Similar results here. Traceroute get accross the satellite connection, then stops after the first two hops at Taide, the upstream satellite provider (which is in Scandanavia somewhere). Hmmm.
1) Create Linux applications that do compelling and unique things that Microsoft apps don't (being "as good as" Office won't cut it for most people, any more than Texturized Soy Protein outsells real beef);
Such as? This is a frequent complaint, but nobody seems to have any real suggestions for improvements over Windows apps. When improvements do come along, often Windows users complain about too many confusing features. And even when truly effective improvements come along, e.g. tabbed browsing, they do not do much to spurr the switch from IE/Windows.
2) Slap a $39.95 price sticker on those apps, write good documentation, stuff 'em in cute shrinkwrapped boxes and get them onto store shelves;
If people wanted to pay for software, Kazaa would not exist. I personally hate the idea of going out to a store to buy a string of ones and zeroes, and I couldn't if I wanted to because they don't have software stores in my part of the world. Freeness and downloadability of programs does not decrease their appeal, just look at AOL instant messenger and ICQ.
3) Create a "wedge" of non-geek, non-techie "real" people using Linux and exploit their existence to the hilt. Convince ordinary people that Linux is for them. (See Apple's "Switch" campaign.)
Apple, despite the switch campaign, still has less than 5% marketshare. At any rate, before you convince ordinary people that Linux is for them, you have to educate them to some extent about computers. And you still haven't addressed how to create this "wedge" to begin with. Many would also argue that we don't want "stupid", "ordinary" people messing with Linux, as they won't contribute anything to the community anyway.
4. Build Linux installation software that allows a new user to stick a CD in the slot, click "Go", walk away, and come back 15 minutes later to find Windows gone, Linux up and running, and all his Windows-created data and files preserved and migrated to the right Linux apps.
And what about IP address or dialup login info? And what about username and password? And what about every Windows patch breaking the formats just enough that they wouldn't import anymore? And what about keeping a backup in case, despite all these impossible improvements, he doesn't like Linux after all? And what about the users who want to know whats going on and feel like they are taking part in it, even if they don't participate? Windows setup asks more questions than most Linux setups these days, and that hasn't really hindered Windows upgrades.
Why is it that we feel it is so important for Linux to win the desktop? You can run Linux on your desktop, and I can run Linux on mine. Application support for Linux is on par with Windows as far as 'just as good' apps are concerned in all areas except games. Wintendo systems are entrenched in that role, and if you don't like it, buy a console.
Excuse me, but GUIs suck. Show me a GUI equivilant of being able to | things. Show me a GUI that doesn't require hunting around in menus to find the program or function I want, instead of just typing the command and having it run. Show me a GUI that doesn't use enough memory to temporarily store most of the books in an average library. Yes, GUI's have their place. The Mac OS X (yes its non-free GUI almost meets my needs, but I still find myself launching terminal whenever I want to do much of anything.
As for the mass market, this seems to come up a lot on Slashdot. Why do we need the mass market? Who cares what Joe User runs on his computer. Frankly, I don't want all the AOLers running Linux. It pollutes the community with ingrates and idiots. If Linux becomes mainstream on the Desktop, it will soon be just like Windows, because thats the sort of mentality that having average desktop users breeds. Screw corporations, screw idiot uses. Run Debian.
Although it is true that you are limited to the mouse that is built into your (T)iBook, ctrl-click is the same as a right mouse click, and on a laptop your fingers are right there anyway. Same with scroll wheel, use the arrow keys. Yes, it takes time getting used to, but this is really just another case of Windows lock-in.
Why do we want major investments in Linux? Why do we care what big commercial enterprises say? At they end of the day they only care about profits, not about freedom. What is important is that Linux remains free and Free, and big commercial enterprises are the least likely to help that.
Why do we WANT commercial development for Linux? Poorly written commercial apps and drivers are 80% of why Windows sucks.
Why do we care if corporations embrace Linux? What is important is that we are free to use Linux and that Linux remains Free. Changes like these dont discourage that, they help it.
