BW )(: Call for Constructive Flaming

[Ben Green]

On Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:32:06 +0100, Matthew Edmondson <matthew at m6-it.org> wrote:

> Michelle is telling charity organisations that Linux is too hard/not
> ready (on the desktop).
>
> She makes some good points, but perhaps you guys can make some useful
> counter points.
>
> Sigh.
>
> http://www.zenofnptech.org/2008/06/linux-desktops.html
>
>
> Michelle is a typical tech and well listened to in both USA and UK.
>
> Constructive flames please
>
>
> : )
>

She says:

"And, of course, there are some other situations where Linux also shines: kiosks, internet cafes, computer labs and email/web workstations. There isn’t good reason, at this point, *not* to use Linux there."

I personally whole heartedly agree with everything she says, the usability problems she has with Linux ARE USABILITY PROBLEMS LINUX HAS, that's just how it is. Because I keep up with kernel and GNU/Linux development I know that a lot of solutions are in the pipeline - live cross kernel driver updates, more hardware vendors on board by the day, but it really isn't there yet.

I have always promoted Linux as a "supported system". At St Werbs community centre we provide such a supported system, and in doing that we probably provide the most functional and cheapest internet suite in the region, and can't be far off any other in the country.

So, Linux for techies, in supported enviroments, or for a limited set of task (such as those we provide for on our £50 recycled machine), yes, yes, yes. Linux for non techies' using new laptops with Ubuntu Dodgy Dragon or whatever it's called, really not there yet IMHO.

So, really can't argue with that article, plus she's buying a Mac not a Windows machine, so thumbs up there too. If you are going to go proprietary, at least go *nix.

That page has a few very lucid comments on it too, worth reading as well as the main text.

Cheers,

-- 
>From Ben Green