just accepting of the fact that the world is full of dumbed-down users courtesy of dumbed-down Redmond, users who need eye candy and pain-free installation to consider switching and RedHat 7.2 is so far the closest to acheiving
It's not just "dumbed-down users" (calling people "dumbed-down users" suggests that they are somehow ignorant, stupid or lazy, which may be true, but such statements tend to reinforce "Linux is elitist" views- sorry if I misunderstood your tone, but here I go)....
<RANT> Also remember that the majority of users do not consider computers a 'hobby'. They simply want to sit at a computer, turn it on, send e-mails, browse some porn ;), download and print off digital camera pics, play a game etc, then go to the pub, look after the kids, go to work. Computers are now so commonplace that they are just tools. These people make up the majority of the Western World. (Well, Western Europe and North America).
For example, I use a car. A car is fairly complex, and it would be a great idea to know how a car works. But I want to get in it, and drive to work. That is all. I do not want to get in it and realise that in fact I have to rebuild the engine because I bought my petrol from Jet not Esso (cos I thought it was the same stuff anyway). I want to use it. If cars interested me, which they do not in any way, I may wish to spend hours tinkering away. In which case I would buy a kit car anyway.
Similarly, I do not want to tinker with my washing machine, mobile phone, TV, video, stereo or central heating. Perhaps idealistically I *should*, but come on, there's more interesting things in life.
The real problem with the tinkering thing is that if you're using Linux for home use, your time is short (unless you do not have work, have kids, have other hobbies or a social life). That is not to devalue the disabled, or the unemployed, it is just a statement that most people do not have that circumstance, and the desktop market is for 'most people'. </RANT>
So here's to easy installations, here's to linux distro's that can handle USB, the new Mega-wonder video cards, play whizz-bang games, all out of the box, and all after the initial installation! Let the people eat cake!
(Of course, keep the server market obscure if the wages are higher because of it. I'll tinker away happily 9-5 if I'm getting paid for it!) :) Ricardo
Hi Ricardo, Excellent post. Sorry about the 'dumbed-down' bit, I did mean it in the same sense that your post intended - not as a derogatory comment but a statement of observation in the same way that you could say cars have dumbed-down courtesy of ignition keys and starter motors rather hand cranks (weak analogy I know). You're right in the way you put it - alot more succinct and relevant. People want an appliance first. Learning to fix your washing machine may be of interest to some people but having to get your tools out and configure the drum speed and load the correct soap-powder module before you can do the washing is a bit daft (persil.o anyone??).
So here's to easy installations, here's to linux distro's that can handle USB, the new Mega-wonder video cards, play whizz-bang games, all out of the box, and all after the initial installation! Let the people eat cake!
I'll drink to that!!!
Having paid for my drinks courtesy of :
keep the server market obscure if the wages are higher because of it. I'll tinker away happily 9-5 if I'm getting paid for it!)
Cheers Earl
[earl.brannigan@lindenhouse.co.uk] www.lindenhouse.co.uk Intellectual : Someone who can spend a whole day locked in a room with a tea cosy without once thinking of trying it on. Highbrow : Someone who can listen to the entire William Tell Overture without once thinking of the Lone Ranger.
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Earl Brannigan -
Ricardo Campos