Why must Mozilla always release only the full version, even for minor fix releases like this one. I am on a satellite connection, so it took me hours to download 1.2, and now I will have to download almost the exact same thing all over again. Can't they release both a full version and a patch for the previous version?
Rationalize all you want. In the end, you still got some information without the creator's permission. This is illegal and (by most definitions) wrong.
The point is that Microsoft will force users to install these updates, whatever the consequences. If the new Linux Kernel (or any other OS, free or not) breaks some functionality in an app you use, you can always just keep using the old one. Microsoft, however, thinks users aren't smart enough to make that choice, and are hence taking away that option.
Tourism losses shouldn't be that big of a problem at all. I live in Tanzania, and even the mountains without ice caps have seasonal ice on top, which is enough for the tourists.
*Looks out the window at Mt. Meru to see if there is ice on top*
Nope, not today, but there would be if it had rained.
Most of the tourist $$$ are spent on safaris to Serengeti, Ngorogoro, etc. anyway. Kili is just a sideshow.
Re:Some Trillian users express usability concerns
on
Gaim For Windows
·
· Score: 1
I have used Gaim on Linux and Trillian on Windows for ages. Saw the WinGaim release, thought (as I'm sure many others did) "Finally, freedom from the proprietary-ness of Trillian."
Upon trying WinGaum, however, I discovered that it was infinitly inferior to the Linux version of Gaim. No themability, much crashing, lack of proper server-side buddy saving, and all manner of Bad Things. Very promising, and hopefully with time it will become as good as the Linux version, but until then its back to Trillian Pro.
Thats if you're lucky and live in an area where there are other providers to switch to. In most places, you have no choice but to live with whichever broadband provider is available.
"I think USA should not try to force every country to be like US. You see, Thats why people like bin laden hate us, not because we are free, but because we try to force other countries to be like us."
No, people like bin Laden (or at least his footsoldiers) hate us because they blame us for the horrible conditions in their countries, i.e. they hate us because we hoard the wealth. If we gave them money and resources (e.g. free schools teaching with translated american textbooks) then they would have wealth and be happy. Their countries would be capitalist, meaning America could make money off them while they made money off America (e.g. America selling Japan computer chips, Japan selling us cars). This is a win-win situation, and we can proceed to do the same thing to every single other country on the planet.
"Such as Africa, Japan, a few places in the middle east, If you look at these countries, they are slowly morphing into a smaller version of America."
We need to make all countries into smaller versions of America.
Why not have a desktop icon leading to a BeOSPE/WinLinux/[insert FAT32 friendly distro here] installation, installed at the OEM (a la the Hitachi BeOS install)? If AOL can do it, so can Linux!
Why does linux need commercial software. As stated elsewhere, six months after something commercial comes out, a free copycat comes out that drives it off the market. This drives away commercial developers. Excuse me, but how is this such a bad thing?
Actually, the tech in 1984 was behind that of the real 1984. No spacecraft, no computers (although some voice recognition typewriters), not even many cars, and a telescreen was just a small flat tv with a hidden camera.
Wouldn't the DC make a good ethernet internet appliance? WebTV etc are slightly cheaper but if you already have a cable modem $160 ($99 console, $59 BB adaptor, $2 burned OS CD) is a good deal for an ethernet-connected netappliance.
I agree. I recently installed linux on a bos still containing Windows and then spent a month just getting it to work with my video and network cards. If I had erased my disk I would have had basically a $2000 paperweight during that month. There was absolutely no built in help whatsoever, and while I had access to the net when I booted to windows, the online help and howtos were as bad or worse.
Although it now displays KDE properly and connects to the internet, I still run windows most of the time because it is so annoying to install anything under linux. I guess a computer that can install things in less than a week is worth a couple of "blue screens of death" a day.
Slashdot Mirror
Note that this is connecting from Tanzania.
Similar results here. Traceroute get accross the satellite connection, then stops after the first two hops at Taide, the upstream satellite provider (which is in Scandanavia somewhere). Hmmm.
