I have used http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zGDNFpOMcA kind wall about year or two ago, it was placed on Helsinki, Finland to public place where you could get information of Helsinki. You could send photos and videos to it from mobilephone or send stuff to youtube and flickr! with specific tag and people could browse those on that window. It was about 1.3x2m size.
I use to stop there couple time a week to look what people has sended or writed a memos.
Using that "wall" was fancier than that Microsoft's own Windows 7 demo or It's surface concept.
To quote someone who posted in the original article, "And all I wanted from an operating system was a stable platform that boots in less than five seconds, and that supports applications and other hardware well.
I guess I have to go back to my desk and wait some more for an ideal OS?"
What was the definition for Operating System again? No, really, simple question for Microsoft workers?
Didn't you know the fact that U.S goverment is biggest terrorist country in the world? UN has multiple times judged U.S to be guilty but U.S can vote it down! It's like criminal is judge same time!
On Finland, it is now a criminal act to play/copy DVD by using libdvdcss but if you download same movie from P2P network, it is just criticized. If you upload movie to network, it is criminal act.
So, if you do not want to be a criminal and you use GNU/Linux, download your movies from P2P network, if you dont like to use codeina (included on Mandriva Linux) to buy codecs.
Of course it is "selling" well, Microsoft has contracts with every OEM manufacture and when Microsoft told them jump to Vista, they all did. Only reason why Vista is "seling" well, is that humans needs computer. They buy one and 95% of those what they buys from local stores (wallmart etc), online or local computer store, has windows Vista presold (preinstalled).
If Microsoft would loose it's contracts, so client always need to buy computer and OS separated, GNU/Linux, BSD, OpenSolaris would be more popular. Windows has currently 80-85% market share (when looking how MUCH GNU/Linux users there are everywhere, library, goverments, big and small companies, schools etc) while GNU/Linux has ~10%.
And those who like to rise that "study" card of 0.67% market share, be nice and tell us, is it true that on 8 years, GNU/Linux popularity has not raiser at all but stayed on same level, under 1%, whole this time? 2001 normal user didn't even know that Windows is OS and there is alternative like GNU/Linux, BSD etc.
Now even the poorest and richest user knows that Windows isn't only one. It's market share has grown so fast that not even Microsoft understand it, they just has high fear factor against it. Best way to keep enemy not gaining market share, is staying quiet from it. Microsoft did "great" job for promoting GNU/Linux by warning companies about it!
Vista isn't "selling" well, it is forced very well, GNU/Linux is "Selling" much better because users wants it and they just installs it! Windows users get Windows's new version, even they would stick on old one!
I know how to do it, I just don't want to bother. With Ubuntu, I stick the right CD in the drive, boot up, see that everything works, and click on "install", and I get a predictable installation. I can give a CD to others, and they get the same installation. It's easy. It's good. It's user-friendly. Yeah, Ubuntu works *almost* like Mandriva, OpenSUSE, PCLinuxOS and other great distributions. Ubuntu just does not have anything special itself, only a fame, what actually comes from big support forums. But because Ubuntu is a distribution of GNU/Linux Operating System, you can get support from other forums, newsgroups or local Linux-group, what ever distribution you are using.
I just repeat, Ubuntu has nothing special against other distributions. Actually it is not so easy to use than Mandriva 2008.1 GNOME edition, because Ubuntu lacks control center what Mandriva or OpenSUSE offers to handle whole system. Those are the real easy-to-use and easy-to-learn systems, not the Ubuntu.
Because for some people the Distribution = Operating System. They believe that everything what gets installed from CD/DVD disk to computer, is part of THE Operating System. For them it's hard to understand that Operating System stands between hardware and applications (HW - OS - Applications). For normal people, KDE or GNOME (any GUI) is THE Operating System and you have different OS if you change GUI, name or you get technical support from different company.
Many non-technical person believe that Ubuntu is different Operating System than OpenSuse, Mandriva, Fedora or any other distribution. Actually many technical person even believe that those are different OS like Windows and Linux (GNU/Linux) are.
And there are technical persons who believe that: Distribution == Operating System and "Distribution" is just a "nerd talk" to confuse normal users and it should not be used, instead using phrases like "You change Operating System if you delete Ubuntu and you install Debian".
1. Use PGP (GPG) 2.a Send data if small size, trought email. 2.b Send data if big size, trought signed delivery
There is no need to use password for it. Just ask other side to make secure PGP key and send it to you and crypt+sign data with it and then send it.
