the problem with Linux?

[Marcel (Free Thinker at Large) Gagne]

Hello all,

On April 7, 2004 04:04 pm, Jeremy Wakeman wrote:
>
> What I am saying is that even if Linux was easier, many people that I
> know would not use it due to the fact that it is not familiar.  The way
> I see it, there are several solutions to that problem.

Just can't resist this one . . . <insert appropriate smiley here>.

I disagree.  Windows XP looks different enough from Windows 95 to make people 
take a little jump back. Make them switch from Office 97 to Office XP as well 
and things get really interesting. I've had to help more than one person make 
the transition and it is not all smooth sailing.

If all we need to do is make it look like Windows, then perhaps, this is the 
answer.

   http://www.xpde.com/shots.php

> well, including KDE and GNOME, though I don't use either on a regular
> enough basis to vouch for that).  This is the situation where a good GUI
> that doesn't take away the power of "edit the /etc/program.conf file"
> approach would be good.

KDE 3.2 all the way then.  User friendly, slick, and very professional 
looking. As part of the latest Mandrake or SUSE, I would give it to anybody 
without worry. I personally know many people who could barely handle their 
Windows systems who are now running Linux.  It's just not that hard.

Seriously, Linux on the desktop is already there.  Some distros are 
frightfully easy, although in some cases, you have to be ready to pay the 
bucks.  For example, I just took Xandros business desktop out for a test 
drive and the default installation even includes the latest CrossOver Office 
in case you really, really must run some Microsoft applications such as MS 
Office. 

The trouble isn't familiarity, it's marketing, and in the case of dealing with 
Microsoft, inertia.

Take care out there.

-- 
Marcel (Writer and Free Thinker at Large) Gagné
Note:  This massagee wos nat speel or gramer-checkered.
Mandatory home page reference - http://www.marcelgagne.com/
Author : "Moving to Linux: Kiss the Blue Screen of Death Goodbye!"
   Also by Marcel : Linux System Administration, A User's Guide
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