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I have once again run across a “too many versions!” comment on another site. In this one a person going by the moniker “matt_chsi” states there are too many versions of Linux and that is why adoption of Linux is so poor. Further, this person states that he has “tried 6 or 7 different versions of Linux and there is no (sic) standards common between them except when it finally does install there is alot (sic) of software already there on install.” If he truly thinks there are no standards common “between” (I would have said “among”, but that’s just me.) 6 or 7 “versions” (I would say “distributions”.) of GNU/Linux then he did not examine them closely enough.
I will grant that I have only had experience of a handful of GNU/Linux distributions over the roughly 10 to 11 years of my exposure to GNU/Linux. However, they all have had a similar root directory structure to the Mandriva 2009.0 I am using today: bin/ boot/ dev/ etc/ home/ initrd/ lib/ media/ mnt/ opt/ proc/ root/ sbin/ srv/ sys/ tmp/ usr/ var/. I can know that configuration files are in etc/, programs are in usr/ or under opt/, libraries are under lib/ with logs and other run-time “stuff” under var/. That is a logical standard carried forward from long Unix tradition.
All the GNU/Linux desktop systems I have tried have had the desktop environments KDE and/or Gnome as well as alternatives like fluxbox, Enlightenment, and WindowMaker, to name a few. Again, this is “standard”, especially among the top GNU/Linux distributions like Mandriva, the *buntus, Fedora, openSuSE and so on. The main menus may be different due to these being different distributions with different goals. But that the menus are not “standard” is not really a problem.
Actually, if all these distributions were truly radically different it would not be a problem for personal adoption of Free Open Source Software (FOSS) GNU/Linux distributions. How can I say such a thing? I can say this due to the simple fact that one can pick through these “free” distributions with impunity. It costs no money to do so. Find a distribution that one likes. Use that distribution. Once one does this why care that other distributions are different? One has the distribution one prefers at this point. All we in the FOSS community need do is adopt our acquaintances, friends, family and business associates that are interested in FOSS and help them along with the decision process.
No, the lack of “standards” for GNU/Linux is not the problem. The natural human resistance to change, corporate inertia and illegal (or at least unethical) business practices by certain large companies [1][2] are the problems. We cannot overcome resistance to change in people. Where we need to concentrate on change is with our children. Especially children locked in public education systems that are locked into proprietary operating systems [3][4]. Teach our children to use GNU/Linux and we change the future of the computing landscape.
Too many “versions” of GNU/Linux? No. Too little education about GNU/Linux? Definitely.
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Edit Sun Aug 2 11:48:22 CDT 2009: Remove the word “older” in regard to resistance to change.
on Aug 2nd, 2009 at 10:56 am
Aside from one little nit, you are right on– the various Linuxes are not all that different; once you know Gnome, KDE, XFCE, whatever, it’s the same on all of them. Same Bash shell, same command line.
And now, the nit. Older people? Dude. I got my first PC when I was 37. It was an Apple. Then I tried Windows. Then I discovered Linux. Then I administered mixed networks and liberated a number of Windows machines to nice stout reliable Linux. Then I wrote some Linux books and a skillion howto articles.
It hasn’t stopped there. I keep an eye on the BSDs and OpenSolaris, and I’m learning some programming. For my 52nd birthday next month I am going to treat myself to some nice O’Reilly and No Starch books.
I’ve taught classes at the senior center on using Linux to manage and print digital photos, and setting up family Web sites. The old folks do just fine.
Emery Fletcher is a 70-ish gentlemen who has discovered Linux and he has written some excellent articles for Datamation and LinuxPlanet.
I daresay that whatever factor or personality trait that determines a person’s open-mindedness to new experiences is not age-related. Some folks are born fossilized.
on Aug 2nd, 2009 at 11:05 am
Honestly every time I read those types of posts I have come to believe that there is some major trolling going on. I think you just got trolled.
on Aug 2nd, 2009 at 11:18 am
Carla (comment #1) thank you for the comment! I see your nit and raise you a personal anecdote point. The only people I have problems convincing about FOSS in general and GNU/Linux in specific are all over the age of 20.
