Re: Micro$oft is at it again...

[Tim Gray <tgray@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I don't see how the statement quoted below could begin a flame war. 
However I do now feel the need to qualify my phrase "meagerly competent
person to boot and run".  

By 'run' I intended to include basic configuration tasks, such as
getting online, adding new hardware and software.  While RPMs are
available, most of the really cool things still require ./configure ;
make ; make install.  That's something I wouldn't wish on Joe User.  I
do agree that an already set up and configured Linux system is just as
easy to use as a Win system.

I'd also like to concede a point:  When referring to the free software
that's out there, I was thinking of all the programs that I've found for
Linux that have no readily comparable free equivalent for Windows. 
After reading Adam's response, I thought a bit more and realized that
the programs I had in mind are more network security/monitoring and
server oriented.  Hardly something Joe User is going to be messing
around with when he's trying to got online to get his email, surf his
favorite sites and run his IM.  So you got me on that one Adam.

Finally, in reference to not being able to picture a lot of GPL
programmers adopting a MS language...  When has MS ever allowed anything
like the consideration of ethics or ideals get in the way of it's
arrogance?  I do not believe they have considered that there may be
enough resistance to them now that they won't be able to steamroller it
over the computer industry.  

For those who are cheesed about my above paragraph, I apologize (kinda)
for venting some of my anti-MS sentiment.  (There, I said it, I didn't
mean it, but I made the effort. *grin*)

Have a great weekend!  I will and you should to!

Adam Tauno Williams wrote:

> Not to start yet another flame war but I also take expection to the statement
> "meagerly competent person to boot and run".  A preinstalled Linux box is just
> as easy to use as a pre-installed Win box.  I have several users who's home
> machines got obliterated by the various VBS worms, some are still trying to get
> them working again.  Video driver issues, etc..., are not and never will be
> simple to resolve.  My wife uses floppy disks, plays' CDs, prints, and all that
> stuff without ever typing a command,  just click here, click there... etc.  In
> fact a local pastor who has a Mac laptop popped it open the other day near one
> of my X stations and it was errie at how similair the UI assumptions had/have
> become.