PalmOS supports color and some arguably great multimedia features. Usefullness, I guess, is in the eye of the beholder. I think the CE/Pocket PC devices are starting to finally pick up steam.
Technical support is a nightmare from most vendors, but what about in house support. I don't know how it is where you people are, but I know it's tough to find good *nix people up here in Wisconsin. People with MCSEs, however, are a dime a dozen...
You COMPLETELY missed the point of my argument. The original author I was replying to claimed people would get sick of using a "flawed operating system". I was merely restating his comment and suggesting why I disagree. Additionally, I never stated which operating system I think is flawed, but you assume I am referring to Windows?
The point of my statement was to say that even though our main audience might think Windows is flawed, Windows users think their OS is the least flawed (if at all).
As far as the promotion, where are "all this Linux promotion" you are referring to? Linux news sites? Slashdot? Do you think the average Windows user visits these sites? How about Windows? It's featured in all their favorite magazine and is constantly on television. I can't remember the last time I saw Linux on television. That's not to say it should be there per se, but you have to admit there is more MAIN STREAM advertising of Windows and Windows products than there is of Linux.
Since I consider implementation a part of development, I guess I was clasifying "development" and "serving" under the same category. I actually develop on a Windows computer and deploy them on a Linux box.
Tell you what, use whatever you like and I will too...
People have been using flawed operating systems too long. I think they see what they percieve as "the best" to being as close as you can get to perfect. They settle for flaws because "what else is there?" People may ask for more, but given the choice of "just dealing with it" and switching to other operating systems they perceive as inferior, I tend to think they will continue to deal with problems. After all, if they didn't think Windows was superior in some way, they probably wouldn't use it. Even if they are too novice to install Linux, they have another easy, plug and play solution - Macintosh. Because of this, I don't think people use Windows out of ignorance, but preference.
How do you change someone's preferences? Make your OS appeal to their needs (simplicity & compatibility) or do more promotion. Microsoft does a helluva lot of promotion. Who here doesn't think the average Windows user prefers simplicity over stability and security? At the Help Desk where I work, people complain regularly about how their computer locks up constantly, but they continue to use Windows 9x.
I tend to prefer Windows because of its efficient GUI and driver support (although not perfect by any means), I'm smart enough not to leave it wide open for hackers (as best as I can, anyway), and Windows 2000 has proven incredibly stable for me. I also enjoy my Linux machine for reasons Microsoft has yet to provide (IMO, Linux dominates in the web development arena).
I agree. Use the right tool for the job. If you want a general topic, like "Web Hosting" or "PC Users Groups in Atlanta area", Yahoo is the best ticket because it offers categorized, accurate hits (plus you can see other stuff in the same category). If you're looking for anything obscure, like "Howto compile MySQL on Solaris", Google is a sure win.
...and the caching is just phenomenal.
Like using the best OS for the job, why not use several search engines to get the best results possible...
Pre-Paid Legal Services originally set out to silence their critics, but instead managed to get the criticism posted on every geek news forum on the 'net. All they managed to do was to make the world more aware of what the critics are saying:)
Please... If you have a problem figuring out the subtle differences between Windows 98/ME and Windows 2000, as a computer enthusiast, then I think Linux is doomed for sure. I think Windows is easy, as it is meant to be. It comes at a steep price, however. Nobody can argue that Linux is in any way easier for a typical user than Windows. Can you buy at Best Buy, throw it in the drive, and click Setup on the auto-run menu? You can argue, however, the saved downtime Linux gives makes it an "easier" server environment, since it causes the average admin far fewer headaches. But that's not what this article is about...
I think there are a lot of Windows users out there that aren't afraid of the command prompt - some who even like it - but the Windows job market calls for Windows users in many areas. I know, not all areas, but up here in Wisconsin we don't see nearly as many Linux positions as NT/2000/UNIX (as far as I can tell).
Also, I don't think Windows users who are dabbling in Linux are necessarily looking for their hand to be held. I wasn't when I started the switch. However, they do need some help! Currently, most of the books out there aren't very good. Some only cover the GUI, which you don't need a book to learn. Others assume a bit too much about the reader, making it useless.
I think the best hope for a Windows -> Linux user is find a good Linux buddy or two, or find a that book that is a "diamond in the rough".
Oh yeah, and I think anyone who is interested in playing with Linux probably knows a little about their hardware settings. People who don't probably haven't heard of Linux anyway.
I'm waiting for WINE to be a little more stable, and I won't have a reason to use Windows anymore:) (except for Diablo II of course).
