Linux use reaches 1% -- world yawns
 

http://blogs.computerworld.com/linux..._1_world_yawns

"Many people have made much of the fact that for the first time, Linux use
as measured by Net Applications has crossed the 1% market share barrier. As
significant milestones go, this is about as meaningless as it gets. ..."

"To understand why, let's look at how Linux reached that 1% market share.
Linux was first created in 1991 --- that's 18 years ago. To reach 1% market
share in 18 years is not a particularly difficult task, especially
considering that the operating system is available for free. For most of
Linux's history, it wasn't even a blip on the radar of any market share
figures, apart from server market share. There it's a strong presence, and
deservedly so. It's a flat-out great operating system for servers. The
desktop is where it's floundered, and for good reason. There are too many
variants of it, and while it's gotten much easier to use, when you need to
install software on it or update it, it's far too complicated...."

"Why has Linux finally broken the 1% barrier? Because of netbooks.
Initially, Linux had a big netbook market share of 30% or so. So the 1%
breakthrough is due entirely to netbook use, not Linux use on desktops,
where it still flounders. Sure, you can buy Linux on a Dell, if you try hard
enough. But otherwise, good luck. And that's the way it will stay. Linux
will never become a mainstream operating system on desktops, and so for
client machines, it will remain largely confined to netbooks. Market surveys
have shown that Linux sales on netbooks have plunged to only 10% of
netbooks."

Re: Linux use reaches 1% -- world yawns
 

In article <iUpMl.687190$yE1.299487@attbi_s21>, impossible@nospam.net
says...
> http://blogs.computerworld.com/linux..._1_world_yawns
>
> "Many people have made much of the fact that for the first time, Linux use
> as measured by Net Applications has crossed the 1% market share barrier. As
> significant milestones go, this is about as meaningless as it gets. ..."
>
> "To understand why, let's look at how Linux reached that 1% market share.
> Linux was first created in 1991 --- that's 18 years ago. To reach 1% market
> share in 18 years is not a particularly difficult task, especially
> considering that the operating system is available for free. For most of
> Linux's history, it wasn't even a blip on the radar of any market share
> figures, apart from server market share. There it's a strong presence, and
> deservedly so. It's a flat-out great operating system for servers. The
> desktop is where it's floundered, and for good reason. There are too many
> variants of it, and while it's gotten much easier to use, when you need to
> install software on it or update it, it's far too complicated...."
>
> "Why has Linux finally broken the 1% barrier? Because of netbooks.
> Initially, Linux had a big netbook market share of 30% or so. So the 1%
> breakthrough is due entirely to netbook use, not Linux use on desktops,
> where it still flounders. Sure, you can buy Linux on a Dell, if you try hard
> enough. But otherwise, good luck. And that's the way it will stay. Linux
> will never become a mainstream operating system on desktops, and so for
> client machines, it will remain largely confined to netbooks. Market surveys
> have shown that Linux sales on netbooks have plunged to only 10% of
> netbooks."

Well if you ask me, I think the writer's got it all wrong. It's a great
milestone (IMO) that Linux has got a 1% desktop market share.

Linux still has a *long* way to go - just to catch up to Windows - but
it *will* get there. Note MS's advanced release of Windows 7 (I think
they're very worried - Vista was a marketing *disaster*). Windows 7
will not be released (IMO) Jan next year - they'll get it out ASAP,
probably last quarter of this year.

Linux development has made good inroads as far as "office" apps go - a
long way to go still - and, as said, good inroads into the desktop
market (still a long way to go there too). Microsoft will continue
(IMO) to "own" the desktop and office environments, but I wonder how far
they can go (how much further they can go), and note how fast Linux is
catching up.

It will be a great day when it happens.

