Re:No, it needs a better install package
on
Wired Talks Wine
·
· Score: 1
So long as you have convinced your IT department to make the switch. Unfortunately, we Unix admins don't hold the posistion we once did. The NT admins are now the major voice in the shop, and it's hard enough getting our help desk to understand Windows.
I've had a few of the NT guys want to "learn Unix" so I told them to try out Linux. They would tell me how they couldn't get it to work and just gave up.
With the boom of the last few years, the IT field has been flooded with bookstore admins. If you're looking for IT pros to get the word out, it's too late, both the knowledge and more importantly, the drive, are no longer there.
The reason that people chose windows for home is because that's what they use at work, and they are familure with it. You must first show people, not just tell them, about the benefit of Linux. Why buy a PC with Linux loaded when I have had no luck trying it out on my old system? Why use an OS that is different from what I'm using at work?
The reason Windows has become so popular is not because Bill Gates has some control over the minds of corprate America, but because any monkey trained how to use a mouse can install and configure an entire enterprise and have it work. That is the key to a successful OS, depressing though it may be. Businesses would much rather pay for an OS and keep the saleries of employees at a reasonable level, then choose a free os and have to pay for specialty knowledge. Not to mention, that you still have to pay if you want support from companies like RedHat or SuSE.
No, it needs a better install package
on
Wired Talks Wine
·
· Score: 2, Insightful
Until you can install Linux on 99% of the desktops and laptops out there and not have to spend a week getting your network card, sound, and video configured properly, Windows is still going to be the OS of choice for most people... even if you have a way to run all their favorite Win32 apps.
I've been a Unix admin for 12 years now and it still takes me some time getting Linux up and running... which honestly is the last thing I want to do when I get home from a day of solving Unix problems. You're not going to be able to tell Grandma that in order for her sound card to work properly, she'll have to recompile the kernel.
Yes, I'd like to see more people using Linux. It would be great to take some of the wind out of Microsoft's sails. Windows does have a history of being buggy and unstable.. but they are getting better with the likes of Win2K and unless Linux developers concentrate on getting an install package that configures everything right the first time, the window of opportunity for taking over the Windows market share will be lost.
So long as you have convinced your IT department to make the switch. Unfortunately, we Unix admins don't hold the posistion we once did. The NT admins are now the major voice in the shop, and it's hard enough getting our help desk to understand Windows.
I've had a few of the NT guys want to "learn Unix" so I told them to try out Linux. They would tell me how they couldn't get it to work and just gave up.
With the boom of the last few years, the IT field has been flooded with bookstore admins. If you're looking for IT pros to get the word out, it's too late, both the knowledge and more importantly, the drive, are no longer there.
The reason that people chose windows for home is because that's what they use at work, and they are familure with it. You must first show people, not just tell them, about the benefit of Linux. Why buy a PC with Linux loaded when I have had no luck trying it out on my old system? Why use an OS that is different from what I'm using at work?
The reason Windows has become so popular is not because Bill Gates has some control over the minds of corprate America, but because any monkey trained how to use a mouse can install and configure an entire enterprise and have it work. That is the key to a successful OS, depressing though it may be. Businesses would much rather pay for an OS and keep the saleries of employees at a reasonable level, then choose a free os and have to pay for specialty knowledge. Not to mention, that you still have to pay if you want support from companies like RedHat or SuSE.
Until you can install Linux on 99% of the desktops and laptops out there and not have to spend a week getting your network card, sound, and video configured properly, Windows is still going to be the OS of choice for most people... even if you have a way to run all their favorite Win32 apps.
I've been a Unix admin for 12 years now and it still takes me some time getting Linux up and running... which honestly is the last thing I want to do when I get home from a day of solving Unix problems. You're not going to be able to tell Grandma that in order for her sound card to work properly, she'll have to recompile the kernel.
Yes, I'd like to see more people using Linux. It would be great to take some of the wind out of Microsoft's sails. Windows does have a history of being buggy and unstable.. but they are getting better with the likes of Win2K and unless Linux developers concentrate on getting an install package that configures everything right the first time, the window of opportunity for taking over the Windows market share will be lost.