On Mon, May 06, 2002 at 06:14:17PM -0600, Richard Erlacher wrote:
>
> > Eh? Windows costs $$$ (unless you regard piracy as acceptable -- I do
> > not) whereas I can get a Unix-like OS, compilers, text formatters,
> > editors, and just about anything else I need totally free....
> >
> ...but you can't get someting easy to use, meaning easy for a pre-med student,
> who should, but doesn't yet, know how or need to flex all the computer's
> muscle, to use to do the "standard" sorts of things. Moreover, Windows isn't
> that expensive. The updates cost about $85US.
But updates tend to assume that you own a license for an older version
of the product. What if this isn't the case? There _are_ people out
there (well, at least they're rumored to exist) who _do_ buy _new_
computers.
> I've heard lots about what "you can get" but all I ever hear from the guys who
> use Linux every day is that they "don't have that." Some of them use Windows
Yes, there are quite some things I don't have on my systems:
- Outlook-virus of the week,
- trojan horse of the week,
- macro virus of the week,
- document eating so-called "productivity applications",
- trojan dialer of the week (a serious pest here in germany, basically
some trojan software making your (Windoze, of course) box make some
_really_ expensive calls via the modem - victims tend to face bills
in excess of US $1000,-
And I don't miss it. I can just get work done. Automate stuff that
should be automated. Boring, isn't it?
> as well, however. The two are not mutually exclusive. I think it comes down
> to using the "path of least resistance."
Path of least resistence, oh yes, oh great. <tries hard to remain calm>
> > If they were a physicist/engineer/similar then I'd assume that they were
> > not curious enough to have discovered linux, and thue they were not
> > likely to be the sort of person who was going to be able to find
> > unusual/useful solutions to any other problems.
>
> If I tell someone who's never done it before, at lunchtime, to obtain a
> computer, install an OS, and be generating printable properly formatted
> documents by close of business, and give him $500 to do it with, he'll be done
Properly formatted - yeah, right. That ill mixed and set font & colors soup
usually produced by people using Word is not exactly what anybody with a
hint of clue about typesetting would call "properly formatted". He'd
most likely use some ... less polite words.
> > People expect to have to spend a few months learning to drive a car. And
> > a computer is much more complicated than that.
> >
> That's not where we want things to be headed. An automobile is pretty
> complicated and the process of driving one is too. The consequences of doing
> it badly are much more serious and far-reaching than driving your computer.
> I'll admit it can be frustrating if you make a mistake, but it's unlikely
> you'll kill someone if you mistype at your home computer. There are things
> the designers have decided it's best not to let you control about your
> microwave oven, automobile, and electric range, too.
Yes - but the problem is that people apply this mind set not only to
their private computers at home (where they can only do damage to
themselves), but as a general principle. And when the Windows mindset
("It failed? Doesn't matter, just try again. Still doesn't work? Just
re-install.") is applied to critical systems, then the stakes are much
higher. The UNIX mindset is different: "It doesn't work? Hmm - lets find
out why. And fix it/make somebody fix it." - smells of good old
engineering.
> > To be honest, if you're using a computer without learning a little bit
> > about it, then you're certainly not doing everything that computer is
> > capable of doing,
>
> If someone gives you a Lear Jet and all you want is to use the installed
> flashlight, why should you have to learn to fly?
If you just want to use a flashlight, you should be given said flashlight
and not a LearJet. Period.
> > and you're probably wasting a lot of time as
> a result.
> > Computers are there to automate jobs for you. To have to do the same task
> > time-and-again by hand (as some OSes seem to expect you to do) should
> > indicate you're doing something wrong.
> >
> (1) Windows would not be one of those, and (2) most of the *nix users I know
> enjoy the long cryptic command lines more than anything else.
No, it's the enormous power and flexibility of the work environment
provided by UNIX we enjoy. One command line can get things done that
send a Windows User into a clicking frenzy for hours.
Regards,
Alex.
--
Those who desire to give up Freedom in order to gain Security, will not
have, nor do they deserve, either one. -- Benjamin Franklin
Received on Mon May 06 2002 - 21:01:38 BST