For the record, I will be 50 years of age next year and have made an effort to be flexible and learn new things as I age. But the majority of people I know in my age group are not interested in change when it comes to their computing. In my experience those folks over the age of 20 that are willing to adopt a new operating system are uncommon.
I think this is true mainly in places where people need to get work done. They are familiar with how some proprietary system works and they do not want to “get behind” while learning something new. I think we in the FOSS community need to be willing to assist these people if they are willing to try. But in most cases where I broach the subject I see a strong resistance to even try to change to FOSS. Every one of these people are over 20 years old.
Added: However, I am changing the sentence to remove the word “older”. Just for you.
on Aug 2nd, 2009 at 2:16 pm
“The natural human resistance to change”. Yes, Linux fanboy 101, no matter what the problem(s), blame the user. Better yet, tell them they’re stupid, and that if they really want something, they should program it themselves. No wonder Linux on the desktop is a niche OS with only the Kool-aid drinkers tolerating it’s numerous short-commings.
on Aug 2nd, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Gene, you were right on the money. Having options is actually one of the greatest strengths of FOSS!
I come from the PCLinuxOS community, and you’d be surprised to know that a good percentage of users there are over 50.
on Aug 2nd, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Hi Gene
You’re right to say that ‘poor adoption” of Linux is not related to the various distributions.
But, if we talk only about the Personnal Computers, the adoption can’t comes from the users like many poeple thought. The problem must be taken (imho) from the other end: the PCs manufacturers.
End users buy their computers from large stores and they have no choice except between «W» and Mac…
End uses have to SEE PCs with Linux in stores to feel confident and decide to choose Linux as their favourite desktop OS.
Have a nice day.
on Aug 2nd, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Thanks for the nit, Carla. I was 60 years old before I even tried Linux and since then use nothing else. That’s after using Microsoft from DOS 5.0 through Windows XP. We can adapt.
on Aug 2nd, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Heh,thanks Gene:). I would raise you back just for fun, but then I would be derailing way past the main point of your article, which is a very good one. Nice work.
on Aug 2nd, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Gene,
I beg to differ. My own personal story. I cut my teeth on an IBM 1401, then migrated to a PDP8, then 11, then VAX. But I cut my teeth on Unix at 27, loved it. Then as the worm turns I was forced to use MSDOS, WFWG, Win3, et.al. Hated it. Then Linux came out and I jumped on it to get back to some ‘home turf’. I am nearing 60 and I develop on Linux by preference.
But I have to tell you. We only have 1 Win Box in the house that I use for compability testing. Everything else is Linux. From the home server to every desktop. My wife who is over 50 was lerry at first about the change over. She was used to Windoze. But I set everything up to a near Windoze like environment for her on her box — Linux Mint/OpenOffice/Thunderbird/Firefox. Then I sat down over an intense 2 weeks to train her how to use it. Especially since English is her second language. By the end of the 4th week, the fear was gone, the questions died down and surprise, surprise the complaints that the machine was getting slow (viruses & worms) ceased. Now when we have somebody over to the house and they ask what this is — “Its Linux, it doesn’t break!”
The real issue for Linux is people that is no doubt. But Linux has the best kept secret weapon ever known — LUGs. I have been asked many times, what if it breaks? My answer is always join a LUG when you adopt Linux. Most have newbie sessions and many have bulletin boards to help as well. Nobody says its easy, but then it was not easy when the user had to learn Windoze.
And yes I think the ‘too many variants’ is hogwash.
on Aug 2nd, 2009 at 7:15 pm
Linux’s biggest STRENGTH is also its EVEN BIGGER weakness, “CHOICE”.. while choice is NOT a bad thing, too many choices can be overwhelming.. between the amount of choices of distros and the attitudes, egos , on some IRC channels, chatrooms and forums. Adopting linux can be a frustrating experience for a new user.. specially with comments like “RTFM” “you aren’t ready for the big time yet”, or 2 of my favorites “GO back to ubuntu” & “just go back to windoze”..
