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On Fri, 9 Nov 2007 09:40:19 +0100 (CET), Nomen Nescio wrote in
Message-Id: <a5ead74385a35bda46c602866d50e002@dizum.com>:
> With people like you spreading this kind of vitriol, Linux will
> never get any more acceptance than it has now. You will never
> influence people this way.
>
> Funny how most of the linux posters in this thread sound the same.
> Hell, they sound just like our resident troll.
I don't think they mean to troll, it's just a topic that's frustrating
to some people who use OS's other than Windows. In general Unix/Linux
users are very enthusiastic about their OS; many even contribute
applications or take responsibility for packaging them. This is how
free software works.
Windows sits far and away at the top of the stack when it comes to
market share. Kids are exposed to it during school and most have it on
a PC in their bedroom. Then they carry this knowledge and experience
into the workplace. This makes for a heavily stacked deck when it comes
to any sort of comparison: People expect to experience a specific look
and feel, regardless of whether it's better or worse. The example of MS
Office is a classic one. It doesn't matter if it's better or worse than
Open Office, Star Office or any other, it's got that Windows feel. The
reality is that in virtually all aspects, they are equally good and
contain far more functionality than most of us require. Despite the
near equality, individuals and companies will spend hundreds of dollars
per copy for the MS version, just for that Windows feel.
Microsoft are on a winner, regardless of whether their product set is
best. The market share is self perpetuating, with popularity driving
development and that development increasing the popularity. The fact it
costs a lot of money becomes almost irrelivent to the end user.
Linux/Unix plays a huge part in all Internet users experience, it just
does it without end-users realising it. This news posting will be
propagated around the world virutally exclusively by INN or Diablo; both
Posix based systems. When I send an email, it's handled worldwide by
Postfix, Exim or Sendmail, again all Posix systems. Even with the
explosion in home-based http services, Apache on Posix systems is still
the worlds favourite web server. In short, Linux/Unix dominate the core
services space to the same extent that MS dominate the desktop.
Linux will probably gain in popularity over the coming years as
constraints within Vista force Windows users to explore other options
for copying their DVD's, recording HD television, etc, etc. Most will
probably boot it off a stick-drive of some kind and then return to
Windows afterwards. Some though will probably be sufficiently
inquisitive to click a few icons and expand their experience of it.
They may like it, they may not. Regardless, choice is a wonderful
thing, as is open-mindedness towards those choices.
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