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Linux Software

Linux Desktop Myths Examined 718

Call Me Black Cloud writes "NewsFactor Network has an overview of the $95.00 Gartner report titled, "Myths of Linux on the Desktop". It's a good look at several points from the perspective of a corporate user, not a home user."
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Linux Desktop Myths Examined

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  • by Romeozulu ( 248240 ) on Tuesday May 06, 2003 @12:48PM (#5892270)
    Not reading the article shouldn't keep any /. user from posting.
  • by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 06, 2003 @12:49PM (#5892274)
    The title should have been "The Myth of Linux on the Desktop".
  • Well, yea, I'll grant you that. However there wasn't even much of a writup we could jump to wildly wrong conclusions about.
  • by RealBeanDip ( 26604 ) on Tuesday May 06, 2003 @12:50PM (#5892299)
    This is Slashdot for cryin' out loud - comment anyway, nobody ever reads the ACTUAL article!
  • $95 report? (Score:2, Funny)

    by pecosdave ( 536896 ) on Tuesday May 06, 2003 @12:55PM (#5892359) Homepage Journal
    Way to stick to the spirit of open source that you're reporting on!
  • Myth #2 (Score:1, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 06, 2003 @12:55PM (#5892362)
    NewsFactor Network is ready for a slashdotting.
  • by borgdows ( 599861 ) on Tuesday May 06, 2003 @12:56PM (#5892373)
    Price: US $ 95.00
    Pages: 6

    95 : 6 = 15.83$ per page !

    wow! their business plan might be :

    1) find something interesting /. crowd
    2) write a 6 pages report (not necessarily interesting)
    3) ???
    4) PROFIT!!
  • by snoochyboochy ( 593098 ) on Tuesday May 06, 2003 @12:56PM (#5892374)
    Lookout everybody, Balmer's started reading /.!!!
  • by mfifer ( 660491 ) on Tuesday May 06, 2003 @12:59PM (#5892413)
    ...when NOT reading the article will be considered excusable ;-)
  • by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 06, 2003 @01:03PM (#5892459)
    Hello,

    Recently I've been introduced to an operating system known as Linux.

    Lured by its low cost, I replaced Windows 98 on my computer with Linux. Unfortunately the more I use it the more I fear that this "Linux" may be an insidious way for the Dark One to gain a stronger foothold here on Earth. I know this may be a shocking claim, but I have evidence to back it up!

    To begin with, Linux is based off of an older, obsolete OS called "BSD Unix". The child-indoctrinatingly-cute cartoon mascot of this OS is a devil holding a pitchfork. This OS -- and its Linux offspring -- extensively use what are unsettingly called "daemons" (which is how Pagans write "demon" -- they are notoriously poor spellers: magick, vampyre, etc.) which is a program that hides in the background, doing things without the user's notice. If you are using a computer running Linux then you probably have these "demons" on your computer, hardly something a good Christian would want! Furthermore in order to start or stop these "demons" a user must execute a command called "finger". By "fingering" a "demon" one excercises an unholy power, much the same way that the Lord of Flies controls his black minions.

    Linux contains another Satanic holdover from the "BSD Unix" OS mentioned above; to open up certain locked files one has to run a program much like the DOS prompt in Microsoft Windows and type in a secret code: "chmod 666". What other horrors lurk in this thing?

    Consider some of these other Linux commands: "sleep", "mount", "unzip", "strip" and "touch". All highly suggestive in a sexual nature. I know that our Lord cannot approve of these, and I urge them to be renamed to something appropriate to the Christian community. Interestingly "CONTROL-G" (the sixth key from the left of the keyboard) does an abort. To write files a "VI" editor is included. All these are to ensnare the unsuspecting christian who could get tempted by typing "VIVIVI" all day long.

    Fourth, Linux uses a flavor of DOS known as Bash. Bash is an acronym for "Bourne Again Shell". On the surface this would appear to be supportive of the Lord. However, remember that even Satan can quote the bible for his own purposes! While I believe Linux may be born-again, its obvious by the misspelling of "born" that its not born-again in an Christian church. Will the lies ever cease?

    Additionally, one of the main long-haired hippies involved with the GNU Free Software Foundation supports communism, contraception and abortion. He has consistently supported 60's counter-cultural "values", and his web site even advocates government support of contraception. He also wears fake halos, and has quips about his made-up church that relates to his free software. I find such blasphemy to be extremely unsettling.

    One must also remember that the creator of Linux, a college student named Linux Torvaldis, comes from Finland. I'm sure all the followers of Christ are aware of the heritical nature of the Finnish: from necrophilia to human sacrifice, Finnish culture is awash in sin. I find little reason to believe anything good and holy could arise from this evil land.

    Finally, let us remember that there is an alternative to using the Satan-powered Linux. I think history has shown us that Microsoft is quite holy. I'm told that its founder, William Gates is a strong supporter of our Lord and I encourage my fellow Christians to buy only his products to help keep the Devil at bay.