If there is need to have password for data so package is self extracted, send data one way, and password by other. Hide it among other information. Make a table of letters and numbersand hide it there. Then call to person who got the data and tell him coordinates where he can find password and how long it is.
If you need to send mail (fedex, UPS etc) send first package by one company and other information by second, so if other is compromised, package is still safe.
Could someone in U.S be so kind and post a official terrorist definition from U.S Military handbook or from law book (or if someone just has one of those)?
What I have readed, the official terrorist definition is bretty bad for U.S policy, because U.S itself is acting like terrorist state. Actually international court http://www.icj-cij.org/ (dont know is that right address!) has sentenced U.S as terrorist country, but it does not have any legal judgement because U.S didn't vote against itself.
So by this reason, U.S should be removed (disconnected) from internet itself! (and many other country too!)
"That's ridiculous. Only the hardcore GTK purists won't install qt libs. No one else will ever know or care. You can never please those fanatics. If you use GTK you will have the same problem with hardcore Qt purists. You can safely ignore those idiots."
Yeah, pure hardcore GTK user wont install Qt because it's "not free". But they gladly installs Mono what is....
Actually it should go "Ubuntu is almost any hardware ready". Because Ubuntu is GNU/Linux and HW supports GNU/Linux or it does not.
I hate that when Ubuntu users act against "CoC" (Code of Conduct) and thinks that Ubuntu is somekind special OS there what just use Linux as kernel and has nothing more similar with other distributions than it.
Like Canonical say, ubuntu users should demand HW builders to make GNU/Linux supported HW and not Ubuntu.
Many new Ubuntu users dont know that they dont need to get that "Supported OS Windows XP/Vista Ubuntu" to side of box. They need to get there "Supported OS Windows XP/Vista and Linux".
That's right! I got feeling that editor actually planned this so Ubuntu would get better functionality. I use Mandriva myself and I get everything what Ubuntu does, even it was 2 weeks earlier and lacks 5 years support. Should do after 3 years new comparision with Mandriva 2011.1 and Ubuntu 8.04?
Editor should wait few weeks to get a hands those OpenSUSE and Fedora distributions. It would be fair.
Because ONE has ATI and Nvidia + other closed source drivers with it, so starting to use GNU/Linux with version ONE, is MUCH easier for new user than starting with Free version.
Free is actually better if you need something from internet to get your internet work, because usually those ain't installed by default to ONE version. Example of drakVPN what gives you VPN access. Because ONE version lacks that, user needs Free where he gets his network work.
New users dont actually know what is OS. They think that OS is whole package, sofwares, support, brand etc.
Microsoft has done "great" job to ruin markets and minds of normal users, for it's own purpose.
In history Microsoft had these monopoly cases about IE. It was that Microsoft intagrated own web browser to OS, instead just bundling with it, so normal user couldn't remove browser.
Many user now mistake "bundle" and "intagrate".
Microsoft has intagrated lots of stuff to OS but not all. Example of games or notepad, what are just bundled and can be removed. Those ain't part of OS but come with OS.
And now same thing is going to GNU/Linux. Users moves from Windows to GNU/Linux and they think that OS is whole package, instead it's something beneath the surface, the desktop.
They think that GNOME is actually what is OS. Then there are these who starts telling that whole package is THE OS, because normal user dont know what is OS and it's better to them if technology is very simple.
For normal user, if you change desktop enviroment from GNOME to KDE, it's different OS. But every engineer knows that's not different OS because KDE or GNOME isn't part of the OS. Those softwares needs OS, so even that KDE or GNOME is switched or removed, OS isn't different, only working way is different.
Then there are these reasons that if someone change brand or someone else give support to OS, it's different OS. Like Kubuntu and Ubuntu would be different OS than different distiburions.
Few these people claims that Distribution = OS and distribution word should be forget because it does not exist. And one reason for that claim is that there is over 400 different OS what use Linux kernel and not 400 different distributions of Linux OS (GNU/Linux) what cames bundled with other sofwares.
Same persons claims that if same code is build for RPM distribution and for DEB distribution, that software is build for different OS and not compiled for different distribution.
And NOW we are on that state, there is no reasons to use word OS because it's raped by people who claims that OS is whole package. Same persons who claims that Free Software has nothing to do with market share. And same persons claims that Ubuntu is somekind God's gift for Windows users what is different OS than any other Linux kernel used OS's and it isn't such crappy as those, like Mandriva, Slackware or Debian.
