I don't think that most Windows users have any idea what is going on when somebody tells them to go to
Control Panel -> Network Connections -> Local Area Connection -> Properties -> Internet Protocol(TCP/IP)-> Properties -> (...set IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server addresses)
They may have some idea what's happening up to about the second step, but then it gets into stuff that is totally foreign and not something they intend to ever poke around in again after they get it working this time. Anything beyond buttons that tell you that clicking this will change your desktop background to this is beyond what they are willing to understand. It's not out of stupidity, just that they only want to know what is necessary to do their work and then fall back on step-by-step instructions for anything else.
Also, every single time I have ever called support for anything on Windows, I've always been instructed to open up a shell and start typing commands for diagnostics. It's simply more straightforward in many cases, and many things cannot be done easily on a Windows basic install without typing some commands.
But, I don't disagree that it is holding Linux back to still depend on some command line use to get things running. Having a 100% GUI configuration option would be a Good Thing. But, I think it is just because people have the perception that a shell is old-fashioned and not friendly to them, or that they don't get the visual feedback they want, as from a GUI. It is these things will send people running from Linux, NOT that they need, or even want to understand anything they are doing.
I'm not interested in configuring every part of my system. To get all of my hardware, aspects of my desktop environment, etc. working I'm glad to have some easy to use, GUI-ified tools available with sensible defaults so I can just go into 'user mode' with these and concentrate on what I'm working on at a given time. Later I can go back and hack at stuff at a more low level if I really want to - edit config files manually or even make my own tools. It's good to know I can, which is what Linux is about.
For most things in my Linux system, I like to have the Linux-approved power user way and the easy way.
It only makes the platform stronger IMHO. For the expert and for grandma.
My favorite part is the "As you might imagine..." bit. Actually I wasn't imagining that at all. When Apple puts viruses on Windows, I don't imagine that Apple will be the one that's upset. Why does Apple think we are all feeling bad for them whenever THEY mess up and get some bad press?
C'mon guys, you do a lot of things right, but you can make some mistakes and have some class/balls about it.
It probably goes without saying that the same criticism could be applied to most charity events featuring wealthy celebrities and such. They could all just write checks, but instead go for the free publicity and image boost for just showing up.
Sure, Murdoch probably doesn't personally care about the Sudan, but I'd rather MySpace did this instead of some other worthless PR stunt for image damage control.
As with the vain celebrities, I'll take the right thing for the wrong reason over no right thing at all.
...it would have been easier to generate those expendable, doomed ensigns to accompany important characters to a potentially dangerous planet's surface.
When I first saw a screenshot of one of these ads, I got a completely wrong impression. I thought they were going to have both of the guys be Mac users and show how the hip guy likes to surf the internet, do graphic design, hook up his iPod, and other 'cool' stuff and the nerdy guy likes how he can do office work tasks, program, maybe do some UNIX-style hacking and the Mac is perfect for both of them.
I thought: "This is great! Apple is saying that you can own a Mac and not have to embrace the Mac Lifestyle of thinking that you are culturally and socially superior to everybody who doesn't have the latest Apple products. You can just use the tools without the baggage!"
I was dead wrong. Sure, they talk about the technical merits of the platform, but not without the inescapable statement that if you are not using a Mac you can never be cool, likable, hip, etc. You will always be a square who will never get chicks.
I really wanted to like these, too, but I simply find it hard to buy another Mac from a company that can't simply say they're technically elite without also saying they're culturally elite. This isn't to say that I won't purchase another Mac sometime, but it will make me wince to think that Apple thinks I'm buying it because I want to be the 'cool guy' on the commercial.
Slashdot Mirror
About Articles About People Being 'Blah' About Vista
...not that I blame anybody for posting the articles. It is kind of an unprecedented wave of underwhelmingness.
For Minesweeper, you should have at least one processor core per game square.
It's the only way to play.
[passionately sung] Real Finnish Heroes!
Today we salute you, Mr. Open Source Kernel Developer
[sung] Mr. Open Source Kernel Developer!
