Binary incompatibility of Linux distributions

[Derek Broughton]

Michael Haney wrote:

> I've found that some people in the Linux community either ignore or
> refuse to accept the harsh reality that the average user expects Linux
> to have certain features expected of a modern operating system, and
> having to compile code to make software work with your OS not one of
> them.

I've found that some people in the Linux community either ignore or refuse 
to accept the not-at-all-harsh reality that the average user doesn't expect 
Linux to have any particular features.  They expect their "OS" to meet their 
requirements, and will use whatever OS does that.  They don't even care what 
the OS is called.
> 
> Mark Shuttleworth wants Ubuntu to be a success, and that's defined as
> Ubuntu having a market share large enough that it starts to edge out
> Windows.  

By whom?  Not Mark Shuttleworth, I'm sure.

> Ubuntu is
> targeted at the average Jane/Joe Windows User, and they have a set of
> expectations which must be address in order for Ubuntu to be a
> successful alternative to Windows.

Yeeessss... but I can't figure out what that has to do with anything in this 
debate.

> Linux Purists who use Ubuntu will
> have to live with the reality that 90% of the user base want the
> distro to be competitive with Windows and eventually gain a higher
> market share.

Why?  (that is "why?" to all three points - I don't have to live with it, I 
don't believe that many users care if it's "competitive" with Windows, and 
I'm _certain_ market share is irrelevant).   I will accept that a large 
number of users need Ubuntu to be _compatible_ (not competitive) with 
Windows (eg, I need to be able to interchange Office docs and use MSN chat), 
and that Ubuntu needs to reach some critical mass of desktops (but that 
doesn't mean a steadily increasing "market share", even if I were to concede 
that market share has any meaning for Linux).

> If you can't deal with this then its time to move on to a more Linux
> Purist compatible distro.

Well thank you for your unwelcome.  This distro is almost entirely 
compatible with me, thanks. 
-- 
derek