--
Duncan

Re: Linux use reaches 1% -- world yawns
 

"Dave Doe" <hard@work.ok> wrote in message
news:MPG.246cf78e399d96a79897ab@news.motzarella.or g...
> In article <iUpMl.687190$yE1.299487@attbi_s21>, impossible@nospam.net
> says...
>> http://blogs.computerworld.com/linux..._1_world_yawns
>>
>> "Many people have made much of the fact that for the first time, Linux
>> use
>> as measured by Net Applications has crossed the 1% market share barrier.
>> As
>> significant milestones go, this is about as meaningless as it gets. ..."
>>
>> "To understand why, let's look at how Linux reached that 1% market share.
>> Linux was first created in 1991 --- that's 18 years ago. To reach 1%
>> market
>> share in 18 years is not a particularly difficult task, especially
>> considering that the operating system is available for free. For most of
>> Linux's history, it wasn't even a blip on the radar of any market share
>> figures, apart from server market share. There it's a strong presence,
>> and
>> deservedly so. It's a flat-out great operating system for servers. The
>> desktop is where it's floundered, and for good reason. There are too many
>> variants of it, and while it's gotten much easier to use, when you need
>> to
>> install software on it or update it, it's far too complicated...."
>>
>> "Why has Linux finally broken the 1% barrier? Because of netbooks.
>> Initially, Linux had a big netbook market share of 30% or so. So the 1%
>> breakthrough is due entirely to netbook use, not Linux use on desktops,
>> where it still flounders. Sure, you can buy Linux on a Dell, if you try
>> hard
>> enough. But otherwise, good luck. And that's the way it will stay. Linux
>> will never become a mainstream operating system on desktops, and so for
>> client machines, it will remain largely confined to netbooks. Market
>> surveys
>> have shown that Linux sales on netbooks have plunged to only 10% of
>> netbooks."
>
> Well if you ask me, I think the writer's got it all wrong. It's a great
> milestone (IMO) that Linux has got a 1% desktop market share.
>
> Linux still has a *long* way to go - just to catch up to Windows - but
> it *will* get there. Note MS's advanced release of Windows 7 (I think
> they're very worried - Vista was a marketing *disaster*). Windows 7
> will not be released (IMO) Jan next year - they'll get it out ASAP,
> probably last quarter of this year.
>
> Linux development has made good inroads as far as "office" apps go - a
> long way to go still - ....

I don'tt knwo what you can possibl;y be talking about. The utter lack of
professional-grade office apps for the nix platform is chiefly responsible
for the failure of Linux to capture more than a tiny fraction of the desktop
market.

> and, as said, good inroads into the desktop
> market (still a long way to go there too).

1% every 18 years? Yeah, right. Long way to go.

> Microsoft will continue
> (IMO) to "own" the desktop and office environments, but I wonder how far
> they can go (how much further they can go), and note how fast Linux is
> catching up.
>

1% in 18 years! Is there anything else else on the planet that grows more
slowly than the Linux desktop?

> It will be a great day when it happens.
>
> --

Hallelujah!

