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Subject: Linux
I have been working as a computer and networking tech for over 16 years now. ANd yet again today, I got into an arguement with a self-proclaimed "power user".
It seems this PU seemed to think that Linux was the ultimate OS, and that it would someday rule the world. I tried to spend about 40 minutes dragging him into the "real world", but it was a lost cause.
He challenged me to make a post in my favorite message board, so here it goes.
For one, while Linux may be a great OS, it will never be more then a bit player in the computer industry. Now I am not talking about servers and customized applications, I am talking about what almost everybody does on their home computers.
FOr one, Linux is just to complex for the common user. Trust me, I work with them every day. I talk to people that do not even have a concept on how to install software with the Autorun feature! "YOu just take the Norton CD, put it in the drive with the computer booted up, and follow the menus." Trust me, there are probably 10-15% of users out there where even THAT is to complex!
And add to the fact that of the new computers we sell, 40-65% will still be useing dial-up internet access. WHile us uber-geeks have embraces highspeed connection, not everybody wants it, or even has it available.
This brings us to another problem with Linux: the unavailability of software. You go into your local Best Guys or Capaciter City or Fries, and you have isles and isles of Windows software. YOu will even have an isle or two of Mac software. But tell me, where is the Linux software?
"Well, it is free, you just download it" is the normal reply. But remember, we are talking of normal users. They do not want to go through the hastle of downloading a 200 meg package, uncompress it, then compile and install it. Add to that the fact a lot of them are dial-up, it is an impossible proposition for a vast majority of them. Not to mention that most of what you get is a beta of some sort, buggy and flakey, and not up to the same quality as the commercial stuff you buy in the store.
ALso add in that a lot of what you want is just not available to Linux because of copyright issues. Look at the big players: EA, Atari, SquareSoft, Microsoft, Maxis, etc. NONE of them offer Linux versions of their games. Want MS Office? Well, to bad... here is a beta version of Star Office, make do. You want Adobe Premier to edit movies? To bad, you are SOL. You want to add a Canopus card to your system? Well, good luck finding a driver to that or a ton of other cards. Well, you can always write your own driver. YOu do know how to write a driver, don't you? Well, you can always use WINE to run your Microsoft software if you HAVE to, but have fun working out the reasons it crashes all the time.
You see, a *LOT* of the uber-geek power users have totally forgotten how confusing and complex these things were when they first sat down in front of them. Not to mention that a lot of them really have no real understanding of how common users use their computers. They treat these people as idiots, with total scorn and derision.
Of course, none of the arguements worked with the PU today. He was so sure of his superior knowledge that he told me I was a brainwashed Microsoft hack, and that I had no business doing what I do. But my boss and I had a good laugh after he left, so I guess we got the last laugh.
Mostly, I am curious as to who else uses Linux. I would like to know how easy you found it to set up and learn, and how easy it was finding programs and drivers for your system. Mister PU told me I was full of coprolite (my word, his is not printable in this forum) because Linux was easier to set up and use then Windows was.
I would like to get some sort of idea from others as to which of us was more correct. Thanks. :)
Subject: Re: Linux
Unfortunately, I live in the real world too: much as I would love Linux to be the de facto standard, it ain't going to happen for the reasons you've outlined (and I reckon you're being very conservative in your estimate of 10-15% of users being unable to follow simple on-screen instructions).
I would disagree on a few points, though: the vast majority of beta-level software you'll get for Linux will be a damn sight more stable than the humungous number of Windows products there are out there. There are two reasons for this: i) Windows stuff runs on a fundamentally unstable platform and ii) Windows stuff is usually written with Microsoft RAD development tools by people who can just about throw an interface together.. you have to know what you're doing to write stuff for Linux.
Unfortunately, there are too many brainwashed Microsoft hacks out there: too much time is spent on bells and whistles nobody will ever use, and too little emphasis is placed on whether things keep running. But because we (the general public) have accepted that regular crashes are a way of life, Linux ain't never gonna be the PC platform of choice. Shame.
