Re: Explaining Linux

["Richard Stevenson" <nospam [at] adv.net.nz>]

On 29 Feb 2000, at 11:05, R.A.Fletcher wrote:

> My friends and I have been talking lately about Linux, and it has 
> lead to some pretty heated debates. Simply put, they have never 
> used linux, they are used to Windows and see no reason why they 
> should change, and hence anyone else like them. They presume 
> that Linux only has advantages for the technically minded and will 
> be useless to the average user. 

Oddly enough, I've seen a lot of this...  all of the NT bigots I know don't 
know anything else - even basic things like IP, routing, protocols, and 
standards - and don't seem inclined to learn.  Most of the Uinx people I 
know have had some experience of everything from the Sinclair ZX-80 to VMS 
(yes, and WNT).  Most of them know what an RFC is, and where to find them.  
They might even *read* some.  On the other hand, the biggest Sun bigot I 
ever saw showed no sign of clue whatsoever - no technical clues that I 
could discern, no idea about the community we were there to support (this 
was in an academic institution), no idea about how to manage people in 
subordinate positions, and wilfully ignorant of the obligation we had 
toward the larger Internet community in New Zealand.

Some days I'm glad I don't work there any more.  Every day, even.

Cheers

Richard

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Sheffield Linux User's Group - http://www.sheflug.co.uk
To unsubscribe from this list send mail to
- <sheflug-request [at] vuw.ac.nz> - with the word 
 "unsubscribe" in the body of the message. 

  GNU the choice of a complete generation.