Author: Christophe Theron
Date: 16:45:02 12/06/99
Go up one level in this thread
On December 05, 1999 at 21:11:36, Robert Hyatt wrote:
>On December 05, 1999 at 16:42:55, Christophe Theron wrote:
>
>>On November 30, 1999 at 09:13:30, Vincent Diepeveen wrote:
>>
>>>Here i reply to my own message? Why?
>>>I"m using this linux program/unix program called Lynx.
>>>I have 20 lines or so. I DO NOT SEE HOW TO INSERT lines.
>>>Me as a programmer can not EASILY see how i insert a line.
>>>Lynx is heaven compared to linux programs. You need to
>>>read gigabyte of doc files and ask a lot of friends how to
>>>get things done before you can install it. I never ever tried
>>>to install my cable modem in linux i never even installed internet
>>>at my system. Linux is improving, no doubts about that,
>>>but what is more important in this world, something that works
>>>wel or something that works better and better yet the others
>>>improve faster? Same question as for computer chess engines.
>>>We can only see in the future how it unfolds. For now the
>>>Merced is gonna be an important obstacle. If companies like
>>>redhat can offer linux systems that are a lot more user friendly
>>>and more integrating things with a better compiler than or just
>>>as good as the visual compiler, then linux makes a chance to expand. As the
>>>world gets more computer expansion is there anyway, but i guess most important
>>>is relavite expansion: the % of the market you occupy.
>>>For now linux is getting used by f'ing freaks who need to spent nearly fulltime
>>>learning how to work with it.
>>>that is the main obstacle. Software is of course another point but that's a bit
>>>smaller points if linux users would be WILLING to pay for something
>>>the average linux user is either student like me or working at a university or
>>>learned during his university period to work with it. they don't want to pay for
>>>anything. that's the main problem for game developers.
>>
>>
>>I completely agree with you, Vincent.
>>
>>Linux is probably very good, but it's very hard to notice ! :)
>>
>
>
>
>That isn't exactly true. Microsoft has _definitely_ noticed it. They noticed
>it enough to run a SMP test with a terribly mis-configured linux box, so that
>they could show how much better NT performs as a file server, and a http
>server, and so forth. :) I can supply some _real_ data for anyone that is
>interested...
I have no doubts that Linux is definitely technically superior in its abilities.
But it's vastly inferior in ease of use.
>>I have set up one of my computers with Linux, because as a professional
>>programmer I cannot afford to ignore it.
>>
>>It was very hard to get it running. It was hard to get my video card working
>>properly. It was hard to get the sound card working.
>>
>>I tried to get the MSDOS emulation working. It's one of the main things for me:
>>I want to get rid of Microsoft stuffs, but still need (at least for a while) to
>>run my DOS utilities.
>>
>>I had to read dozens of docs, spend several hours, and finally I gave up.
>>
>>Two days ago I had to change the motherboard on this system. Now Linux does not
>>work anymore. I can boot it from a floppy, but then I have no idea how to get it
>>working again.
>>
>>Compare this with Windows (I'm still using good old W95B): I just had to reboot,
>>Windows noticed some changes on the hardware, made the appropriate changes, and
>>it worked in 2 minutes.
>
>
>From my experience, rebooting is so common.. :) My wife boots, connects to
>her ISP, gets a disconnect, and can't reconnect until she reboots. Disgusts
>her when I just keep working and let my ppp connection automatically re-
>connect after a failure with no action on my part... and certainly no re-
>booting...
I totally agree. With Windows I have to reboot at least 10 times a day. Last
weeks I had some crazy days with more than 50 reboots a day.
And I'm working on 5 computers at the same time, so you can imagine the time I
spend rebooting! No joke.
>>I'm planning to erase Linux from my computer and try it again next year. My
>>plans to port Tiger on Linux are delayed.
>>
>>
>>I'm very sad about this: I would really like to work on a non-MS platform. With
>>Windows I don't feel in control of my computer anymore (especially W98). But
>>with Linux it's even worse! I feel I don't control anything anymore. Each time I
>>have the smallest problem I know it's going to take hours to fix it.
>
>
>This is a stretch. Come to Birmingham Alabama. I will show you a company
>that is managing the electric power for the southeast US, running _linux_.
>I will show you a campus (UAB) with over 20,000 employees, an enormous medical
>center, etc... things like our campus-wide voice mail system? Linux. News
>server? Linux. Email server? Linux. Campus DNS server? Linux. I do a
>"intro to Linux" continuing education 2-day class 4 times a year. It usually
>has 10-20 people in it. Maybe 2 are from inside the university. Maybe another
>2-3 are just interested in Linux in general. The others are businesses that are
>using linux in mission-critical applications...
>
>It does work. It never crashes. It is utterly reliable...
But Robert I don't disagree. What you say is true, I have no doubt.
The problem is that Linux is too complex. It does not mean it will be so
forever, but at this time it has absolutely no chance against Windows.
It hurts me to say so. I had big hopes about it because I really want an
alternative to Windoze. That's why I'm a little bit harsh against Linux. I'm
disappointed.
Nobody can use this stuff. I mean 1% of computers addicts will invest the dozen
hours needed to master it, but 99% of computer users won't.
I could learn how to use it and do wonderful things with it. But I won't. I'm
really motivated to find an alternative to Windoze, but at this time Linux is
not an option.
If I learn how to use it but nobody else uses it because it's too difficult, I
have wasted my time.
My opinion is that even Windows is too complex to use for the average user. So
you can imagine what I think about Linux...
Linux is like a jewel in a piece of shit. Windows is a piece of shit in a jewel
case. I like none of them.
I would have no problem to pay more for Linux than for Windows, but only if it
was easy to configure and to use.
I think there is a huge market for Linux, especially if you add a good MSDOS and
Windows emulator (I have been unable to try them, too messy), and I hope it will
evolve in the good direction. I will try it again, exactly as I have tried OS/2
at least 5 times (installed it 5 times on different computer) before giving up.
It took me 3 years to admit OS/2 was not satisfying. It was a disaster for me to
see the end of this OS.
Christophe
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