Phil
PS I write as a PC expert who got to grips with Unix originally nearly twenty years ago, but has still to get round to installing Linux on even one of my home PCs - I keep meaning to, but have never found the time. And if I don't, to expect a majority of the population to is laughable.
PPS The only thing to change this would be if the major PC manufacturers decided to ship Linux as the default OS, with Windows as a (paid-for) optional install: then you would see a dramatic shift in OS usage.
Subject: Re: Linux
Quoting:
Unfortunately, I live in the real world too: much as I would love Linux to be the de facto standard, it ain't going to happen for the reasons you've outlined (and I reckon you're being very conservative in your estimate of 10-15% of users being unable to follow simple on-screen instructions).
End Quote
Well, that is giving a lot of users the benefit of the doubt. It is amazing how many computer users are so totally computer illiterate out there.
Currently, the biggest reason computers have been comming into my shop is 1) virus and 2) old age. These people bring in computers with hundreds (or thousands) of computer virus on them, and then are shocked that I tell them they need antivirus software! I mean, do they totally ignore the news? A computer virus is #1 in the news for weeks, several times a year, and they think they are magically imune or something.
ALso, old age is a big reason. THese people bring in 10 year old computers who finally had a hard drive failure, and expect me to be able to make it as good as new. We even had one come in last month with an MFM hard drive, for crying out loud!!!! THen they accume of of trying to rip them off when I suggest something a little newer, like a 400 MHz system. Insanity.
Quoting:
I would disagree on a few points, though: the vast majority of beta-level software you'll get for Linux will be a damn sight more stable than the humungous number of Windows products there are out there. There are two reasons for this: i) Windows stuff runs on a fundamentally unstable platform and ii) Windows stuff is usually written with Microsoft RAD development tools by people who can just about throw an interface together.. you have to know what you're doing to write stuff for Linux.
End Quote
Well, one big reason for more stability is that it is compiled on the computer, not just installed on it. This means it is taylor made for the system you use it on. You can do that with an open source program, but not on a commercial one you want to sell.
Quoting:
Unfortunately, there are too many brainwashed Microsoft hacks out there: too much time is spent on bells and whistles nobody will ever use, and too little emphasis is placed on whether things keep running. But because we (the general public) have accepted that regular crashes are a way of life, Linux ain't never gonna be the PC platform of choice. Shame.
End Quote
Well, considering they are writing a pre-made program to work on dozens of CPUs by at least 4 companies, and have it work with thousands of video cards, sound cards, network cards, etc, I do not think they are doing a bad job. I find that most crashes and lockups are the fault of the programs you run, not the OS itself. When properly installed and updated, I find WIndows very stable. I use Win2K on my laptop, and not counting software, it has not crashed in months.
The most common cause of a crash is when a software writer (either program or hardware driver) tries to "hard wire" in a memory space that even Microsoft says should be set aside and not used. Both multiple programs and/or Windows try to grab the memory at once, and CRASH.
Quoting:
Phil
PS I write as a PC expert who got to grips with Unix originally nearly twenty years ago, but has still to get round to installing Linux on even one of my home PCs - I keep meaning to, but have never found the time. And if I don't, to expect a majority of the population to is laughable.
PPS The only thing to change this would be if the major PC manufacturers decided to ship Linux as the default OS, with Windows as a (paid-for) optional install: then you would see a dramatic shift in OS usage.
End Quote
Actually, there have been some attempts to do this, but they have all failed.
Corel did an agreement with one company (I forget which one) to install Corel Linux on each system, but M$ jumped in and sabotaged it, just like they did with GeoWorks years ago). Also, WalMart and other companies have been selling computers with Lindows recently.
Lindows looks good, and is even attractive to small stores and dealers because of it's "flat rate" sales approach (unlimited sales, $100 a year). But one thing that also hurts is that they will not let you "try" it first. WHen I approached them for installing it at our store, I was told I had to pay the money up-front first. They would *NOT* send us a demo copy of the OS.
Needless to say, I dumped that idea real fast. Even M$ is not afraid to give away copies of it's OS if it means sales. And I have heard some not very nice things about Lindows, which is another reason. I do instal Corel Linux on occasion though.