Re: I agree linux is not for avg. homeuser

From: Andrew Spartz (aspartzNOSPAM_at_pinenet.com)
Date: 12/26/03 

Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 03:07:31 -0600

Jim Hubbard <valid@email.address> wrote:

> Before being allowed to introduce code for inclusion in any project (Linux,
> Windows or otherwise), I think that Steve Krug's book, "DON'T MAKE ME
> THINK!", should be REQUIRED reading.
>
> Want to win? Make it easy.

This is indeed a sorry statement about America today. Unortunately is
it 100% true. I wrote Mac drivers for many years. It was a constant
battle betwen me & the boss, power user vs idiot. When computers became
toasters the business left me behind.

To weigh in on the Linux/MS issue: I prefer Linux because is seems to
use system resources more eficiently. In Win2K my SETI client competes
a unit in "x" hours. The same box running redhat (no GUI) oes the same
work in about 2/3 to 1/2 "x". Unortunately, clocks and memory are
getting cheaper and cheaper. It is no long cost efective to write
eficient code. Slopppy code will run acceptably on a P4/G4 box fast
enough for BobTheAverageUser. This concept too, led to my demise in the
SW marketplace. Becuase the BIG advante of Linux is now moot, the
battle for OS in this generation may be over.

There is another problem. "Exceeding" MS is not practical in most
cases, as they set the standards for functionality. If you add a new
feature to OpenOffice, the file is no longer compatible with the
"standard" of MS office.

Linux needs to a) Be as simple to use/install as Windoze, b) get the
available base of sw that already exists, and c) push that it is much
CHEAPER than winDoze.

Case in point. I had a client that needed a file server to keep their
accoiunting packge happy as peer to peer was becoming a bottleneck.
After lengthy conversations with the vendor, I was forced to recommend a
Win2003 server becuase the sw vendor would not agree that a linux box
and Samba would be aceptable. $$$$$ peeed away. If I had had the time,
I would have put in the linux server and let them try it, but scheduling
was a nightmare and the sw vendor refused to help with the transition to
anything other than a windoze server, despite a $x000/yr service
contract with my client.

ARS

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