Re: Open Source was Re: New to the list

Or, even better, free software

On 2/9/07, Keith Ratliff <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>    you've taken the step up to the Dvorak keyboard, now it is time to go
> all
>
> the way and switch to open source software...Linux, BsD etc. the
> difference is about the same as Qwerty vs Dvorak.
>
> Bob
>
> ---------
>
> I periodically go back and try them out. I'd hardly say the difference is
> similar.
>
> While I would like the initiative to succeed, I wont be an active
> supporter
> until some large items get addressed.
>
> First, installation of software is horrid. Even dealing with Mandake type
> installers - or even better - the Ubuntu software library - feels
> sometimes
> like I have to have a PHD in Linux software. Then, when something goes
> wrong, it's a nightmare to figure out why and how to fix it. Some fixes
> even
> go as far as to give instructions like "edit the source and modify the
> hardware properties of XYZ".
>
> Yuck.
>
> Or, the classic -
> Go to install package A
> "You need Package B"
> Google package B
> Find it (maybe)
> Install B
> "You need package C and D"
> etc...
>
> I've spent entire evenings just trying to install software.
>
> Yuck.
>
> And then, it gets even better! I run my AIM program (GAIM at the time) and
> then start up my music player.
> "Cannot access the sound device because another application has locked the
> device"
> OK fine, disable sound in GAIM. Now, I get my tunes going...
> Open a game - "Cannot access the sound device because another application
> has locked it"
>
> So, I go searching for fixes. There is a Unified Linux Sound Architecture
> (or something like that) and guess what? To use it, I have to edit and
> recompile each application I want to give access to it at the same time.
>
> ---
>
> Now, don't get me wrong, I really do think that having an open source O/S
> is
> a big win for consumers, but that O/S has to come a long way until I adopt
> it. The ability to use my existing programs will be big amongst that
> requirement as well. And WINE, LINDOWS and XWindows are still too buggy.
>
> So, at the end of January, I gave MS another 250$ for their O/S.
>
> Because it works.
>
> --Keith
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>  
>


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