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Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.development.system,comp.unix.bsd.386bsd.misc,comp.unix.bsd.bsdi.misc,comp.unix.bsd.netbsd.misc,comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc,comp.os.linux.advocacy Path: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au!newshost.anu.edu.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!news.rmit.EDU.AU!news.unimelb.EDU.AU!munnari.OZ.AU!news.ecn.uoknor.edu!solace!nntp.uio.no!news.cais.net!newsfeed.internetmci.com!howland.reston.ans.net!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!uchinews!news From: spfarrel@gorgias.uchicago.edu (steve farrell) Subject: Re: Historic Opportunity facing Free Unix (was Re: The Lai/Baker paper, benchmarks, and the world of free UNIX) X-Nntp-Posting-Host: gorgias.uchicago.edu Message-ID: <4lla4q$p9e@gorgias.uchicago.edu> Lines: 105 Sender: news@midway.uchicago.edu (News Administrator) Organization: A Red Hat Commercial Linux Site References: <NELSON.96Apr15010553@ns.crynwr.com> <kevinbDqC0xC.99w@netcom.com> <4lkcv6$n4j@gorgias.uchicago.edu> <4ll8dq$38b@solaria.cc.gatech.edu> Date: Wed, 24 Apr 1996 13:25:46 GMT Xref: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au comp.os.linux.development.system:22217 comp.unix.bsd.386bsd.misc:818 comp.unix.bsd.bsdi.misc:3484 comp.unix.bsd.netbsd.misc:3337 comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc:18069 comp.os.linux.advocacy:46976 In article <4ll8dq$38b@solaria.cc.gatech.edu>, Byron A Jeff <byron@cc.gatech.edu> wrote: >In article <4lkcv6$n4j@gorgias.uchicago.edu>, >steve farrell <spfarrel@gorgias.uchicago.edu> wrote: >> >>i don't really agree with the idea of unix taking over the desktop. >>here's my feeling: most people really are NOT computer-lovers. in fact, >>computers really do suck in so many ways, and are such a pain in the >>ass for what 90% of what people use them for. these people should >>not be using computers - they never should have. the desktop computer >>must have had a reason for coming into being, but it obviously is not >>the best solution. most people don't want to know about plug and play >>or about when copland comes out. they want communicators and word >>processors and game machines and things like this. just a simple tool >>that does whatever. NOT a "Computer". > >That's what we've all been saying. On the desktop it's all about applications. >The hardware and system software underneath is really a black box to the >average user. They wouldn't care if the engine was three gerbils running on >a wheel as long as the job gets done. > >> >>then there are other people who actually *like* computers and even work >>with them for their living and then in their free time. these people >>should use computers, and many of them (like myself) love to use computers >>running unix. > >Bad distinction IMHO. If microsoft provided me an environment I liked >to use I'd use it. But is has so many failings I simply cannot stand to >use it. > >> >>i'm not sure if java and the web are right technological solution, but the >>concept i think is: have an interface that is simple to use and based on a >>metaphor like netscape navigator. people -- either at home, in schools, >>or at the office -- have something like these java-terminals which run >>netscape 5.0 or whatever that IS their "desktop". productivity apps are >>written in java and provided on a use-by-use basis or whatever by their >>ISP or whatever it is called in the future (probably off some FreeBSD or >>Linux box =). these client machines don't need to be setup any more than >>a TV set, don't run an OS that does much more than allow the JVM to run & >>the io for the cable-modem. and that's about it. > >A question: what happens when the cable goes out? you now have a useless >piece of junk until the cable comes back. > >The unit must be able to function standalone. > >> >>90% of the people who use computers would then use these simple terminals, >>and the other 10% of us who actually like computers and like understanding >>how they work, etc, will run free Unix. perfect world. > >Nope. We still have to deal and interoperate with the other 90%. > >> >>i think it's crazy to expect unix to take over the desktop. why in >>god's name should professors of english, secretaries, doctors, CEO's, >>etc etc learn unix? > >Who said anything about learning Unix? This isn't about OS but applications. >Question: If there were a version of Microsoft Office for Free Unix and you >could get it for free how many folks would switch? Quite a few I belive. > >Very few Windows users understand how the OS works. And they could care less. >We can build a simple to use Unix box with an X-based desktop. The only >problem is that we don't have the application that the doctors, CEO, and >whotnot need to do the job they want to do. > >> if they like computers this much, they'd be CS ppl >>or programmers or whatever. i don't want to be in a world with that >>many computer geeks, as much as i love them and i am one myself. and >>who thinks this would happen, either? > >So let me get this straight: > >Unix = Computer Geek >Microsoft = Not Computer Geek > >My wife is not a computer geek. However she uses Linux to get her work >done. How does she fit into this equation? > > >> >>and as far as microsoft has the desktop -- who cares, the "desktop >>computer" was a stupid idea in the first place. > >Why? It's a natural phase of computer evolution. Computers are continually >getting smaller, more powerful, and cheaper. Having one on the desktop >is inevatible. > >Segregation is a bad idea. usually the minority in a segregated society gets >the short end of the stick. I see this happening here in the desktop. Any >offering that isn't Microsoft based is looked down upon. We need to be able >to interact with the 90%. All we need is the applications. We have the OS's >already. > >BAJ >-- >Another random extraction from the mental bit stream of... >Byron A. Jeff - PhD student operating in parallel - And Using Linux! >Georgia Tech, Atlanta GA 30332 Internet: byron@cc.gatech.edu yeah, you're probably right. =)