[NTLUG:Discuss] Re: Linux article

[Chris Cox]

Neil Aggarwal wrote:
>>Interesting article on Linux versus Windows, check it out.
>> 
>>http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,115770,00.asp
> 
> 

I know I'm posting late into this, but all I can say is look
how far GNU and Linux have come since the early 90's.

I'm impressed.

More and more sw (even commercial software) and more
and more commercial hw support for Linux than ever before.
Certainly not the same level as with Microsoft support... but
when you consider the ramifications of what is happening, it's
truly amazing.

The fact that my wife now uses Linux full time and I'm thinking
of forcing (sorry, I would probably have to force it) my daughter
to use it... well that speaks wonders in many ways.

Do I live with some Linux limitations on the applications side??
Yes... but it's no different than what was available on Windows
a few years ago... we often forget that some of the more
sophisticated applications really haven't been available on
Windows for very long.  And how many people are really buying
(the act of taking physical cash out one's own pocket and
obtaining software) the Windows applications?  My own guess is
that >75-85% of those complaining about lack of sw applications
don't truly OWN the Windows versions.

I do think that as more and more hardware manufacturers come out
with drivers, the smart ones being willing to push open source
drivers (this enables them to keep up with quick pace of
Linux development), that we'll see even more commercial sw
apps on Linux... and probably even more open source sponsored
commerical apps.

Send good positive messages to those supporting Linux.  Give
them some bucks, buy their products... let then know they
matter (ooops, that might have been a Linksys advertisement).


I'm excited.
Chris