This is both hillarious and appalling ...

[Robert Brockway]

On Wed, 18 Feb 2004, Martin Duclos wrote:

> I think the quote in question is an analogy; a way for the public at large
> to get an understanding of the point he's trying to get across. Hey, a
> friend of mine asked me what operating system he should use with his new pc:
> "windows or macintosh?"

I'm sure that is what he is trying to do but I don't think he has been
successful.

I've noticed that many people try to simplfy complex computer terminology
by substituting different terminology.  I have observed that the
substituted terminology is often no more insightful than the original
terminology and has the disadvantage of being misleading or just plain
wrong.

Substituting "language" for "operating system" is no use if laypeople
don't understand what a programming language is any better than they do an
operating system.  I actually think most people today are more comfortable
with the idea of an operating system[1] than they are a programming
language.

I was speaking with a relative recently.  We got onto the topic of
computers and OSS came up (since the person in question knows I am
involved with OSS from previous conversations).  I started to talk about
source code but had to stop and explain this.  I had long ago forgotten
that not everyone immediately understands what source code is.  IT
specialists really are worlds away from the general public.

[1] Most computer users seem to me to be comfortable with the distinction
between MS-Windows and apps that run on MS-Windows.  Thus when describing
an operating system it is easy to point out that MS-Windows 2000 is an
operating system.  Linux and SCO Openserver are two other operating
systems.

Rob

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Robert Brockway
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