    I wish I had more time to expound upon my findings. Unfortunately a family of Jews has moved in across the street and I must go speak to them of Jesus Christ before they are condemned to eternal hellfire.

    Please investigate this as you see fit and I'm sure you'll reach the same conclusions that I have.
  • by MrPink2U ( 633607 ) on Tuesday May 06, 2003 @01:07PM (#5892507)
    Are you actually suggesting that in-house support is free? If so, you sound like management material to me!
  • by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 06, 2003 @01:20PM (#5892668)
    ... the Linux Desktop owns you - probably because you can't afford Windows...
  • by geeber ( 520231 ) on Tuesday May 06, 2003 @01:23PM (#5892706)
    Wow. Now it's gotten to the point where people don't even bother to carefully read the posting, let alone the article!

    It clearly says in the posting this is an overview of a $95 doller article.

    So no, I guess it's not your imagination. Very observant of you, indeed!
  • by Bingo Foo ( 179380 ) on Tuesday May 06, 2003 @01:38PM (#5892900)
    I also don't believe Linux saves money on hardware compared to Windows - it seems many offices are holding back with Windows upgrades, and IT expenditures on all desktop hardware and software seems to be slowing. For most people, Win2K is fine.

    Actually Linux does save money on hardware, because by the time decent drivers for a piece of hardware have been written for Linux, you can pick up that hardware at the swap meet in the bargain bin.

    </snub>

  • by rsilvergun ( 571051 ) on Tuesday May 06, 2003 @01:53PM (#5893071)
    "3720 terminal emulator" Shouldn't that read 3720 terminal emulators?
  • by rushiferu ( 595361 ) on Tuesday May 06, 2003 @01:54PM (#5893080)
    "they are often pointless mental exercises without much factual backing."

    Sorta like Slashdot post, right?
  • by w3weasel ( 656289 ) on Tuesday May 06, 2003 @01:58PM (#5893124) Homepage
    Congrats for making it all the way down here in the posts... you must be really bored. For those comments above that "don't really see anything wrong with... [MS improving the OS by prescribing hardware]". I will assume you didnt follow the anti-trust case very closely. I would strongly urge you to CAREFULLY read the Findings of Fact [findlaw.com]. Surprisingly, the Judge in this phase of the trial nailed the issue... its only too bad the meat of this document was overlooked by virtually everyone else. In short, MS was proven to have manipulated and maintained an "Applications Barrier To Entry". Which means if you don't have the developers writing for your OS, then you ain't gonna compete with MS. Well, now that MS has been [*cough!*] disciplined, and is a good citizen, there surely is no real harm in them having direct control of hardware that will support all the third party software that will run on it. For those who think this might not be a bad thing, I hear the Jeff Dahmer is reformed and available to babysit your kids... when can he come over?
  • by plastik55 ( 218435 ) on Tuesday May 06, 2003 @02:07PM (#5893207) Homepage
    Very interesting. Were you also aware of
    • the distribution named "Mandrake" (after an herbal drug used in witchcraft)
    • the e-mail program named "Evolution" produced by a company named "ximian" whose logo is some kind of monkey, intended to seed Darwinist propaganda.
    • The informal, Pagan caste system used by open source advocates, with "wizard" and "guru" being the highest levels. Indeed, Open Source terminology is rive with Pagan references; check the so-called "jargon file" for terms such as "deep magic," "incantation," "rain dance," "voodoo programming," "wave a dead chicken," and "magic numbers."
  • by FooBarWidget ( 556006 ) on Tuesday May 06, 2003 @02:22PM (#5893346)
    "but enterprises that require vendor support for their client OS will need to pay for it."

    All I can say to this article is duh!

    Like the anti-open source people say, "you get what you pay for".
    So if you want more support, then pay for it! Why should Linux and it's associated companies give away everything for free? You're supposed to pay for quality products!

    First people complain that it's free ("free = amateur/bad/whatever"), and now people complain that it's NOT free. *sigh*...
  • by swankypimp ( 542486 ) on Tuesday May 06, 2003 @02:38PM (#5893494) Homepage
    Perhaps you should use this operating system [geocities.com].
  • by Torgo's Pizza ( 547926 ) on Tuesday May 06, 2003 @02:43PM (#5893543) Homepage Journal
    Ah, but you forget that Windows also comes with:

    * Solitare

    * Minefield

    Together, these two "killer apps" is what really separates the two operating systems. Just wait. I hear that Microsoft is working on a two-player version of Solitare that is going to seal the fate of Red Hat and it's ilk.

  • You're just mad because Linux is a competing religion.
  • by ratfynk ( 456467 ) on Tuesday May 06, 2003 @04:35PM (#5894789) Journal
    Holy COW What a concept.
    Forget about making money from IT, forget about buisiness and networking. Just make money from cheesy journalism. It's like not having to actually do anything. Just write a book and sell it.
    If I were to write a book about software admin, I would Include lots of pics of secretaries doing nasty things to hardware, while the server admin is writing a book about how many nodes can sit on the head of a pin per dollar.

Two can Live as Cheaply as One for Half as Long. -- Howard Kandel

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