Linux at 750 mil? That's quite an estimate. But I wonder if it's not a bit optimistic. I have trouble believing that Microsoft will be so easily overthrown. Unless MS puts up next to no resistance it seems obvious that they'll be able to maintain market share. Unfortunately, I think coverage like CNN's comparison of Windows and X could lead to problems. People don't necessarilly *want* a different experience.
Microsft still has many supporters, and many will not be willing to give up what they've gotten used to over the last 10 years or so. Someone has to give absolutely compelling reasons for someone to simply switch over to Linux. Stability doesn't cut it. My Win box has been up for 15 days at a time.
Doing what ESR predicts necessarilly involves converting incredible numbers of home users who won't really see all the benefits of using Linux. ESR is right about one thing. Linux will grow. But not enough to surpass Windows.
Looks like if this is true Linux has finally hit the big time. I must say, though, I am skeptical of Red Hat's ability to please investors. Nevertheless, this IPO, if it happens, should mean good publicity in areas that until now have had little exposure to Linux. I can't see the future, and I don't have x-ray vision, but the popularity of Linux could go through the roof before long.
My interpretation of the whole IPO situation is that it could serve to counter the uncertainty tactics currently used by 'certain companies'. People investing real cash should lend some credibility back to Linux that MS seems to have been trying to take away.
Does anyone think that an IPO could have detrimental effects? What's good for Red Hat investors isn't necessarily good for the Linux community. Even if it is only a rumour, shouldn't people get ready for the worst?
Looks like ESR's back again, fighting the good fight. I fail to see how it's going to do any real good, though. In his piece he nicely enumerated the many complaints people had concerning the tests, but ultimately failed to get to the heart of the matter: Xenophobia. Managers are scared of Linux because it's not NT, which they're used to.
My first reaction in this case would be to try a second test. Unfortunately, tests like these are probably somewhat expensive, but I think it would be worth the cost. The distrib. co.'s would likely have to fund it, but fairness could be made explicit.
Despite the controversy, does anyone *know* if the tests were actually invalid? I'm not a sysadmin, and I don't run Linux, so I can't comment. Everyone criticizes the method, but what about the results?
Let us look for a moment at the end result of the inane bickering that goes on in this OS advocacy war. Nowhere can I find a sensible argument supporting either OS. Until a person can find a well thought out critique, the decision is non-existant. X and Windows both act the same, but everyone uses Windows. It's a no brainer.
My opinion is that people should be subject to relevant and useful information regarding each OS. There should be studies carried out in controlled, nonpartial environments to give people a sound base of knowledge upon which to base decisions.
Doing this is difficult though. Finding sponsornship from both sides is going to be next to impossible, as someone is going to end up looking like the looser.
Jargon is a waste of time. True, it does simplify discussions about complex things, but shouldn't we be more concerned with the substance of an idea rather than obcessively attaching catchy taglines to them?
Why is a webcam such a big deal all of a sudden? I couldn't care less how often these guys go to the washroom. The interesting (read innovative) thing about Steve Mann's project is the 'mediation' of what someone percieves to be reality (reality processing?), not the fact that he's got a camera on his head and a computer strapped to his ass.
His *ideas* will exist even when all the equipment is inside our eyes or our brains, long after the idea of wearable's has become passé.
-- JCA
PS> I'm not denying the fact that these guys did some good work, just saying that it's not something that should be hyped to death. I also haven't read the article, so I may be completely off base. I'm only going on what it sounds like from what I've read here.
What are you talking about? Court stenographers can type upwards of 200 wpm on those phonetic keyboards (9 keys I think). I really don't think that it's a neurological limit. I know I can think much faster than I type... but that's not saying much.
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Linux at 750 mil? That's quite an estimate. But I wonder if it's not a bit optimistic.
I have trouble believing that Microsoft will be so easily overthrown. Unless MS puts up
next to no resistance it seems obvious that they'll be able to maintain market share.
Unfortunately, I think coverage like CNN's comparison of Windows and
X could lead to problems. People don't necessarilly *want* a different experience.
Microsft still has many supporters, and many will not be willing to give up what they've gotten
used to over the last 10 years or so.
Someone has to give absolutely compelling reasons for someone to simply switch over
to Linux. Stability doesn't cut it. My Win box has been up for 15 days at a time.
Doing what ESR predicts necessarilly involves converting
incredible numbers of home users who won't really see all the benefits of using Linux.
ESR is right about one thing. Linux will grow. But not enough to surpass Windows.
Looks like if this is true Linux has finally hit the big time.
I must say, though, I am skeptical of Red Hat's ability to please investors.
Nevertheless, this IPO, if it happens, should mean good publicity in areas that
until now have had little exposure to Linux. I can't see the future, and I don't have
x-ray vision, but the popularity of Linux could go through the roof before long.
My interpretation of the whole IPO situation is that it could serve to counter the
uncertainty tactics currently used by 'certain companies'. People investing real cash
should lend some credibility back to Linux that MS seems to have been
trying to take away.
Does anyone think that an IPO could have detrimental effects? What's good for Red Hat
investors isn't necessarily good for the Linux community.
Even if it is only a rumour, shouldn't people get ready for the worst?
Regards,
--
JCA
Looks like ESR's back again, fighting the good fight. I fail to see how
it's going to do any real good, though. In his piece he
nicely enumerated the many complaints people had concerning the tests, but
ultimately failed to get to the heart of the matter:
Xenophobia. Managers are scared of Linux because it's not NT, which they're used to.
My first reaction in this case would be to try a second test.
Unfortunately, tests like these are probably
somewhat expensive, but I think it would be worth the cost.
The distrib. co.'s would likely have to fund it, but fairness could be made explicit.
Despite the controversy, does anyone *know* if the tests were actually invalid?
I'm not a sysadmin, and I don't run Linux, so I can't comment.
Everyone criticizes the method, but what about the results?
Regards,
--
JCA
Let us look for a moment at the end result of the
inane bickering that goes on in this OS advocacy war.
Nowhere can I find a sensible argument supporting either OS.
Until a person can find a well thought out critique, the decision is non-existant.
X and Windows both act the same, but everyone uses Windows. It's a no brainer.
My opinion is that people should be subject to relevant and
useful information regarding each OS. There should be
studies carried out in controlled, nonpartial environments
to give people a sound base of knowledge upon which to base decisions.
Doing this is difficult though. Finding sponsornship from both sides
is going to be next to impossible, as someone is going to
end up looking like the looser.
Regards,
--
JCA
George Lucas should be happy. Unfortunately it seems rather far off right now.
--
JCA
Jargon is a waste of time. True, it does simplify discussions about complex things, but shouldn't we be more concerned with the substance of an idea rather than obcessively attaching catchy taglines to them?
--
Why is a webcam such a big deal all of a sudden? I couldn't care less how often these guys go to the washroom. The interesting (read innovative) thing about Steve Mann's project is the 'mediation' of what someone percieves to be reality (reality processing?), not the fact that he's got a camera on his head and a computer strapped to his ass.
His *ideas* will exist even when all the equipment is inside our eyes or our brains, long after the idea of wearable's has become passé.
--
JCA
PS> I'm not denying the fact that these guys did some good work, just saying that it's not something that should be hyped to death. I also haven't read the article, so I may be completely off base. I'm only going on what it sounds like from what I've read here.
What are you talking about? Court stenographers can type upwards of 200 wpm on those phonetic keyboards (9 keys I think). I really don't think that it's a neurological limit. I know I can think
much faster than I type... but that's not saying much.
Regards,
--