Desktop Linux (fwd)

[Michael Costolo]

--- "Kenneth E. Lussier" <klussier at sentito.com> wrote:
> I would agree with Maddog's assessment on this point. "Cool Software" in
> a family setting is usually defined in a few ways:
> 
> 1) The most popular games that all of little Johny's friends have
> 2) Children's educational software (although I think that teaching your
> 4-year old Perl is a good thing ;-)
> 3) The applications that Mom and Dad use at work.

You have to wait until they're 4 to teach them Perl?  I know you've got me on the
games.  But there are alternatives to that.  But what applications do Mom and Dad
use at work that do not have *equivalents* on a Linux box?  

> Also, note that "cool software" does not have to mean that the software
> itself does cool things. In a general home setting, "cool software" is
> the software/programs/games/apps that everyone you know has. 

Generically speaking?  If that were truly the case, wouldn't you suppose that would
leave Apple rather userless?

> The perception to many people is that their access provider will not support you
if > you use anything other than the listed applications

The super clueless are perhaps a lost cause in any event.

> The average home user wants a technical support number, not a mailing
> list. Besides, if their problem is a networking problem, or they can't
> get their e-mail to work right, then they have no help. 

Certainly true.  But the point was that an alternate support system *does* exist. 
Not in the same form, but so what?

> Yes, it really does depend on the use of Linux at work.  People want to
> use what they are familiar with. They use a computer at work far more
> then they do at home, so the one at work is where they gain their
> experience. 

But at work what to they *do*?  Spreadsheets, documents, email, web-browsing? 
(Probably in the reverse order.) Regardless of platform, they all work pretty much
the same.  Do you honestly think people in general are so Microsoft-braindead that
they don't believe that they can compose an email if they don't have Outlook?  Or
write a letter if they don't have Word?  

Is it *really* that bad?

-Mike-

=====
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it"
-George Bernard Shaw

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