Mainstream . . . (LONG)

[Brian Densmore]

Walter,

   Only one flaw in your logic. Linux and KDE/Gnome are powerful, stable,
and infinitely =configurable=. 
    Therein lies the problem.
    The more configurable, the less marketable to =mainstream= audiences.
Interfaces need to be dumbed down a bit for the average user, believe me I
know from personal experience. Complex things tend to turn average people
off. which explains why people use cassette players instead of reel tape
players (except of course professional recorders), even though the reel
players/recorders are superior [they're just too complicated].

Remember Rich Cook's definition of programming:
   Programming: A race between Software Engineers
(striving to make bigger and better idiot-proof programs)
and the Universe
(striving to make bigger and better idiots).
So far the Universe is winning!

PS. I also pay for my Linux software, for all the reasons you do. although I
generally buy direct.

Best Regards,
Brian

Brian Densmore <mailto:DensmoreB at ctbsonline.com>  

 
Associate 
Computech Business Solutions <http://www.ctbsonline.com>  
voice: (816) 880-0988
fax: (816) 880-0998
:-{)> 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Walter [mailto:Zscoundrel at netscape.net]
> Sent: Sunday, February 11, 2001 5:11 PM
> To: kclug at kclug.org
> Subject: Re: RE: Mainstream . . . (LONG)
> 
> 
> I have to disagree.  If you look back at Microsoft 
> annoncements, you will see that there are more copies of Red 
> Hat Linux out there now than all the copies of 'doze 3.1 ever 
> sold.  (this includes all of the licenses of 3.1 that were 
> paid for twice as part of a new computer and then replaced 
> with OS/2 that included a license of 3.11 and some other 
> pretty 'loose' counting practices!)
> 
> There are people writing software for Linux, and more will, 
> once we establish that there is a market for it.  I know that 
> we can easily download a number of distributions freely, but 
> instead, I try to buy the package from a local vendor.  It 
> costs me a little more, but the time I save is well worth the 
> few dollars and it tells 'Sam's Club', 'Barnes and Noble' and 
> 'Office Depot' "Thank You!" in a way that executives, 
> stockholders and even bean counters can appreciate.