I've searched long and hard for a good book to recommend to newbies. This one is EXCELLENT. It shows you how to do most of the things necessary to make Linux work for you, not just as a cool thing to brag to your nerd friends about. It also goes a step further and explains a few things that those people who learn best by "putting it to use" like install/config Apache and using BIND, etc. No, I'm not the author or affiliated, but if you're looking for a good book to get you from "just knowing how to install Linux", this is a good book.
I've tried most of the popular distros. If you're looking to learn Linux and/or use it as a server, I think Debian is the best. If you just want to use it, I think Mandrake and Progeny are excellent client distributions. Debian/Progeny is easy for admin newbies, and Mandrake is great for those who just want some other OS with a decent setup, GUI, and preinstalled apps.
I live the Flash ads that C-Net has. They are tasteful and not unecessarily annoying. I GAURENTEE I give far less notice to popup ads than banner ads. Most of the time, I "acidentally notice/read" banner ads while reading the site content, but popus get closed like clockwork, most of the time before the window content even loads. Plus, annoying me doesn't necessarily make me want to buy your product. We need ads to keep the Internet cheap, however, there are good ways and there are bad ways to do it...
It may be safer from virusES, but it's still exploitable. It's foolish to think Slackware, or any other distro for that matter, can be designed to resist all software attacks. Do you honesty think you can't be cracked? Why don't all Linux distro makers design theirs to be invincible? Do they like the money made from support calls, perhaps? I would think an invincible OS would sell more copies than an OS that requires lots of support.
I don't care what y'all argue. Virus may have Latin origin, but so do many other words that don't follow latin rules. If that was true, why don't we all just speak Latin and get it over with. Truthfully, we need a common place to where generally accepted pronunciations and meanings can be found. I look to Webster's for this, which has never let me down, but they are all pretty similar if not the same. If Webster's says "viruses", than by God, so do I.
Perhaps the best things to do is to plant a self-destructive mechanism in your companies servers that will automatically go off on a certain date(s) if you don't tell it not to. That way, you're sure to get revenge. Just make sure you don't forget. You think it was bad forgetting your aniversary?
Slashdot Mirror
PalmOS supports color and some arguably great multimedia features. Usefullness, I guess, is in the eye of the beholder. I think the CE/Pocket PC devices are starting to finally pick up steam.
...and it supports 802.11b wireless too!
Intermec's pen tablet is pretty bad ass:
6651 Pen Tablet Computer
The Handspring supports 802.11 with Intel Xircom's Springboard module. It's pricey (costs as much or more as the PDA), but nice for geeks I guess...
Technical support is a nightmare from most vendors, but what about in house support. I don't know how it is where you people are, but I know it's tough to find good *nix people up here in Wisconsin. People with MCSEs, however, are a dime a dozen...
You COMPLETELY missed the point of my argument. The original author I was replying to claimed people would get sick of using a "flawed operating system". I was merely restating his comment and suggesting why I disagree. Additionally, I never stated which operating system I think is flawed, but you assume I am referring to Windows?
The point of my statement was to say that even though our main audience might think Windows is flawed, Windows users think their OS is the least flawed (if at all).
As far as the promotion, where are "all this Linux promotion" you are referring to? Linux news sites? Slashdot? Do you think the average Windows user visits these sites? How about Windows? It's featured in all their favorite magazine and is constantly on television. I can't remember the last time I saw Linux on television. That's not to say it should be there per se, but you have to admit there is more MAIN STREAM advertising of Windows and Windows products than there is of Linux.
Since I consider implementation a part of development, I guess I was clasifying "development" and "serving" under the same category. I actually develop on a Windows computer and deploy them on a Linux box.
Tell you what, use whatever you like and I will too...
To the rest of you - sorry for the confusion.
People have been using flawed operating systems too long. I think they see what they percieve as "the best" to being as close as you can get to perfect. They settle for flaws because "what else is there?" People may ask for more, but given the choice of "just dealing with it" and switching to other operating systems they perceive as inferior, I tend to think they will continue to deal with problems. After all, if they didn't think Windows was superior in some way, they probably wouldn't use it. Even if they are too novice to install Linux, they have another easy, plug and play solution - Macintosh. Because of this, I don't think people use Windows out of ignorance, but preference.
How do you change someone's preferences? Make your OS appeal to their needs (simplicity & compatibility) or do more promotion. Microsoft does a helluva lot of promotion. Who here doesn't think the average Windows user prefers simplicity over stability and security? At the Help Desk where I work, people complain regularly about how their computer locks up constantly, but they continue to use Windows 9x.
I tend to prefer Windows because of its efficient GUI and driver support (although not perfect by any means), I'm smart enough not to leave it wide open for hackers (as best as I can, anyway), and Windows 2000 has proven incredibly stable for me. I also enjoy my Linux machine for reasons Microsoft has yet to provide (IMO, Linux dominates in the web development arena).