Re: Linux use reaches 1% -- world yawns
 

In article <7RqMl.687257$yE1.2972@attbi_s21>, impossible@nospam.net
says...
>
> "Dave Doe" <hard@work.ok> wrote in message
> news:MPG.246cf78e399d96a79897ab@news.motzarella.or g...
> > In article <iUpMl.687190$yE1.299487@attbi_s21>, impossible@nospam.net
> > says...
> >> http://blogs.computerworld.com/linux..._1_world_yawns
> >>
> >> "Many people have made much of the fact that for the first time, Linux
> >> use
> >> as measured by Net Applications has crossed the 1% market share barrier.
> >> As
> >> significant milestones go, this is about as meaningless as it gets. ..."
> >>
> >> "To understand why, let's look at how Linux reached that 1% market share.
> >> Linux was first created in 1991 --- that's 18 years ago. To reach 1%
> >> market
> >> share in 18 years is not a particularly difficult task, especially
> >> considering that the operating system is available for free. For most of
> >> Linux's history, it wasn't even a blip on the radar of any market share
> >> figures, apart from server market share. There it's a strong presence,
> >> and
> >> deservedly so. It's a flat-out great operating system for servers. The
> >> desktop is where it's floundered, and for good reason. There are too many
> >> variants of it, and while it's gotten much easier to use, when you need
> >> to
> >> install software on it or update it, it's far too complicated...."
> >>
> >> "Why has Linux finally broken the 1% barrier? Because of netbooks.
> >> Initially, Linux had a big netbook market share of 30% or so. So the 1%
> >> breakthrough is due entirely to netbook use, not Linux use on desktops,
> >> where it still flounders. Sure, you can buy Linux on a Dell, if you try
> >> hard
> >> enough. But otherwise, good luck. And that's the way it will stay. Linux
> >> will never become a mainstream operating system on desktops, and so for
> >> client machines, it will remain largely confined to netbooks. Market
> >> surveys
> >> have shown that Linux sales on netbooks have plunged to only 10% of
> >> netbooks."
> >
> > Well if you ask me, I think the writer's got it all wrong. It's a great
> > milestone (IMO) that Linux has got a 1% desktop market share.
> >
> > Linux still has a *long* way to go - just to catch up to Windows - but
> > it *will* get there. Note MS's advanced release of Windows 7 (I think
> > they're very worried - Vista was a marketing *disaster*). Windows 7
> > will not be released (IMO) Jan next year - they'll get it out ASAP,
> > probably last quarter of this year.
> >
> > Linux development has made good inroads as far as "office" apps go - a
> > long way to go still - ....
>
> I don'tt knwo what you can possibl;y be talking about. The utter lack of
> professional-grade office apps for the nix platform is chiefly responsible
> for the failure of Linux to capture more than a tiny fraction of the desktop
> market.

I agree, OpenOffice and Evolution are pretty awful - but they have
advanced a lot - more than MS's Office IMO over time.

>
> > and, as said, good inroads into the desktop
> > market (still a long way to go there too).
>
> 1% every 18 years? Yeah, right. Long way to go.

Well if you think IT development, software wise (let alone hardware) is
a linear development - enough said.

--
Duncan

Re: Linux use reaches 1% -- world yawns
 

In article <DK6dnUHXoJrhpp_XnZ2dnVY3go6dnZ2d@giganews.com>,
geoff@nospam-paf.co.nz says...
> Dave Doe wrote:
> >
> > Linux still has a *long* way to go - just to catch up to Windows - but
> > it *will* get there.
>
> Roll on 2096 .

I'll take a bet with you - neither Microsoft or Linux will be around in
2096.

--
Duncan

Re: Linux use reaches 1% -- world yawns
 

> impossible wrote:

> Hallelujah!

I'll bite :-)

I'm just curious what you were trying to achieve by posting this (again).

Do you honestly expect that the linux users here on nz.comp are going to say
to themselves...

"Gosh. Only 1% of the desktop market. I guess I'd better give up using my
current system and head out to Dick Smiths and buy a Microsoft system.

It may cost the best part of a couple of grand to get a Windows 7 machine
but at least then I'll be one of the 87%

I'll have to start thinking about viruses and trojans and root kits and all
that stuff again but at least I'll be one of the 87%

I'll have to start paying for software but at least I'll be one of the 87%

I'll have to stop accepting open format files and only send out closed
format files but at least I'll be one of the 87%

I'll no longer be able to use the swiss army knife of computing (that's the
command line for the uninitiated) but at least I'll be one of the
87%....... actually I've got to stop there. I've just realized that if I
was stupid enough to stop using the command line purely to be acceptable to
you then I deserve to be one of the 87%

Only 1% of the world drive a Lamborgini. I'm guessing the 87% drive
something from General Motors. And guess who just filed for bankruptcy :-)

Regards
Lodi

Re: Linux use reaches 1% -- world yawns
 

"Lodi" <lodi@ccr.com> wrote in message
news:gtth0e$nv9$1@news.motzarella.org...
>> impossible wrote:

