3 ms·

It's not that unix folks don't appreciate it, but that it's not clear what to appreciate. From solely a personal standpoint, years of both using and programming

by oxplot 11y ago

It's not that unix folks don't appreciate it, but that it's not clear what to appreciate. From solely a personal standpoint, years of both using and programming on Windows taught me nothing about its values. However, I can talk about Apple and its values for hours and I've never owned anything Apple except its keyboard. Joel, the author of the article you linked to, states the core value of Windows as being "useful to non-programmers" basing it on "By contrast, Windows was created with one goal only: to sell as many copies as conceivable at a profit". The former does not follow from the latter. Microsoft didn't need to rely on usefulness to anyone to sell many copies, and they didn't. As for why Linux isn't non-programmer friendly, I beg to differ. Android is a prime example and the argument as to why it's not doing well on desktop, as Linus Torvalds puts it, is because no one ships Linux on their desktops. Microsoft has a lot to do with that. When and if they ever do, Aunt Marge will be as happy using Linux without even knowing it's Linux (does the average non-programmer know that Android is Linux?)

mdpopescu 11y ago
"Aunt Marge will be as happy using Linux without even knowing it's Linux" Unless she wants to print something... [1] [1] http://www.catb.org/esr/writings/cups-horror.html http://www.catb.org/esr/writings/cups-horror.html
- bmaupin 11y ago
  A lot's changed since 2006... "1. Make sure the printer is turned on. 2. Connect the printer to your system... 3. A message will appear when the system is finished installing the printer..." https://help.ubuntu.com/stable/ubuntu-help/printing-setup.html https://help.ubuntu.com/stable/ubuntu-help/printing-setup.ht...
- e15ctr0n 11y ago
  You know that was written over a decade ago, right? Clearly, you're not using a Linux-based desktop on a daily basis, so please stop spreading FUD.
ufmace 11y ago
I'd say on the contrary, Android shows what it takes to make Linux do well with the general public - a huge company to ignore like 80% of the standard Linux install and build a whole new UI layer from scratch that is designed to appeal to end users.
- ihsw 11y ago
  That's a testament to the inescapable conclusion that X11 is terrible for mobile devices. There's still Linux underneath -- it's not stock Ubuntu, not by a long shot -- but it's Linux.

by oxplot 11y ago

mdpopescu 11y ago

"Aunt Marge will be as happy using Linux without even knowing it's Linux" Unless she wants to print something... [1] [1] http://www.catb.org/esr/writings/cups-horror.html http://www.catb.org/esr/writings/cups-horror.html

bmaupin 11y ago
A lot's changed since 2006... "1. Make sure the printer is turned on. 2. Connect the printer to your system... 3. A message will appear when the system is finished installing the printer..." https://help.ubuntu.com/stable/ubuntu-help/printing-setup.html https://help.ubuntu.com/stable/ubuntu-help/printing-setup.ht...
e15ctr0n 11y ago
You know that was written over a decade ago, right? Clearly, you're not using a Linux-based desktop on a daily basis, so please stop spreading FUD.

ufmace 11y ago

I'd say on the contrary, Android shows what it takes to make Linux do well with the general public - a huge company to ignore like 80% of the standard Linux install and build a whole new UI layer from scratch that is designed to appeal to end users.

ihsw 11y ago
That's a testament to the inescapable conclusion that X11 is terrible for mobile devices. There's still Linux underneath -- it's not stock Ubuntu, not by a long shot -- but it's Linux.