I would, normally, not bother to write about the errors in a post, but in this case the actual content of the post was obscured by the grammatical and sentence-level errors, and it suggest a lack of professionalism. I assume that "Worlwide" in the subject was supposed to be Worldwide. (Erg.) Still, I can't, in my right mind, criticize anyone else's spelling.
"It's July 23, and the aim is show the world writ large how cool Linux really is."
OK, it's not the world that's 'writ large,' it's Linux's coolness. Second, the aim is 'to show.' Consider this sentence:
"The event takes place on July 23rd, and the aim is to show the world Linux's coolness writ large."
The post reads: "Currently there are 33 LUGs, and numerous corporate sponsers - click-thru to sign up."
Introductory phrases such as currently are usually followed by a comma.
I wish I could have focussed on the story and not on the words.
Disclaimer: Let me say first that I agree with every argument presented here about the threat of proprietary word processing formats. I agree that forcing MS to share the format, AND encouraging the writers of word processing applications to adopt an open standard are crucial.
I'm a graduate student studying English literture, and I've taught composition and literature courses. I'm also a dedicated linux user, amateur programmer and part-time geek. I use Linux for many of the same reasons that other Linux users do: it's an elegent OS, it's stable, and I love to tinker with the source and to be able to solve problems myself without having to rely on a corporate body that doesn't have my interest at heart. I also support Linux because I believe that for technology to be used democratically, we will need to have an open, 'free,' stable, and efficient OS, desktop environment and office suite available to users. (This seems more important in the 'Third World'/lesser-developed-countries than it is in the industrial world, but nevertheless, part of my commitment to Linux is political.)
And yes, Microsoft's handling of file formats for their office suite is ridiculous, unnecessary, and obviously designed to force users to upgrade.
Having said this, we have to acknowledge that this is only part of the problem! MS Word is a very good word processor. Linux is designed by and for geeks who are not, by and large, using their word processors to create the kind of documents, with the same regularity, that other users MUST create. English professors and graduate students are amazingly daft when it comes to using the OS on their computers, but they aren't stupid, and they recognize a useful tool when they see then. MS Word is simply more intuitive, has a better "look-and-feel," better features, and is, in many cases, faster and as stable as StarOffice5.1, WordPerfect 8 and Applixware. (I've never had Word from Office 97 crash in windows. I have, of course, had Explorer crash, and had it take down my entire computer and Word with it.:) )
I say all of this because I believe that Linux and open-source developers are up to the task of writing a really good word processor, and one that will surpass Office97 (Office2000 sounds like hideous bloat-ware). BUT, linux developers need to continue to improve their understanding of GUIs and the needs of users who don't feel like writing dissertations (or long business documents) in TeX.
This will, by necessity, include an open file format, but it hardly seems as if that should be our primary concern at the moment.
Slashdot Mirror
I would, normally, not bother to write about the errors in a post, but in this case the actual content of the post was obscured by the grammatical and sentence-level errors, and it suggest a lack of professionalism. I assume that "Worlwide" in the subject was supposed to be Worldwide. (Erg.) Still, I can't, in my right mind, criticize anyone else's spelling.
"It's July 23, and the aim is show the world writ large how cool Linux really is."
OK, it's not the world that's 'writ large,' it's Linux's coolness. Second, the aim is 'to show.' Consider this sentence:
"The event takes place on July 23rd, and the aim is to show the world Linux's coolness writ large."
The post reads:
"Currently there are 33 LUGs, and numerous corporate sponsers - click-thru to sign up."
Introductory phrases such as currently are usually followed by a comma.
I wish I could have focussed on the story and not on the words.
Disclaimer:
:) )
Let me say first that I agree with every argument presented here about the threat of proprietary word processing formats. I agree that forcing MS to share the format, AND encouraging the writers of word processing applications to adopt an open standard are crucial.
I'm a graduate student studying English literture, and I've taught composition and literature courses. I'm also a dedicated linux user, amateur programmer and part-time geek. I use Linux for many of the same reasons that other Linux users do: it's an elegent OS, it's stable, and I love to tinker with the source and to be able to solve problems myself without having to rely on a corporate body that doesn't have my interest at heart. I also support Linux because I believe that for technology to be used democratically, we will need to have an open, 'free,' stable, and efficient OS, desktop environment and office suite available to users. (This seems more important in the 'Third World'/lesser-developed-countries than it is in the industrial world, but nevertheless, part of my commitment to Linux is political.)
And yes, Microsoft's handling of file formats for their office suite is ridiculous, unnecessary, and obviously designed to force users to upgrade.
Having said this, we have to acknowledge that this is only part of the problem! MS Word is a very good word processor. Linux is designed by and for geeks who are not, by and large, using their word processors to create the kind of documents, with the same regularity, that other users MUST create. English professors and graduate students are amazingly daft when it comes to using the OS on their computers, but they aren't stupid, and they recognize a useful tool when they see then. MS Word is simply more intuitive, has a better "look-and-feel," better features, and is, in many cases, faster and as stable as StarOffice5.1, WordPerfect 8 and Applixware. (I've never had Word from Office 97 crash in windows. I have, of course, had Explorer crash, and had it take down my entire computer and Word with it.
I say all of this because I believe that Linux and open-source developers are up to the task of writing a really good word processor, and one that will surpass Office97 (Office2000 sounds like hideous bloat-ware). BUT, linux developers need to continue to improve their understanding of GUIs and the needs of users who don't feel like writing dissertations (or long business documents) in TeX.
This will, by necessity, include an open file format, but it hardly seems as if that should be our primary concern at the moment.
Given that Starbucks took their name from a Melville novel (Moby Dick), this is highly unlikely. It also has nothing to do w/ coffee. :)