>>>> http://blogs.computerworld.com/linux..._1_world_yawns
>>>>
>>>> "Many people have made much of the fact that for the first time, Linux
>>>> use
>>>> as measured by Net Applications has crossed the 1% market share
>>>> barrier.
>>>> As
>>>> significant milestones go, this is about as meaningless as it gets.
>>>> ..."
>>>>
>>>> "To understand why, let's look at how Linux reached that 1% market
>>>> share.
>>>> Linux was first created in 1991 --- that's 18 years ago. To reach 1%
>>>> market
>>>> share in 18 years is not a particularly difficult task, especially
>>>> considering that the operating system is available for free. For most
>>>> of
>>>> Linux's history, it wasn't even a blip on the radar of any market share
>>>> figures, apart from server market share. There it's a strong presence,
>>>> and
>>>> deservedly so. It's a flat-out great operating system for servers. The
>>>> desktop is where it's floundered, and for good reason. There are too
>>>> many
>>>> variants of it, and while it's gotten much easier to use, when you need
>>>> to
>>>> install software on it or update it, it's far too complicated...."
>>>>
>>>> "Why has Linux finally broken the 1% barrier? Because of netbooks.
>>>> Initially, Linux had a big netbook market share of 30% or so. So the 1%
>>>> breakthrough is due entirely to netbook use, not Linux use on desktops,
>>>> where it still flounders. Sure, you can buy Linux on a Dell, if you try
>>>> hard
>>>> enough. But otherwise, good luck. And that's the way it will stay.
>>>> Linux
>>>> will never become a mainstream operating system on desktops, and so for
>>>> client machines, it will remain largely confined to netbooks. Market
>>>> surveys
>>>> have shown that Linux sales on netbooks have plunged to only 10% of
>>>> netbooks."
>>>
>>> Well if you ask me, I think the writer's got it all wrong. It's a great
>>> milestone (IMO) that Linux has got a 1% desktop market share.
>>>
>>> Linux still has a *long* way to go - just to catch up to Windows - but
>>> it *will* get there. Note MS's advanced release of Windows 7 (I think
>>> they're very worried - Vista was a marketing *disaster*). Windows 7
>>> will not be released (IMO) Jan next year - they'll get it out ASAP,
>>> probably last quarter of this year.
>>>
>>> Linux development has made good inroads as far as "office" apps go - a
>>> long way to go still - ....
>>
>> I don'tt knwo what you can possibl;y be talking about. The utter lack of
>> professional-grade office apps for the nix platform is chiefly
>> responsible
>> for the failure of Linux to capture more than a tiny fraction of the
>> desktop
>> market.
>>
>>> and, as said, good inroads into the desktop
>>> market (still a long way to go there too).
>>
>> 1% every 18 years? Yeah, right. Long way to go.
>>
>>> Microsoft will continue
>>> (IMO) to "own" the desktop and office environments, but I wonder how far
>>> they can go (how much further they can go), and note how fast Linux is
>>> catching up.
>>>
>>
>> 1% in 18 years! Is there anything else else on the planet that grows more
>> slowly than the Linux desktop?
>>
>>> It will be a great day when it happens.
>>>
>>> --
>>
>> Hallelujah!
>>>
> I'll bite :-)
>
> I'm just curious what you were trying to achieve by posting this (again).
>

Discussion?

> Do you honestly expect that the linux users here on nz.comp are going to
> say
> to themselves...
>
> "Gosh. Only 1% of the desktop market. I guess I'd better give up using my
> current system and head out to Dick Smiths and buy a Microsoft system.
>

No. Your life currently revolves around the intricacies of an os that almost
no one care about. That makes you feel cool -- kind of a renegade type. Plus
you have no job so you building a system that caters to doing real work has
absolutely no appeal to you.

