> I still feel that adopting Windows solutions to Linux deficiencies is an > answer which spells disaster, but I all too often forget that most > people simply aren't programmers.
David, I attempted to make an argument similar to this after the "Firefox" security article; about how Linux simply isn't ready in many ways. It wasn't well received but that may be due to the fact that I am relatively new to the group. I would agree with Terry that Linux PVR solutions are not ready for Joe Average to use, and that is based on many factors. Not the least of which is the fact that the most stable of the solutions, MythTV, is currently only on version 0.16.... Personally, I wouldn't even give a PC/Windows based PVR solution to Joe Average. The answer for them is TIVO! Andrew Baudouin Applications Programmer AWC, Incorporated [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- From: David Jackson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2005 12:00 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [brlug-general] Supporting Linux vs. Linux Zealotry As always, John, you are the voice of reason, and I respect your opinion highly. On that token, I would like to formally apologize to Terry. I took the low road myself, and although there are reasons which I didn't go into during this conversation, I should have been more diplomatic in my approach. I still feel that adopting Windows solutions to Linux deficiencies is an answer which spells disaster, but I all too often forget that most people simply aren't programmers. David John Hebert wrote: >David, > >At one point in time, I would have agreed with your >viewpoint; although I wouldn't have picked a fight >with Terry as he is the nicest guy you could ever >meet. > >I've mellowed out a bit since then and realized that >Linux is already competing with Microsoft Windows on >technological merit and doesn't need me to appeal to >someone's sense of morality or fairness. Wake up and >look around; Linux is doing just fine. > >I think you need to mellow out as well. Let me use an >example: Say we are in a big room and everyone there >is participating in a discussion about Linux >primarily, but computer technology in general; and the >conversation turns to timeshifting and PVRs. Terry >then mentions that he will be giving a presentation >soon about that very topic, though it will be done >using Microsoft Windows instead of Linux. It would not >be good manners to then interject that his statement >was irrelevant to the conversation. > >I've always thought of this mailing list as just a >big, on-going coversation, primarily focusing on >Linux, but certainly not restricting anyone from >mentioning other computer related topics or questions. >I also like to think of this mailing list as a place >where freedom is held to be an important value. >Freedom is a two-edged sword, by the way. If I value >the freedom to speak about and use Linux, I must also >respect the freedom of others _not_ to do so. >Insisting that this mailing list stays only on the >topic of Linux seems to run counter to the notion of >freedom to me, but again, you are free to illuminate >me otherwise. Sure, we may stray, but the usual >response is to simply not respond, as Terry suggested. > >I think Solaris has always been a relevant topic here, >and it certainly was not (is not?) free software. Can >we mention Solaris? What about OSX? Is that offlimits >too? Java? What about BSD, since Microsoft uses that? >Perhaps we should come up with a list of acceptable >topics... > >Can you see the absurdity of this perspective? Again, >I can sympathize with your viewpoint that we should >support free software, but each supports that effort >in his or her own manner (again, the two-edges of >freedom). Linux doesn't need policemen. It needs more >contributing coders to make it better, not more >enforcers to make it politically correct. Linux should >compete only on technological merit with Microsoft >Windows for dominance; anything else IMHO would be a >perversion of the very freedom that made it possible. > >Please, if I am in error, I welcome your effort to >inform me. But let's keep it civil and polite. Written >conversation like this can (and has many times) be >misinterpreted as mean-spirited and personal. Let's >try to keep this on-going conversation enjoyable, >otherwise this community suffers. > >John > > _______________________________________________ General mailing list [email protected] http://brlug.net/mailman/listinfo/general_brlug.net