1) Create Linux applications that do compelling and unique things that Microsoft apps don't (being "as good as" Office won't cut it for most people, any more than Texturized Soy Protein outsells real beef);
Such as? This is a frequent complaint, but nobody seems to have any real suggestions for improvements over Windows apps. When improvements do come along, often Windows users complain about too many confusing features. And even when truly effective improvements come along, e.g. tabbed browsing, they do not do much to spurr the switch from IE/Windows.
2) Slap a $39.95 price sticker on those apps, write good documentation, stuff 'em in cute shrinkwrapped boxes and get them onto store shelves;
If people wanted to pay for software, Kazaa would not exist. I personally hate the idea of going out to a store to buy a string of ones and zeroes, and I couldn't if I wanted to because they don't have software stores in my part of the world. Freeness and downloadability of programs does not decrease their appeal, just look at AOL instant messenger and ICQ.
3) Create a "wedge" of non-geek, non-techie "real" people using Linux and exploit their existence to the hilt. Convince ordinary people that Linux is for them. (See Apple's "Switch" campaign.)
Apple, despite the switch campaign, still has less than 5% marketshare. At any rate, before you convince ordinary people that Linux is for them, you have to educate them to some extent about computers. And you still haven't addressed how to create this "wedge" to begin with. Many would also argue that we don't want "stupid", "ordinary" people messing with Linux, as they won't contribute anything to the community anyway.
4. Build Linux installation software that allows a new user to stick a CD in the slot, click "Go", walk away, and come back 15 minutes later to find Windows gone, Linux up and running, and all his Windows-created data and files preserved and migrated to the right Linux apps.
And what about IP address or dialup login info? And what about username and password? And what about every Windows patch breaking the formats just enough that they wouldn't import anymore? And what about keeping a backup in case, despite all these impossible improvements, he doesn't like Linux after all? And what about the users who want to know whats going on and feel like they are taking part in it, even if they don't participate? Windows setup asks more questions than most Linux setups these days, and that hasn't really hindered Windows upgrades.
Why is it that we feel it is so important for Linux to win the desktop? You can run Linux on your desktop, and I can run Linux on mine. Application support for Linux is on par with Windows as far as 'just as good' apps are concerned in all areas except games. Wintendo systems are entrenched in that role, and if you don't like it, buy a console.
There is no sig.
Excuse me, but GUIs suck. Show me a GUI equivilant of being able to | things. Show me a GUI that doesn't require hunting around in menus to find the program or function I want, instead of just typing the command and having it run. Show me a GUI that doesn't use enough memory to temporarily store most of the books in an average library. Yes, GUI's have their place. The Mac OS X (yes its non-free GUI almost meets my needs, but I still find myself launching terminal whenever I want to do much of anything.
As for the mass market, this seems to come up a lot on Slashdot. Why do we need the mass market? Who cares what Joe User runs on his computer. Frankly, I don't want all the AOLers running Linux. It pollutes the community with ingrates and idiots. If Linux becomes mainstream on the Desktop, it will soon be just like Windows, because thats the sort of mentality that having average desktop users breeds. Screw corporations, screw idiot uses. Run Debian.
Although it is true that you are limited to the mouse that is built into your (T)iBook, ctrl-click is the same as a right mouse click, and on a laptop your fingers are right there anyway. Same with scroll wheel, use the arrow keys. Yes, it takes time getting used to, but this is really just another case of Windows lock-in.
store.apple.com
Click on the new iMac.
15" iMacs seem to be alive and available to me.
Why do we want major investments in Linux? Why do we care what big commercial enterprises say? At they end of the day they only care about profits, not about freedom. What is important is that Linux remains free and Free, and big commercial enterprises are the least likely to help that.
Why do we WANT commercial development for Linux? Poorly written commercial apps and drivers are 80% of why Windows sucks.
Why do we care if corporations embrace Linux? What is important is that we are free to use Linux and that Linux remains Free. Changes like these dont discourage that, they help it.
I do use the net installer, however it still downloads all of Mozilla while installing, even if only a few components need updating.
