Some comments that I posted elsewhere:
Hi Boss, some quick comments.
I don't think WalMart, which recently overtook my Alma Mater Exxon as the
largest company in the world, will do anything that they have not seriously
thought about.
On the command-line/GUI issue, I suggest everyone takes a quick look at
some of the screehshots that I posted here, e.g.:
http://www.wpuniverse.com/vb/showth...=&threadid=5902
Xandros actually has a better looking GUI than any version of Microsoft Windows.
While Xandros is still in the beta stage, most of the "beta-ness" issues
are related to its use as a server OS, which has much more stringent security
requirements. There aren't too many serious issues in Xandros for use as
a desktop OS.
Most home users use PC to browser the web, do e-mails, play/burn CD/MP3,
compose/print simple documents, archive/show digital photos, and perhaps a
little bit accounting/tax. For these chores, Linux will do as an adequate
job as Windows, if not better.
However, there are two major problems deterring the home use of Linux.
The first is the permission/security issue, and the second involves the so-called
WinModem.
On the permission/security issue, Lindows has been ridiculed by the Linux
community as forcing its user to log in as "root". But this is exactly why
Microsoft Windows has been so popular-sacrificing security for convenience.
On the security issue, Lindows is as bad as Windows. But so what?
On the WinModem issue, the "WalMart" example shows what "had been" critically
missing in the adoption of Linux--i.e., lack of participation from a major
OEM player.
The WinModem issue has been plaguing Linux for years but no one cared--until
the recent involvement by WalMart. I have been trying to convince one of
my clients to make LinModems only to find myself playing to deaf ears.
Because WalMart is such a significant player (let me put it this way, no
one is more significant than WalMart), Microtel does not dare to ignore this
WinModem issue. All the PCs to be sold by WalMart are now equipped with
a LinModem (which also works in Windows).