And now we all see PR about 'different' OS's than different distributions. Because there are just people who dont know what is OS and they want to brake down whole community, just like Microsoft would like. And we are marketing different distributions as "superior" among other 'OS' (disrtibutions). We allow this kind persons to rape community.
Ain't we tired for OS/Browser/Distribution/Desktop Enviroment/Name/etc wars?
Why we cant just promote the community and not just own distribution what we use? (sorry, meant to say OS for those who thinks distribution == OS)
By DE definition, Fluxbox isn't DE. There are only three currently. KDE, GNOME and XFCE. All others are window managers.
There are few things what DE needs, example: 1) Actually own apps, example for filemanagement 2) Icons on desktop 3) Offer a framework for what you can make your apps for that DE. Like KDE, GNOME and XFCE allows.
And then there are other things, called as the "Window managers" what just Fluxbox is, not as DE.
There is three DE and multiple Windows managers for GNU/Linux OS. It's great that there is multiple software for OS to give graphical desktop what allows better usability to whole system. No need to cry out like on Windows or MacOSX that you dont like GUI.
If they just would open DNG to be compatible with somekind free software license so it could be used. Currently it isn't and cant be implented, exm, for the digiKam photo management software.
Seems that almost all those problems are on GNOME, not on Ubuntu. Example, KDE has multiple different menu naming style. Like I have Mandriva 2008.1 what comes by default a kickoff menu turned on (like opensuse etc, and KDE4), this means that menu entries has information:
1. Application name 2. clarification (application name) 3. Application name (clarification) 4. clarification
GNOME just has Application name and might have added clarification too, but not for all. GNOME should take example of KDE. (And I hate GNOME translators because they change apps name to local language so user dont know how to start application from alt+F2 or what is applications real name when they ask help on english channel. KDE translators translate clarification only... what is much better!)
So user isn't forced to quess what appname would do (like transmission) but user can read it "Bittorrent client - ktorrent".
Mandriva does even flash installing better, user only need to click "install" on box what firefox shows and flash codec is being installed, no password needed because flash goes to user account settings. I was suprise about this because Ubuntu needed to download dep or other things... Mandriva did it as easy as on Windows + Firefox (+ admin rights).
Nice! I would like to set OpenOffice.org or GNU/Linux ads there, who I need to take contact on Microsoft and how much I would need to pay about that, approximation?
"maybe i'm just some old classic copylefter, but people seem to forget about the gnu part of linux distributions. these days it's "with distro is better". People assume I have linux on my laptop, but i have to take time and show them that i'm running fluxbox on openbsd, not linux."
People really seems forget GNU. There are plenty of Ubuntu users who promote Ubuntu as different OS than any other GNU/Linux ("Linux") distribution.
Many thinks that the whole package (kernel, applications, support, brand etc) is OS, what they get when they install Ubuntu. For them it's very hard to understand that KDE or GNOME isn't part of GNU/Linux OS (Even that GNOME is part of GNU project), but running desktop enviroments (applications) top of it. And those DE can be run top of the different OS, like just a *BSD or a Solaris. Normal user just see the GNOME or KDE as OS, but never the OS under them. And even that OS would change, they still might think that user is running Linux (GNU/Linux) or Ubuntu.
I'm bretty tired for Ubuntu fans, because they brake so much whole FOSS community, because when they change from Windows to GNU/Linux (Ubuntu) and starts speaking that same market B**S*** about Ubuntu what isn't working on this side, as it worked on MS world.
I think that there should be somekind good explanations for normal users that what is Linux, What is GNU and what is GNU/Linux and how KDE/GNOME can be used top of different OS's. No, there currently dosn't seem to be any and info what is needed is scattered around internet for these projects.
Yes, GNU/Linux has already be ready for the 'casual computer user' now about few years.
Ubuntu isn't bringing anything new software to this area, just it's marketing and promoting of GNU/Linux.
Few days ago, Mandriva released 2008 Spring version and if user install it with GNOME desktop, she/he gets very nice desktop. There is no need to wait Ubuntu or any other distribution.
There might be few new versions of applications what Ubuntu has, if those has released between MDV and Ubuntu release but the user can always install backport version easily, on both distributions.
So in short, GNU/Linux is ready, but avarage joe and matilda dont know where to buy a computer where it is preinstalled!