> It may cost the best part of a couple of grand to get a Windows 7 machine
> but at least then I'll be one of the 87%
>
> I'll have to start thinking about viruses and trojans and root kits and
> all
> that stuff again but at least I'll be one of the 87%
>
> I'll have to start paying for software but at least I'll be one of the 87%
>
> I'll have to stop accepting open format files and only send out closed
> format files but at least I'll be one of the 87%
>
> I'll no longer be able to use the swiss army knife of computing (that's
> the
> command line for the uninitiated) but at least I'll be one of the
> 87%....... actually I've got to stop there. I've just realized that if I
> was stupid enough to stop using the command line purely to be acceptable
> to
> you then I deserve to be one of the 87%
>
> Only 1% of the world drive a Lamborgini. I'm guessing the 87% drive
> something from General Motors. And guess who just filed for bankruptcy :-)
>

What is it with Linuxheads that they can never manage a single decent
analogy.

Re: Linux use reaches 1% -- world yawns
 

"Dave Doe" <hard@work.ok> wrote in message
news:MPG.246d05f6101dcc9a9897af@news.motzarella.or g...
> In article <7RqMl.687257$yE1.2972@attbi_s21>, impossible@nospam.net
> says...
>>
>> "Dave Doe" <hard@work.ok> wrote in message
>> news:MPG.246cf78e399d96a79897ab@news.motzarella.or g...
>> > In article <iUpMl.687190$yE1.299487@attbi_s21>, impossible@nospam.net
>> > says...
>> >> http://blogs.computerworld.com/linux..._1_world_yawns
>> >>
>> >> "Many people have made much of the fact that for the first time, Linux
>> >> use
>> >> as measured by Net Applications has crossed the 1% market share
>> >> barrier.
>> >> As
>> >> significant milestones go, this is about as meaningless as it gets.
>> >> ..."
>> >>
>> >> "To understand why, let's look at how Linux reached that 1% market
>> >> share.
>> >> Linux was first created in 1991 --- that's 18 years ago. To reach 1%
>> >> market
>> >> share in 18 years is not a particularly difficult task, especially
>> >> considering that the operating system is available for free. For most
>> >> of
>> >> Linux's history, it wasn't even a blip on the radar of any market
>> >> share
>> >> figures, apart from server market share. There it's a strong presence,
>> >> and
>> >> deservedly so. It's a flat-out great operating system for servers. The
>> >> desktop is where it's floundered, and for good reason. There are too
>> >> many
>> >> variants of it, and while it's gotten much easier to use, when you
>> >> need
>> >> to
>> >> install software on it or update it, it's far too complicated...."
>> >>
>> >> "Why has Linux finally broken the 1% barrier? Because of netbooks.
>> >> Initially, Linux had a big netbook market share of 30% or so. So the
>> >> 1%
>> >> breakthrough is due entirely to netbook use, not Linux use on
>> >> desktops,
>> >> where it still flounders. Sure, you can buy Linux on a Dell, if you
>> >> try
>> >> hard
>> >> enough. But otherwise, good luck. And that's the way it will stay.
>> >> Linux
>> >> will never become a mainstream operating system on desktops, and so
>> >> for
>> >> client machines, it will remain largely confined to netbooks. Market
>> >> surveys
>> >> have shown that Linux sales on netbooks have plunged to only 10% of
>> >> netbooks."
>> >
>> > Well if you ask me, I think the writer's got it all wrong. It's a
>> > great
>> > milestone (IMO) that Linux has got a 1% desktop market share.
>> >
>> > Linux still has a *long* way to go - just to catch up to Windows - but
>> > it *will* get there. Note MS's advanced release of Windows 7 (I think
>> > they're very worried - Vista was a marketing *disaster*). Windows 7
>> > will not be released (IMO) Jan next year - they'll get it out ASAP,
>> > probably last quarter of this year.
>> >
>> > Linux development has made good inroads as far as "office" apps go - a
>> > long way to go still - ....
>>
>> I don'tt knwo what you can possibl;y be talking about. The utter lack of
>> professional-grade office apps for the nix platform is chiefly
>> responsible
>> for the failure of Linux to capture more than a tiny fraction of the
>> desktop
>> market.
>
> I agree, OpenOffice and Evolution are pretty awful - but they have
> advanced a lot - more than MS's Office IMO over time.

