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Re: Making linux look harder than it is, Response



At 18:25 10/12/2001, Unkillable wrote:
>I would like to remind you, that linux is command line OS which based on
>the unix and minix operating systems, knowing the GUI interface without
>the command line interface, is like learning to run, when you dont even
>know how to walk.

So was windows - Initially. Even to this day I find that the DOS shell 
command interface is better for doing some things. The difference here is 
in the development of a GUI that can replace command line to a great extent.
Linux is fast approaching that threshold, IMHO.
I also find that the Windows GUI, for example, is VERY limiting in the 
amount of control it allows you - I often need to resort to third party 
utilities, or program my own for some things that I can easily do in Linux 
(usually using command line).

Your argument is what makes linux look harder than it is - You know too 
much of how things work under the hood and while that makes it easier to 
operate things, it is not necessary as long as things ran fairly smoothly - 
EVERY GUI breaks when the system doesn't run well, even Windows.
This is when you have to resort to technical know-how.

>For people who wants to install linux on theire machine, installing linux
>can be very simple, but it really take time to configure the machine for your
>needs, so before runing to a meeting, and install linux, think that you will
>have to spend a lot of your free time to configure linux, and just to know
>how to K programming Gui, isnt enought, i suggest you to read manuals,
>books, and articles about linux, read alot and you will finally make your
>decision, linux was never nice to the newcomers, and will not be in the
>close futer.
>if you dont like the command line interface, you shouldn't install linux,

Hmm.. Actually, I think most distributions do a fairly good job at initial 
configurations, as long as you are not a power user - A power user should 
know how things operate and how to tweak them, but we are talking of the 
laymen here, not the expert - The expert usually has access to the 
knowledge you mention.
Linux installation is getting closer to what Windows installation looks 
like, and produces similar results (i.e. a functioning, albeit non-optimal, 
configuration).


>BTW: before you will install linux, you have to be familiar with the concepts
>and slang used by linux and unix hackers, take some courses about computers
>(not how to use word, or any other microsoft shits) and try to find out what
>are the weaknesses in linux (Hebrew support, Games etc...), and what is linux
>strong side (Power, runing webservers etc...).

I can say the same about Windows, except that the severity of problems 
(weaknesses) that would require you to have the technical know how is much 
higher for Windows - read Windows can handle more severe occurrences than 
Linux at present - but this is changing rapidly.

As for software base, this is growing - Especially if you include 
commercial applications and do not restrict yourself to free software 
(Windows game ports by Loki come as a good example here)

>if you are a serious programmer, linux can be your dream, or your nightmare,
>and i encourge you not to learn Visual Basic or either Delphy, they are
>both Platform limited, so you cant run them on other os than one of microsoft
>products (monopol...).

Actually, Inprise/Borland is making an effort to make Delphi 
cross-platform.. Check out Kylix/Delphi 6. It's not perfect but it's 
workable (I haven't done much work in that environment, but I have 
experienced it a little).
Microsoft has a vested interest in maintaining VB as a windows-only 
development environment, but given enough incentive that might change as well.

>You can find information about the topics i mentioned before, on the web (use
>google to find specific information).

Searching the web is not very usefull if you don't know what you're 
searching for - It's the proverbial needle in a haystack - You can find 
almost anything if you search for long enough.

Generally, I tend to agree. Currently Linux is still unfit for the 
non-computer knowledgeable, but if you'd asked me two years ago or more, it 
would have been for computer experts alone.
I suspect that in a couple of years, Linux might be a viable solution for a 
layman's OS, although the powerhorse running underneath 
(Kernel/Daemons/etc) still needs to be tamed somewhat.
You have to understand that the Windows GUI is mostly a front end for much 
the same as Linux (with a world of difference in between, of course), and 
that Microsoft has put a lot of energy and hours into auto-managing system 
failures. Linux is now following the same path, only in an open and living 
community, as opposed to a closely guarded QA facility.

Just my two cents,
   -Eyal


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