and there are no KILLER APPS for linux.. I mean lets take the windows world .. office is the killer app, nero is the killer app, photoshop is the killer app, norton,nod32 are killer apps, malwarebytes is the killer app, and so many others.. in linux, you have so many choices, one does something the other doesnt, good or bad, one has this feature while the other doesnt, etc.. its alot of “WORK” for a new user to do, just to figure out whats’ what. You have newbie’ish distros.. linux mint, pclinuxos, ubuntu ultimate (which has like 3-6 apps for the same thing in almost EVERY category).. its scary. Linux itself (all the distros) need some consolidation, one GREAT app in every category, and I know what you are thinking.. linux is a choice, people that choose to use it, should be “ready” for all these differences from what they are accustomed to.. and that, and all the above mentioned issues, is why it’ll NEVER EVER be (as its been said since 2000) the YEAR of the LINUX DESKTOP.. just my .02, now i’m broke.. (btw, i’m a Linux Mint user, I just want my os to “work”, I don’t want to work hard just to get it to work, flame away at my lack of linux 733tness, lol)
on Aug 2nd, 2009 at 10:00 pm
The biggest gripe I hear about Linux distros is the lack of package management standardization. However, I point out, Linux does have a standard package management system - it’s called tarballs. Anything else is a matter of convenience to the user.
Otherwise, most distros are relatively the same. Once they’re setup, you’re mainly dealing with KDE, Gnome or some other environment. However, those environments are consistent from distro to distro. When I open a terminal, Bash is Bash. What’s the big fuss about?
If all I had to use with Ubuntu, I’m not sure I’d be using Linux at all. I’m not down on Ubuntu, but it’s not for me.
on Aug 2nd, 2009 at 11:07 pm
I have to somewhat agree with Brad, but i believe that this weekend can become just strength. I have long thought of GNU/Linux as the only computing solution, not because I am a zealot, but because no one owns it. I want to use the iPhone of a plat form gone awry. Way too much Apple control exerted there. I am more interested in what the future of GNU/Linux is. What i see in the future is a complete operating system with no distros. WHAT!!!??? I must be on drugs right? Wrong! In the future GNU/Linux will not be compiled until you compile it in the cloud. This cloud will be a distributed computing solution hosted on volunteer machines, think along the lines of the SETI project. Suse is already headed down this road with there SUSE Studio, but its not yet complete. It be very cool to have the ability to choose kernel, window environment, programs, and build it specifically for your hardware. I know all of this is already possible, but once it goes online i think it would be the “sort of” end of the distro.
on Aug 2nd, 2009 at 11:14 pm
OK, let’s draw a couple of distinctions here:
1) Linux is the kernel, not a distribution
2) Gnome, KDE, et al., are desktops/window managers for X Windows, not Linux
3) Distros are bundled in any number of ways with any number of software packages of no particular version
#1 is the single most misunderstood/misstated item in existence. 90% or more of the bloggers/tech journalists miss this one (they also seem to not realize that Rails is a Ruby framework, not Ruby but that’s another rant).
#2 is the second biggest miss on the same audience’s part.
For #3, Mark Shuttleworth called for synchronized releases for Linux distros, but nobody was interested. Folks need to either get over it, or learn how to install software from other repos (that includes learning how to build packages in some cases).
Standards, being the work of a committee of individuals with conflicting agendas, almost always result in a lowest common denominator solution that solves nobody’s problems.
on Aug 2nd, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Oh no!! Not another too many distros blog post.
Can you at least wait until the inevitable Free Software vs Open source?
Yeah, there’s a lot.
No, theres nothing we can do to stop people from starting a new one (I think I just heard one right now being started).
My eldest uses my laptop pretty often and asked me once why all the distros I use look the same? Its because theyre all KDE and to be honest, most of them ARE the same. I think desktop choice is a much, much more important choice than distro.
I agree with Carla about the old folks (!!).
Kids have no problems using Linux when they come to play with my sons but Ive noticed also that seniors arent as retarded as many smug tech geeks make them out to be.
I have two retired parents and quite a few aunts and uncles who are using Linux for the past 18months and whether switching from Windows (where I weaned them on free software like FF3.OO,Thunderbird,VLC) or like my mom having never used a computer in their 70+years, its been much easier than I though it would be.
