> A diversity of desktops/window manager, not to mention distros may be
> great for computer people and Linux aficionados But, I must agree, that
> what is great and refreshing for Linux folks may be very intimidating
> and confusing for Joe Average. And Linux may be missing a historic
What people, especially in the Linux world, lose sight of is that for
most computer users, the interface IS the operating system. They
don't know and don't want to know anything about its operation. If
you take that away, most computer users aren't going to 'get it.' But
in all inventions that have caught on and become pervasive in society,
the interface has become standardized. Imagine getting into a new car
and having to completely relearn how to drive it. How long does it
take to figure out how to use a microwave, a radio, a stereo, etc.
Learn one, you've learned them all.
In the case of software, there's been hard lessons learned that say
that a consistent application interface is important to users. How
can you make application interfaces consistent if the interaction
system of the operating system isn't consistent between machines? How
can you even fully automate installation if you can't rely upon a
method of icon handling, application access, etc. And these are
exactly the warts we see with Linux in spite of its superiority as an
operating system
That said, I'm a Linux user because I love xterm windows in the middle
of my GUI. I love the granularity of the Linux/UNIX operating system
and grab for mkisofs and cdrecord before I'd ever launch Xtoaster.
But then I'm not a secretary. I'm not a business owner who just wants
something to balance the books. I'm not a grandmother who wants to be
able to email the kids and run her geneology program. But these
people ARE the computer user community. They are the people that have
built AOL and Microsoft into the giants they are, not the computer
geeks who have always known a better way.
> opportunity on the desktop for this reason. You know, I wish IBM
> released its OWN IBM Linux distribution. That might set a standard for
<grin>...IBM doesn't have a very good track record in the software
development game.
> Microsoft will and that will really be the end of us all. Left to
> itself, Linux obviously will never solve this problem because from its
Here I think you're 'right on.' I chuckle as I listen to people puff
out their chests and say "We're making Microsoft sit up and take
notice of us." While true, I think they may soon find that Microsoft
Linux will become the tail that is wagging the Linux community dog and
they'll do it by standardizing the interface, make it easier for
Windows users to merge their activities with Linux and .NET activities
and all those brash kids who are currently driving Linux will gasp as
Linus Torvalds and Bill Gates shake over some agreement they've just
signed.
> point of view, and rightly so, diversity and individuality is a great
> virtue. And I agree with them.
We can agree, but I wonder how many of us will be agreeing once the
distro people give up because they're investing too much money and
getting no return. Will we agree when the potential for 'world
domination' becomes a pipe dream.
Cheers --- Larry
