Astro - re: I'm not willing to accept the instability, insecurity, inflexibility, resource drain, and reduced efficiency of running Windows. you're preaching to the choir. I'm typing this on a Sun Ultra, it goes through a Linux firewall to get to you - no windows machines at all in that trail. I have an NT server running Citrix WinFrame so that I can use Word and Excel easily from the Ultra.
But I think you are missing my point on Linux as a consumer OS. re: If they learned how to install software for windows, they can learn how to install software for linux.
The point is they DIDN'T learn to install on windows - there's nothing to learn. As you say, it's plug in the CD, click OK a couple of times and the next thing you know, you're in the game.
I think 2001 may be the year when Linux finally starts making desktop inroads, and 2nd half of 2000 will tell the tale. If so, there should be a lot of "pretty good stuff" at Linux World next month, and a lot of big players dangling the carrot.
The flip side of the coin is that my 4 year old doesn't know or care that she's running Windows, anything that does what she wants to do is equally good. It will be an interesting horse race for the next 18 months.
Finally, as far as spending time with the kids, I am almost completely retired, and love those kids obsessively - the time they spend on the computer is probably to get away from me and my next family activity <GG>. It's a rare day when I don't spend at least 4 hours with them, not counting meals, getting dressed, etc. In the summer, with no school, it's about double that. |
