The average home user would be better off using SuSE. :-). Seriously. It's easier over all, plus, I always notice Red Hat takes more memory and cpu. Why, I'm not exactly sure, but it does. I've used both for years. I like SuSE a lot. I think their system tools are nice and slick. They also target the desktop user with their configuration tools. Red Hat still uses console based hardware setup. SuSE has many more desktop oriented configuration tools. That's been my experience. I RH because I can download the ISO's for free. You can't do that with SuSE, but it is really nice. Wade -----Original Message----- From: redhat-list-admin@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:redhat-list-admin@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of T. Ribbrock Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 7:26 AM To: redhat-list@xxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: "Red Hat recommends Windows for consumers" On Tue, Nov 04, 2003 at 12:24:22PM +0100, Michael Schwendt wrote: > > Well. I *can* see his point, at least a little bit - but it still > > feels strange, this coming from Red Hat. Anybody else who shares > > this view? > > Do *you* disagree? Yes. I don't think it was very smart. Seing the recent wave of worms and viruses, I regard it as downright dangerous to recommend Windows to any home user. I also think it was dangerous to Linux, as it will give MS more leverage to complete the lock-in they're after. "Linux will be ready in a few years" - great, but it might be too late then. The third issue I have is the possible impact of this statement on what PHBs think in business ("Gee, if I can't even use it at home..."). That shouldn't happen, but I think we all know it will happen, unfortunately. Having said that, I can see the point in toning down the expectations of potential migrants, as a scared off newbie would be bad for Linux' future as well. Nonetheless, I still think we should get as many home users to move as possible, 'cause many of them already can. I mean, what *is* the average home user? When I think of "the average home user", I think of people like my dad or my wife - e-mail, web, office apps, maybe the odd dabbling with photos (either digital camera or scanner) - that's all possible right now. Installation is an issue, but on the other hand, the people I have in mind never install anything themselves, anyway - they either buy pre-installed or ask their son/neighbour/etc.pp. - and that's not in any way specific to Windows. Another thing that comes up is ease of use. Well, Windows isn't easy to use - I learned that lesson rather quickly when my father bought his first PC, with no previous experience. I've seen the other version as well: My wife is using Linux at home as well since a couple of years and although her only experience was Windows, she's very happy with the system. She really surprised me, when she asked to dump KDE and replace it with the GUI I use: Window Maker. Just proves that ease of use isn't that easy to pinpoint. Nonetheless, I wouldn't necessary recommend Linux to that type of user - I'd rather point in the general direction of Apple's MacIntosh, as I've seen complete newbies getting the hang of MacOS rather quickly, when compared to Windows. That leaves the "spoil sports" :-) : Gamers. It appears that Windows is a reasonable gaming platform (I wouldn't know). Hence, to that type of user, Windows might be the only alternative, short of a console. There isn't much point in denying that. Further on, I fail to see the point of the statement from a Red Hat point of view: They're not even offering any product for the typical home user anymore - they said themselves that they're after the businesses. Hence, why this statement? It just doesn't feel right. Cheerio, Thomas -- ==> RH List Archive: http://marc.theaimsgroup.com/?l=redhat-list&r=1&w=2 <== ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----- Thomas Ribbrock http://www.ribbrock.org "You have to live on the edge of reality - to make your dreams come true!" -- redhat-list mailing list unsubscribe mailto:redhat-list-request@xxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/redhat-list -- redhat-list mailing list unsubscribe mailto:redhat-list-request@xxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/redhat-list
