This is a Plea to the Linux.com board
on
Linux.com is Up
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· Score: 1
I believe that it is most important that Linux.com promotes Linux without all the negative attitude toward other operating systems (which will remain nameless) that can be found throughout the Linux community. That sort of thing only hurts Linux by strengthing the view a lot of people have, that most Linux advocates are simply bitter toward a certain large corporation. (see posts that are sure to follow)
Unfortunately the highly vocal portion of Linux advocates help this view to survive. I know there are a lot of us who don't neccessarily hate that corporation, but really belive that Linux has a lot of potential for what we do. We also believe that competition is what makes things get better, and the destruction of one monolith only leads to another soon taking it's place. Having only one option, whether it is the one currently dominate OS or whether it is Linux is a Bad Thing.
If a product is worth anything, it will stand on its own merit, and people will use it. Telling people what they are using is bad, and that they are ignorant because they are using it, and they should be using product x, never sells product x. It insults people and that's not what we want.
We want to educate and enlighten people on the advantages of Linux. We want to show them why it is right for them. We want to show them how it can work with other operating systems. What Linux needs is a new image, one without flames.
Linux needs something like Linux.com to provide a central PR push. Linux.com should pick up the ball and try to shake off all of the bad stigma attached to it. I see a lot of good names on the board, and hope that these people work to assure that Linux has a chance to really succeed in the coming months.
I don't agree ( with the guy who doesn't agree)
on
LSB: A position paper
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· Score: 1
Saying that POSIX compliancy, SVGA, X Windows, and Motif Libraries should be all ISVs count on locks us into old technology. What LSB is all about is providing a framework that can be used for the future. We will move beyond glibc, and I want better than Motif (which is actually even uglier than Windows).
Today Linux has a shot at what advocates have always wanted, widespread acceptance. And the only way it is going to continue to succeed is with modern commecial applications with a modern look and feel. (and locking ISVs to Motif, or Lestif, certainly isn't going to do that.)
You may consider package managers to be "stupid" but again if Linux is going to get widespread acceptance, it needs to be easy for the average user to install and remove programs. I really think that RPM does that. Use one of the GUI frontends, and you've got a pretty easy to use system.
What you don't seem to understand, is that this whole movement doesn't have you as its target. I'm not its target, Joe Slashdot isn't its target. What this will do is bring more Windows users to Linux. Most of whom expect the software that they just bought at Best Buy to run right out of the box. (Which isn't too much to ask) He's not going to mess with libs, he calls tech support immediately when he sees DLL or VXD.
If Linux provides only what the "old gaurd" sees as bare essentials, then it is not going to succeed. What RedHat is doing for Linux right now is going to give it a chance to really compete in the OS market. I am guessing that the next redhat release has some real potential to be the breakthrough release. I think with Gnome 1.0 it has the potential of attracting a lot of consumers.
Oh, and GTK rocks. I mean come on, how can a 100% themeable toolkit not? If you like Motif, use the motif theme... Windows, the Redmond theme, whatever. Personally I like the BeOS theme... And I have been told that it is simple to use, but haven't used it myself, us web developers don't get out much...
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I believe that it is most important that Linux.com promotes Linux without all the negative attitude toward other operating systems (which will remain nameless) that can be found throughout the Linux community. That sort of thing only hurts Linux by strengthing the view a lot of people have, that most Linux advocates are simply bitter toward a certain large corporation. (see posts that are sure to follow)
Unfortunately the highly vocal portion of Linux advocates help this view to survive. I know there are a lot of us who don't neccessarily hate that corporation, but really belive that Linux has a lot of potential for what we do. We also believe that competition is what makes things get better, and the destruction of one monolith only leads to another soon taking it's place. Having only one option, whether it is the one currently dominate OS or whether it is Linux is a Bad Thing.
If a product is worth anything, it will stand on its own merit, and people will use it. Telling people what they are using is bad, and that they are ignorant because they are using it, and they should be using product x, never sells product x. It insults people and that's not what we want.
We want to educate and enlighten people on the advantages of Linux. We want to show them why it is right for them. We want to show them how it can work with other operating systems. What Linux needs is a new image, one without flames.
Linux needs something like Linux.com to provide a central PR push. Linux.com should pick up the ball and try to shake off all of the bad stigma attached to it. I see a lot of good names on the board, and hope that these people work to assure that Linux has a chance to really succeed in the coming months.
Saying that POSIX compliancy, SVGA, X Windows, and Motif Libraries should be all ISVs count on locks us into old technology. What LSB is all about is providing a framework that can be used for the future. We will move beyond glibc, and I want better than Motif (which is actually even uglier than Windows).
Today Linux has a shot at what advocates have always wanted, widespread acceptance. And the only way it is going to continue to succeed is with modern commecial applications with a modern look and feel. (and locking ISVs to Motif, or Lestif, certainly isn't going to do that.)
You may consider package managers to be "stupid" but again if Linux is going to get widespread acceptance, it needs to be easy for the average user to install and remove programs. I really think that RPM does that. Use one of the GUI frontends, and you've got a pretty easy to use system.
What you don't seem to understand, is that this whole movement doesn't have you as its target. I'm not its target, Joe Slashdot isn't its target. What this will do is bring more Windows users to Linux. Most of whom expect the software that they just bought at Best Buy to run right out of the box. (Which isn't too much to ask) He's not going to mess with libs, he calls tech support immediately when he sees DLL or VXD.
If Linux provides only what the "old gaurd" sees as bare essentials, then it is not going to succeed. What RedHat is doing for Linux right now is going to give it a chance to really compete in the OS market. I am guessing that the next redhat release has some real potential to be the breakthrough release. I think with Gnome 1.0 it has the potential of attracting a lot of consumers.
Oh, and GTK rocks. I mean come on, how can a 100% themeable toolkit not? If you like Motif, use the motif theme... Windows, the Redmond theme, whatever. Personally I like the BeOS theme... And I have been told that it is simple to use, but haven't used it myself, us web developers don't get out much...