Posted by: Anonymous Coward
on December 11, 2004 04:54 AM
Good article Robin.
Try installing Windows on Apple or Alpha hardware, then complaining to Microsoft that it doesn't work. You won't get far. In fact, you probably won't even get a reply. And Windows user group people will explain to you that if you want to run Windows, you need to get Windows-compatible hardware. It's the same with GNU/Linux.
I like this viewpoint, its one i spread when people whine too (although Windows NT runs on PPC, Alpha, MIPS and x86) but when i look realistically, many people run x86 hardware which they bought from their hard earned money -- both corporations, individuals and NGO. If they have to sell their old hardware to get compatible hardware they have to: * Research what works * Put effort in selling * Didge money in the effort
Which are a bummer because it works against 'easy' and 'cheap' as Linux tries to be.
If you want to work around this perception and get Linux more adopted, i think you have to solve the above somehow. Because most people don't care wether Linux runs on the AS/400.
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x86 from the masses
Posted by: Anonymous Coward on December 11, 2004 04:54 AMTry installing Windows on Apple or Alpha hardware, then complaining to Microsoft that it doesn't work. You won't get far. In fact, you probably won't even get a reply. And Windows user group people will explain to you that if you want to run Windows, you need to get Windows-compatible hardware. It's the same with GNU/Linux.
I like this viewpoint, its one i spread when people whine too (although Windows NT runs on PPC, Alpha, MIPS and x86) but when i look realistically, many people run x86 hardware which they bought from their hard earned money -- both corporations, individuals and NGO. If they have to sell their old hardware to get compatible hardware they have to:
* Research what works
* Put effort in selling
* Didge money in the effort
Which are a bummer because it works against 'easy' and 'cheap' as Linux tries to be.
If you want to work around this perception and get Linux more adopted, i think you have to solve the above somehow. Because most people don't care wether Linux runs on the AS/400.
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