Is Linux a desktop operating system?

Norman Silverstone norman at littletank.org
Sat May 28 10:53:44 UTC 2005


On Sat, 2005-05-28 at 12:15 +0200, albi at scii.nl wrote:
> On Sat, 28 May 2005 10:59:07 +0100
> Norman Silverstone <norman at littletank.org> wrote:
> 
> > Thank you very much for your kind offer it is very much appreciated.
> > However, I speak not only for myself but for other members of my
> > family who I would like to convert to Ubuntu from Windows. This is not
> > because I hate Windows but because I am fed up with having to deal
> > with the effects of viruses etc. on their machines.

<Snip>

> > I could go on but I will stop and leave the rest to others who have
> > rehearsed the answers to the question many times in the past and will.
> > doubtless, do so in the future.
> 
> i don't understand all this complaining about linux and the so-called
> lack of software

Hold on! I was not complaining I was just answering a question. That is
the polite thing to do with which I am sure you would agree.

> do you want a completely commercialised linux-world in the future like
> the windows-world already is ?

No, because I believe in enabling everybody everywhere to have access to
the use of computers and the web and so on. If that means free systems
like Ubuntu and the development of new, free or low cost software then
you have my support. Indeed, I have already demonstrated that support by
changing from Windows to Ubuntu although I knew nothing at all about
Linux except that it existed.
> 
> i think the solution is easy, buy Apple computers and a game-console
> and all the commercial apps and games you want and dump windows if
> dealing with viruses is a problem for you

Do you honestly think that is the solution? I bet you don't.

> and if you really want to make a move with linux, then start
> contributing, e.g. writing howto's, doing translations, writing to
> companies asking for certain software you think you need, and above all
> protest against the enormous power-position grip that Microsoft still
> has world-wide (think e.g. of the blackmail cases vs. all kind of
> hardware-vendors, and getting refunds from the Microsoft-tax)

How do you know I am not already doing some of the things you suggest? I
thought correspondents to this group were supposed to friendly and
helpful to each other and not jump to conclusions without first, at
least, making polite enquiries. You can hate Microsoft as much as you
like but I suggest, without their commercial efforts over the years, the
use of computers in the home would not be where it is today and the
development of the hardware we all take for granted would never have
happened.

Keep smiling

Norman






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