[NTLUG:Discuss] Install Gripes

[MadHat Unspecific]

Stephen Davidson wrote:
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
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> I could rant and rave about this all day, but this constructively sums
> up the situation with installing software on Linux;
> 
> http://talkback.zdnet.com/5208-12554-0.html?forumID=1&threadID=49218&messageID=920936&start=0
> 


Thanks for signing your message, hate to think it was spoofed from 
someone else.

This does not "constructively sum up" anything.  You sent a link to 
someone saying Windows is consistent and Linux is not.  This is BULL 
SHIT, plain and simple.  Anyone who believes this does not work on both 
systems on a regular basis.  Windows has a method of updating the system 
automagically.  This only covers the portions of the  OS and helper apps 
that are distributed with the OS.  Most major linux distributions do the 
same.  In the windows world there are some common installers, but not 
every 3rd party app uses them.   Not all apps install in the same place. 
  Not all apps are able to be easily uninstaled.  Not all apps 
automagically update themselves.

Now looking at Linux.  If we look at a few major distros, like RedHat, 
Fedora, CentOS, Suse, Ubuntu, etc...  all of these have methods of 
installing via a simple GUI that installs the latest apps available for 
that version of the OS. They are all installed the same way (on each 
distro respectively) and maintained by the developers of the OS in 
centralized repositories.   They are uninstalled in all the same way 
(using the distro's package manager most of the time).  Now, we can look 
outside of the distro's repositories, we run into the same problem as we 
have with windows, inconsistent installers or packaging methods, 
uninstall routines, etc...  Hey Guess what, they are all in the same 
boat.  Windows, Linux distros, Mac, BSD distros....

The blurb you sent a link to was short and thoughtless.  I didn't take 
the time to dig through other comments, I just don't have time.  The 
fact of the matter is that because there are thousands of developers 
world wide, there will NEVER be _one_ standard for ANY OS.  This is the 
nature of the beast.  This is how we make advancements, by not 
constricting and confining people to one specific thing.

I have been using windows since it came out, I ahve been using linux 
since...  I guess about 10-15 years.  Linux has come along a lot more 
than windows has.  It has made bigger strides in usability and 
functionality than windows.  Windows had a big head start, I think, as 
did Mac.  I think Mac made a big leap forward by combining 2 worlds.  I 
think Windows is now the one trying to play catchup in some aspects.

The OS you chose is not going to be based on the upgrade path or how 
easy it is to install some 3rd party app.  It is going to be based on 
functionality requirements.  I am a developer and I use Linux, Mac and 
Windows daily.  They all suck ass.  They all have severe limitations and 
issues you have to deal with.  And they are all very useful and easy to 
deal with.  It all just depends on what you want to do.

-- 
MadHat (at) Unspecific.com
"The true man wants two things: danger and play.
  For that reason he wants woman, as the most dangerous plaything."
                           - Friedrich Nietzsche