APPLEVISION Monitor

From: Richard Erlacher <edick_at_idcomm.com>
Date: Mon May 6 12:37:58 2002

You're missing the point, here. What I was referring to is the "typical"
computer buyer, who gets out his checkbook and buys hardware, software, etc,
and takes it home, hooks it up, and expects to start working immediately. I'd
bet you had to know something, such as what Linux is, before you could begin
doing useful work with it. I've yet to see even one Linux box that worked as
smoothly and seamlessly as the typical Windows box.

Check my post regarding the hardware I found for $10 last week (including the
Applevision monitor for $2.95) to see that I know one can get stuff on the
cheap. That was not a '486, and it wasn't a minimal setup in any sense. I'm
referring to the typical case, however.

I'll bet that you couldn't do much with Linux on the first day you heard the
word. People who've never even heard the word computer before can be writing
letters and reports within 10 minutes of their first contact with Windows. In
'90, when Win3.0 came out, my younger son, now 20 years old, installed Win3.0
and started using it the day I brought it home. I doubt even you could do
that on the first day you saw and touched a PC. I'd point out, however, that
the first time I ever encountered Windows, I loaded it up started an
application and was going within minutes, having read no doc's, having
compiled no kernel, and having done little else other than typing the setup
command. That was Windows 2, which came with MS Excel. True, there were
problems with smartdrv, and with himem, etc, but that was on a '286 that
didn't do any of those things particularly well.

I've been in contact with compuers in one capacity or another since the very
early '60's and, though I admittedly don't like the obscurities and
pseudo-sophistry displayed by most *nix users, I'd point out that I was a
FORTRAN programmer for several years back when Fortran II was the primary
language used for engineering tasks. I'm not intimidated by cryptic command
lines. I just don't like 'em. I see absolutely no reason why every command
can't be in plain language, once one's learned the "right" language, and I see
no advantage over a 2-letter command over an 8-letter command. I don't mind
typing.

Dick

----- Original Message -----
From: "JP Hindin" <jplist_at_globe.net.nz>
To: <classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org>
Sent: Monday, May 06, 2002 8:44 AM
Subject: Re: APPLEVISION Monitor


>
>
> On Sun, 5 May 2002, Richard Erlacher wrote:
>
> > for the price, you really can't go out and buy a system, set an average
> > college graduate in front of it, and expect him to do anything meaningful
the
> > first day if you install LINUX.
>
> I object, Judge.
> I managed it and I was 14.
>
> And I'd like to note, as others have, that my Linux (No, its not in
> capitals - perhaps another indicator you don't have much ground to stand
> on in this argument :) machine cost precisely $0.
> I picked the 486 out of a dumpster (with permission) and the funniest
> thing: You can download Linux (or *BSD, or...) for zip.
>
> Just wanted to put in my ever so humble impression to the masses.
>
> JP
>

>
Received on Mon May 06 2002 - 12:37:58 BST