Wireless PCMCIA

[Craig White]

On Thu, 2006-07-13 at 06:21 -0700, bruce wrote:
> and from my perspective.. you guys still miss the point i'm making.. 
> 
> linux is great for some apps, for some types of people. not disputing that... 
> 
> linux in my mind, as well as the market, is not ready for the desktop, and won't be ready for the "desktop" for a loonnngg time. that's not to say that some people don't handle it on the desktop with not problem.. but if you're honest, then you'll see that linux and the supporting apps aren't easy for the avg user. windows has spent a great deal of time/effort in making it (dumbing down) for the avg user.
> 
> don't get me wrong.. the majority of my work is done on systems using linux. but i'm a former eng, with a great deal of past experience..
> 
> but i still get frustrated over the fact that i can plug in a wireless card in windows and it pretty much just works, whereas with linux, good luck!!
> 
> with windows, i can pretty much download an app it works.. with linux. i have to find the rpms.. and then hope that it might work.. or i might get into dependency hell...
> 
> as i've said.. for the right use/person, linux is great.. but just doin't try to say it's as easy to use, or in the same league as windows.. 
> 
> you also need to remember that linux wasn't created with a goal to replace windows on the desktop.. which is why it's damm good for the backroom types of things... (servers/webservers/phone systems/mobile apps/etc..)
> 
> having said that.. if enough time/effort is put into the process by the various participants, then it might get there...
> 
> the market will ultimately decide...
> 
> peace...
----
you're entitled to your opinion but this isn't a black and white world.

For the most part, Linux desktop as I am seeing currently in FC-5 and
Ubuntu are perfectly suitable for most users.

As for your 'average user' - I agree it's easier for this person to
install software/devices on Windows but Linux gets better continually.
Moreover, the 'average user' on Windows has a system that feels as
though it is slogging through mud either from malware or things like
Norton Internet Security which endeavor to stop the malware. The
'average user' on Windows is entirely incapable of managing these
problems (I simply tell people no when they ask me to 'fix' there
computer which now runs like crap and tell them to download SpyBot
Destroyer & Ad Aware).

The fact is that anyone capable of using Windows is capable of using
Linux. Is Linux always better than Windows? No. Is Linux always worse
than Windows? No. Is Linux ready for the desktop? Of course. Is Linux
ready for everybody's desktop? No. Linux is just another option...a free
option. An option unencumbered by DRM.

Craig