Here's the bigger question: should we even try to sell Linux to the average Joe?
Sure, it may be more secure. But is that only until the masses start moving in that direction and warrant it more attention? Furthermore, the average Joe thinks that every fatal error and delayed pop-up ad is a virus, given the state of paranoia and misinformation out there right now. I don't see Linux alleviating those concerns, or making them any less stupid (i.e. downloading.EXE files off of Kazaa, or its Linux P2P equivalent).
Sure, it may have great compatibility that's getting better all the time with emulators and such. But is that any consolation to the average person that wants everything to run out-of-box and is confused by options and settings that aren't explicitly explained every step of the way?
Finally, sure, it might get more user friendly, but it's never going to be Windows. When I teach people how to use computers (mostly older folks), I always try to teach them a simplified version of what's going on when they perform an action using relevant analogies, rather than just telling them to click on the Start menu and scroll up to Programs. My thinking is that if you actually understand the basic processes that are going on, computers are essentially demystified and become simple tools rather than theoretical gadgetry removed from reality.
Most of them don't want any part of it. They just want step-by-step instructions that will work every time, reliably, and quickly. They want to know that double clicking on Internet Explorer will open up Google (which I have conveniently preset as the initial page) and let them search the Internet, or that if they want to type stuff they double-click on the Word icon I conveniently set up on the top-right of the desktop. If this changes just one bit (i.e. they accidentally dragged the Word icon to the bottom-right of the desktop), I will assuredly be getting phone calls. Getting out of their familiar behavioral methodology with Windows would be very time consuming and probably not worth the money that's saved by going the Linux route.
And even more seriously, it breaks the golden rule of never, ever messing with command prompts and complicated looking jargon. I have enough trouble convincing them that clicking OK to a licensing agreement or deleting a Word file won't wipe their hard drive.
Out of all of this, do you know what the mind-boggling thing is?
Someone actually has to buy these products, or they would all be out of business anyway. Who are these people, and where are they? I assume these people are the same people that buy from informecials. I want to sue them for emotional damages for keeping Don Lapre, Tony Robbins, and Ron Popeil on the air.
Set that and forget it in six easy payments of get the hell off my airwaves!
We didn't have these newfangled P2P file sharers back in dubya-dubya-one. In my day, we had to scratch the grooves into records ourselves, and WE LIKED IT!
The point being that if you can't get your music through networked P2P, how about trying my new service? I'm calling it RLP2P. In this fantastic new model, you invite your friends over with their files burned to CDs/CDRWs and trade them your own. I'd like to see the RIAA stop that!
Or here's a novel one for those college-folk. Once a week make a trip with the rest of your floor/group of friends to Wal-Mart. Everyone buys a CD and a pack of CDRs. When you get back, everyone goes to their rooms (or their friends' rooms if they don't have a CDRW drive) and makes as many copies of their CDs as people want. That way you can get 15 CDs a week for a little over 20 bucks, with no chance of getting caught. The best part is that you get one CD that's CD quality (being your CD) and the rest just slightly under, having been directly copied from the master instead of converted to MP3 in the interim.
PS: PayPal donations can be addressed to me.
Right. My friend also received a warning from his ISP while he was in the process of downloading two ancient 1940's monster movies that have questionable availability outside of used video outlets over IRC. They named the company and the number of files.
Just goes to show you that it's not just he RIAA, and yes, your online privacy rights have been severely compromised. I never thought they'd have the balls to pump out mass lawsuits like this, though. I'm going to be checking the labels from now on and not buying anything from the RIAA, and I encourage you to do the same.
We have recently received reports that the Al Qaeda remenants are planning to smuggle Tractors of Mass Destruction into the country. We do not want to cause any alarm, but advise citizens to look out for any suspicious unmanned farming equipment moving down 5th Avenue.
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Here's the bigger question: should we even try to sell Linux to the average Joe?
.EXE files off of Kazaa, or its Linux P2P equivalent).
Sure, it may be more secure. But is that only until the masses start moving in that direction and warrant it more attention? Furthermore, the average Joe thinks that every fatal error and delayed pop-up ad is a virus, given the state of paranoia and misinformation out there right now. I don't see Linux alleviating those concerns, or making them any less stupid (i.e. downloading
Sure, it may have great compatibility that's getting better all the time with emulators and such. But is that any consolation to the average person that wants everything to run out-of-box and is confused by options and settings that aren't explicitly explained every step of the way?
Finally, sure, it might get more user friendly, but it's never going to be Windows. When I teach people how to use computers (mostly older folks), I always try to teach them a simplified version of what's going on when they perform an action using relevant analogies, rather than just telling them to click on the Start menu and scroll up to Programs. My thinking is that if you actually understand the basic processes that are going on, computers are essentially demystified and become simple tools rather than theoretical gadgetry removed from reality.
Most of them don't want any part of it. They just want step-by-step instructions that will work every time, reliably, and quickly. They want to know that double clicking on Internet Explorer will open up Google (which I have conveniently preset as the initial page) and let them search the Internet, or that if they want to type stuff they double-click on the Word icon I conveniently set up on the top-right of the desktop. If this changes just one bit (i.e. they accidentally dragged the Word icon to the bottom-right of the desktop), I will assuredly be getting phone calls. Getting out of their familiar behavioral methodology with Windows would be very time consuming and probably not worth the money that's saved by going the Linux route.
And even more seriously, it breaks the golden rule of never, ever messing with command prompts and complicated looking jargon. I have enough trouble convincing them that clicking OK to a licensing agreement or deleting a Word file won't wipe their hard drive.
Out of all of this, do you know what the mind-boggling thing is?
Someone actually has to buy these products, or they would all be out of business anyway. Who are these people, and where are they? I assume these people are the same people that buy from informecials. I want to sue them for emotional damages for keeping Don Lapre, Tony Robbins, and Ron Popeil on the air.
Set that and forget it in six easy payments of get the hell off my airwaves!
We didn't have these newfangled P2P file sharers back in dubya-dubya-one. In my day, we had to scratch the grooves into records ourselves, and WE LIKED IT! The point being that if you can't get your music through networked P2P, how about trying my new service? I'm calling it RLP2P. In this fantastic new model, you invite your friends over with their files burned to CDs/CDRWs and trade them your own. I'd like to see the RIAA stop that! Or here's a novel one for those college-folk. Once a week make a trip with the rest of your floor/group of friends to Wal-Mart. Everyone buys a CD and a pack of CDRs. When you get back, everyone goes to their rooms (or their friends' rooms if they don't have a CDRW drive) and makes as many copies of their CDs as people want. That way you can get 15 CDs a week for a little over 20 bucks, with no chance of getting caught. The best part is that you get one CD that's CD quality (being your CD) and the rest just slightly under, having been directly copied from the master instead of converted to MP3 in the interim. PS: PayPal donations can be addressed to me.
Right. My friend also received a warning from his ISP while he was in the process of downloading two ancient 1940's monster movies that have questionable availability outside of used video outlets over IRC. They named the company and the number of files.
Just goes to show you that it's not just he RIAA, and yes, your online privacy rights have been severely compromised. I never thought they'd have the balls to pump out mass lawsuits like this, though. I'm going to be checking the labels from now on and not buying anything from the RIAA, and I encourage you to do the same.
We have recently received reports that the Al Qaeda remenants are planning to smuggle Tractors of Mass Destruction into the country. We do not want to cause any alarm, but advise citizens to look out for any suspicious unmanned farming equipment moving down 5th Avenue.
Gussy it up all you want, Trebek... But can the stick figures fight? http://www.cutthroatsd.com/