But one thing is universal with this group: MAKE THINGS BIG!!!
That is by far the number one complaint with seniors. They dont want to squint trying to decipher the 8pt font on the taskbar. They want BIG. Icons, text, etc.
Keep that in mind and seniors on Linux is no different than anyone else or any other OS.
on Aug 2nd, 2009 at 11:24 pm
Linux is like icecream…
a thousand flavors
different favorates for different people
any less flavors would be a loss
make mine spumoni
enjoy
on Aug 3rd, 2009 at 12:52 am
Good article Gene! And you are right on Climinole!
Exposure to public is what Linux is missing. But how will you convert anyone who don’t even know GNU/Linux. Only Dell and netbooks got linux out of the open. But my observation tells me, these are not enough. The big guns of linux/distros should promote first the applications and then linux. Promote the best GNU/linux apps and make it to a “popular” apps. GNU/Linux doesn’t need to have a “killer” app to kill another app. It just need to develop apps to become POPULAR APPS!
The public doesn’t care about OS or distros. We are looking for Apps we would love to spend our precious time with. Apps the public will embrace because it’s fun to use. Games we would like to die for playing. To GNU/Linux devs, please promote apps first and make them popular. I would love to see an add or tv commercial of VLC, Amarok, Cheese, Pidgin someday. Unfortunately, nobody will do it, because these apps are free and ads are not. Money really makes the world go round.
on Aug 3rd, 2009 at 1:10 am
When i teach linux classes and this issue comes up … I ask the audience whether they would all like to drive in a green LADA or whether they like the freedom of choice.
on Aug 3rd, 2009 at 1:28 am
@Brad
I have to disagree totally with your choice argument. One of the things that Windows users always claim about Linux is that there is a dearth of applications, not too many. And your definition of killer app is rather out of sync with most of the uses I have seen of that terminology. I mean, really, Nero a killer app? Why would I want a separate application just to burn a CD when my file manager can do it for me from the context menu? And Office? OpenOffice does everything that 90% of the people who use Office need and doesn’t cost an outrageous amount of money. Even though there are multiple applications to do a given task, this is a good thing, because not everyone likes the same applications. A perfect example of this is clients for downloading torrents. On Windows and Linux both, there a numerous clients and if you ask people why they chose them, the answers would be as varied as the people who gave them. Some people want tons of features and don’t mind a bit of complexity, where others want simplicity. If someone arbitrarily decided that the official torrent client of Linux was going to Ktorrent (which is quite popular among some), I would be extremely pissed because I personally can’t stand it. The same thing applies to distributions. If someone started working to make all distributions look like Linux Mint, I would hate it, because I am a Fedora fanatic. I don’t believe that choice is a deterrent to people switching to Linux and my anecdotal evidence of this came from a project I helped out with at the local high school. One of the teachers there received a donation from the local IRS office of about 30 - 40 laptops. These were nice machines, but had no OS installed and the school didn’t have a budget to buy Windows licenses for them, so the teacher asked me to help his students put Linux on them. I selected Ubuntu and Fedora and set up one machine each with them. I then presented each to the students and told them they could choose which one they preferred on their assigned laptop and in the end, the groups was pretty evenly split between the two. There was no resistance to having to make a choice between the distributions, or the desktop environments either. The students loved that they had that level of control, so that they could make their assigned systems suit their needs. These kids were all Linux novices and other than pointing out their options for dealing with various tasks, they were quite happy to choose the application that best suited them.
Finally, I am glad that there are options. Just today, I was looking for a package to let me keep an electronic journal. I found two applications that fit the bill, almanah and rednotebook. I tried each of them and selected the one that I was most comfortable with. If I hadn’t had the choice, then I might have been stuck with an application I consider to be inferior.
on Aug 3rd, 2009 at 1:56 am
BigLinuxGuy says: \1) Linux is the kernel, not a distribution\
DINGDINGDING!!! We have a winner!!!
Seriously, this point cannot be stressed enough, for too many people get this one COMPLETELY, OUT-TO-LUNCH WRONG. Plus, it completely answers the question of why there are \so many different versions of Linux\.
