On Tue 05 Jan 2010 10:56:52 NZDT +1300, Christopher Sawtell wrote:

> >>> Is this a sign that linux is becoming more mature, and fewer problems
> >>> arise?

> Without doubt. The umpteen Shuttleworth millions have made a real
> difference.

Your new life giving you the pink glasses, is it...? ;-)

Don't you think it's a bit delusional to think Shuttleworth is the only
one who ever did anything or paid anything for Linux? And a good part of
those millions has been spent on marketing ploys like free CDs for
everyone. If he'd invested it in good engineering I wouldn't have had
what I call a piece of diabolical junk for my friend which could neither
drive a monitor to acceptable standard nor configure a network interface
with a second IP address. As my friend insisted to stay with that
ululunbuto whatever he went the Redmond solution way and bought himself
a new graphics card as well as a new ADSL modem, instead of cutting the
real problem aka that Shuttleworth junk at the neck. Makes me wince.

He could have used his millions to for example solve the Linux audio
problem, but no, Linux audio still doesn't work, and networking is still
automagically dicey as soon as someone mentions "network manager" or
some such thing. Instead, he throws out Yet Another Distro for free CDs,
which, all things considered, never worked better than those already on
the market despite the religious masses repeating god's word
relentlessly.

And remember IBM's billion bucks making a REAL splash for Linux some
while back? Are you aware of the countless millions private business and
trusts put into Linux creating FOSS? The salaried programmers who make a
functional kernel and device drivers, or bring up FOSS from distinctly
average to good level? How many paid by Shuttleworth (obviously not
counting whatever he pleases himself with developing internally) - none
for the kernel, last I know? He's just copying everyone else's efforts.

That's not to say Shuttleworth isn't appreciated, but it puts his
"millions" a bit into perspective.

Volker

-- 
Volker Kuhlmann                 is list0570 with the domain in header
http://volker.dnsalias.net/     Please do not CC list postings to me.

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