[TriLUG] different versions of 7.2 for sale]

Vestal, Roy L. rvestal at rti.org
Wed Oct 24 10:42:59 EDT 2001


Being one from the Windoze world, I can say that I like the "bloating" in
the install. I'm learning this from experience as well as books.  I don't
have the *nix background like alot of the folks in TriLUG. Being used to
bloat from the master himself, Mr. G., it does help some.

I do have one request, if any of the RH folks are reading, the installer
from Mandrake is a lot easier to use for those of us that are learning this
way. There is a lot of front end, and the install takes longer, but it
helped me understand what I was installing. I personally WANT to use RH
Linux, since I'm a homegrown NC boy, I prefer RH to any other. Call me a
hick, or a good ol' boy, but I plan on hanging on.

-----Original Message-----
From: Brent Verner
To: trilug at trilug.org
Sent: 10/23/2001 9:54 PM
Subject: Re: [TriLUG] different versions of 7.2 for sale]

On 23 Oct 2001 at 10:58 (-0400), Paul D. Boyle wrote:
| Matt Jezorek quoted Beth Ellison writing:
| > > Damn. Yep. There is no longer a $30 box set. I hate that. And I
was told
| > > that it's because "we aren't focusing on the desktop market" and
the $30
| > set
| > > "wasn't creating revenue." I shudder at phrases like that. They
sound so
| > > much like the exact things that free, open-source software was
built to
| > work
| > > against.
| 
| This idea of that RedHat isn't focusing on the desktop market is a
| little schizoid on RedHat's part and smacks of intellectual
dishonesty.

  In defense of Redhat, I can only think that you do not understand the
difference between "focusing on the desktop" and "being aware that not
every Redhat admin in the business world is a long time *nix user."  I
consult for people who use Redhat only as server machines, and I can
assure
you that these installs would not exist if Redhat required a *nix guru
to
install/maintain.  You must remember that Redhat is, in practice, taking
server
positions where a Windows machine would have been used.  There is no way
this
would even be /possible/ without the "bloat(ing)"[1] you refer to, so I
wrap up 
by suggesting you think about what kind of user is running many of the
Redhat
(server) installs, and reconsider your view that they are lying[2] about
not 'focusing on the desktop'.  Also, remember that to cleanse those
"unwashed
masses" of their Windows filth, we've gotta get them in the /near/ a
shower >:=)

| If this is so, then why are they bloating there distribution with
desktops
| like GNOME or KDE, when for a server any old (and I do mean old)
window
| manager would do.  If RedHat was really only catering to the server
| market I would think that the RedHat distribution would look more like
a
| *BSD distribution.  

  Being a FBSD user/fan, I can say that *BSD only meets the needs of
experienced
*nix users, and I'm quite certain that all competent *nix admins are
already
stuck to their tool/OS of choice.  There is no /new market/ in that
status quo,
which is antithetical to a business' attempts at growth.  Would you
suggest that
redhat try to convert the handful of experienced *nix users, or that
they try
to get a chunk of the "unwashed masses?"

| They have spent a lot time and effort dumbing down
| linux installation and adminstration chores so the "unwashed masses"
| of Windows users would feel more comfortable.
| 
| > > bought the cheap box set just to support the cause. And I bet
we'll lose
| > > many of them now.

  There are /many/ ways of supprorting the cause.  If you are capable of
fixing bugs, send patches.  If you notice bugs, send comprehensive bug
reports.
The number of man hours that you can save a company like redhat is more
valuable
than the $2.50 profit they'd make on selling the $30 boxed set.  Your
time and
expertise are the most valuable thing you can bring to the open source
community
in small chunks.

rants,
  Brent


[1] Personally, I agree with you on the bloat issue(s), but I keep in
mind that
    the target audience is not me.  I choose to 'pay' for my free
software with 
    time, by contributing to projects whose work I benefit from.

[2] To this simple mind, your euphemism of "intellectual dishonesty" was
not 
    very effective :-\.  While I'm no fan of Redhat's distro, I do
realize the
    great benefit they have been to this community.  I may frequently
criticize
    their product, but to speak badly of them is only doing the
community harm,
    and undermining strides we have taken in the past two years.  Open
source
    is finally :) making inroads into large corporations, and it bothers
me that
    comments like yours may be (mis)construed and cast a negative light
on one
    of the major forces behind the success of linux.  If the choice is
between
    Redhat or $non_linux, Redhat always gets my vote, though I try my
best to
    sneak debian or FBSD in ;-)

-- 
"Develop your talent, man, and leave the world something. Records are 
really gifts from people. To think that an artist would love you enough
to share his music with anyone is a beautiful thing."  -- Duane Allman
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