Peter, I think it's customary to enclose such posts in <RANT> </RANT> tags.

;-)

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peter" <plpeter2006@yahoo.com>
To: <piclist@mit.edu>
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 10:59
Subject: Re: [OT] Ubuntu Causes (Stupid) Girl to Drop Out of College


> Jeff Findley <jeff.findley <at> ugs.com> writes:
>> 4.  MS Windows still dominates the consumer PC market.
>>
>> 5.  Linux isn't typically useful for your average PC user because of #4.
>
> This I keep hearing all the time ... why ?! The 'average PC user' uses the
> Internet, QuickTax and the digital camera's and scanner/printer's 
> software. All
> the rest does not exist or requires a call to support. Tests done with 
> unbiased
> people of many ages (teen to 75+) who were new computer users showed no
> difficulty in using either of the three prevailing GUI systems (Windows 
> Linux
> and Mac) for usual tasks (turn on/off, browse internet, write/read email, 
> use a
> voice/video communications program, write/read documents/attachments, 
> print/scan
> document). Ok, QuickTax does not (yet?) workon Linux (but I think that it 
> runs
> on Wine under Linux or BSD). More importantly, computer users can be 
> divided
> into 4 groups:
>
> a - won't touch a computer even if held at gunpoint
>
> b - average user who expects to plug in the computer and use it as above, 
> and
> who WILL bitch and sue if sold a system that does not work as expected, 
> and with
> good reason.
>
> c - self proclaimed 'advanced' user who thinks he is computer savvy, does 
> not
> have a CS degree or any other relevant instruction, has strong opinions on 
> most
> things such as what software is 'best' and 'works for anyone', who is a 
> m040n
> and who isn't, and spends hours explaining to friends and foes how he 
> 'fixed' a
> problem after reinstalling version X.yy.6.8 of megapoop which *perfectly* 
> fixed
> his/her computer (thereafter suppressing any other messages about failures 
> onhis
> system, such as several OS reinstalls, lest he/she lose face). Such people 
> often
> sit on school boards and the like where they can exercise total control 
> and
> micromanagement over their unfortunate minions and impose their views, 
> thus
> getting the adrenaline and ego rushes they need to keep functioning 
> without
> permanent counseling and medication, and invariably call professionals who 
> do
> not agree with their opinions 'geeks', 'hackers', 'commies' or just m040ns 
> when
> nothing else works.
>
> d - really advanced users who are goal oriented, educated (themselves of
> otherwise), and know that they need to use the right tool for the right 
> task,
> and are not shy to switch operating systems or versions to do just that. 
> They do
> not have biases based on hearsay, internet blogs, commercial pamphlets or
> 'Communist Free Operating Systems' (which happen to be created and 
> supported by
> companies traded on the NYSE and by big name ivy league universities, 
> besides
> running some of the worlds biggest supercomputers and most of the 
> internet).
>
> Now, guess which category best describes the bright people who choose what 
> needs
> to be used for that college course, and to which category the student 
> belongs.
>
> Peter
>
>
> -- 
> http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
> View/change your membership options at
> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist 

-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist