[newbie] Penguin Paranoia

[Pablo Garc�a Dur�n]

Comes from "Registered users"...   As an experienced Mac-user, it took me months to become skeptic about OS-evangelism. The first Macintosh (1984) was designed to be silent, small and discrete. The computer for everyone tried not to look nor behave like a traditional computer. It was intended to be another domestic appliance, like a food mixer or a vacuum cleaner, to help with everyday tasks ("the power to be your best"). Then someone thought they would earn more money (it's always about that) selling a myth instead of a very good computer, and there you got the apples: 9% of the whole market.   As a Linux observer, I am suspicious I'm in front of another "fashionable" operating system. Suddenly, 3 or 4 Linux-only magazines appear at my newsagent's, and every Windows magazine will open a Linux section.   It's not that I don't like the idea. The theory and practise of free software is great. But Linux is not ready yet for the vast amount of users. How many of us have dual-booting machines? Take a look at this mailing list. There's simply a lot of things you can't get from Linux in a Windows-dominated world. We all love spending our spare time with computers. But that's not the real world (yet). We cannot spend hours at the office just wondering why my LaserJet won't work or where the CD-ROM is.   I would encourage developers to follow the way, but do not sell Tux as a SOHO alternative yet because you will only get frustrated users willing to pay for their systems to work.   Who cares how many Linux users? You will find many more Macintoshes involved in profitable tasks and they still don't get the industry support they deserve. Try not to think how it should be but how it is.   -- Pablo Garc�a Dur�n