Well, if the name of a system should be dictated by what it looks like to the user, then I run GNU/KDE because I use some GNU tools and lots of KDE apps and utils.
What a lame idea...
I'll stick to calling it Linux, because that is what it is.
I think the Oracle guy bashed MS enough in his little speech-o-matic. I mean... sure NT sucks, but I don't want to listen to somebody bash MS the whole time... LinuxWorld is about Linux.
Though it is currently difficult for a computer illiterate to use a computer (regaurdless of OS) that doesn't mean that ease of use shouldn't be a goal. Right now most of the world runs a MS OS on their desktop. Do you think we should accept that? Or, should we try and build the best darn OS we can so people can have a truly great system? Damn straight we should!
All this talk of panels reminds me of the greatest Windows utility/application to ever exist... Dashboard for Win3.1. This is the awesome utility that took the place of Program Manager and got me through those trying times. This was five years ago and it had things like:
virtual desktops
quick launch buttons
performance/system monitor
popup menus
folders in folders (impossible with Program Manager)
and more
This was before I discovered they power of the penguin. It delayed my "upgrade" to Win95 for several months because the Win95 UI sucked compared to Dashboard. Dashboard (now owned by Starfish) for Win95 sucked becuase, unlike previous versions, it made things slower.
Now, I use KDE, and I like kpanel. When I get back home, I will be trying Gnome 1.0 on one of my PCs. In the past it has not impressed me, but it has been a long time since I checked it out.
I have to agree that it is getting annoying how Katz seems to lump all geeks into this mass market stereotype. All geeks are not outcasts, loners, eletist, etc.
Many of my friends are geeks (like me) but I don't think Katz has any idea what kind of people we are. We spend more time playing football or rollerhockey together than we spend in front of the computer together. Most of us are minoring in communications or government/politics along with our CS/IT/Engineering majors. (Okay, so I'm the sole Business major of the group.) Many of use have girlfriends (or boyfriends for the females.) Sure, some of us don't have a life... but you'll find that among non-geeks also.
Some of us have been programming for over a decade, while others have only been introduced to computers a couple years ago. Some of us run Linux and some run Windows. (There are even a few Be and Mac lovers that are geek friends of mine.)
The point of all this is that geek is a mindset that is reflected in our lives, but does not dictate our lives (necessarily.)
Katz, you're a smart guy and you usually are pretty interesting, but if this doesn't soak in sooner or later, you'll get damn annoying. Later.
It's more likely that you're just some lamer who is talking out their ass. Get real. If you want people to take you serious, don't post AC. If you really have contributed to the kernel, Gimp, etc., like you claim, you wouldn't hide behind your ACness.
I'm not opposed to ACs in general... people just shouldn't be expected to be taken very seriously if they post as AC.
Oh, and I admittedly haven't made any significant contributions to and major OSS projects. I have however taken advantage of the freedom given to my by using OSS and have modifided serveral apps to better suit me and to fix bugs... one of them was even a KDE app.
Please don't take these anti-ZD criticisms personally. We've dealt with FUD from Jesse Berst and the likes for years. S@R, as you point out, has been very fair when doing reviews of Linux (with a few exceptions.) Unfortunately, the bulk of ZD articles comparing Linux and NT have been slightly to extremely FUD-filled. Thanks for proving that journalistic integrity still exists at ZD.
Yeah. If you don't want your (PH)boss/co-worker to bump into one of your posts and realize that you are saying something the company wouldn't like, simply get a cheezy account like I have. Sure, if somebody really wants to, they could probably track me down, but it would be a time investment on their part. So I'm still mostly anonymous.
If I wanted to be really careful, I could create an account using a nickname and email address that would be virtually impossible to trace to my real persona... but I'm not that paranoid.
Meanwhile... my friends know that I am Pasc and can still call me on the phone or email me and tell me how insightful/stupid/smart/lame/cool (as the situation warrants) I am.
Slashdot Mirror
What a lame idea...
I'll stick to calling it Linux, because that is what it is.
I think the Oracle guy bashed MS enough in his little speech-o-matic. I mean... sure NT sucks, but I don't want to listen to somebody bash MS the whole time... LinuxWorld is about Linux.
Oh man... this had me cracking up. I'm still not sure if he was trying to make fun of NT or if he really believes NT scales better. How silly!
I wouldn't buy one today though.
Thanks. For a few minutes there I was a bit confused. Now I get it...
Though it is currently difficult for a computer illiterate to use a computer (regaurdless of OS) that doesn't mean that ease of use shouldn't be a goal. Right now most of the world runs a MS OS on their desktop. Do you think we should accept that? Or, should we try and build the best darn OS we can so people can have a truly great system? Damn straight we should!
World Domination!
Penguin Power!
This was before I discovered they power of the penguin. It delayed my "upgrade" to Win95 for several months because the Win95 UI sucked compared to Dashboard. Dashboard (now owned by Starfish) for Win95 sucked becuase, unlike previous versions, it made things slower.
Now, I use KDE, and I like kpanel. When I get back home, I will be trying Gnome 1.0 on one of my PCs. In the past it has not impressed me, but it has been a long time since I checked it out.
Propaganda is a secret government program begun several decades ago by JFK. The eventual goal is total world domination.
Garfinkel knows security... no doubt. But, IMHO, he has a habit of over-hyping things.
Many of my friends are geeks (like me) but I don't think Katz has any idea what kind of people we are. We spend more time playing football or rollerhockey together than we spend in front of the computer together. Most of us are minoring in communications or government/politics along with our CS/IT/Engineering majors. (Okay, so I'm the sole Business major of the group.) Many of use have girlfriends (or boyfriends for the females.) Sure, some of us don't have a life... but you'll find that among non-geeks also.
Some of us have been programming for over a decade, while others have only been introduced to computers a couple years ago. Some of us run Linux and some run Windows. (There are even a few Be and Mac lovers that are geek friends of mine.)
The point of all this is that geek is a mindset that is reflected in our lives, but does not dictate our lives (necessarily.)
Katz, you're a smart guy and you usually are pretty interesting, but if this doesn't soak in sooner or later, you'll get damn annoying. Later.
I'm not opposed to ACs in general... people just shouldn't be expected to be taken very seriously if they post as AC.
Oh, and I admittedly haven't made any significant contributions to and major OSS projects. I have however taken advantage of the freedom given to my by using OSS and have modifided serveral apps to better suit me and to fix bugs... one of them was even a KDE app.
Please don't take these anti-ZD criticisms personally. We've dealt with FUD from Jesse Berst and the likes for years. S@R, as you point out, has been very fair when doing reviews of Linux (with a few exceptions.) Unfortunately, the bulk of ZD articles comparing Linux and NT have been slightly to extremely FUD-filled. Thanks for proving that journalistic integrity still exists at ZD.
--
Pasc
If I wanted to be really careful, I could create an account using a nickname and email address that would be virtually impossible to trace to my real persona... but I'm not that paranoid.
Meanwhile... my friends know that I am Pasc and can still call me on the phone or email me and tell me how insightful/stupid/smart/lame/cool (as the situation warrants) I am.