[mythtv-users] On the verge of giving up

Kevin Hulse jedi at mishnet.org
Sun Sep 23 21:21:49 UTC 2007


On Sun, Sep 23, 2007 at 01:56:26PM -0600, Brian Wood wrote:
> Michael T. Dean wrote:
> > On 09/23/2007 12:33 PM, Rich West wrote:
> >> Success stories like that are becoming more frequent, which makes 
> >> further inroads in to the desktop.
> > 
> > At which point people can spend hundreds of hours re-learning how to do
> > everything they've spend the last 12+ years learning to do with
> > Windows/Windows applications so they can save $150/5yrs or so by using
> > GNU/Linux and FOSS.  (Oh, right, most everyone buys Windows from OEM's. 
> > Therefore, they'll only save $20/1-2yrs or so.  Maybe even enough to
> > cover the cost of an SD subscription.)
> > 
> > Mike "GNU/Linux can only win if it's so much better than Windows that
> > it's worth learning***" Dean
> 
> Properly done there is no "learning" for an average Windows desktop user.
> 
> I have sat several Windows users down in front of a KDE desktop, with
> icons labeled "email" and "word" (note the lower-case "w", wouldn't want
> to infringe a trademarked English word).
> 
> All the users pretty much figured out that they had to click on the
> appropriate icon, and had no problems figuring out complex concepts like
> "compose", or "file -> print".
> 
> So what is it they have to "learn"? How to install Linux? How many
> Windows users actually know how to install *that* OS (with all it's
> updates and accessories).
> 
> In fact, given a bare machine, I suspect that most "computer novices"
> would have a working system that would do email and WP MUCH faster with
> a modern Linux install disk than if they had to struggle with installing
> Windows, its updates, some anti-virus solution (which Windows
> practically tells you you can't live without), Office, and get Outlook
> configured properly.

	...it's funny you should mention this because I recently had cause
to put windows back on a machine in order to access a small bit of 
functionality that doesn't seem to be present in Linux ripper apps presently.

	I have a couple of Arccos mangled disks that I finally wanted to rip
and add to my jukebox. So I decided to install an OEM copy of windows I had
lying around. I've been so used to Linux and the being insulated from the
problem of sorting out my drivers that I had completely forgotten what Windows
installs are like.

	I ended up using one of those "recovery disks" 'cause I just didn't
want to spend that much time on the whole thing.


> 
> If Windows didn't come pre-loaded and somewhat configured, I suspect a
> LOT of folks would give up trying to get their machines running at all.
> 
> If they called customer support they would give up a LOT faster.
> 
> If M$ didn't strong-arm manufacturers into pre-installing their OS they
> would have a devil of a time selling it.

	To be fair, they didn't really need to. Microsoft got themselves
associated with the previous market leader and just kind of hijacked that
company's momentum. 

	When you've got clueless people clamoring to buy overpriced used
PC clones just so they can run DOS office software, you don't really have
to resort to dirty tricks. That's the really sad part. It's like Tony
Soprano going to whack some guy who's already about to throw himself in
front of a freight train.


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