- Joined
- Mar 7, 2002
"Linux and the Undigitized" Ed Stroligo - 3/19/05
http://www.overclockers.com/tips00747/
Hello Ed,
I would like to congratulate you to take this matter to the front page.
I'm brazilian and i'm one of those who can afford all the modern amenities. At home i have 3 modern working machines, one Windows XP and two Linux. The Windows XP one has a nice graphics card and i do some occasional gaming.
You made some assumptions on the article with which i disagree:
1) "Sounds more than a bit like bait and switch to me. The issue is not "to pay or not to pay." It's "whom and how do I pay.""
The machines will not be installed at corporations, which pay for support for both Linux and Windows. They will be installed at José Sixpack's home. He won't pay for support neither with Linux nor with Windows.
2) "If you don't want to pay for support with cash, you can choose to pay for support with your time. Lots of your time."
That is equally true for both Windows and Linux. Indeed Windows XP gives me more problems than Fedora Core 3, and Windows problems are the kind you just have to live with (or reinstall), while the rare FC3's are solvable.
2) "it's going to be free pirated Windows software vs. free Linux software."
The machines subject of the article will have legal copies installed. A pirated Windows copy could be installed later, but it is not an easy and stress free task for José and his newbie kids.
3) "So the choice isn't between a $400 MS Office vs. a free OpenOffice. It will be between a $1 CD with MS Office on it, vs. OpenOffice."
It is not certain what software will make into the machines. If the government chooses to include an office package in a Windows machine, yes the choice will be between a paid MS Office and OpenOffice although José or his kids could later install a pirated Office if a legal one is not included.
4) "If all the cool games are in Windows, guess what José's kids will put on the system sooner or later?"
Yes, the cool games, with few and notable exceptions, have no port to Linux. But most of them need an expensive graphics card to run good enough. The machines to be subsidised won't have that. So the point is moot.
Regards.
http://www.overclockers.com/tips00747/
Hello Ed,
I would like to congratulate you to take this matter to the front page.
I'm brazilian and i'm one of those who can afford all the modern amenities. At home i have 3 modern working machines, one Windows XP and two Linux. The Windows XP one has a nice graphics card and i do some occasional gaming.
You made some assumptions on the article with which i disagree:
1) "Sounds more than a bit like bait and switch to me. The issue is not "to pay or not to pay." It's "whom and how do I pay.""
The machines will not be installed at corporations, which pay for support for both Linux and Windows. They will be installed at José Sixpack's home. He won't pay for support neither with Linux nor with Windows.
2) "If you don't want to pay for support with cash, you can choose to pay for support with your time. Lots of your time."
That is equally true for both Windows and Linux. Indeed Windows XP gives me more problems than Fedora Core 3, and Windows problems are the kind you just have to live with (or reinstall), while the rare FC3's are solvable.
2) "it's going to be free pirated Windows software vs. free Linux software."
The machines subject of the article will have legal copies installed. A pirated Windows copy could be installed later, but it is not an easy and stress free task for José and his newbie kids.
3) "So the choice isn't between a $400 MS Office vs. a free OpenOffice. It will be between a $1 CD with MS Office on it, vs. OpenOffice."
It is not certain what software will make into the machines. If the government chooses to include an office package in a Windows machine, yes the choice will be between a paid MS Office and OpenOffice although José or his kids could later install a pirated Office if a legal one is not included.
4) "If all the cool games are in Windows, guess what José's kids will put on the system sooner or later?"
Yes, the cool games, with few and notable exceptions, have no port to Linux. But most of them need an expensive graphics card to run good enough. The machines to be subsidised won't have that. So the point is moot.
Regards.