shrug
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| Author | Content |
|---|---|
| herzeleid Oct 02, 2008 1:54 PM EDT |
Sorry, too late. I've already switched to linux. |
| Steven_Rosenber Oct 02, 2008 2:00 PM EDT |
Once they're using Pidgin, Firefox, Thunderbird, OpenOffice, the GIMP, and what have you, it's a lot easier to make the leap to Linux ... |
| tuxchick Oct 02, 2008 2:53 PM EDT |
You coldhearted Linux fanbois! Think of the malware! Think of all the poor orphaned botnets! Cold, homeless, in the snow. |
| azerthoth Oct 02, 2008 3:10 PM EDT |
You know I have heard the argument before of "using software A on OS B will make OS A somehow more attractive" I dont get that logic, I use windows based software in linux constantly, this does not mean that I will be switching back to windows ... ever, so how does the inverse hold true because it's moving from windows to Linux? |
| tracyanne Oct 02, 2008 5:35 PM EDT |
@az, the logic is that if you can get people to use all this applications that also run on Linux, that you can more easily get them to move to Linux. |
| azerthoth Oct 02, 2008 5:57 PM EDT |
The inverse still does not hold true. in this case A+B does not equal C, A+B=A+B, as in you have one apple and one orange, add them together you still have one of each, subtract one, and the effect on the other is nothing. Apple actually is a great example, the whole OS is based on an Open Source framework, yet Mac user adoption of OSS is still negligible. |
| theboomboomcars Oct 02, 2008 10:44 PM EDT |
az think of it like trying to get someone to try a reuben sandwich, but all they like is peanut butter on white. You get them to try the ingredients of a reuben, the corned beef, sauerkraut, and swiss cheese on white, and the like it, it will be easier to get them to try it on the rye. |
| azerthoth Oct 03, 2008 12:44 AM EDT |
Oh I understand the premise, and until this very thread I held the same belief. For some reason though I questioned it internally this time and came away with the feeling of "I want it to be that way so it is" cool-aid. When I look at my own computing habits, I see that the "truism" of slowly dipping your toes into OSS to get accustomed to the water ... isn't a truism, it's a wet dream. Gimp, I can use it on windows, I dont need Linux. Pidgin, I can use it on windows, I dont need Linux. Thunderbird, Gnumeric, etc etc, I can use on windows, why the heck should I use Linux when all the apps are available to me already, and I can still use the source and compile if I so choose? I'm not saying that those apps should not be ported to windows, I'm saying that they are no reason at all to deviate from windows, and an encouragement to stay. Any other useful open source app will get ported eventually if it hasnt already. Using them doesnt encourage a the switch, it encouages people to drink more cool-aid. |
| rijelkentaurus Oct 03, 2008 1:48 AM EDT |
I don't agree, although I can really only speak from personal experience. I got started down the FOSS road with Firefox and OOo, and then Blender3d (courtesy of the OpenCD with that one...totally lost on WTF it was to start with). I then found my way to Linux, first with a scary introduction to Debian, then a touch of Fedora Core (via my tech classes), then SuSE, then on to Mepis, etc, etc. But it started with the first taste and progressed. I know I am not alone in this general sequence of events. |
| herzeleid Oct 03, 2008 2:12 AM EDT |
I agree with the realists here. I've heard the arguments for porting all the oss goodness to windows, and haven't really been able to put my finger on any clear cut logical blunder exactly, but I can't see how making the ms windows experience more enjoyable for microsoft customers will make them want to switch to linux. I'm keeping an open mind though, so if someone can explain how that would work, I'd love to see it. |
| Sander_Marechal Oct 03, 2008 3:42 AM EDT |
herzeleid: It's two things: 1) People fear change 2) People use the applications, not the OS If you make them use FOSS apps on Windows, you can change the underlying OS without them even noticing it, because they have the exact same applications working in the same way. That's the theory at least. I used to agree with that (that's how I rolled into FOSS) but these days I'm not so sure any more. Microsoft seems to want to gobble up all FOSS and make it run on Windows, hoping to push Linux out from under the FOSS stack. Instead of attacking from above they are now attaching from below. Perhaps a balance is best. Give people a good taste of FOSS on Windows but keep the best stuff to Linux. |
| theboomboomcars Oct 03, 2008 9:51 AM EDT |
I don't know how much having OSS applications on windows will help linux adoption, it will with those who actually read EULAs, they will see what they get with OSS and keeping looking for more. But how many of them are there 1 out of 100,000 or fewer? It will help with those who are looking for a way out of windows, but want familiar applications, since they will be there when they get to linux. But for many users they don't think about the OS so the only way they would really end up on linux is if when they go into $COMPUTERSELLINGPLACE and look at a linux computer next to a windows computer and the linux computer has all the software they are used to using and costs less than the windows one. Which doesn't seem like this will happen any time soon. But I also don't think it will really slow down linux adoption, since a lot of people trying linux are fed up with windows and looking for something different, but don't want to plop down the money for a mac. They will still try linux even if they are happy with the OSS applications on windows, because they are tired of windows. To sum up, I think porting OSS applications to windows will have negligible effects on linux adoption, but it will have positive effects on OSS use. |
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