[cumbria_lug] More Observations

[trevor at haven.demon.co.uk]

MS>Easier only matters for the first few runs, though. Once a user has
  >become familiar with a software package, he/she won't need the added
  >bloat and cruft; equally, it's usually very difficult (or impossible)
  >to remove the user-friendly components later.

The first few runs are critical and will form a lasting impresion unless
the user must use the software (e.g. to complete his/her job) then a poor
first/second run can put a user off for life !   

<--- CUT out stuff as others said it first 
     I should have sent this on Monday morning ------->
    

  >This isn't just a babbling M-Saunders Rant(tm) (for once!)

Trevor reserves the right to rant, babble, biible, foam at the mouth, 
spit out his dummy, and go home and take his ball with him! 
However Trevor will use the GNU document licence for his rants!
You are free to copy/quote my rants providing that you include any invarient
sections (in uppercase).

The future development of linux will depend on acceptance by business
of Linux as a desktop OS.   The widespread use of Linux on servers 
is the key to this as it provides credability.  I have on my desk an
invite to a 'Technology Briefing' (Sales pitch) covering iSeries IBM
servers which use either IBM's UNIX(AS400/OS) or Linux.  There is
no Microsoft OS for these machines, Nobody runs a toy/hobbyist or
'back bedroom' OS on thier SERVER.  It will probably be years before
we start to see widespraed use of Linux on the desktop but that is
fine as long as we continue to increase market share of server sales
(curently Linux is approximatly 30% and growing at about 3%/year) and
continue to advocate Linux in public and private forums as appropriate.

Advocate means saying 'Linux is really good if you switch to Linux
you will get,
All the applications you need,
Reliability,
SECURITY (especialy from viruses),
Cost Benifits
Reduced SPAM (spamasassin),
No Licensing headaches
The ability to produce PDF documents