Why must Mozilla always release only the full version, even for minor fix releases like this one. I am on a satellite connection, so it took me hours to download 1.2, and now I will have to download almost the exact same thing all over again. Can't they release both a full version and a patch for the previous version?
And, finally, we just want free stuff.
Rationalize all you want. In the end, you still got some information without the creator's permission. This is illegal and (by most definitions) wrong.
Now I'm off to do it anyway.
The point is that Microsoft will force users to install these updates, whatever the consequences. If the new Linux Kernel (or any other OS, free or not) breaks some functionality in an app you use, you can always just keep using the old one. Microsoft, however, thinks users aren't smart enough to make that choice, and are hence taking away that option.
Tourism losses shouldn't be that big of a problem at all. I live in Tanzania, and even the mountains without ice caps have seasonal ice on top, which is enough for the tourists.
*Looks out the window at Mt. Meru to see if there is ice on top*
Nope, not today, but there would be if it had rained.
Most of the tourist $$$ are spent on safaris to Serengeti, Ngorogoro, etc. anyway. Kili is just a sideshow.
I have used Gaim on Linux and Trillian on Windows for ages. Saw the WinGaim release, thought (as I'm sure many others did) "Finally, freedom from the proprietary-ness of Trillian."
Upon trying WinGaum, however, I discovered that it was infinitly inferior to the Linux version of Gaim. No themability, much crashing, lack of proper server-side buddy saving, and all manner of Bad Things. Very promising, and hopefully with time it will become as good as the Linux version, but until then its back to Trillian Pro.
Thats if you're lucky and live in an area where there are other providers to switch to. In most places, you have no choice but to live with whichever broadband provider is available.
There is? How so?
On my machine, by the time I finished compiling it, it would be released. Don't discriminate against those of us with 400MHz and 48MB RAM!
"I think USA should not try to force every country to be like US. You see, Thats why people like bin laden hate us, not because we are free, but because we try to force other countries to be like us."
No, people like bin Laden (or at least his footsoldiers) hate us because they blame us for the horrible conditions in their countries, i.e. they hate us because we hoard the wealth. If we gave them money and resources (e.g. free schools teaching with translated american textbooks) then they would have wealth and be happy. Their countries would be capitalist, meaning America could make money off them while they made money off America (e.g. America selling Japan computer chips, Japan selling us cars). This is a win-win situation, and we can proceed to do the same thing to every single other country on the planet.
"Such as Africa, Japan, a few places in the middle east, If you look at these countries, they are slowly morphing into a smaller version of America."
We need to make all countries into smaller versions of America.
"Perhaps some country dont WANT this?"
They will after they see how nice it is.
Why not have a desktop icon leading to a BeOSPE/WinLinux/[insert FAT32 friendly distro here] installation, installed at the OEM (a la the Hitachi BeOS install)? If AOL can do it, so can Linux!
Perhaps the whole point of Code Red was to distract people from Sircam! Probably not the intent, but certainly the effect.
Why does linux need commercial software. As stated elsewhere, six months after something commercial comes out, a free copycat comes out that drives it off the market. This drives away commercial developers. Excuse me, but how is this such a bad thing?
Actually, the tech in 1984 was behind that of the real 1984. No spacecraft, no computers (although some voice recognition typewriters), not even many cars, and a telescreen was just a small flat tv with a hidden camera.
Wouldn't the DC make a good ethernet internet appliance? WebTV etc are slightly cheaper but if you already have a cable modem $160 ($99 console, $59 BB adaptor, $2 burned OS CD) is a good deal for an ethernet-connected netappliance.
I agree. I recently installed linux on a bos still containing Windows and then spent a month just getting it to work with my video and network cards. If I had erased my disk I would have had basically a $2000 paperweight during that month. There was absolutely no built in help whatsoever, and while I had access to the net when I booted to windows, the online help and howtos were as bad or worse. Although it now displays KDE properly and connects to the internet, I still run windows most of the time because it is so annoying to install anything under linux. I guess a computer that can install things in less than a week is worth a couple of "blue screens of death" a day.
Programming and being smart is a fun childhood!