[ubuntu-vancouver] Showing Off Ubuntu

[Bob Jonkman]

Timothy Webster wrote:

>I don't think there was anybody more technical than myself there anyway. 

If people  don't come to a LUG because there's nobody more technical, then the most technical person who WAS there won't come to the next meeting.  And the most technical person at _that_ meeting won't come to the one after that...  Soon there's nobody left but me -- and that would make me the most technical person!


Randall asked: 

>As for Ubuntu not being ready for commercial use, I'd love to hear what the list has to say.

I agree, Desktop Linux is not at the point where I'd foist it on a public who has become used to slickness, marketing and ubiquity of Windows.  Too many problems yet with manufacturers not supporting their hardware with Linux drivers, and weird user interface issues and awkward configurations.  For example, _nobody_ should have to modify their boot loader with "acpi_oss=Linux" to stop their laptop from overheating.

I'd peg Desktop Linux usability at about the same level as Windows 386 was in 1989, with Ubuntu as the usability leader equivalent to Windows 3.1.   The proportion of Linux users is still tiny, but growing very rapidly, similar to Windows users as a percentage of all computer users in 1989.  Remember that back then mainstream computing was mainframe and minicomputers, with personal computer use just penetrating business.  My desk had both a PC and a mainframe/mini terminal on it until 1997, PCs had a 3270 emulator cards installed, and minicomputers started talking TCP/IP on the LAN in an effort to keep up with PCs.  None of that exists today, but that may be because all the old technology was replaced by the Y2K scare. Mainframe and minicomputers were decimated by the PC, just as I expect Linux to devastate existing desktop OSes.

As long as there is Linux support available through LUGs, friends and relatives then I'm quite willing to put Linux on the desktop for others.  But without that level of personal tech support Desktop Linux is just not viable yet.

At our KWLUG meeting a couple of weeks ago we were lamenting that there has been a backlash against Linux on Netbook computers.  It seems that retailers were seeing a large number of returns on Netbooks that shipped with Linux, to be exchanged for Netbooks with Windows.  Hardly any Netbooks with Windows were exchanged for Linux Netbooks.  Microsoft and the vendors used these stats to "prove" that Linux is not a viable desktop OS, but at KWLUG we had a different thought: People who get Windows but want Linux just download an .ISO and nuke the hard drive, but people who get Linux but want Windows need to return the Netbook to get a licensed copy.  This skews the stats against Linux.  So, make sure that when you buy a computer you don't accept an operating system you don't want.  Should be able to get a refund of the Microsoft Tax, too.

--Bob.


 

Bob Jonkman <bjonkman at sobac.com>         http://sobac.com/sobac/
SOBAC Microcomputer Services              Voice: +1-519-669-0388
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Randall Ross wrote:
> That's too bad, Tim. We had a fantastic turnout last night and it would
> have been great if you had found us.
>
> For the record, Ubuntu Vancouver members range from developers, to new
> users, and everything in between. Some our members are GNU/Linux (and
> Unix) hacks from way back (even Debian too), so there is a good chance
> you'd connect with someone who is interested in the "nuts and bolts" of
> the system. We have developers and packagers in the group too. Our
> Rescue Center last night had several members who are  outstanding tech
> support  people.
>
> Our meeting locations are published here:
> http://www.meetup.com/ubuntuvancouver
>
> As for Ubuntu not being ready for commercial use, I'd love to hear what
> the list has to say.
>
> Cheers,
> Randall.
>
> --
>
> Timothy Webster wrote:
>   
>> Great, I tried to go the vancouver meetup, but I didn't have the address.
>>
>> Very upset, oh well
>>
>> I don't think there was anybody more technical than myself there anyway. 
>> I am interested in meeting with package builders not end users.
>> ---------
>>
>> I tracked the problem down to a problem with dual disk configurations, and found through apt-listbugs that debian is tracking it. apt-listbugs is a really useful package everybody who has slightly less tested configuration should install. But it was remove from ubuntu,  because only debian tracks bugs by package version. ubuntu tracks bugs by release, not by package version. This is major short coming of ubuntu. And basically why ubuntu can not be consider ready for commercial use. 
>>
>> ---------------
>>
>>
>> -Tim
>>
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