All of the above and anything else that folks can think of to do with
Linux. For me there is no other OS worth my time or energy.
--
Mark
"If you don't share your concepts and ideals, they end up being worthless,"
"Sharing is what makes them powerful."
Linus Torvalds
On Fri, 19 Jan 2001, Sridhar Dhanapalan wrote:
> If everything "has a purpose" then what exactly *is* Linux's purpose? Is it
> to run desktop workstations? Servers? Supercomputers? PDAs? Web pads?
> Wristwatches? Linux has been proven to run well on all these devices, and it
> is continuing to push both downwards (towards embedded devices, etc.) and
> upwards (towards high-end servers, etc.), while consolidating its position
> in the middle (desktop computers, etc.).
>
> While I believe that Linux can be an excellent alternative to M$ Windos, I
> must admit that my greatest fear is that it will be "dumbed down" to cater
> for ordinary users. This fear, while not totally baseless, is unlikely to
> eventuate. There will always be serious computer users, who don't want a
> "dumb" OS. There are, and always will be, apps to cater for these people,
> especially since these are the people who code most Linux apps anyway. KDE
> too "dumb" for you? Use WindowMaker, or BlackBox, or XFce... Think the
> default Linux kernel is too bloated? Recompile it and include only what you
> need. Linux is the most scalable OS ever to exist, and this scalability is
> increasing with time. Linux can be whatever you make it to be. Want it to
> run a Windos competitor? With GNOME and KDE it already is. Want it to work at
> the enterprise level? Kernel 2.4 supports the high-end processors like the
> Itanium in multiprocessor configurations and up to 64GB of RAM. Want it to
> run a PDA? Compile a tiny kernel and run something like QT-embedded or
> GTK-embedded. And the most important point is that Linux excels in all these
> scenarios. See my point?
>
>
> On Fri, 19 Jan 2001 03:35, Adrian Smith wrote:
> > this will be a shock to you all, but i have an opinon here. =)
> > i agree with Tom -- although i fully confess Tom is much better at saying
> > than I am. probably because i am an obnoxious and arrogant and Tom isn't.
> >
> > but i can't figure this one out ether, why do you guys care so much about
> > converting windoze users? should we make 18 wheelers with automatic stick
> > shifts so that everyone who drives a car can drive a semi-truck?
> >
> > a honda accord has a purpose. a freightliner tractor/trailer rig has a
> > purpose. they are not the same purpose.
> >
> > a hunting rifle has a purpose. a 50mm vulcan cannon has a purpose.
> > they are not the same purpose.
> >
> > windows has a purpose. linux has a purpose.
> > they are not the same purpose.
> >
> > use the right tool for the right job.
> >
> > if i wanted linux to be like windows, why wouldn't i have just kept using
> > windows? i may not be the sharpest crayon in the box, but i just don't
> > understand this. no product can be everything to everybody. no product.
> > name any one *specific* product that fills every need held by every person
> > on the planet.
> >
> > i think the "must be like windows" concept is a bad thing.
> >
> > i'll try to stuff a sock in my mouth now. =)
> >
> >
> > Adrian Smith
> > 'de telepone dude
> > Telecom Dept.
> > x 7042
> > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >
> > >>> Tom Brinkman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 9:29:15 PM 1/17/01 >>>
> >
> > OK y'all !! This marks the last time I'm gonna start a thread
> > starting with a news wire URL, well maybe ;> Actually I thought it was
> > a business story that kind'a illustrated Linux's present state, and the
> > perception of.
> >
> > The first full install I did of Mandrake was ~500mb. A current 'du
> > -ch /' with my windoze drive umounted is ~4 gigs! ... and I've
> > uninstalled a lot of the apps I don't use, and there's linux stuff on
> > the windoze drive, not in that count. I like it just the way it is,
> > the installer that is. What brandNewbie doesn't install several times
> > before they 'settle in' ? ...and for experienced users, it's easy,
> > albeit time consuming, to install just what you want. As much or
> > little. LM's installation let's YOU choose. I believe there's nothin
> > that needs changin. I like the current trend in Mandrake's installs.
> >
> > As to the 'convert windoze users', and get "linux on everybody's
> > desktop' vein this thread has denigrated to. WHO CARES? Seriously, be
> > more concerned that Linux continues to attract the people that built it
> > to begin with ... the people all over the world that contribute to this
> > free, open source, volunteer effort. Without them, Linux is dead.
>
>
