[TriLUG] different versions of 7.2 for sale]

[al johson]

Well, the last time I was in Best Buy, I noted that both Mandrake and Red
Hat were sold right next to the Microsoft crap. Moreover, in the recent past
there were Best Buy stickers placed on the Mandrake and Red Hat boxes saying
that if you bought your Linux software from Best Buy that they would install
it on your computer for you. Now I haven't checked recently on whether or
not they still do this or not, but it's quite possible that they do.
(although I wouldn't recommend you let them do it!!--Trilug would probably
do a much better job!).

----- Original Message -----
From: Sinner from the Prairy <sinner_prairy at hotmail.com>
To: <trilug at trilug.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2001 5:47 PM
Subject: Re: [TriLUG] different versions of 7.2 for sale]


>
> >Yes but more and more are switching there servers to Linux while yes this
> >is
> >a great sign, it still does not have the credibility to move into the
> >desktop market as much.
>
> The only and true way to get to the desktop is the availability of BestBuy
> 2.0 GHz with Linus pre-installed. Then, Joe SixPack and Mary GrandMa will
> buy it.... and the desktop figures will go up.
>
> Also, if a Big Bad Corporate & Co. deploys Linux Terminal Server 'a la
> Largo, FL , just because it makes so much sense to remote manage all your
> users from a centralized applications server, and provide them a working,
> secure desktop system (KDE and Gnome are more than capable of that), then
> the dektop figures will go up as well.
>
> But to get to this point we need:
>
> 1.- computer retail business to bet on Linux.
> 2.- senior corporate managers understand world without gates or windows
>
> One very good article on corporate thinking and Linux is here:
> http://www.linuxworld.com/site-stories/2001/1018.tco.html
>
> On that URL they talk about using SUN Solaris. But Linux surely can be up
to
> the job...some times on the servers, most of the times on the desktop.
>
> But senior management is *very* reluctant to change. It was hard enough
for
> them to understand that computers are better than zillions of paper pages.
> Now, with all those Windows, why switch again? "My son uses Windows at
home
> with no problem Microsoft is a huge corporation. How can they be wrong?"
>
> Then, the retail computer business.... with less business forecasted, they
> tend to cut lines and stay with "core" business. This way, as an example,
> Gateway has cut its lines of AMD-installed computers. And we expect them
to
> open a new line for Linux? The Desktop market is below 5%. It is difficult
> to support (they are Microsoft shops) . It doesn't need the latest
ahrdware
> to just boot (this is bad for bussiness), all those WinModems,
WinPrinters,
> WinUSBlancards.... WinUSBstuff just doesn't work. There's no Quicken for
> Linux (yes, the Kapital, but it hasn't the work Quiken in big gold letters
> on the box), there's no silly games (no Virtual Barbie Camping Set), and,
> (oh no!) there's no BloatOffice product to charge $500 for!!! (yes,
there's
> StarOffice, pretty bloated, but is not MS-Office, is free and we just
don't
> get it).
>
> So, unless something happens (a big thing, like a real penalty for
Microsoft
> like forcing all the Government, local and federal to run only
non-Microsoft
> software, hardware and services for, say, 5 years at least, starting
today),
> Linux on the desktop will be a thing of:
>
> -SysAdmins
> -embeded, Java... developers
> -Geeks
> -poor students in poor universities
> -3l33t3 teens
> -NBC's TechSurvivor contestants
>
> >Now maybe my language was to harsh about taking the desktop market by
storm
> >but I would like more desktops to be installed.
>
> Mee to. at least, my wife's (well, now is dual boot, but this is not
> enough...) (and I plan to install Linux on my in-laws system  soon...)
>
> >If Linux is made more friendly toward the desktop and more hardware
vendors
> >would include it in the Operating System choices then more pre-configured
> >Linux machines will come out. For example my Dad is interested in Linux
but
> >is a new computer user. He is also thinks that if he can not go to
CompUSA
> >or Best Buy and purchase a system pre-installed with Linux then there is
no
> >use to try it. He feels if he "pays for Microsoft licensing" then he
should
> >use it. (He is a stingy kinda guy)
>
> Try Lindows
>
> >Also it would be nice if more Workstations had Linux on them so that my
> >employer would allow me to kill win2k on my workstation for Linux since I
> >am
> >using no applications that I cant replace if I am using any other
Operating
> >System. Except for being forced to use outlook. But there are
replacements
> >for that.
>
> >Ohh well
>
> Exactly. Ohh well.
>
>
> Salut,
> Sinner
>
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