To wit: there is really only *one* version of Linux - namely, the kernel. There just happens to be 300+ completely individual operating systems which use Linux as their kernel. In fact I’ve often said that we should start referring to these OS’s by their respective names rather than grouping all of them under the \Linux\ banner. It makes as little sense as referring to WIndows 98, XP, Vista and 7 with exactly the same name; no one in his right mind would do that because everyone knows they are all different OS’s. So why are we doing this with LInux-based OS’s?
When you look at it that way it’s pretty easy to see why \there is no standardization\ The problem isn’t that you’re talking about trying to get 300+ versions of Linux under a single standard; the real problem is that you’re expecting 300+ different OS’s to use a single standard.
Even some longtime FOSS users/advocates miss this point by a wide margin.
on Aug 3rd, 2009 at 3:05 am
Standards would be common to different distributions (if common they were), a popular piece of software not universally present might be common amongst distributions and common between (implying spatial ancestry) the distributions might be a descendency from say Debian
on Aug 3rd, 2009 at 3:40 am
“Too many versions”? My guess is that most “newbies” don’t understand that running Linux is like hotrodding. Even if you start out with a complete dist you often change a lot to make it perfect for you…resulting in something personal.
on Aug 3rd, 2009 at 3:48 am
@LinuxLover.
Tarballs may be one good way of distributing software to Linux and other unixlike systems, but it is not the standard way of doing it. There is something called Linux Standard Base (LSB) that most Linux distros conform to. To conform to that standard a distro need to be able to install RPMs. Most debian based distros do this with the help of a program called alien, while distros like Red Hat, Fedora, OpenSuse/Novell, Mandriva do this directly.
It really is a pity that the debian people doesn’t see the advantage of using the standard format as their default packaging format. True, apt-get is a nice way to install software, but nowdays most of the real advantage is gone, as most RPM based distros use similar systems that are just as good.
I can also understand that the Debian people thinks that its unfair that their .deb was not chosen in LSB, but that doesn’t change the fact that RPM now is in LSB, and it would be helpful to Linux as a whole if everybody used it as their default packaging format.
If you are a .deb supporter you, could ask, why should Debian be the ones to change? Well, first it would be better if the normal way of installing software in debian based distros. Well, first of all there are versions of apt-get that can install RPMs, so the only difference at the end user side would be that the package files ended in .rpm instead of .deb, second many debian packages requires configuration input at install time. This makes them harder to use in automated large scale deployments, it also makes them less suitable for use in combination with Packagkit that now is used as a graphical frontend for software installations in many linux distros.
on Aug 3rd, 2009 at 5:10 am
For me there are not enough flavours.
I want one for every piece of electronic hardware there is. That way I can get my camera, my phone, my printer, my car, my TV, my video recorder, my radio, my media centre, my washing machine, fridge, vacuum cleaner, solar generator, electric mower and all the others I’ve forgotten, to communicate with each other, my control centre, my computing device and an Internet grid of other computing devices.
I might be satisfied when Linux can do that for me.
on Aug 3rd, 2009 at 6:46 am
All,
I have been “toying” with different distros of Linux since Red Hat 7.0, and while I wouldn’t say that having options is a bad thing, there are really too many distros for a person wanting to cross over to choose from. I’ll be the first to say that I really don’t care for the major OS in use right now, but I am forced to use it for software dependencies at work that will not work on Linux. So, if I am a new Linux user, how do I decide which distro to try? If my first experience as a new user with Linux is something like Gentoo or Slackware, I may run away with my tail between my legs. Personally, I’m not a huge Ubuntu fan for a few reasons, but it is an easy install for new users. However, if I am a new linux user, I may not know how to get the missing proprietary software to make linux work the way I’m used to it working on the other OS. MEPIS is great for a new user, but not promoted as well as other distros. Also, Fedora and Debian install fairly easy, but again, many things missing “out of the box” that leave a new user wanting more. Also, how is a new user to determine which distros are going to continue to recieve updates and support from the ones that will fade quickly? I am all for Linux, but these are realistic issues that need attention to get more users to switch.
on Aug 3rd, 2009 at 7:22 am
Too many Linux distros? With the ability to roll your own distro, it’s just getting started. The problem is not that there are too many distros, the issue is that one has to be willing to experiment.
on Aug 3rd, 2009 at 7:43 am
One word: investment. When one invests so much time and energy to learn a certain platform. Whatever one’s age is at. Many people think that learning something new means forgetting what one already knows. There is a misperception about learning here..
on Aug 3rd, 2009 at 9:35 am
Do people just make up things to say about Linux. I mean Nero….a killer app? I was so happy when I switched to Linux and found K3b that I laugh at anytime someone even mentions Nero. I laugh at the experiences I have had burning disks on Window vs Linux using the same hardware.
