hi Steve, Geoff and Dominic (in particular),<br><br>Thanks for your replies, I do not feel that anyone is getting at me, I don't mind displaying my present ignorance concerning Linux, in this instance it seems to have created a very useful and interesting debate.<br>
<br>Thanks Dominic, Your article is illuminating, helpful and inspiring, although it does rather confirm what I was beginning to discover, a lot of Linux users know a lot about computers and like having control over their OS.<br>
<br>As for me, I just want to use a computer as a useful tool for my business and personal needs;- but before you show me the door (or maybe the Windows), I am genuinely interested in the 'Linux' ideals and its stand against commercial restrictions and yes, I am prepared to put in the time to learn to use Linux (if it is not presented in a way that is too consistently over my head or takes inordinate amounts of time and/or concentration, I do have business tasks which I have to complete on a computer as well as exploring new territory). There is a level of frustration and non-understanding that will send the intrepid Linux explorer scuttling back the other way, this is partly dependent on that person's perseverance of course, but also partly on how information is presented, how easy it is to access and how skills are taught to 'newbies'. <br>
<br>So yes, I confess, I would rather prefer an OS with a familiar feel, which does basically the same things the OS and its software I am familiar with does, the OS I find useful and necessary for so many tasks. It is interesting learning about aspects of computer control that MS took from elsewhere (Windows for example?) and I take the point about commercial organisations being able to put professional support and help behind their software and hardware, as well as publicity (propaganda) which sheds a positive light on itself only!<br>
<br>My next questions then are these; Is the Linux community able to embrace the average 'non-geek' computer user? Does it have the patience to teach me about the benefits of Linux and encourage others like me to use it? Does it want to do this anyway? Am I just a leech after a cheap computer system? What can I contribute to Linux and its development?<br>
<br>Does Linux need me?<br><br>Steve Redshaw<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">2008/7/9 Steve Dobson <<a href="mailto:steve.dobson@syscall.org.uk">steve.dobson@syscall.org.uk</a>>:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
Hi Steve<br>
<div class="Ih2E3d"><br>
On Wed, 2008-07-09 at 16:49 +0100, Steve Redshaw wrote:<br>
> It is fascinating being part of the SLUG discussions (just to remind<br>
> folk that I am a very green Linux user, trying to wrench myself away<br>
> from Windows) and I am slowly learning more, but there are constantly<br>
> obstacles which I find frustrating and off-putting, mostly in the form<br>
> of Linux jargon and assumed knowledge of computer technology.<br>
<br>
</div>But that should be try of any new endeavour, surely. :-)<br>
<div class="Ih2E3d"><br>
> The advantage of Windows, as mentioned in another recent posting, is<br>
> its adaptability to many different computers and hardware attachments,<br>
> you just install it and it works with just about everything.<br>
<br>
</div>Does it? There is a not so small army of Windows IT experts slaving<br>
away behind the scenes to try and cover every eventuality. I've heard<br>
and seen reports of things working under Linux that did not just plug<br>
and play under Windows.<br>
<div class="Ih2E3d"><br>
> I am not trying to demean Linux, but in my limited experience, it is a<br>
> lot harder creating a computer system with Linux than it is with<br>
> Windows.<br>
<br>
</div>As I understand Windows not at all I find the reverse true. It is one<br>
of my personal bugbears that people claim something is hard just because<br>
they do not understand how approach the task.<br>
<br>
Sorry if you feel I'm getting at you Steve, but you see and hear so much<br>
stuff about Windows being easy and Linux being hard that I feel that I<br>
have to comment. The only person who's opinion I would rate on the<br>
relative difficultly between Linux and Windows is someone how as spent<br>
equal time on both. So that rules my opinion out on the subject.<br>
<div class="Ih2E3d">><br>
> An example of something I don't understand at all!!<br>
<br>
</div>Well I see Geoff's already explained all that so I don't need to.<br>
<br>
Steve<br>
<font color="#888888"><br>
--<br>
Steve Dobson<br>
<br>
* PerlGeek is really a space alien<br>
* Knghtktty believes PerlGeek<br>
<br>
</font><br>__<br>
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