We want to tie together our office applications, a central database, and an automated package-shipping system (lifts, conveyers, barcode readers, etc.) Can I do this more easily with Linux and it's 300+ apps?
These are the kinds of practical needs facing corporate America. Those who believe Linux is ready to tackle these problems have no idea what people are really doing in those offices. The IT professionals (who are constantly derided as being ignorant for not implementing Linux) know what their offices need, and that's why they DON'T choose Linux.
Creme rises to the top. When a platform is good at something, people will use it for that. That's the reason Linux is known as a server OS: it's speedy, stable kernel make it ideal for that.
Maybe if we spent less time shouting about how Linux is ready for the desktop, we'd have more time left over to make it so.
Let's applaud the efforts of those who've brought us great apps like the GIMP and StarOffice, but have the maturity to see that the day is young and the road is long. And let's make Linux great because we believe in it, not because we hate Microsoft!
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It shouldn't be surprising that MTV is not interested in the true story of hackers, which is usually only interesting to other hackers. They can get much better ratings from the Hollywood-inspired bull. I honestly wonder if our response to this should be to simply ignore it.
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I thought the Justice for Kids and Youth page was pretty nice. I don't mind my tax dollars going to that.
Grow up. Get a life.
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Anywho, just FYI.
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If some people are happy just playing MP3s and surfing the web, I'm happy for them.
If some people are happy with a powerful stable server OS for their website, I'm happy for them.
But I need different things from my system than that. Some of those things are already available in Windows, and I'd like to see them in Linux.
Those features will come to Linux inspite of all those who think it's just fine already, because, frankly, those of us who are programmers understand the technology better, and will endeavor to include it in Linux, even if many end users aren't interested (yet).
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I want to differentiate what "we" want at home, versus what "we" want at work. The customers I spoke of are people like us, in offices, with IT managers.
My point is that alot of people here on
For example OLE (and now COM) has been a staple of the Windows universe for years. People using Linux at home might not think this is important technology. But it is very important. Now with CORBA, and the KDE and Gnome projects, a Linux alternative object model is emerging.
But there's alot of work to do yet...
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Let that be a clarion call to developers everywhere to make Linux the most feature-rich OS around...
...features that customers want, not just what we want.
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I'd like to get a dozen of these for a beowulf cluster. That would rock.
Bwahahahahahaha
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If MS ever owns anything having to do with Linux, you can bet it would only be a matter of time before they began to subtly and not-so subtly imply that Linux was their idea in the first place. And millions of clueless idiots would believe it.
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Anywho, I think SAP is No.2, but I could be mistaken.
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