I think we forget that Linux is not a commercial product and Windows is --
consequently, there are different priorities. So it's really a hard to make
comparisons.
Windows listens instently to what users want as well as tries very very hard
to predict what users want (for good and bad).
Linux, in generally, doesn't really care as much about the user, and while
the community is friendly enough when it comes to support, there is a
significant bit of elitism and "stupid user syndrome" to be overcome.
Windows will never call a user stupid.
It's a classic HCI (Human Computer Interface) issue, which linux in general
isn't very interested in a wide scale. HCI interests only resided in pockets
sects (like Ximian or KDE), but it's hardly wide spread. But I think this
is to be expected. No one makes a significant amount of money from linux,
and no one certainly makes any more or less money based on happy linux
users. Windows however, makes a ton of money when the users are happy and
can get on with their day.
A typical average joe/jane user will much rather reboot their window's 5
times a day, than deal with the even the most advanced linux interface
currently available today.
Windows is a product inteded to generate income; Linux is a hobbist research
project (granted a significant and serious project) but never a product to
generate income.
For me, I cannot get through the day with a total linux solution. I have to
be able to VPN from home to work which requires a Windows machine. I have
use Outlook for mail, I have to create and exchange MS Office documents, and
I have to use IE because none of the companies I work with will optimize for
Netscape because it too painful and not worth the effort.
I would love to get rid of anything windows but I can't do it yet. And I
doubt that I'll be able to even with then next few years. But, believe me
I'm very impatient to do so.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Solver [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Friday, June 15, 2001 1:49 PM
> To: Linux Newbie
> Subject: Re: [newbie] No-one uses Linux, says Microsoft
>
>
> I love Microsoft. I respect Bill Gates. Not only they ain't
> my enemies -
> they are my friends. Yes, I like Linux, it's enhanced
> functionality and
> especially stability, but Microsoft were the first to do it.
> I believe that
> they're doing everything the right way.
> Also, the monopoly situation is very good for users. You can
> put your file
> on a disk, go to a friend being sure you'll find the same
> Windows and Word
> there. The worst I could imagine is this:
> Windows - 40%
> Linux - 30%
> MacOS - 10%
> BeOS - 5%
> Solaris - 5%
> Other - 5%
> Then you would be usnure as to what will you find there. If
> Linux user, you
> had to save both for Linux and Windows formats, and Mac
> doesn't read these
> disks. So, you would need to know specifically where are you
> going, and what
> the PCs are there. Each time I go to repair a PC, I'm almost
> sure what I'll
> see there.
> Microsoft are responsible for what they release. They provide
> the product to
> you, and given you buy it legally, they also provide you with support,
> updates, etc. You can register at Linux Counter and others,
> but they won't
> give you that support, even though bug reporting is awesome.
> And, another
> thing I love in Linux are the penguins. I love that they're
> everywhere, and
> one of my recompilation jobs will be to put even more
> penguins on their work
> at Linux desktop and applications. They just look cool - nice animals.
>
> Also, I'd like to add that I hate to buy PC with preinstalled
> software. When
> I got one with preinstalled Windows (what I used then), the
> first thing I
> done was formatting C: and installing it myself. Now I use
> dual-boot W98,
> and Linux Mandrake. If I bought a PC with this dual boot, I'd
> still run
> Partition Magic and wipe it all, to install myself. I don't love when
> something is preinstalled. As a PC expert, I want to install
> everything
> myself - even if this is something I never installed. Yes, I
> did feel unsure
> installing Windows for the first time, as I also did
> installing Linux and
> BeOS for the first time. It all passes.
> Solver
>
