Re: [ossig] What do users really want?

[Ken Wong <ken@apdip.net>]

On Monday 17 November 2003 06:42, Charles wrote:
> In the end, it looks like what the majority of software consumers
> really want is recognizable brand names that are heavily promoted on
> TV, in prestigious magazines, by major retailers, and -- possibly
> most important -- come pre-installed on name-brand computers.
>
> What bullshit!

<problems upgrading to RH 9 snipped>

Actually, that's why they say pre-installation could be the most 
important part - if the manufacturers pre-installed Linux, many of the 
problems you encountered would not have shown up. Definitely the sound 
card problem would not have existed. Incompatible peripherals like the 
USB modem would not have been sold with the computer, etc. 

Additionally, coming pre-installed means that major manufacturers like 
Dell could lean on the peripheral manufacturers to produce a Linux 
friendly driver. That would result in a major boost for Linux hardware 
compatibility.

Honestly, I think most people just want a system that plain works. My 
office system runs RH 9 and the number of problems I've had to fix are 
not trivial. RH 9 certainly isn't ready for the common user today. 
Maybe some other distribution is, but I haven't had time to try them 
all out yet. 

-- 
Kenneth Wong
IOSN Programme Consultant, UNDP-APDIP, Malaysia
DID: +603 2091 5169 Fax: +603 2093 9740
International Open Source Network: http://www.iosn.net
UNDP Asia Pacific Development Information Programme: 
http://www.apdip.net


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