-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 > The hardest part is how one thinks about software on their computer. > Packages are more like modules for us, we add and remove them at will, > depending on our needs. For example, my laptop has been a server, a > digital audio workstation, a graphics workstation, a node in a cluster, > a media center, a content filtering multi-homed router, etc. The laptop > was configured on the fly with no reinstall of the OS required. This is > simply not possible in the Windows world, but it does require thinking > about your computer differently, which no easy to use software package > can fix. > >> An interesting point of view that I can readily respect except for the >> last paragraph -- I know of no other user that can competently do these >> things and still refer to themselves as average. :-D
I see it as a spectrum. An "average" user still has hobbies, and so the underlying concept that a computer can have multiple uses is still valid IMO, just maybe not to my extreme :) Most of the users that I see have a hard time understanding the basic concept. I realize that I in no way constitute a regular user. > Also, we should be wary of following Microsoft, the Linspire admin > privileged by default is an example of how Linux, no matter how well > intentioned, should *not* be configured. Just because Windows is > "popular", does not mean we should emulate their mistakes. I am a big > fan of the "Linux is not Windows" mantra. If someone wants a free > Windows experience, look at ReactOS. > >> I'm not advocating that we follow Microsoft and I really like your >> mantra that "Linux is not Windows". Pretend that you are a professional >> (not IT professional) that is an average user - I want to be able to do >> my job, the computer and software are mere tools.- I don't want to know >> how to install an application. I know a writer that has told me more >> than once, forget the technology and just give me a piece of paper and a >> pencil. Good analogy, I also believe that just because something can be done on a computer, it does not follow that it needs to be done on a computer. A linux laptop is more useful out of the box than most windows machines. Windows + office can comprise more than 50% of the purchase price. Of course, for some reason a lot of the people I see (wide range from students to graphic artists to musicians to "suits") do not understand the difference between features and needs. > This is merely my opinion, but I am not sure that the focus of the free > software community should be greater market share, at least not here in > North America. While I do believe in FLOSS, I do no believe in the > prevalent culture here to recognize the value and importance of freedom, > be it in software or in the corporeal world. The focus for people like > Aaron should be in producing quality software, not wasting their > considerable talents selling to people who have no interest. It is > telling that there is next to no FLOSS representation in the Calgary IT > Pro Users group. > >> I have to disagree with you here - in an ideal world, you should not >> have to deal with market share or the user. If I make it difficult for >> someone to try something new, then I have denied both the user of an >> unique and wonderful experience and myself a level of success, >> recognition and the rewards of sharing an accomplishment. On the plus >> side for Linux, the ability to produce Live CD and ritualized >> applications enables a user the experience both the value and freedom to >> maybe endure the agony of change and trying something new. I do not see us (FLOSS) as making the Linux experience difficult. Just brain dead hardware vendors. Supporting binary blobs has long term consequences, and they really need to go away, convenience be damned. This may be a strong position, but I truly believe that the long term danger posed by these binary blobs is extremely serious. More serious than if Microsoft decided to give Windows away for free (which they will someday, perhaps as soon as their next Desktop release). Keep in mind that I write this on a laptop with nVidia's drivers on it (a source of much pain). The point is that this is where the FLOSS community needs to stay strong and make a stand against these companies. I am thinking 10+ years down the road, but we need to make some of these decisions now. > Anyway, Linux on the desktop will not get any significant market share > gains here until Microsoft "fixes" their anti-piracy measures and > tightens up their OEM licencing (they have further restricted their > licencing for Vista, it remains to be seen how their anti-piracy methods > stack up this time). If Microsoft delivered as promised with Vista > (especially the DRM and piracy side) then Vista is best thing that could > happen to Linux. > >> Can't argue with you here -- regardless whether they get it right or >> botch it up really badly, the net effect will be the same. The status >> quo will permeate if they act like they always have. > >>>> Anyways, I see it as anything that fuels the momentum will keep us >>>> pointy ears gainfully employed ;-) . >>>> >>>> > As long as the 12 o clock flashers exist, the pointy ears (or propeller > hats) will be employed. > >> I have always been partial to the ears, the propeller hats just is not a >> fashion statement. > >>>> Mitchell Brown wrote: >>>> >>>>> Really.... hmm. I can see this turning really bad, really quickly. >>>>> >>>>> How is .deb not easy? In Ubuntu, you just double click and voila. >>>>> Simple as pie. >>>>> >>>>> On 2/8/07, * Kin C Wong* <[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>> <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> They are trying to swap core competencies -- this should be >>>>> interesting, >>>>> the popularity of Ubuntu and the easy of use of CNR (click and >>>>> run) from >>>>> Linspire. Here is an excerpt from the letter: >>>>> "There are two main components to this partnership: 1) Linspire will >>>>> immediately transition from Debian to Ubuntu as the base for their >>>>> Linspire and Freespire operating systems, and 2) Canonical will >>>>> utilize >>>>> Linspire's CNR technology for aspects of Ubuntu's software >>>>> delivery system" >>>>> >>>>> Here is the link ://www.linspire.com/linspire_letter.php >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> clug-talk mailing list >>>>> [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >>>>> http://clug.ca/mailman/listinfo/clug-talk_clug.ca >>>>> Mailing List Guidelines (http://clug.ca/ml_guidelines.php) >>>>> **Please remove these lines when replying >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> Mitchell Brown >>>>> Administrator >>>>> untitled1.ca <http://untitled1.ca> >>>>> >>>>> V: 403.466.6242 >>>>> E: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>>>> W: http://www.untitled1.ca >>>>> SIP: **010666242 >>>>> MSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>>>> >>>>> pub 1024D/9091C422 02/05/2006 Mitchell Brown < [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>> <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> >>>>> Primary key fingerprint: 812B 94BC EA0D 345A CC1C 2ED9 F7F6 5CCF >>>>> 9091 C422 >>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> clug-talk mailing list >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> http://clug.ca/mailman/listinfo/clug-talk_clug.ca >>>>> Mailing List Guidelines (http://clug.ca/ml_guidelines.php) >>>>> **Please remove these lines when replying >>>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> clug-talk mailing list >>>> [email protected] >>>> http://clug.ca/mailman/listinfo/clug-talk_clug.ca >>>> Mailing List Guidelines (http://clug.ca/ml_guidelines.php) >>>> **Please remove these lines when replying >>>> >> _______________________________________________ clug-talk mailing list [email protected] http://clug.ca/mailman/listinfo/clug-talk_clug.ca Mailing List Guidelines (http://clug.ca/ml_guidelines.php) **Please remove these lines when replying >> > _______________________________________________ > clug-talk mailing list > [email protected] > http://clug.ca/mailman/listinfo/clug-talk_clug.ca > Mailing List Guidelines (http://clug.ca/ml_guidelines.php) > **Please remove these lines when replying -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.3 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iD8DBQFFy6RKwRXgH3rKGfMRArDbAJ9EbpmpB5VZ7d8omuPue6agE/U+fwCaAtUD rEWLPp/6YVzxPJ6YRU6qN9Y= =T5Wa -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- _______________________________________________ clug-talk mailing list [email protected] http://clug.ca/mailman/listinfo/clug-talk_clug.ca Mailing List Guidelines (http://clug.ca/ml_guidelines.php) **Please remove these lines when replying