Anyway what does it matter how many distros there are. Most new users are going to be exposed to Ubuntu or Fedora and maybe OpenSuSE. Those 3 are straight forward enough for them. I won’t speak for the others because I haven’t seen this happen but I at least see the Ubuntu community as a gateway. When you visit the Ubuntu forums you can find info on other distros with people even recommending them for particular uses (unlike others that spend time bashing).
But to solve the problem once and for all I believe all of the major distros should get together and form a Flagship Linux distro that takes a slice of all worlds to get new people acquainted with Linux. It will be a known thing that this is a noob distro so no need for experienced users whinning about the distro being “limited” or dumbed down.
on Aug 3rd, 2009 at 9:41 am
Too many versions of Linux? How about the ridiculous number of Windows versions–Vista Business Supra Ulti-premium Plus II for Educators, etc. At least Linux versions have clearly defined differences based on substance, rather than being artificial and senseless degrees of crippleware to drive future up-selling.
on Aug 3rd, 2009 at 11:10 am
This is like saying, “Baskin and Robbins has too many flavors! I might have to …um….decide on one. Too many choices. Give me vanilla. Plain.”
It’s all about having a choice.
Try a few flavors. Live on the edge. Find one you like and …use it.
– grnich
on Aug 3rd, 2009 at 11:29 am
@ Brad:
Well, there is a certain amount of truth to “too many choices can be overwhelming.” This really though, is mostly in reference to places where people aren’t use to choice. In other areas of life, people often make one choice among very many and don’t think that much of it, because they are prepared for the choice and know what differences to expect.
The types of comments you mention from long time Linux users don’t really seem very common to me. I see way more helpful posts than smart aleck posts in forums. Usually, when I see comments like these it is in some esoteric IRC channel that is not really the first place that a new user is likely to be going for help.
I don’t think that you are really using the phrase “killer app” as I am used to seeing it used, but let’s look at the list you give.
Office: Well, some office program is certainly important, but it being Microsoft Office hardly seems that critical, unless you already have a bunch of documents and macros written for it. But being locked into a format is really another matter altogether and doesn’t make Microsoft Office a killer app. There are decent alternatives on other operating systems. If you are saying that MS Office is the dominant program on Windows, so the choice is a no brainer, well then, there is OpenOffice.org for Linux. If you think that the viability of KOffice makes it too tough for people to choose, then I can’t agree with you. I think the choice between two different office suites is not that taxing.
Nero: Well, if Nero is so great, then you could always use Nero for Linux. However, I personally think that Nero doesn’t hold a candle to the choices I have in Linux. In Linux, there are basically three all purpose burning apps that a user is likely to encounter with little searching: K3b, Gnomebaker, and Brasero. Now it is very unfortunate that Brasero seems to be a buggy, brain dead program that can give you all sorts of trouble with certain tasks for no apparent reason and without even throwing any errors. However, the other two programs are both quite competent. K3b absolutely blows Nero away in my book. Are there other burning apps out there? Certainly, but most are not something you’ll run across unless you are looking for something a bit more specialized (plenty of burning apps exist in Windows too).
Photoshop: Well this might be your first hit as far as I’m concerned. I personally can get along with Krita, Gimp, and Cinepaint quite well enough. However, Photoshop is a very popular program, and there is one way or another that it surpasses each of these programs (there are the odd advantages that they have over it at times, but they’re not as common). Of course these programs continue to improve, and who knows what we will see in the future.
Norton: Of what use is Norton? As far as the use people put it to on Windows, it is far from the only popular choice. I don’t see this being “the killer app” from any angle.