There is no one-size-fits-all OS.
Their Wireless Cale/DSL routers offer web-based configuration, although more pricey and overkill for this sort of project.
I agree. Use the right tool for the job. If you want a general topic, like "Web Hosting" or "PC Users Groups in Atlanta area", Yahoo is the best ticket because it offers categorized, accurate hits (plus you can see other stuff in the same category). If you're looking for anything obscure, like "Howto compile MySQL on Solaris", Google is a sure win.
...and the caching is just phenomenal.
Like using the best OS for the job, why not use several search engines to get the best results possible...
They got what they deserved...
:)
Pre-Paid Legal Services originally set out to silence their critics, but instead managed to get the criticism posted on every geek news forum on the 'net. All they managed to do was to make the world more aware of what the critics are saying
Please... If you have a problem figuring out the subtle differences between Windows 98/ME and Windows 2000, as a computer enthusiast, then I think Linux is doomed for sure. I think Windows is easy, as it is meant to be. It comes at a steep price, however. Nobody can argue that Linux is in any way easier for a typical user than Windows. Can you buy at Best Buy, throw it in the drive, and click Setup on the auto-run menu? You can argue, however, the saved downtime Linux gives makes it an "easier" server environment, since it causes the average admin far fewer headaches. But that's not what this article is about...
I think there are a lot of Windows users out there that aren't afraid of the command prompt - some who even like it - but the Windows job market calls for Windows users in many areas. I know, not all areas, but up here in Wisconsin we don't see nearly as many Linux positions as NT/2000/UNIX (as far as I can tell).
:) (except for Diablo II of course).
Also, I don't think Windows users who are dabbling in Linux are necessarily looking for their hand to be held. I wasn't when I started the switch. However, they do need some help! Currently, most of the books out there aren't very good. Some only cover the GUI, which you don't need a book to learn. Others assume a bit too much about the reader, making it useless.
I think the best hope for a Windows -> Linux user is find a good Linux buddy or two, or find a that book that is a "diamond in the rough".
Oh yeah, and I think anyone who is interested in playing with Linux probably knows a little about their hardware settings. People who don't probably haven't heard of Linux anyway.
I'm waiting for WINE to be a little more stable, and I won't have a reason to use Windows anymore
I've searched long and hard for a good book to recommend to newbies. This one is EXCELLENT. It shows you how to do most of the things necessary to make Linux work for you, not just as a cool thing to brag to your nerd friends about. It also goes a step further and explains a few things that those people who learn best by "putting it to use" like install/config Apache and using BIND, etc. No, I'm not the author or affiliated, but if you're looking for a good book to get you from "just knowing how to install Linux", this is a good book.
Anyone know of any other good starter books?
I've tried most of the popular distros. If you're looking to learn Linux and/or use it as a server, I think Debian is the best. If you just want to use it, I think Mandrake and Progeny are excellent client distributions. Debian/Progeny is easy for admin newbies, and Mandrake is great for those who just want some other OS with a decent setup, GUI, and preinstalled apps.
If your web site is a tribute to AOLserver, I think I'll stick with Apache...
We just joined the rest of the world...
I live the Flash ads that C-Net has. They are tasteful and not unecessarily annoying. I GAURENTEE I give far less notice to popup ads than banner ads. Most of the time, I "acidentally notice/read" banner ads while reading the site content, but popus get closed like clockwork, most of the time before the window content even loads. Plus, annoying me doesn't necessarily make me want to buy your product. We need ads to keep the Internet cheap, however, there are good ways and there are bad ways to do it...
It may be safer from virusES, but it's still exploitable. It's foolish to think Slackware, or any other distro for that matter, can be designed to resist all software attacks. Do you honesty think you can't be cracked? Why don't all Linux distro makers design theirs to be invincible? Do they like the money made from support calls, perhaps? I would think an invincible OS would sell more copies than an OS that requires lots of support.
I don't care what y'all argue. Virus may have Latin origin, but so do many other words that don't follow latin rules. If that was true, why don't we all just speak Latin and get it over with. Truthfully, we need a common place to where generally accepted pronunciations and meanings can be found. I look to Webster's for this, which has never let me down, but they are all pretty similar if not the same. If Webster's says "viruses", than by God, so do I.
Perhaps the best things to do is to plant a self-destructive mechanism in your companies servers that will automatically go off on a certain date(s) if you don't tell it not to. That way, you're sure to get revenge. Just make sure you don't forget. You think it was bad forgetting your aniversary?