Kevin McLauchlan wrote:
Does anybody on this list think that, when I fill out my timesheets, I actually include things like "nine hours trying to get printing to work from Linux... and failing"...?? Not on your life. I'm sure that I'll be a resource for other people in the company when we begin moving from Windows (if I still work here...), but in the meantime, I try to hide how much of a time-sink this is.
Oh-no! My face is gonna break I'm laughin so hard!!! I can relate here, man.
So, I think that "business operational environment" is not just an excuse, behind which I'm hiding my embarassment. Rather, it's where I live and work all day, and where my cow-orkers would live and work if I could show the way. The IT people are bringing more Linux stuff into the server rooms, but I'm the only one trying to make it real on the daily desktop. So far, I haven't even satisfied myself. That means that I'm nowhere near being able to satisfy all the other Windows users here. (And did I mention that even though we are all still using Win NT, it's simply not all that fragile anymore.)
But there is another factor, and that is your self-respect. I am reaching the point where I feel that the use of Microsoft software by the masses around me, constitutes a clearly growing danger to my very freedom. This is because of DRM, Palladium, and all that kind of sick stuff that is going on behind the scenes in our corrupt corporate interests/government political economic system. Using Linux gives me a feeling of dignity, for I am not bending over to the criminal monopoly, and to the value for ceonvenience over true freedom that all the "we fight for freedom and democracy" lip flappers are spouting, all that while using Windows. To me is directly hippocritical. Linux is a very important human technology. Using Windows is becoming increasingly dehumanising, when you consider what the company that provides it, is doing. And that dignity is worth the frustration. And having people who see it too, and who won't rip me a new butt-hole if I get frustrated about the nine hours I blew at work, but hidden from my co-workers, and blow off here in the list, that is a great thing too. Good day! -- ____________________________________ Christopher R. Carlen Principal Laser/Optical Technologist Sandia National Laboratories CA USA crcarle@sandia.gov