(old)Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

Pretty interesting article here http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm

Some good stuff in that, especially in the last "problem". Some interesting points:
- "Problem" 3a

When he doesn't get that help at what he considers an acceptable rate, he starts complaining and demanding more help. Because that's what he's used to doing with paid-for tech support... Companies don't release software until it's reliable, functional, and user-friendly enough... The software hasn't met his standards, and he thinks he has a right to expect that standard."

The interesting point here is that IME the support for most free software is far better and far quicker than for commercial software... and the quality, reliability and user-friendliness of the software is usually higher too. Which reminds me of a post I was going to make on a lighter note
The thing is, we are a community, and community spirit tends to be more productive than some company that already has your money... especially if they have a monopoly.

Where free software lags behind is that you're more likely to have trouble getting it to work to start with, which is often just because most free software can run on a vast variety of different platforms, but there is not necessarily someone packaging it up nicely for your platform.

- Problem #6 - "Convergent evolution"
The important differences are that intelligent people are putting a lot of effort into improving the design of software, and they can look at each other's work for ideas of what does and does not work. "Evolution" on the other hand is supposed to be a product of chance. Perhaps instead of applying the theory of convergent evolution to the development of software, we could apply actual observations about software development to our biology
The real point is not that similar features are developed independently, but that pretty much every aspect of Microsoft software has been copied from something else. Free software borrows ideas freely too, and there is no shame in that, we just need to get a balanced and accurate picture

A true classic. Read it a couple years ago.

That article made me spend the night trying to think of features in Windows that really are Microsoft innovations. I think I've got three - correct me if I'm wrong:
- the Blue Screen of Death
- easy network file and printer sharing (although networking in the first place can be rather problematic)
- integrating the browser and the operating system (this got them in a lot of trouble)
- annoying "security" dialogues asking you to confirm a dozen times that you really do want to use your computer

If you really want the security and performance of a Unix-based OS but with a customer-focussed attitude and an world-renowned interface: Buy an Apple Mac. OS X is great

I guess it is a joke.

http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... 7bb905a2bc

Guest Account Bug Resets User Accounts and Deletes Files on Snow Leopard

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jsp ... ID=2194729

http://winfuture.de/news,50584.html

Linux is linux nothing else

Good point. I wouldn't call the OS X interface "world renowned" either. Maybe world renowned among arts students who value appearance a little too hightly and haven't been told that the best bling is found in Linux. Otherwise "infamous".
Bling does not make the computer any more useful. And why on earth would I want the controls for a window to be in a bar along the top of the screen, separate from the window? Give me Windows any day

Yep

Posted this a long time ago - so long I can't find it

Another interesting idea is that of software

David Platt said,
"Geeks Drive Stick Shift Cars....
You think people want to use your software...
No, they want to HAVE used your software..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAOTTLQ0rlY

Aitch

David Platt's ideas are interesting, but he seems to be a bit of a shill for Microsoft. And I don't think Microsoft has done much to make simple, intuitive apps and operating systems that "just work". It's more like they've added layers of complexity to insulate the user from the computer. Windows isn't a car with an automatic transmission (compared to stick-shift Linux). It's a chauffeured limo with smoked glass. The chauffeur likes to argue with you and every now and then runs off and leaves you stranded with no idea where you are.

OK, let us say you have a small hard drive of about 5 gigabytes.
You might think I can run Windows XP on it.
You install XP and after it does a bunch of automatic updates, your free hard drive space goes to zero.
Why? Because windows does not remove the update installers it downloads to your computer.
You install Puppy on that hard drive.
Say an update is required. You install the update and Puppy does not grow in size.
If you install some software, sure it will.
And it is not just windows, programs installed on it like to do auto updates also. And they do not seem to delete the old versions when they update.
Give me Puppy any day.
I have Vista on my computer.
But I spend most all of my time in Puppy.

My Signature says it all, LOL!

disciple wrote:- the Blue Screen of Death

Apart from BSOD....

attached is my fave microshaft screen

Aitch