Re: Linux/FOSS vs Windows, software popularity stats, week ending 7th May 2006

[Jim <james@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

arachnid wrote:
> On Wed, 10 May 2006 08:19:52 +0100, Roy Schestowitz
> <newsgroups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>
> > __/ [ [H]omer ] on Wednesday 10 May 2006 06:16 \__
> >
> >
> > > ######
> > > Windows Downloads week ending May 07 (download.com)
> > >
> > > Rank  | Name                  | Downloads | Platform  | Purpose
> > > 1     | Spyware Doctor        | 1,033,875 | Windows   | Anti-Spyware
> > > 2     | Ad-Aware SE PE        |   925,775 | Windows   | Anti-Spyware
> > > 3     | LimeWire              |   471,548 | Windows   | Piracy
> > > 4     | ICQ 5.04              |   457,034 | Windows   | Messaging
> > > 5     | All-in-One Secretmaker|   407,802 | Windows   | Anti-Spyware
> > > 6     | BitComet              |   385,608 | Windows   | Piracy
> > > 7     | WinZip                |   352,915 | Windows   | Archiving
> > > 8     | Morpheus              |   343,931 | Windows   | Piracy
> > > 9     | Webroot Spy Sweeper   |   340,301 | Windows   | Anti-Spyware
> > > 10    | Registry Mechanic     |   300,107 | Windows   | b0rk Fixer
> > > ######
> >
> >
> > Quick analysis:
> >
> > - 5 programs 'fix' the operating system in one form or another
>
>
> This is why Linux will never make it on the desktop.
>
> Operating System One requires antivirus programs ($39) , antispyware
> programs ($25), registry/system fixers ($69), backup tools ($40),
> archiving tools ($25)... and then there are the applications, $300 for
> an office suite, $90 for an OS upgrade, $200 for a relational
> database, followed by $500 worth of tech support to get Windows
> working again when it chokes on all this crap ("hmmm... looks like you
> need more RAM ($180) and a bigger hard drive ($150)...").  Then just
> about the time the dust settles, OS One's manufacturer flips a switch,
> the treadmill gives a turn, and the whole buying spree starts over
> beginning with a whole new computer cuz the customer's existing one
> won't run the latest version of OS One.
>
> Whereas,  Operating System Two sells... well, maybe a book or two.
>
> If you were Best Buy, Which OS would *you* carry?

I'd carry the one which causes /me/ the least hassle when customers 
bring the shit back with claims that their precious photo albums are now 
irretrievably lost and all because of me (a soddin' RESELLER, FCOL!), 
and here's me trying to get across to them that I didn't write the 
software, their beef is with the guys who /did/. Unfortunately, TSO are 
on the side of the consumer on this one, therefore I don't carry Windows 
at all. I don't offer support for Windows at all. I sell hardware and I 
sell Linux, with commercial software support where required, between the 
client and the SOFTWARE MAKER. Either way, the point is made clear that 
I DO NOT OFFER SOFTWARE SUPPORT. Hey, guess what, no more assholes tying 
my phone up for three hours at a time hanging on me to teach them how to 
use Outlook Express! I do sell a lot of hardware and get a lot of repeat 
business. Which can only be a good thing.

--
When all else fails...
Use a hammer.