In comp.os.linux.advocacy, Maverick
<Sun@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote
on Fri, 22 Jun 2007 12:58:36 -0600
<jrqdnQEtnepDhuHbnZ2dnUVZ_sDinZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxx>:
> cc wrote:
>> On Jun 22, 8:47 am, Roy Schestowitz <newsgro...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>Zen of Linux
>>>
>>>,----[ Quote ]
>>>| The beauty of Linux is that there is probably a distro out there made just
>>>| for you - you don't have to settle for Red Hat or Ubuntu. Just look at the
>>>| amazing list of available distros over on DistroWatch.
>>>`----
>>>
>>>http://www.mikeyp.com/weblog/2007/06/22#zenwalk
>>>
>>
>>
>> That is exactly what needs to stop if more people are going to use
>> Linux. Don't tell new users to go look at the "amazing list." It's
>> fine for dorks like you and me with some experience, but it will drive
>> new users away.
>>
>
> Erm... in what way?
In the usual way -- by intimidation. It's a bit
like the difference between a plastic tricycle (with
attached toaster), which everyone understands, and the
virtually incomprehensible (though it helps to read the
manual!) fully automated automobile (with, of course,
automatic transmission) that can go 0-60 in 5 seconds,
and has remote controls for everything from the satellite
radio (with retracting antenna) to the adjustable steering
wheel, and everything in between. And it's a kit car,
which nobody likes as they have to be built, although many
vendors will build one for you.
By contrast, tricycles are made by the hundreds of
millions, and can be bought in any store. One size fits
everybody, from the 3 year old first-time rider who can
get 4 of his friends to sit with him in the seat, to the
grandpa who remembers penny-farthing bicycles in his youth
(and how fast they were, compared to this model), to the
7-foot-tall basketball player/power tie wearing middle manager
who wonders why his rear and his knees hurt.
Also, the tricycle is painted in the absolute newest
metallic blue color! And everyone's got to have one; it's
just so cool to have a tricycle. Especially one where the
wheels fall off occasionally and spontaneous explosions
occur on a regular basis. Many have complained that the
explosions are because of user error, burritos for lunch,
overpressurized tires, or a hill being too steep.
Research is continuing, though some suspect the plastic.
And if it falls over (which it does often), just take
the three wheels and right it again. There, fixed --
until it falls over again.
Attachable warning bell, dirty mud cleaners, and tow
trailer are optional but strongly recommended. Oh,
and don't forget to pay the yearly stipend for wheel,
handlebar, and frame upgrades. Mud can gunk up the wheels
and splatter on passers-by, including other tricycle
riders; take care during riding.
After awhile the tires rot, and the entire tricycle needs
replacement. Just buy another one.
The automobile requires more complicated repairs, where
one has to pop the hood, study the diagnostics from the
interociter, flabnastigate the orbitron [*], flimbibulate
the doohicky, knegbanulgate the snickerdoodles (which are
conveniently located in the froblistigation unit -- take
care not to overbake) and then carefully close the hood.
Easy as pi. (Which, BTW, can be computed to more than
a million decimal places and then sprinkled on top of
the snickerdoodles.)
And of course one can take out the engine and retrieve
the snickerdoodles, making a go-kart with a searchlight
(and a tasty snack), or put several cars together and
make a Monster Masher, for making a giant birthday cake.
The tricycle can be attached to a platform which can hold
up to 256 tricycles, but the whole thing still tends to
fall over. Research is continuing, though some suspect
the toaster.
As you can see, Linux can be very intimidating, epsecially
if one's watched This Island Earth. And does anyone really
*need* to go 60 miles per hour past all of those tricycles?
Especially the broken ones?
[*] OK, so I'm jesting a bit. But that's what the manual is for.
--
#191, ewill3@xxxxxxxxxxxxx -- insert random very mixed metaphor here
Windows Vista. Because a BSOD is just so 20th century; why not
try our new color changing variant?
--
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