Amen. You summed up my 5 paragraphs in 1. As a child of the 80s, I miss the days when computers were actually different and I long for a competitor to MS and Apple. I hold no grudges against either (well, maybe a little for both...) but nevertheless, it would be nice to see a 3rd option that worked.
Then I guess you got lucky and more power to you. You also make my point - you keep seeing people saying the same thing I'm saying. That should tell you that Linux is not ready for prime time desktop. If it was, it's wouldn't have a 5% penetration (which I bet is inflated).
Putting my words "seasoned users" in quotes insinuates you suspect that I'm really just an amateur who wants to make himself look smarter than he is. But in this respect, you miss my point: Even if I were some kind of computer poser, the OS should be easy for me to learn and use instead of make me throw up my hands in disgust because it can't do a few simple tasks out of the box. My kid who barely knows how to use Windows should be able to pick up the mouse and go - like she can with a Mac. THAT is my point.
As for your question about the distro. My last experiment with Ubuntu was about 6 months ago.
I'm no Apple fan, but the Linux crowd could learn something from ol' Jobs.
I'm no programmer, but I've been using computers for better of 30 years. I learned BASIC in 1983. I know my way around a command prompt and a registry. Hell, I can even write some simple C++ code. Nevertheless, I've tried Linux (Ubuntu) a few times and found it wanting. One of my first chores was to find software to play video. I tried a couple and they just didn't work correctly. Firefox couldn't import my bookmarks. Set my own wallpaper? Forget it. That was enough for me.
Granted, I could go to Fry's and buy a 500-page Linux manual and learn it. I've got no problem with that and in fact, when the day comes that I've got a spare box with which I can use to experiment, I might give it another shot just to see what it can do. But today, I don't have the time to learn how to use a computer all over again.
The fact of the matter remains, if it's gonna be difficult for a seasoned user, I can't imagine an average Windows user wanting anything to do with it. but I HAVE seen Windows users migrate to a Mac quite effortlessly.
What's it going to take to make a real desktop for the masses? A venture CAPITALIST taking up the challenge. Build an OS that's both powerful enough for geeks to exploit and easy enough for my grandmother to figure out. Distro developers are only thinking about what THEY want to see and do and they forget about the little guy who's just learning how to use a mouse. It's not because the developer is evil, he just has no incentive to write the code to accommodate the average Joe because his audience is NOT the average Joe. It's another geek who read the 500-page book. There's got to be a profit motive. If you want to appeal to the masses, you have to MARKET to them. The only reason Apple is still in business is because they know how to market a product and they build their products very well, with pleasing the end-user their the top priority.
I can list many, but the main reason I wouldn't even consider an Apple product (and now perhaps MS) is the ability of the company to dictate what apps I can have and what I can't have. If I understand correctly, an iPhone owner can only get apps that are "approved" by Apple. Ditto MS & Droid?? I do know that RIM doesn't care what I put on my device because it's MY DEVICE. I BOUGHT IT.
They just think they are. There will always be a market for violent games. And besides, kids will still get them. This is nothing more than BS "feel good legislation".
And not ONE addressed the ISSUE: The fact that this imbicile is walking freely. Seriously... you can "flamebait" it all you want and you can defend your Obamassiah, but what about the fact that no one is bothering to bring this punk to justice? I guess no one here is bothered by classified military info. being released. Let's just hope none of you loses a friend or loved on overseas because of this piece of human debris.
Thanks for reminding me of why I don't buy Apple products. At least with Windows and Blackberry, I don't have to get my hardware maker's permission to do what I want with the product I own.
Haven't "scientists" been saying stuff like this since about the mid-1800s? "Peak Oil", "Population Overcrowding", "Global Warming"... all modern-day myths that never seem to die no matter how much they're refuted.
No evidence needed, just the fear that it might be harmful. Glass can cut... ban it! Wood can give you a splinter... ban wood!
Excuse me while I go eat some plastic bottles.
Lessee... they tried making a browser, an OS, a VOIP app, an office suite... all duds. They bought YouTube and now they're ruining it by putting ads on top of people's videos. Everything Google touches turns to s&#t except, of course, for search.
Maybe they should stick with what they do right. I'm sure the shareholders would appreciate the savings in the form of dividends.
Just change "Birmingham City Council" to "Federal government", pounds to dollars, and London to Washington, and it sounds awfully familiar on "this side of the pond".
The proponents of net neutrality have less evidence than Al Gore for pushing their pet cause. Yet, they get all this attention. The whole "net neutrality" debate is based upon the false premise that your ISP is picking and choosing your download speeds based on the sites you visit. Funny, I've never noticed any nor have I ever heard a single case where someone was actually a victim of such throttling. Like the global warming movement, this is nothing but an excuse for people who want to regulate and control us.
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Amen. You summed up my 5 paragraphs in 1. As a child of the 80s, I miss the days when computers were actually different and I long for a competitor to MS and Apple. I hold no grudges against either (well, maybe a little for both...) but nevertheless, it would be nice to see a 3rd option that worked.
Then I guess you got lucky and more power to you. You also make my point - you keep seeing people saying the same thing I'm saying. That should tell you that Linux is not ready for prime time desktop. If it was, it's wouldn't have a 5% penetration (which I bet is inflated).