Slashdot Mirror
I have used http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zGDNFpOMcA kind wall about year or two ago, it was placed on Helsinki, Finland to public place where you could get information of Helsinki. You could send photos and videos to it from mobilephone or send stuff to youtube and flickr! with specific tag and people could browse those on that window. It was about 1.3x2m size.
I use to stop there couple time a week to look what people has sended or writed a memos.
Using that "wall" was fancier than that Microsoft's own Windows 7 demo or It's surface concept.
"And all I wanted from an operating system was a stable platform that boots in less than five seconds, and that supports applications and other hardware well.
I guess I have to go back to my desk and wait some more for an ideal OS?"
What was the definition for Operating System again? No, really, simple question for Microsoft workers?
And if you use framebuffer (you dont even have Xorg installed), you get images and videos like on normal desktop!
Didn't you know the fact that U.S goverment is biggest terrorist country in the world? UN has multiple times judged U.S to be guilty but U.S can vote it down! It's like criminal is judge same time!
They ask where you have got those songs. Bretty easily many tells under fear (U.S is most frighten country in world!) where they got those songs.
On Finland, it is now a criminal act to play/copy DVD by using libdvdcss but if you download same movie from P2P network, it is just criticized. If you upload movie to network, it is criminal act.
So, if you do not want to be a criminal and you use GNU/Linux, download your movies from P2P network, if you dont like to use codeina (included on Mandriva Linux) to buy codecs.
Of course it is "selling" well, Microsoft has contracts with every OEM manufacture and when Microsoft told them jump to Vista, they all did.
Only reason why Vista is "seling" well, is that humans needs computer. They buy one and 95% of those what they buys from local stores (wallmart etc), online or local computer store, has windows Vista presold (preinstalled).
If Microsoft would loose it's contracts, so client always need to buy computer and OS separated, GNU/Linux, BSD, OpenSolaris would be more popular. Windows has currently 80-85% market share (when looking how MUCH GNU/Linux users there are everywhere, library, goverments, big and small companies, schools etc) while GNU/Linux has ~10%.
And those who like to rise that "study" card of 0.67% market share, be nice and tell us, is it true that on 8 years, GNU/Linux popularity has not raiser at all but stayed on same level, under 1%, whole this time? 2001 normal user didn't even know that Windows is OS and there is alternative like GNU/Linux, BSD etc.
Now even the poorest and richest user knows that Windows isn't only one. It's market share has grown so fast that not even Microsoft understand it, they just has high fear factor against it. Best way to keep enemy not gaining market share, is staying quiet from it. Microsoft did "great" job for promoting GNU/Linux by warning companies about it!
Vista isn't "selling" well, it is forced very well, GNU/Linux is "Selling" much better because users wants it and they just installs it! Windows users get Windows's new version, even they would stick on old one!
I just repeat, Ubuntu has nothing special against other distributions. Actually it is not so easy to use than Mandriva 2008.1 GNOME edition, because Ubuntu lacks control center what Mandriva or OpenSUSE offers to handle whole system. Those are the real easy-to-use and easy-to-learn systems, not the Ubuntu.
Because for some people the Distribution = Operating System. They believe that everything what gets installed from CD/DVD disk to computer, is part of THE Operating System. For them it's hard to understand that Operating System stands between hardware and applications (HW - OS - Applications). For normal people, KDE or GNOME (any GUI) is THE Operating System and you have different OS if you change GUI, name or you get technical support from different company.
Many non-technical person believe that Ubuntu is different Operating System than OpenSuse, Mandriva, Fedora or any other distribution. Actually many technical person even believe that those are different OS like Windows and Linux (GNU/Linux) are.
And there are technical persons who believe that: Distribution == Operating System and "Distribution" is just a "nerd talk" to confuse normal users and it should not be used, instead using phrases like "You change Operating System if you delete Ubuntu and you install Debian".
Yes, it is free! You are free to buy it if you want it, or you can just ignore it totally.
1. Use PGP (GPG)
2.a Send data if small size, trought email.
2.b Send data if big size, trought signed delivery
There is no need to use password for it. Just ask other side to make secure PGP key and send it to you and crypt+sign data with it and then send it.
If there is need to have password for data so package is self extracted, send data one way, and password by other. Hide it among other information. Make a table of letters and numbersand hide it there. Then call to person who got the data and tell him coordinates where he can find password and how long it is.
If you need to send mail (fedex, UPS etc) send first package by one company and other information by second, so if other is compromised, package is still safe.