I wouldn't hold my breath for the next "advance" if I were you. The
OpenOffice project is in complete disarray at this point. Headed nowhere.

>>
>>
>> > and, as said, good inroads into the desktop
>> > market (still a long way to go there too).
>>
>> 1% every 18 years? Yeah, right. Long way to go.
>
> Well if you think IT development, software wise (let alone hardware) is
> a linear development - enough said.
>
>> 1% in 18 years! Is there anything else else on the planet that grows more
>> slowly than the Linux desktop?

Well, is there?

Re: Linux use reaches 1% -- world yawns
 

In article <7ysMl.687404$yE1.522901@attbi_s21>, impossible@nospam.net
says...
>
> "Dave Doe" <hard@work.ok> wrote in message
> news:MPG.246d05f6101dcc9a9897af@news.motzarella.or g...
> > In article <7RqMl.687257$yE1.2972@attbi_s21>, impossible@nospam.net
> > says...
> >>
> >> "Dave Doe" <hard@work.ok> wrote in message
> >> news:MPG.246cf78e399d96a79897ab@news.motzarella.or g...
> >> > In article <iUpMl.687190$yE1.299487@attbi_s21>, impossible@nospam.net
> >> > says...
> >> >> http://blogs.computerworld.com/linux..._1_world_yawns
> >> >>
> >> >> "Many people have made much of the fact that for the first time, Linux
> >> >> use
> >> >> as measured by Net Applications has crossed the 1% market share
> >> >> barrier.
> >> >> As
> >> >> significant milestones go, this is about as meaningless as it gets.
> >> >> ..."
> >> >>
> >> >> "To understand why, let's look at how Linux reached that 1% market
> >> >> share.
> >> >> Linux was first created in 1991 --- that's 18 years ago. To reach 1%
> >> >> market
> >> >> share in 18 years is not a particularly difficult task, especially
> >> >> considering that the operating system is available for free. For most
> >> >> of
> >> >> Linux's history, it wasn't even a blip on the radar of any market
> >> >> share
> >> >> figures, apart from server market share. There it's a strong presence,
> >> >> and
> >> >> deservedly so. It's a flat-out great operating system for servers. The
> >> >> desktop is where it's floundered, and for good reason. There are too
> >> >> many
> >> >> variants of it, and while it's gotten much easier to use, when you
> >> >> need
> >> >> to
> >> >> install software on it or update it, it's far too complicated...."
> >> >>
> >> >> "Why has Linux finally broken the 1% barrier? Because of netbooks.
> >> >> Initially, Linux had a big netbook market share of 30% or so. So the
> >> >> 1%
> >> >> breakthrough is due entirely to netbook use, not Linux use on
> >> >> desktops,
> >> >> where it still flounders. Sure, you can buy Linux on a Dell, if you
> >> >> try
> >> >> hard
> >> >> enough. But otherwise, good luck. And that's the way it will stay.
> >> >> Linux
> >> >> will never become a mainstream operating system on desktops, and so
> >> >> for
> >> >> client machines, it will remain largely confined to netbooks. Market
> >> >> surveys
> >> >> have shown that Linux sales on netbooks have plunged to only 10% of
> >> >> netbooks."
> >> >
> >> > Well if you ask me, I think the writer's got it all wrong. It's a
> >> > great
> >> > milestone (IMO) that Linux has got a 1% desktop market share.
> >> >
> >> > Linux still has a *long* way to go - just to catch up to Windows - but
> >> > it *will* get there. Note MS's advanced release of Windows 7 (I think
> >> > they're very worried - Vista was a marketing *disaster*). Windows 7
> >> > will not be released (IMO) Jan next year - they'll get it out ASAP,
> >> > probably last quarter of this year.
> >> >
> >> > Linux development has made good inroads as far as "office" apps go - a
> >> > long way to go still - ....
> >>
> >> I don'tt knwo what you can possibl;y be talking about. The utter lack of
> >> professional-grade office apps for the nix platform is chiefly
> >> responsible
> >> for the failure of Linux to capture more than a tiny fraction of the
> >> desktop
> >> market.
> >
> > I agree, OpenOffice and Evolution are pretty awful - but they have
> > advanced a lot - more than MS's Office IMO over time.
>
> I wouldn't hold my breath for the next "advance" if I were you. The
> OpenOffice project is in complete disarray at this point. Headed nowhere.
>
> >>
> >>
> >> > and, as said, good inroads into the desktop
> >> > market (still a long way to go there too).
> >>
> >> 1% every 18 years? Yeah, right. Long way to go.
> >
> > Well if you think IT development, software wise (let alone hardware) is
> > a linear development - enough said.
> >
> >> 1% in 18 years! Is there anything else else on the planet that grows more
> >> slowly than the Linux desktop?
>
> Well, is there?