Putting my words "seasoned users" in quotes insinuates you suspect that I'm really just an amateur who wants to make himself look smarter than he is. But in this respect, you miss my point: Even if I were some kind of computer poser, the OS should be easy for me to learn and use instead of make me throw up my hands in disgust because it can't do a few simple tasks out of the box. My kid who barely knows how to use Windows should be able to pick up the mouse and go - like she can with a Mac. THAT is my point.
As for your question about the distro. My last experiment with Ubuntu was about 6 months ago.
I'm no Apple fan, but the Linux crowd could learn something from ol' Jobs.
I'm no programmer, but I've been using computers for better of 30 years. I learned BASIC in 1983. I know my way around a command prompt and a registry. Hell, I can even write some simple C++ code. Nevertheless, I've tried Linux (Ubuntu) a few times and found it wanting. One of my first chores was to find software to play video. I tried a couple and they just didn't work correctly. Firefox couldn't import my bookmarks. Set my own wallpaper? Forget it. That was enough for me.
Granted, I could go to Fry's and buy a 500-page Linux manual and learn it. I've got no problem with that and in fact, when the day comes that I've got a spare box with which I can use to experiment, I might give it another shot just to see what it can do. But today, I don't have the time to learn how to use a computer all over again.
The fact of the matter remains, if it's gonna be difficult for a seasoned user, I can't imagine an average Windows user wanting anything to do with it. but I HAVE seen Windows users migrate to a Mac quite effortlessly.
What's it going to take to make a real desktop for the masses? A venture CAPITALIST taking up the challenge. Build an OS that's both powerful enough for geeks to exploit and easy enough for my grandmother to figure out. Distro developers are only thinking about what THEY want to see and do and they forget about the little guy who's just learning how to use a mouse. It's not because the developer is evil, he just has no incentive to write the code to accommodate the average Joe because his audience is NOT the average Joe. It's another geek who read the 500-page book. There's got to be a profit motive. If you want to appeal to the masses, you have to MARKET to them. The only reason Apple is still in business is because they know how to market a product and they build their products very well, with pleasing the end-user their the top priority.
I can list many, but the main reason I wouldn't even consider an Apple product (and now perhaps MS) is the ability of the company to dictate what apps I can have and what I can't have. If I understand correctly, an iPhone owner can only get apps that are "approved" by Apple. Ditto MS & Droid?? I do know that RIM doesn't care what I put on my device because it's MY DEVICE. I BOUGHT IT.
They just think they are. There will always be a market for violent games. And besides, kids will still get them. This is nothing more than BS "feel good legislation".
And not ONE addressed the ISSUE: The fact that this imbicile is walking freely. Seriously... you can "flamebait" it all you want and you can defend your Obamassiah, but what about the fact that no one is bothering to bring this punk to justice? I guess no one here is bothered by classified military info. being released. Let's just hope none of you loses a friend or loved on overseas because of this piece of human debris.
A typical Obamaphile liberal argument. Nevermind substance, nevermind facts, just call names and throw poo. How old are you, six?
Thanks for reminding me of why I don't buy Apple products. At least with Windows and Blackberry, I don't have to get my hardware maker's permission to do what I want with the product I own.
...the scumbag behind wikileaks would be behind bars. Before you say he's immune because he's hiding in Sweden, read this: http://opiniojuris.org/2010/08/21/can-the-us-prosecute-wikileaks-founder-sure-if-they-can-catch-him/
And I'm sure they'd be more than happy to oblige!
Haven't "scientists" been saying stuff like this since about the mid-1800s? "Peak Oil", "Population Overcrowding", "Global Warming"... all modern-day myths that never seem to die no matter how much they're refuted.
No evidence needed, just the fear that it might be harmful. Glass can cut... ban it! Wood can give you a splinter... ban wood! Excuse me while I go eat some plastic bottles.
Ditto. *yawn*
Lessee... they tried making a browser, an OS, a VOIP app, an office suite... all duds. They bought YouTube and now they're ruining it by putting ads on top of people's videos. Everything Google touches turns to s&#t except, of course, for search. Maybe they should stick with what they do right. I'm sure the shareholders would appreciate the savings in the form of dividends.
Oh wait... my bad... sounds like Pat is one of Algore's victims... Sorry dude. Elections have consequences.
..."jumping on the green bandwagon". Just Algore acolytes like you.
Because, as we all know, if BUSH!!!!111!!1 was involved, the administration would be offering to help promote the book.
Just change "Birmingham City Council" to "Federal government", pounds to dollars, and London to Washington, and it sounds awfully familiar on "this side of the pond".
Haven't we had fuel economy ratings for decades? Slow news day at /.?
Or call it "www" and sue every website owner on Earth.
The proponents of net neutrality have less evidence than Al Gore for pushing their pet cause. Yet, they get all this attention. The whole "net neutrality" debate is based upon the false premise that your ISP is picking and choosing your download speeds based on the sites you visit. Funny, I've never noticed any nor have I ever heard a single case where someone was actually a victim of such throttling. Like the global warming movement, this is nothing but an excuse for people who want to regulate and control us.
nt
The socialists in charge don't give a damn about the Constitution.
They don't even bother to read the bills anymore.
I've often wondered why God made such a worthless, pesky creature. To give us solar power?! I gotta admit, this is very interesting.