Could someone in U.S be so kind and post a official terrorist definition from U.S Military handbook or from law book (or if someone just has one of those)?
What I have readed, the official terrorist definition is bretty bad for U.S policy, because U.S itself is acting like terrorist state. Actually international court http://www.icj-cij.org/ (dont know is that right address!) has sentenced U.S as terrorist country, but it does not have any legal judgement because U.S didn't vote against itself.
So by this reason, U.S should be removed (disconnected) from internet itself! (and many other country too!)
"That's ridiculous. Only the hardcore GTK purists won't install qt libs. No one else will ever know or care. You can never please those fanatics. If you use GTK you will have the same problem with hardcore Qt purists. You can safely ignore those idiots."
Yeah, pure hardcore GTK user wont install Qt because it's "not free". But they gladly installs Mono what is....
Actually it should go "Ubuntu is almost any hardware ready". Because Ubuntu is GNU/Linux and HW supports GNU/Linux or it does not.
I hate that when Ubuntu users act against "CoC" (Code of Conduct) and thinks that Ubuntu is somekind special OS there what just use Linux as kernel and has nothing more similar with other distributions than it.
Like Canonical say, ubuntu users should demand HW builders to make GNU/Linux supported HW and not Ubuntu.
Many new Ubuntu users dont know that they dont need to get that "Supported OS Windows XP/Vista Ubuntu" to side of box. They need to get there "Supported OS Windows XP/Vista and Linux".
That's right! I got feeling that editor actually planned this so Ubuntu would get better functionality. I use Mandriva myself and I get everything what Ubuntu does, even it was 2 weeks earlier and lacks 5 years support. Should do after 3 years new comparision with Mandriva 2011.1 and Ubuntu 8.04?
Editor should wait few weeks to get a hands those OpenSUSE and Fedora distributions. It would be fair.
Because ONE has ATI and Nvidia + other closed source drivers with it, so starting to use GNU/Linux with version ONE, is MUCH easier for new user than starting with Free version.
Free is actually better if you need something from internet to get your internet work, because usually those ain't installed by default to ONE version. Example of drakVPN what gives you VPN access. Because ONE version lacks that, user needs Free where he gets his network work.
I might have answer for that.
New users dont actually know what is OS. They think that OS is whole package, sofwares, support, brand etc.
Microsoft has done "great" job to ruin markets and minds of normal users, for it's own purpose.
In history Microsoft had these monopoly cases about IE. It was that Microsoft intagrated own web browser to OS, instead just bundling with it, so normal user couldn't remove browser.
Many user now mistake "bundle" and "intagrate".
Microsoft has intagrated lots of stuff to OS but not all. Example of games or notepad, what are just bundled and can be removed. Those ain't part of OS but come with OS.
And now same thing is going to GNU/Linux. Users moves from Windows to GNU/Linux and they think that OS is whole package, instead it's something beneath the surface, the desktop.
They think that GNOME is actually what is OS.
Then there are these who starts telling that whole package is THE OS, because normal user dont know what is OS and it's better to them if technology is very simple.
For normal user, if you change desktop enviroment from GNOME to KDE, it's different OS. But every engineer knows that's not different OS because KDE or GNOME isn't part of the OS. Those softwares needs OS, so even that KDE or GNOME is switched or removed, OS isn't different, only working way is different.
Then there are these reasons that if someone change brand or someone else give support to OS, it's different OS.
Like Kubuntu and Ubuntu would be different OS than different distiburions.
Few these people claims that Distribution = OS and distribution word should be forget because it does not exist. And one reason for that claim is that there is over 400 different OS what use Linux kernel and not 400 different distributions of Linux OS (GNU/Linux) what cames bundled with other sofwares.
Same persons claims that if same code is build for RPM distribution and for DEB distribution, that software is build for different OS and not compiled for different distribution.
And NOW we are on that state, there is no reasons to use word OS because it's raped by people who claims that OS is whole package. Same persons who claims that Free Software has nothing to do with market share. And same persons claims that Ubuntu is somekind God's gift for Windows users what is different OS than any other Linux kernel used OS's and it isn't such crappy as those, like Mandriva, Slackware or Debian.
And now we all see PR about 'different' OS's than different distributions. Because there are just people who dont know what is OS and they want to brake down whole community, just like Microsoft would like. And we are marketing different distributions as "superior" among other 'OS' (disrtibutions). We allow this kind persons to rape community.
Ain't we tired for OS/Browser/Distribution/Desktop Enviroment/Name/etc wars?
