This isn't the first anti-linux article I�ve seen on Forbes, but this one seemed particularly harsh, in my opinion.
http://www.forbes.com/2003/06/17/cx_ld_0617linux.html
This article makes all kinds of inflammatory comments such as:
QUOTE: "Judging from the holy war being waged by proponents of Linux PCs, it's clear that Linux is becoming the OS/2 of its time."
RESPONSE: How is Linux anything like OS/2? I don't see similarities on any level. This comment is completely unsupported.
QUOTE: "There is also a lack of mainstream applications for Linux PCs, and that's not going to change anytime soon. Sure, there are open-source software suites like StarOffice and OpenOffice, but beyond that it's slim pickings."
RESPONSE: Hrmmm... I guess the 90084 applications on Sourceforge and the 51482 applications on Freshmeat don't count then? I guess all those Open Source applications used in industry today don�t count? This reporter so easily dismisses the whole Open Source model, implying that Open Source software is somehow inferior� just because she doesn�t see software in a box she assumes there is none.
QUOTE: �To be sure, computer users have been tempted to smash their Windows PCs to bits. After all, freeze-ups, shutdowns and fatal errors are still an all-too-frequent part of the everyday computing experience. And because Microsoft tends to take a kitchen-sink approach to software development, most users pay for features they will never use or don't even know exist. But, for most, it's better than the Linux alternative.�
RESPONSE: In this article she completely contradicts herself. On one hand she says how frustrated people are with Windows and then suddenly jumps to saying that it�s still better than Linux. Well why? Why is it better than Linux? She doesn�t explain or support this comment at all.
QUOTE: �Mainstream computer users (those uncomfortable opening, programming or reconfiguring a computer) would not be satisfied with Linux PCs. Large and medium-sized corporate customers are probably not a good fit either.�
RESPONSE: This statement makes me wonder if she has ever seen or done anything with Linux. If she had used Linux any time in the past 4-5 years she would be well aware of the advancements with desktop environments such as KDE and Gnome, which are easy to use for both �mainstream� and corporate users. Not to mention the constant improvements being made in Linux distributions. She just needs to look at Knoppix, Red Hat, Mandrake, and Suse to know that configuration is anything but difficult�. certainly no more so than on Windows. In most cases configuration is easier. Heck Knoppix auto-detects and auto-configures practically everything. Sure if someone wants to spend the time recompiling their kernel all the more power to them, but the fact is it�s not required.
QUOTE: �That leaves technically savvy individuals and Microsoft haters to make a market for Linux PCs.�
RESPONSE: Well considering her previous comment that �computer users have been tempted to smash their Windows PCs to bits� I guess that means that everyone is on our side.
Overall this article seemed to be somewhat all over the place. Most of the points made were either contradicted or ill informed. Anyway, this article got me a bit steamed up so I thought I would share. Be interested to hear what others think.
Regards,
Brian
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