Sinister Midget wrote:
> On 2006-07-31, Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> posted something concerning:
> > Linux's foray into Windows territory
> >
> > ,----[ Quote ]
> >| Low-priced software such as Suse 10 presents a serious challenge to
> >| Microsoft on the desktop, and perhaps soon in the home market too.
> > `----
> >
> > http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3747884a28,00.html
> They're going to need to advertise. Either directly or through OEMs who
> are taking it on.
I'd have to agree in the long run.
Linux has done pretty well with word of mouth, especially for the kids
12-16 years old, starting in 1995. I guess that means that there is
some pretty good word of mouth advertizing for "kids' 12-27 years old.
And of course their are the old UNIX hackers, hippies mostly, the
counter-culture to Microsoft's Yuppies. Complete with beards, long
hair (stopped doing drugs so they can grow it long now), and ability to
produce really big, powerful, reliable systems in a rediculously short
amount of time, with minimal maintenance effort, with budgets that are
a fraction of those involving traditional Microsoft projects.
It is a bit funny really. People all over the world are using Linux in
everything from WiFi and routers to cell phones, televisions, and even
VCRs and DVRs. They've been using Linux and Unix on the Web nearly 80%
of the time. Yet they don't know what Linux or UNIX are.
The will curse Windows and tell people how much they hate it. They
will say "Windows ate my homework" and the teacher will nod and say,
"that's OK, I understand, can you get it in by tomorrow?". The sad
thing is that there is a very good chance that Windows really DID eat
her homework.
They love the look-and-feel of the Mac OS/X, but they don't know it's
UNIX.
They read Microsofts' "fast Facts" campaign and believe it like it's
gospel,
because they don't know any better.
It's not like they can walk into CompUSA and "test drive a Linux PC".
They are lucky if they can walk into CompUSA and "BUY" a copy of Linux.
It's not even like they can walk into the store and ask "Which of these
machines will run Linux?" and get a reliable answer. Even though
nearly every machine made in the last 18 months will run Linux, there
are just enough still out there that the salesman really doesn't know
for sure.
Getting a Linux system is like buying a "Kit Kar" or "Hot Rod". Which
is why one Linux friendly computer is called NASCAR complete with
NASCAR logos.
I remember when I was about 10 years old, and popular mechanics had
these "Dune Buggy's" that you could build. You had to buy the
Volkswagon car, and then you put the body on top if it, but when you
were done, you had a really cute looking car that got great milage,
went almost anywhere, and didn't need much maintenance.
Only a few years later, Datsun, Toyota, Honda, and VW were thriving,
while Chrysler was asking for a "bail-out".
> They'll never make the kind of headway they want to
> make until they do, or until enough time has passed and enough
> businesses have adopted it to get the public at large to not be so
> scared of it.
Microsoft may be on the verge of pushing business right into Linux.
Vista is rediculously late. The OEMs are making their profits on
"Linux Friendly" machines. Vista Betas are unusually buggy. And
Microsoft is talking like they are going to try another "Strong arm
twist" forcing corporate customers into renewal contracts based on a GA
release of a Vista beta, just as the current support contracts are
about to expire.
OpenOffice and ODF are becoming much more popular, and many companies
are now looking at commercial products which support ODF.
FireFox has pretty much killed the attractiveness of writing
"IE/Windows only" Web sites.
Thunderbird has taken much of the thunder out of Outlook.
Microsoft APIs are being abandoned in favor of multiplatform APIs which
support Windows XP (cygwin and Java), Mac OS/X, and Linux.
> --
> Windows: Proof that P.T. Barnum was right.
Yep, there's a sucker born every minute.
Quick, get a dollar so we can go see the egress.
And, proof that Lincoln was wrong.
You CAN fool nearly ALL of the people for 25 years!
(nearly all of the people, nearly all of the time).
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