🚀 go-pugleaf

Robi Karp (robi@fluffyspider.com.au.delete.this.to.email.me) wrote:
: 
: Let's say, hypothetically, someone had an opportunity to write an
: article that was pro Linux in a reputable personal computer magazine.


I think the only safe way to do this would be to write a balanced 
article. 

Linux is not for everyone - that is to say, UNIX in general is not for everyone.

However much I'd like to push my favourite flavour of OS onto 
everyone, and proselytise about it, the harsh reality is that the needs 
of some people will not be met by something like linux, or in fact 
complicate the whole process of computing to make the experience 
unenjoyable.

Also, Linux is not for the casual user - in fact I don't advocate anyone 
installing it onto a machine without some kind of justification.
It requires skill and some level of knowledge of several areas of discipline
to install a linux system correctly.  (let alone operate it)

Even with the new simplified install procedures such as found with RedHat 
etc, it is not uncommon to have to do a fair amount of of tweaking of 
hardware or software to make things work smoothly.  Vis all the posts 
from people who have trouble getting X working for example.

Some jobs which are transparent or "brain damaged" on a PC like setting 
up a monitor or printer or some other device are not exactly simple 
on a Linux system.  not to mention the people who beg to get PPP or SL/IP
enabled on a system.

Personally, I try to introduce people to UNIX at the user level first, 
perhaps by giving them a shell account to tinker with, and with restricted 
permissions.  Later these people might want to try minilinux, so as to 
not trash an otherwise working gates-virus system, and to get them used 
to starting/stopping the system, or doing a small amount of system admin 
tasks.

This is where you can see whether someone is going to be any good 
or have the nerve to carry on.

Most people want a toaster, and linux does not do this - it's an ongoing 
relationship you have with the computer, and it can become frustrating 
if the expectations aren't met that come with the promise of multitasking,
multuser true 32bit resource friendly software.  It's no good 
having these features if the user/operator is not able to comprehend 
how to manage these things.

Anytime I present someone linux as an alternative to the gates-virus,
I always make it clear that it involves a lot of study, of books,
USENET, and tech documents like the how-tos.

When it comes to support,  I say something like "It's better support 
than you will get from a commercial vendor, but you have to do the work 
yourself".  The thing is, linux might be free but it's not a free lunch.

OTOH, when it comes to free software, or that covered by GPL or whatever,
I maintain that such packages are more often than not of exceptionally 
high quality, and designed and maintained by people who love what they 
do - and it shows.   This something that I think could gain a mention.

Basically, I think the main thing to be said is that Linux is not 
for the casual user of computers, and one must have some time 
on their hands, with a desire to learn something new, or the experience 
will not be particularly satisfying...

rachel



                 defghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz:  What? No ABC?
--
Rachel Polanskis                 Kingswood, Greater Western Sydney, Australia 
grove@zeta.org.au                http://www.zeta.org.au/~grove/grove.html
r.polanskis@nepean.uws.edu.au    http://www.nepean.uws.edu.au/ccd/
                Witty comment revoked due to funding cuts