I agree with pretty much everything said. But, let me say that the average Joe computer user doesn't like this sorta talk. By the very fact that we are all reading a mailing list, we are already much different than the vast majority of computer users, and potential Linux users, out there. The average Joe hears "cheap/free" and "powerful" in conjuncton with Linux. From this, they don't want to make any choices of flavor, they just want Linux installed as easily and running as transparently (up to some point) as possible. So, while we all sit back and agree about things in theory, and about how this or that will or will not affect various distbns, I think that things will not go this way. The average Joe (and big $$) drives the market (hence, microslop). So, this brings us back to the fact that like it or not, RedHat and their buddies are on a track wholly different than the others; one in which they have paid some attention to detail, at least as regards image and the like and being involved with the "right" people. I know this does not a good product make. . .but good products aren't what people spend millions on every year (again., witness microslop). But hey, I am still rooting for Linux generally, and especially for SuSE. But SuSE can't even keep a website maintained and up to date (6.0?), so how can they possibly keep the uneducated masses even vaguely happy. . . .I fear they can't. Just wait until RH spends a little time and well funded effort on German distbns. . . .I think SuSE's claim to German fame will quickly fall by the wayside too. . . .$$$ knows no borders. . . ..boo hoo. On 06-Feb-99 Michael Johnson wrote:
Personally I don't know what to think. I like SuSE, I like RedHat and next month I will also be trying out Debian. I don't think I am willing, at this time, to make any definite choice. They all have nice and irritating features. And I don't think there is any reason, at the moment, to switch from one to the other (except 'personal compatibility and taste' reasons).
I agree. I have mixed reactions to the 'competitive' attitude users have about the dists. I think most of the time, people prefer dists for personal reasons of taste, as opposed to reasons that are primarily of a logistic nature. I think some of this creates a hostile and divisive climate. I think S.u.S.E., RedHat ( especially now ), Debian, are all good distributions. The main thing that is needed is more common ground between distributions of Linux so as to merge with that larger world that has no vested interest in seeing Linux succeed, so that the growth can continue in a positive direction. I think, at the end of this we could have Linuxes with distinct personalities and flavours that retain their technical 'personality' while at the same time acknowledging those things that need to happen across the board to promote universal acceptance of Linux as a platform solution for a variety of services. I'll love it when the 'hacker' and 'wild man' image that still infests ( bad choice of words, sorry ) Linux--is traded in for one of even more increasing acceptance and respectability, not just for 'special interests' but for potentially everyone that wants to benefit from the technical superiorty (IMHO ) of inexpensive Unices for big companies and even single user workstations. -M
------------------------------------------ E-Mail: Chris Martin <camst65@pitt.edu> Date: 06-Feb-99 Time: 09:24:54 ** Powered by SuSE Linux. You want it?! ** <A HREF="http://www.suse.com"><A HREF="http://www.suse.com</A">http://www.suse.com</A</A>> | <A HREF="http://www.linux.org"><A HREF="http://www.linux.org</A">http://www.linux.org</A</A>> ------------------------------------------ - To get out of this list, please send email to majordomo@suse.com with this text in its body: unsubscribe suse-linux-e Check out the SuSE-FAQ at <A HREF="http://www.suse.com/Support/Doku/FAQ/"><A HREF="http://www.suse.com/Support/Doku/FAQ/</A">http://www.suse.com/Support/Doku/FAQ/</A</A>> and the archiv at <A HREF="http://www.suse.com/Mailinglists/suse-linux-e/index.html"><A HREF="http://www.suse.com/Mailinglists/suse-linux-e/index.html</A">http://www.suse.com/Mailinglists/suse-linux-e/index.html</A</A>>