RE: Linux on the desktop

> -----Mensaje original-----
> De: annoyances-bounces-DzJonyRHso41Ayx8vbq1stBPR1lH4CV8@public.gmane.org [mailto:annoyances-bounces@dee-
> annleblanc.com] En nombre de The Rev. Shamim, D.D., LFHCfS
> Enviado el: martes, 09 de diciembre de 2003 4:22
> Para: Seeking Linux annoyances for a book.
> Asunto: RE: [Annoyances] Linux on the desktop
> 
>  > While I'm unable to buy my bus tickets without Internet Explorer,
>  > or read the latest price lists from my providers (which WILL NOT
>  > load into OpenOffice.org, I try it every time a new OO.org version
>  > is released), no one will convince me to use Linux.
> 
> Boo-hoo.
[PV] Sorry, my English might not be good enough. Don't know what this means,
but it doesn't sound nice.

> 
>  > My suggestion to the community would be very clear: crack those
>  > closed formats as rapidly as you can and crack them COMPLETELY, so
>  > there's no way to produce an Excel or Word document that won't load
>  > into OO.org
> 
> Big deal. To paraphrase a popular saying, suggestions are just like
> assholes -- everyone has one, and you think your own doesn't stink.
[PV] My English is good enough to know you're definitely not being
friendly... :-(

> 
> Is it to Microsoft's advantage to allow competitors to open .xls or
> .doc flawlessly? No, quite the opposite. Therefore a competitor --
> Mozilla, OpenOffice.org, whatever -- can NEVER be 100% compatible with
> Microsoft formats. Because, you see, Microsoft keeps changing its file
> formats with every release. Since new PCs always come pre-loaded with
> the newest version of these programs, *everyone* must upgrade MS-Word
> or IE or whatever to be able to "buy bus tickets and read prices
> lists". This if how Microsoft can guarantee a revenue stream --
> otherwise, people will be satisifed with what they have and not give
> them MS more money.
[PV] Mmmhh, maybe my turn to say that boo-hoo? People crack very difficult
software security measures in hours. Don't tell me that BS about not being
able to keep up with the de facto standard file formats at a reasonable
pace. Microsoft doesn't change their formats nightly (as a matter of fact
they change them less than once a year).

> 
> You may consider this a "Linux Annoyance" because you think the goal
> is to make 100% of the people out there, people like you, to switch
> from Windows to Linux. You miss the point.
[PV] It is you who's missing the point. It's not me who's asking himself why
Linux is not making any better on the desktop. You can keep looking at your
own belly button forever and that won't change reality. Which is: besides a
few geeks out there, people NEED to know they can use their computers
without having to worry about limitations. Linux imposes restrictions for
those regular users. If anyone is suggesting THAT is the way to conquer the
desktop, well, dreaming is free (as in beer)...


 The goal is to provide a
> usable alternative for those who want an alternative. If you are not
> willing to suffer the slightest amount of incovenience, you should
> NEVER switch from Windows.
[PV] There are some -quite a lot, I would say- that are willing to have a
true alternative, not a handicapped one, like Linux is as we know it.
"Usable" is a very relative term.

> 
> Instead of providing pointless "suggestions to the community"
[PV] "pointless" is another very friendly way of putting it. Just your
humble opinion, I must suppose.

 we just
> use the alternative OS and vote against proprietary protocols and
> formats with our wallets. If a web site breaks IETF standards, they
> won't get my money, but will get a letter of complaint. If someone
> sends me a .xls or .doc file, I send it back to them and explain that
> I can only read files whose formats are known and published. Sure,
> maybe I won't get the cheapest price or whatever -- but them's the
> breaks. People like you want to follow the crowd blindly down the
> easiest path should not complain when the crowd leads them downhill
> (the easy way) and over the cliff.
[PV] All right, since you missed all the idea behind my argument just to
come back with the usual geek stuff I won't even try to answer this. Just
try and think how sad all these companies must be with your letters of
complaint. They must be really worried by that, what? 1, 2, 3%? (tops) of
their potential customers not being happy and I'm pretty sure they'll do
something about it ASAP... I'm also sure those who get bounced de facto
standard file formats from you are going to hurry converting them to
something YOU can understand and sending them again. Yeah. 

> 
> If you want to use Linux or *BSD, use it, knowing there will be some
> inconvenience involved. But don't blame free software for Microsoft's
> monopolistic practices.
[PV] I'm not blaming anyone. My English not being my mother tongue is good
enough to express what I wanted to say, and I haven't complained at all. You
are free to distort my words, but I can't reply to that. Microsoft is not
the problem here, they just dominate the market place. The problem here is
people like you and all Linux-geeks who believe Linux is gonna make it
because you just dream of it happening. Just stay away from what people uses
everyday, keep believing in useless "standards" and see Linux fading away on
consumer desktops (if it ever reaches any). Or... try and use your brains
and see what would be the best way to undermine Microsoft's power TODAY.
 
Once again: he who owns the standards owns the market. If you want to change
the standards, you have to conquer the market first, by using current
standards... Which are, whether you like it or not, Microsoft's. If you
don't want to use the standards don't be surprised Joe Sixpacks doesn't want
to hear from you...

Pablo

> 
> -s
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