This attitude points out a fundamental flaw in Linux; sadly.
Linux has every tool available for Windows users from CD Burning (xcdroast is my personal jesus) and watching movies (xine) to webcasting and CAD -- some of which is BETTER than the windows equivalent -- and the vast majority is FREE!!!
The problem is that Windows users want to switch and have their computers instantly do everything they ever did in Windows without actually doing any research. When a Google search for "True Type Font Linux Support" fails they give up and go back to windows without checking such archives as Freshmeat and Sourceforge. Even those that do find those archives don't bother reading the instructions but look for the auto install file (setup.exe doesn't exist in Linux guys) without reading anything.
The problem rests equally with:
1) The users. They're lazy. 'nuff said. 2) Linux. Instead of making things easier on users we insist on a business-as-usual approach.
a. Make non-coders compile code themselves.
b. Non-intuitive configuration utilities or
complete lack thereof (conf files are great
for us experts...but not for average users).
c. Complete lack of documentation or difficult to
read docs.
When the linux community wakes up and realizes that the reason Windows continues to be successful is because it caters to the people who can't program their VCR (press the "menu" button and follow the damn on-screen instructions) and throw their owner's manuals away without even breaking the seal on the plastic bag then complain to the cable company that they can't record anything. When the Linux community realizes and more importantly accepts this fact, then will Linux start to make significant inroads in the desktop business.
Y'all may hate RedHat...but I think they're doing the best job of working in this direction.
(Oh...for you Debian users who think that distro is your personal jesus...pass a message to the developers that they can take Jigdo and shove it. Even on the website it says that its unreliable...so anyone wanting to download ISO's overnight are screwed. Yes...debian will be one of the distros to dissappear into obscurity if they keep using tools like Jigdo. Jigdo only adds to the problems...but doesn't solve anything by adding another layer of obscurity on top for users to give up on. I gave up after my 3rd unsuccessful attempt to get one ISO -- Jigdo kept reporting that "files were missing". Debian can rest on the scrapheap of history for all I care.)
no...billboards aren't spam because you aren't paying for them at all...they sit innocuously by the roadside. Sure we pay for the highway system they are targetted at...but THEY pay for the billboards and the outdoor ad companies pay for the land leases.
With e-mail SPAM...we pay for our ISP including e-mail access. My e-mail address is MY PROPERTY that I PAY FOR that is being abused by someone who has not been given explicit permission to send me advertisments offering to make my breasts one cup size larger or add 2 inches (guaranteed) to my penis.
Billboards are like TV ads...magazine ads...they are incidental annoyances. But SPAM is intruding on a service you directly pay for.
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"But will we ever see RedHat become part of UnitedLinux?" Ummmmm...no. Because UL was created to more or less compete directly with RedHat.
This attitude points out a fundamental flaw in Linux; sadly.
Linux has every tool available for Windows users from CD Burning (xcdroast is my personal jesus) and watching movies (xine) to webcasting and CAD -- some of which is BETTER than the windows equivalent -- and the vast majority is FREE!!!
The problem is that Windows users want to switch and have their computers instantly do everything they ever did in Windows without actually doing any research. When a Google search for "True Type Font Linux Support" fails they give up and go back to windows without checking such archives as Freshmeat and Sourceforge. Even those that do find those archives don't bother reading the instructions but look for the auto install file (setup.exe doesn't exist in Linux guys) without reading anything.
The problem rests equally with:
1) The users. They're lazy. 'nuff said.
2) Linux. Instead of making things easier on users we insist on a business-as-usual approach.
a. Make non-coders compile code themselves.
b. Non-intuitive configuration utilities or
complete lack thereof (conf files are great
for us experts...but not for average users).
c. Complete lack of documentation or difficult to
read docs.
When the linux community wakes up and realizes that the reason Windows continues to be successful is because it caters to the people who can't program their VCR (press the "menu" button and follow the damn on-screen instructions) and throw their owner's manuals away without even breaking the seal on the plastic bag then complain to the cable company that they can't record anything. When the Linux community realizes and more importantly accepts this fact, then will Linux start to make significant inroads in the desktop business.
Y'all may hate RedHat...but I think they're doing the best job of working in this direction.
(Oh...for you Debian users who think that distro is your personal jesus...pass a message to the developers that they can take Jigdo and shove it. Even on the website it says that its unreliable...so anyone wanting to download ISO's overnight are screwed. Yes...debian will be one of the distros to dissappear into obscurity if they keep using tools like Jigdo. Jigdo only adds to the problems...but doesn't solve anything by adding another layer of obscurity on top for users to give up on. I gave up after my 3rd unsuccessful attempt to get one ISO -- Jigdo kept reporting that "files were missing". Debian can rest on the scrapheap of history for all I care.)
no...billboards aren't spam because you aren't paying for them at all...they sit innocuously by the roadside. Sure we pay for the highway system they are targetted at...but THEY pay for the billboards and the outdoor ad companies pay for the land leases.
With e-mail SPAM...we pay for our ISP including e-mail access. My e-mail address is MY PROPERTY that I PAY FOR that is being abused by someone who has not been given explicit permission to send me advertisments offering to make my breasts one cup size larger or add 2 inches (guaranteed) to my penis.
Billboards are like TV ads...magazine ads...they are incidental annoyances. But SPAM is intruding on a service you directly pay for.