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Monday 23 March 2009, 3:52 AM
Pandering to the Masses
All the pro-Linux organizations out there ought to write their Socialist, Communist or Democratic party US Representative and/or US Senator to support the anti-monopolist masses and make the computer manufacturers that are in the back-pocket of Microsoft distribute something other than the Redmond Gorilla's latest non-operating system.
IT workers unite! Its time for Ubuntu, Novell, Red Hat, Google and IBM-SUN to support the coming computer revolution or be swept away when the new digital proletariat takes over.
(Let's hope Richard Stallman hasn't shaved his beard. There needs to be somebody involved in all of this with a really Bolshevik looking beard.)
Jeez Louise! I thought I lived in a democratic-republican country, not the United Soviet Socialist States of America! A tax that is not even remotely fair should not be allowed at all. Especially since its retro-active to January 1, 2009. That is how angry the general population is. Its also how scared the Democratic party is because when the angry population sees that the tax burden is going to hit everybody not just the wealthy, there will be major chaos to follow. The politicos are letting this idiotic anger over bonuses cloud the real issues.
If the Pro-Linux people want to push to get more people exposed to Desktop Linux, now would be the time. The general populations' anger against those taking advantage of perks, “earmarks” and other legislative favors to large corporations is much more diffuse than just focused on AIG. People are looking for answers and some of them will be more willing to look at something not delivered by a known international monopolistic corporation.
With interest rates in the toilet on savings accounts, I've heard more than one person suggesting taking their paychecks home in cash and to h--- with the banks. New computers will not be top choice this year unless they are small in-expensive netbooks that can be paid for with one paycheck or less.
As much as people seem willing to blindly accept Microsoft, they really haven't had a choice. They need to see in-expensive options on those netbooks. They need to see them before the Christmas buying season starts. The most expensive part of the netbook will be the OS if its Microsoft.
I doubt that there will be much joy in Mudville once the World Series is over and people discover that Johnny or Janey can't get a new laptop this Christmas because Mommy and Daddy don't have jobs. Others who do have jobs will be looking for ways to keep what they have and do software and plug-in upgrades instead of whole new systems.
If the Linux distros ever want to make Desktop Linux a reality, this is the year to do it. The conditions are going to be perfect for Linux in about 3 to 4 months.
PreviousComments on this post
It would also help if manufacturers and retailers did not designate hardware compatibility as Windows (and sometimes Mac) only. Obvious examples are external drives, mice, USB storage and devices.
Most hardware will run on Linux and, indeed, be recognised and installed much more quickly, and usually without a request for a re-start.
My most recent experience is with a USB wireless device, installed in Linux almost instantaneously but took two or three minutes in Windows.
Another experience in Windows is that of plugging a USB device into a different USB connection and having to going through the whole installation process and, in some case, a re-start.
Whilst I'm on the subject, patching and updating on Linux is so much quicker and easier.
So we need to lobby the manufacturers to include Linux in their compatibility so that potential Linux adopters, both skilled and unskilled, are not put off by thinking their SD card (for example) cannot be used in Linux. Maplin is one example of such an offender, USB keys compatible with Windows.
Worth mentioning here that for a user just requiring the basic tools on a computer, Linux is, in fact, easier to use than Windows and not as yet subject to all the security issues which plague Windows, cost users money and lead inexperienced users into all manner of difficulties.
My one reservation is patchy support for printers and scanners.
I agree completely. I would add that it would be in the interest of all to have a Linux UI that operates like Windows Explorer. The one big thing that Microsoft has done successfully is force everybody world-wide to learn how to operate Explorer. If Gnome and KDE were "Explorer-Like" or could be put into that mode (button on the menu bar) then there wouldn't be any reason people couldn't run Linux with familiarity and feel confortable with something "not-Windows".
On the Printer Point - HP Printers have always been well supported on Linux. I think it stems back to the days when the network printers were mainly HP's. Its a shame Lexmark offer poor support, with its links to IBM & Linux. Wireless Network Printers, especially HP - work well. I use an HP6840 with Ubuntu. This is built-in.
The logitech Air Mouse is a good example of built-in Linux support which doesn't get mentioned on the box - works perfectly, even the gestures.
My niece recently had her Windows infected with a variety of viruses from using the Bebo site. Windows XP became unuseable, constantly accessing the disk, and slowing everything to a crawl. The laptop I'd set up for her - I'd made dual boot with Ubuntu 8, she switched to this (while I wasn't visiting to repair it) - and carried on using Bebo, this time she had no problems from viruses - and has been using the system for 3 months now with few complaints - though I have now repaired her XP installation, - by re-imaging from a backup.
Your comment on HP printer support is true. I was very surprised when my $100(?) Office-Jet practically installed itself on Xubuntu. I plugged it into the USB port and started the system and had an installed printer by the time it got the desktop open.
