When did/. readers become such pansies? Defending big media, defending MS, defending draconian legislation and the corporations pushing it down our throats. Just read the information contained in the hack and decide for yourself whether you can justify stealing. Stop whining that this stuff shouldn't be posted here.
While I agree with you that Linux lags far behind in marketing, I don't think this is the whole story. I personally want to use as much free software as I can. But what I'm finding out as I move further into the open-source world, is that there is a steep learning curve. Now, I accept this challenge and am on my way to becoming a Linux wiz-kid, but there are many people who can't be bothered to do this.
In all honesty I wouldn't suggest Linux to a lot of people I know (like my parents) because there's too much to learn that you really only need to know if you're doing some serious computing. How can we recommend Linux for the average AOLer who wants to check email, download MP3s and chat with Mary20f_nyc?
Let's be honest: Linux is for smart people who want to do more with their computer. Not everyone meets this description. The idea of having some centralized force in the open-source community pushing MS alternatives to take over the world just doesn't make sense.
Also, people smart enough to use MS alternatives are smart enough to get MS for *free*, and most do. When I tried StarOffice for free, I deleted it almost as soon as I installed it because (IMHO) it sucked. When I tried OfficeXP for *free* I decided to keep it because (gasp!) it was great.
So, without a price difference I'd choose most MS products over the alternatives. And therein lies the greatest appeal of freeware/open-source products, and not their (questionable) superior quality.
People will not switch from MS just because they can get the alternative for free; the alternative has to be useful to them. And if you think Linux is useful to my mother, I wish it had been you explaining the setup process to her.
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When did /. readers become such pansies? Defending big media, defending MS, defending draconian legislation and the corporations pushing it down our throats. Just read the information contained in the hack and decide for yourself whether you can justify stealing. Stop whining that this stuff shouldn't be posted here.
While I agree with you that Linux lags far behind in marketing, I don't think this is the whole story. I personally want to use as much free software as I can. But what I'm finding out as I move further into the open-source world, is that there is a steep learning curve. Now, I accept this challenge and am on my way to becoming a Linux wiz-kid, but there are many people who can't be bothered to do this.
In all honesty I wouldn't suggest Linux to a lot of people I know (like my parents) because there's too much to learn that you really only need to know if you're doing some serious computing. How can we recommend Linux for the average AOLer who wants to check email, download MP3s and chat with Mary20f_nyc?
Let's be honest: Linux is for smart people who want to do more with their computer. Not everyone meets this description. The idea of having some centralized force in the open-source community pushing MS alternatives to take over the world just doesn't make sense.
Also, people smart enough to use MS alternatives are smart enough to get MS for *free*, and most do. When I tried StarOffice for free, I deleted it almost as soon as I installed it because (IMHO) it sucked. When I tried OfficeXP for *free* I decided to keep it because (gasp!) it was great.
So, without a price difference I'd choose most MS products over the alternatives. And therein lies the greatest appeal of freeware/open-source products, and not their (questionable) superior quality.
People will not switch from MS just because they can get the alternative for free; the alternative has to be useful to them. And if you think Linux is useful to my mother, I wish it had been you explaining the setup process to her.