Why we cant just promote the community and not just own distribution what we use? (sorry, meant to say OS for those who thinks distribution == OS)
By DE definition, Fluxbox isn't DE. There are only three currently. KDE, GNOME and XFCE. All others are window managers.
There are few things what DE needs, example:
1) Actually own apps, example for filemanagement
2) Icons on desktop
3) Offer a framework for what you can make your apps for that DE. Like KDE, GNOME and XFCE allows.
And then there are other things, called as the "Window managers" what just Fluxbox is, not as DE.
"Fluxbox © is yet another windowmanager for X."
(from Fluxbox site).
There is three DE and multiple Windows managers for GNU/Linux OS. It's great that there is multiple software for OS to give graphical desktop what allows better usability to whole system. No need to cry out like on Windows or MacOSX that you dont like GUI.
If they just would open DNG to be compatible with somekind free software license so it could be used. Currently it isn't and cant be implented, exm, for the digiKam photo management software.
Last time I heard that Microsoft will turn it's sites to work only with Silverlight to convert (force) almost all computer users (85%) to use it.
I have not seen any Silverlight sites than Microsoft's own... who needs it (silverlight I mean)?
C'mon... Cant Adobe release DNG by somekind Free Software License so it can be implented to wider usage for Photographers?
Flash can be "unwanted" feature for others (just like DNG for others!).
Seems that almost all those problems are on GNOME, not on Ubuntu.
Example, KDE has multiple different menu naming style. Like I have Mandriva 2008.1 what comes by default a kickoff menu turned on (like opensuse etc, and KDE4), this means that menu entries has information:
1. Application name
2. clarification (application name)
3. Application name (clarification)
4. clarification
GNOME just has Application name and might have added clarification too, but not for all.
GNOME should take example of KDE. (And I hate GNOME translators because they change apps name to local language so user dont know how to start application from alt+F2 or what is applications real name when they ask help on english channel. KDE translators translate clarification only... what is much better!)
So user isn't forced to quess what appname would do (like transmission) but user can read it "Bittorrent client - ktorrent".
Mandriva does even flash installing better, user only need to click "install" on box what firefox shows and flash codec is being installed, no password needed because flash goes to user account settings. I was suprise about this because Ubuntu needed to download dep or other things... Mandriva did it as easy as on Windows + Firefox (+ admin rights).
Nice! I would like to set OpenOffice.org or GNU/Linux ads there, who I need to take contact on Microsoft and how much I would need to pay about that, approximation?
"maybe i'm just some old classic copylefter, but people seem to forget about the gnu part of linux distributions. these days it's "with distro is better". People assume I have linux on my laptop, but i have to take time and show them that i'm running fluxbox on openbsd, not linux."
People really seems forget GNU. There are plenty of Ubuntu users who promote Ubuntu as different OS than any other GNU/Linux ("Linux") distribution.
Many thinks that the whole package (kernel, applications, support, brand etc) is OS, what they get when they install Ubuntu.
For them it's very hard to understand that KDE or GNOME isn't part of GNU/Linux OS (Even that GNOME is part of GNU project), but running desktop enviroments (applications) top of it. And those DE can be run top of the different OS, like just a *BSD or a Solaris. Normal user just see the GNOME or KDE as OS, but never the OS under them. And even that OS would change, they still might think that user is running Linux (GNU/Linux) or Ubuntu.
I'm bretty tired for Ubuntu fans, because they brake so much whole FOSS community, because when they change from Windows to GNU/Linux (Ubuntu) and starts speaking that same market B**S*** about Ubuntu what isn't working on this side, as it worked on MS world.
I think that there should be somekind good explanations for normal users that what is Linux, What is GNU and what is GNU/Linux and how KDE/GNOME can be used top of different OS's.
No, there currently dosn't seem to be any and info what is needed is scattered around internet for these projects.
Yes, GNU/Linux has already be ready for the 'casual computer user' now about few years.
Ubuntu isn't bringing anything new software to this area, just it's marketing and promoting of GNU/Linux.
Few days ago, Mandriva released 2008 Spring version and if user install it with GNOME desktop, she/he gets very nice desktop. There is no need to wait Ubuntu or any other distribution.
There might be few new versions of applications what Ubuntu has, if those has released between MDV and Ubuntu release but the user can always install backport version easily, on both distributions.
So in short, GNU/Linux is ready, but avarage joe and matilda dont know where to buy a computer where it is preinstalled!