Return to BSD News archive
Path: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au!newshost.anu.edu.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!news.cs.su.oz.au!inferno.mpx.com.au!goliath.apana.org.au!news.syd.connect.com.au!news.mel.connect.com.au!munnari.OZ.AU!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!lepidopteran.cse.psu.edu!news.cc.swarthmore.edu!netnews.upenn.edu!dsinc!ub!ns1.potsdam.edu!news
From: nelson@ns.crynwr.com (Russell Nelson)
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.development.system,comp.unix.bsd.386bsd.misc,comp.unix.bsd.bsdi.misc,comp.unix.bsd.netbsd.misc,comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc,comp.os.linux.advocacy
Subject: Re: Historic Opportunity facing Free Unix (was Re: The Lai/Baker paper, benchmarks, and the world of free UNIX)
Date: 15 Apr 1996 05:05:53 GMT
Organization: Crynwr Software
Lines: 77
Message-ID: <NELSON.96Apr15010553@ns.crynwr.com>
NNTP-Posting-Host: ns.crynwr.com
CC: jkh@time.cdrom.com (Jordan K. Hubbard)
Xref: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au comp.os.linux.development.system:21532 comp.unix.bsd.386bsd.misc:629 comp.unix.bsd.bsdi.misc:3249 comp.unix.bsd.netbsd.misc:3069 comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc:17476 comp.os.linux.advocacy:45832
From: jkh@time.cdrom.com (Jordan K. Hubbard)
Date: 12 Apr 1996 18:05:08 -0700
In article <NELSON.96Apr12112334@ns.crynwr.com> nelson@ns.crynwr.com (Russell Nelson) writes:
As bad as it is, and you've already somewhat disqualified yourself
from really judging it anyway since you're clearly a UNIX power user
and NOT an average Joe.
I don't think you understand the problem here, Jordan. The problem is
not "which is easier to use?". This question is technically
answerable, however, the answer is meaningless. The problem is that
Microsoft has complete mindshare. People don't evaluate which
operating system is better than another. People just go buy a
computer, and they use whatever operating system comes with it.
If they could buy a computer with Linux and (a fully functional) Wine
installed, they would use it with no hesitation.
In order to create a market for Linux, we need to say, and say again,
that Linux is THE ONLY RELIABLE 32-bit desktop operating system. The
only other choices simply are not up to the task. This is not about
stating what is, but about what should be.
THIS IS HOW MICROSOFT MARKETS ITS PRODUCTS. Why do you think there
was sooooo much hype about win95? It's because there HAD to have
been, otherwise people might start evaluating operating systems.
Now, given that we have to use the same weapon to win the war, where
do we start? Do we try to introduce the idea that there are multiple
free 32-bit operating systems? No. This is a bad marketing idea.
Bad, bad, bad. It confuses people. There is room for only one free
32-bit operating system. Which is it to be, Linux or *BSD*? Linux
already has a big head start, given that there have been Linux
conferences and a Linux magazine, and multiple companies distributing
competitive versions of Linux (but it's always Linux). You could
throw away the head start of Linux, but that would be foolish. Much
better to line up everyone behind Linux, and march to Seattle.
This might sound like bullshit to you, but that's okay, because it's
marketing. Technoids traditionally do not understand marketing, or
the value of it.
Nope. There is only one Unix for the desktop: Linux.
Oh please, give me a break. Repeat after me: There is NO UNIX for the
desktop...
Nope. You've got it exactly backwards. There is only one modern,
reliable, supported, supportable 32-bit operating system for the
desktop: Linux. We need to shout this from the rooftops. This is not
blind advocacy, this is a CRUCIAL step to overcoming the Microsoft
hegemony.
Trust me, I keep a *very* close eye on what Linux is doing, being
responsible as I am for FreeBSD's installation, and the holy grail
Linux most definitely ain't. Yes, there are some very nice features
in RedHat and Slackware and I'll probably be adopting more than a few
of their installation features into FreeBSD, but that's like saying
that we've all got this rutted, single lane dirt road and I've noticed
that RedHat just put down some gravel and am thinking of doing the
same thing for FreeBSD's stretch of it. Meanway, the 8 lane paved
superhighway of Windows runs next door with bumper-to-bumper traffic
while we wave at the occasional passing car moving cautiously at 30Mph
to avoid the potholes as it moves down our road.
See? Again and again you address technical issues. Technical issues,
in general, don't matter.
But you didn't answer my question: what is wrong with Linux that you
cannot fix?
--
-russ <nelson@crynwr.com> http://www.crynwr.com/~nelson
Crynwr Software | Crynwr Software sells packet driver support | PGP ok
11 Grant St. | +1 315 268 1925 voice | If you would seek peace,
Potsdam, NY 13676 | +1 315 268 9201 FAX | first seek freedom