> Normally, I don't go around asking people to crash polls, but we need
> to let others know we're out here. The American Radio Relay League
> currently is running a click pool on their home page
> (http://www.arrl.org) with regard to what OS is used in the shack.
> Right now Linux is running a distant second with 10% of the vote
> (1288 votes as I write this), however I am encouraged!
I wouldn't put too much effort into trying to stuff the ballot box. The
online polls are mostly for entertainment value. We at ARRL well understand
that these polls are wildly unscientific.
> If you
> legitimately use Linux in the shack or plan to in the future, it
> may be a good idea to register your preference. I don't expect to
> see ARRL have Linux versions of its software at next year's
> Hamvention,
You're wise not to expect that!
> but with 10% or more of the potential market
> now using Linux it stands to reason that their marketing and
> advertising depts may take notice of us.
The problem -- which affects not only Linux/Unix products but products for
all non-Windows systems -- is that the total market for ARRL products is
relatively small. That makes it hard to focus on systems other than Windows.
As cross-platform tools and applications become more prevalent, we'll try to
do a better job of supporting other platforms. (That's one reason we've
changed our CD-ROM books to PDF format. Now if Adobe would only provide a
version of Acrobat Reader for Linux that includes the Search plug in, we'd
be all set.)
> Also, I hope the League and QST's editors will recognize
> that many of the projects that use WinX programs are difficult or
> off limits to us using Linux.
We hear the same complaint from the Mac users. See below.
> This month's PSK31 transceiver is
> something I'd really love to build and use, although I am unsure
> if it will work with any of the Linux PSK31 programs currently under
> development as it seems to refer to DigiPan quite often.
That was discussed here recently:
http://www.geocrawler.com/archives/3/29/2000/5/0/3744071/
> Hopefully, a good showing in this poll will lead to the addition
> of Linux capable projects in QST in the future.
The best way to get Linux-capable projects into QST is to write them up and
send them to the QST editors. Few of the feature articles in QST are written
"to spec." Most are received as unsolicited manuscripts. Thus, influencing
the folks here at HQ to take a more proactive approach to Linux isn't nearly
as important as submitting articles.
73, Jon
--
Jon Bloom, KE3Z
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Electronic Publications Manager
(Software, CD-ROMs and Web site)
