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Weblog:   To push desktop Linux, radical shift may be required
Subject:   Bullseye!
Date:   2003-11-13 10:05:27
From:   anonymous2
Response to: Bullseye!

First off Linux is far from being a copycat of windows. It is largely derived from Unix (which windows has also 'borrowed' from on many occasions). KDE and GNOME on the other hand are very similar to Explorer (the windows GUI).


"The new computing paradigm must so compelling... ", blah, blah. Are you serious? Has T-Mobile or Cingular redefined cellular service. No. People (and companies) switch vendors when they are unhappy with their product or found a way to save money. You must only provide a viable option. You are correct in that 3rd party vendors must support your platform but you might be surprised how many already do or how many windows compatible alternatives exist.


The redirection you speak of such as new file systems leaves much to debate. As for upgrading the software with only changes to the GUI, what do you think XP was? New graphics, a small handful of new features, slower performance (compared to w2k) and ... oh wait, that's it.


New direction will come but you must realize the computer age is still in it's infancy. We haven't even realized the potential of computing (much less implemented it). 30 years after the first home was available you still had to have an operator connect your call. Not exactly what I would call the peak of that technology.


We are still going uphill and will be for a long time so sit back and enjoy the show.


As for the $40B giant, just remember what happened to Ma Bell.
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  • Bullseye!
    2003-11-14 10:07:44  anonymous2 [Reply | View]

    "Has T-Mobile or Cingular redefined cellular service. No. People (and companies) switch vendors when they are unhappy with their product or found a way to save money. You must only provide a viable option."

    Joe Schmo knows he's unhappy with his cell phone because his options (lower prices, new features, etc.) are advertised to him daily. He doesn't care that cellular digital technology gave him more options than wired analog service. He does know he can call his wired phone from his cell and vice versa; they are compatible. He knows he can do more, and is willing to pay for it.

    Unlike with cell phones, Joe doesn't know he is unhappy with his operating system. He doesn't even know what an OS is (that's why he can't tell you what version of Windows he's running) and certainly doesn't know how to replace it. Linux has not presented him with anything he can't already do with Windows. He doesn't care about open code because he'll never change it, just like he has never stopped his VCR from blinking "12:00". Linux may (or may not) be better technology, but until it offers a killer consumer app unavailable in Windows, he won't bother paying anyone to switch his OS. And the new one had better be compatible with his old applications.
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