Linux-kernel mailing list archive 1998-42,: Re: Linux vs Microsoft

# Re: Linux vs Microsoft

Paul Wouters (paul@xtdnet.nl)
Mon, 19 Oct 1998 11:15:43 +0200 (MET DST)

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On Mon, 19 Oct 1998 teamwork@freemail.c3.hu wrote:

> With all due respect, Mr. Cox, your "average user" definition does need an
> upgrade.
>
> Not all "average users" are nincompoops. I have seen many "average users"
> successfully installed Windoze 95 on their machine themselves. They are not
> "gurus" or "wizards" of any kind, and most of them don't know enough to code
> up a working C or even Visual-Basic program.

All these average users end up with:
- A default protocol stack you don't want to use
- no tcp/ip
- 640x480x256 on 17"
- possible harddisk blocksize conflict between win95 and bios
- lots of APM crashes

If you even get lucky enough that it will detect all your hardware.
To be honest, only freaks and bofh's can install windows correctly
(and both groups really don't want to help family members of the third
degree, really no.)

> Ask the same "average users" to install Linux however, and most will throw up
> their hands.

Indeed. But linux is catching up. Last week, a techy at an NT company
told me (when watching me install redhat in 20 minutes) "Hey, the setup
is all graphical now?".

> The level of difficulty to install Windoze from scratch and that of installing
> Linux is _not_ the same. It _does_ require a higher level of computer literacy
> for a successful Linux installation (even with the RedHat's almost no-brain
> installation process.)
I think Alan's point was that both are beyond the capabilities of 95% of
computer users.

Paul

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