You seriously expect an answer, surely you need to provide a serious
question.

In it's current form and context, the answer is yes - trillions of
things... you, me, most humans, many animals - and that's just on a
small scale of time. Do we go into the universe itself?

Moving away from your farcical question, what about something more
serious, such as:
Has Linux evolved in a linear fashion?

Perhaps another way of looking at it: Has the Linux desktop market grown
much in just the last 1 or 2 or 3 years?

Leads to other questions too: how dis computerworld (or whoever did the
counting) do the counting? (How do they know and count the folk that
have installed Linux themselves?) - they didn't, it's just based on net
apps. Also consider that most distros have been created in the last few
years, not 18 years - infact it's a bit unfair to say Linux is 18 years
old. Is it a good comparison?, are they good numbers? - not really eh.

--
Duncan

Re: Linux use reaches 1% -- world yawns
 

> impossible wrote:
>
>> "Lodi" <lodi@ccr.com> wrote in message
>>
>> I'm just curious what you were trying to achieve by posting this (again).
>>
> Discussion?
>
Yeah right....it's just trolling. You know it. I know it. It's part of the
fun of nz.comp
>
> Your life currently revolves around the intricacies of an os that
> almost no one cares about. That makes you feel cool -- kind of a renegade
> type.

Certainly not a renegade but I've definitely acquired the air of smug
superiority which most linux users have. Hard not to feel smug when pretty
much all linux users have previously used and subsequently discarded
Windows in favour of something we've found to be superior.

The big achilles heel of MS'ers criticizing Linux is that hardly any of them
have used Linux. And those that have and have failed to make the change
*always* blame the tool, never themselves. I think those MS'ers get upset
the most because there are so many people saying Linux is great but these
unfortunates can't seem to get it working. All their years of hard-earned
MS knowledge count for naught and they're left standing on the outside
looking in.

> Plus you have no job

I was actually able to stop working when I was forty *because* of my
knowledge of computers. Am just living off investments for (hopefully) the
rest of my days.

> so you building a system that caters to doing
> real work has absolutely no appeal to you.
>

Real work???? You mean like all those millions of Windows 98/XP/Vista users
who are doing "real work" on their system.....

How many of your 87% (who bought their copy of 98/XP/Vista pre-loaded at
Dick Smiths) need a national ticketing system or a database with a million
entries or a secure electronic cash payment system. Pretty much none.

Real work = email, web browsing, reconcile the bank statement, edit a few
photos, do some word processing, burn a few dvd's, download a few torrents,
check out the shills on nz.comp

> What is it with Linuxheads that they can never manage a single decent
> analogy.

You're just envious. Admit it.........on second thoughts, you're not one of
those "tried Linux and couldn't get it to work" MS'ers are you.


Regards
Lodi