adopting alternative OSes (was Re: [Am-info] New E-mail Worm Exploits SARS Anxiety)

[mike]

----- Original message ---------------------------------------->
From: Roy Bixler <rcb@bix.org>
To: <am-info@venice.essential.org>
Received: Fri, 25 Apr 2003 15:46:12 -0500
Subject: adopting alternative OSes (was Re: [Am-info] New E-mail=
 Worm Exploits SARS Anxiety)

>On Fri, Apr 25, 2003 at 01:12:11PM -0700, mike wrote:
>> Because Linux is not yet ready for the desktop.  I have a new=
 ASUS
>> mainboard here and when Redhat Shrike is installed it cannot=
 find
>> the network card (built in) .  After I looked at what had to=
 be done
>> to simply install a network driver, again I understood why=
 Linux is
>> still outa the ball park when compared to Windows.  At least=
 as far
>> as the average user is concerned.  I feel Linux is at least=
 three
>> generations behind Windows when being considered as a desktop=
 client
>> for the masses.

>It's true that sometimes the hardware detection isn't good but,
>typically, "the masses" don't buy their own motherboards and do=
 any OS
>installation whatsoever.  It would help tremendously if the=
 hardware
>manufacturers and OEMs would either write Linux drivers or at=
 least
>support open source coders that write drivers by giving them
>specifications for their devices.  It would also be helpful if=
 the
>Dells of the world would really support Linux by pre-installing=
 it on
>their machines.  The fact that they don't is somewhat, if not=
 mostly,
>due to contracts with Microsoft.  But when the major PC vendors
>pre-install Linux on their hardware, that's when it can be=
 considered
>"for the masses."  As it is, it looks like it will be a slow=
 grind as
>the market continues to evolve.

It wasn't that the drivers were not available, but the hassle of=
 installing a driver.  none of the people I support would be able=
 to install the network driver.  Asus was kind enough to put a=
 driver on the cdrom sent with the mainboard.  but the=
 instructions would be beyond 95% of the windows users.  this is=
 what is still poor with regard to Linux.  The installations are=
 not well thought out, and each distribution has a different=
 method.  

>Meanwhile, if you still want to try Linux, I suggest Knoppix at
>"http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html".  It's a big=
 download
>at 700 MB, but the hardware detection is definitely a cut above=
 your
>average distribution.

I am able to install most Linux on any of my machines, but rather=
 my complaints were about Linux and the average user.  I see=
 Linux now in exactly the same boat as Warp was in 10 years ago. =
 IBM also overestimated the ability of the average user....

>>  Unless your company has dedicated IT people willing
>> and ale to support Linux desktops, it currently has a=
 snowballs
>> chance in hell to replace Windows for the average user.

>I hear that's happening in more and more companies due to=
 Microsoft's
>strong-arm licence policies and higher licence fees.

Those companies that have dedicated IT staff, and those staff are=
 trained somewhere other than a Microsoft MCSC shop, are looking=
 at Linux at the server level.  But few if any are actually=
 rolling out major Linux desktops....

>> Sad but true.  I hope they can get it together, but so far it=
 is
>> still a long way off....

>It's largely a cultural problem and not a technological one. =
 When a
>critical mass decides that Microsoft takes too many liberties,=
 then
>you will find Linux/name-your-alternative-OS support easier to=
 come
>by.  Meanwhile, running an alternative OS will likely take a bit=
 more
>diligence, such as researching which hardware best supports your=
 OS,
>on your part.

It is a software user interface engineering problem.  No one is=
 steering the ship.  No one has the right way to do things, so=
 most distributions are all doing a different wrong thing.... =
 Maybe the unified Linux movement might have a chance....  


>R.
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