I don't think that most Windows users have any idea what is going on when somebody tells them to go to
Control Panel -> Network Connections -> Local Area Connection -> Properties -> Internet Protocol(TCP/IP)-> Properties -> (...set IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server addresses)
They may have some idea what's happening up to about the second step, but then it gets into stuff that is totally foreign and not something they intend to ever poke around in again after they get it working this time. Anything beyond buttons that tell you that clicking this will change your desktop background to this is beyond what they are willing to understand. It's not out of stupidity, just that they only want to know what is necessary to do their work and then fall back on step-by-step instructions for anything else.
Also, every single time I have ever called support for anything on Windows, I've always been instructed to open up a shell and start typing commands for diagnostics. It's simply more straightforward in many cases, and many things cannot be done easily on a Windows basic install without typing some commands.
But, I don't disagree that it is holding Linux back to still depend on some command line use to get things running. Having a 100% GUI configuration option would be a Good Thing. But, I think it is just because people have the perception that a shell is old-fashioned and not friendly to them, or that they don't get the visual feedback they want, as from a GUI. It is these things will send people running from Linux, NOT that they need, or even want to understand anything they are doing.
I'm not interested in configuring every part of my system. To get all of my hardware, aspects of my desktop environment, etc. working I'm glad to have some easy to use, GUI-ified tools available with sensible defaults so I can just go into 'user mode' with these and concentrate on what I'm working on at a given time. Later I can go back and hack at stuff at a more low level if I really want to - edit config files manually or even make my own tools. It's good to know I can, which is what Linux is about.
For most things in my Linux system, I like to have the Linux-approved power user way and the easy way.
It only makes the platform stronger IMHO. For the expert and for grandma.
They scraped the logo off and replaced it before they ate it.
My favorite part is the "As you might imagine..." bit. Actually I wasn't imagining that at all. When Apple puts viruses on Windows, I don't imagine that Apple will be the one that's upset. Why does Apple think we are all feeling bad for them whenever THEY mess up and get some bad press?
C'mon guys, you do a lot of things right, but you can make some mistakes and have some class/balls about it.
"Honey, I'm switching on my new backyard datacent... damn, why are all the lights out on this block?"
It probably goes without saying that the same criticism could be applied to most charity events featuring wealthy celebrities and such. They could all just write checks, but instead go for the free publicity and image boost for just showing up.
Sure, Murdoch probably doesn't personally care about the Sudan, but I'd rather MySpace did this instead of some other worthless PR stunt for image damage control.
As with the vain celebrities, I'll take the right thing for the wrong reason over no right thing at all.
iPatch
The release date being so close to Talk Like a Pirate Day is purely coincidental.
...who would have told them that $599 (USD) is the correct price for upcoming products with "features" that nobody is particularly excited about.
...it would have been easier to generate those expendable, doomed ensigns to accompany important characters to a potentially dangerous planet's surface.
When I first saw a screenshot of one of these ads, I got a completely wrong impression. I thought they were going to have both of the guys be Mac users and show how the hip guy likes to surf the internet, do graphic design, hook up his iPod, and other 'cool' stuff and the nerdy guy likes how he can do office work tasks, program, maybe do some UNIX-style hacking and the Mac is perfect for both of them.
I thought: "This is great! Apple is saying that you can own a Mac and not have to embrace the Mac Lifestyle of thinking that you are culturally and socially superior to everybody who doesn't have the latest Apple products. You can just use the tools without the baggage!"
I was dead wrong. Sure, they talk about the technical merits of the platform, but not without the inescapable statement that if you are not using a Mac you can never be cool, likable, hip, etc. You will always be a square who will never get chicks.
I really wanted to like these, too, but I simply find it hard to buy another Mac from a company that can't simply say they're technically elite without also saying they're culturally elite. This isn't to say that I won't purchase another Mac sometime, but it will make me wince to think that Apple thinks I'm buying it because I want to be the 'cool guy' on the commercial.