Nod32: I didn’t know what this was and had to look it up. That should be saying enough right there.
Malwarebytes: I have only ever used this to clean up other people’s Windows machines. I don’t see the critical use on Linux.
From my perspective, you are one for six with your “killer app” list. Really, though, with Free software there is no way you are going to pare down the list of available software for a particular use. Actually, with Windows software there is no way you are going to pare down the list of available software for a particular use. There are plenty of choices to do almost anything in Windows as well. The more prevalent applications will float to the top in Linux the same way they do in Windows. Well, not exactly the same way because there is no single operating system vendor that pushes out the competition for any other software they decide to try and sell.
on Aug 3rd, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Gene,
I will be 68 in five days! I have been running Linux for 11 years.
I have installed Linux on the computers of about a dozen “old” people, of whom only a couple are under 65 and one is 78. None have computer training or experience beyond Joe and Sally Sixpack. Most just do surfing, emailing, letter writing or tracking their digital photos. ALL have had such significant troubles with Windows that they couldn’t keep it running without asking me, periodically, to “fix it” (debug, rebuild or reinstall). It got so annoying to be constantly redoing the same disinfecting or repairing, almost on a weekly basis, that I told them I wouldn’t “do Windows” any more and said I’d support them if they allowed me to REPLACE Windows with Linux. All agreed. In the last three years I’ve had less than half a dozen calls for help, all related to hardware failure or absent mindedness. It has taken a load off my shoulders and given them a reliable, fast and secure computer experience. The oldest one remarked to me in church a couple weeks ago how beautiful KDE4 was, and how well it worked. I agreed!
on Aug 3rd, 2009 at 4:05 pm
1)More distros lead to more innovation. Developers have a better chance to come up with the best solution by trying their own unique ways to solve a problem. Eventually the best solution found by one distro is adopted by all the other distros. Think of this as medical laboratories around the world working around the clock to find a vaccine for a pandemic causing flu. Do you see how fast innovation works here?
2) More diversity leads to less chances of everyone falling sick together. Less virus infections in a more diverse ecosystem.
So I have to say that more the distros available, the better it is for the world.
on Aug 3rd, 2009 at 6:58 pm
[...] found this article in my feed reader this morning, which piqued my interest because, as you all know, I think the mind [...]
on Aug 3rd, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Anyone following this should go read the URL linked to in comment #33 above. Obviously the dude takes exception to any attempt to correct poor grammar. Actually, he also seems to have missed the point of my article.
Anyway, I too make grammatical errors on occasion. Probably more often than I realize since writing is just my hobby, not my job. Feel free to correct me when you catch my errors.
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 6:30 pm
@JohnMC:
You’re nearing 60, and yet you use terms like “Windoze”? It’s people like you who make me ashamed to admit that I use Linux.
And going by the article, yes, Linux lacks standardization. I don;’ mind so many distributions as much as I mind multiple package management systems, front-ends, graphical front-ends for those front-ends and so on. A previous poster commented that tarballs are standardized. Does he/she realize a normal user doesn’t even know what a tarball means?
So much for close-mindedness.
on Oct 22nd, 2009 at 6:56 pm
CoolingGibbon (comment #35) thanks for the comment.
For the record, I could not care less if folks use Micro$oft, M$, Windoze, and the like in their comments here. There is a level of contempt for Microsoft that some people express this way. I have been guilty of it myself in the past. Sure, it is not “professional” but most of these folks making these comments are plain users, not IT professionals. However, if an IT professional or retired IT professional does it I think they have probably earned the right to their expression of contempt for Microsoft. Lighten up.
BTW, did you mean your close-mindedness?
on Oct 23rd, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Hey Gene,
Yes, I suppose I did!
I used to think “I” was close-minded before I came across Mr. I’m-too-cool-at-60 back there. I just wish people would accept whatever works for them and move on. There’s simply no need to bash something uselessly, because both Windows and Linux can and should benefit each other. Heck, I use Arch and WinXP and love ‘em both. Obviously grandpa John (IT pro or not) can do much better!
Anyway, thanks for an interesting read. Cheers.