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Re: How to Advocate for Linux (Without Coming Across as a Lunatic)
Posted by: Katherine Noyes 2009-07-09 05:02:13
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Sometimes it can be difficult to see what's best for those we love. Take Linux, for example. So numerous are its virtues and so brilliant its shine that many of us get completely caught up in adoring it -- sometimes to the detriment of any efforts to advance it in the world. Aiming to direct the efforts of Linux aficionados who want to advocate for their OS, Linux Today's Carla Schroder recently put together a list of tips suggesting some effective ways to do that.
It may be true that GNU/Linux does not meet the needs of some particular user of PCs but the short-coming, if it exists, is almost always one of perception or knowledge. Many times I have read that application X does not run on GNU/Linux so GNU/Linux does not meet the need. This is false as a different but similar application may well meet the need and run on GNU/Linux. Also, the newbie or person unfamiliar with GNU/Linux will have no concept that it is often possible to filter the output of one application to feed another or that file formats can be converted easiliy or that networked solutions may be trivial using GNU/Linux. To bridge some of these gaps may require only a few seconds of time from a guru of GNU/Linux with no change required in GNU/Linux itself.
I have worked 40 years in IT in several fields. I have not seen anything GNU/Linux cannot do lately without writing or re-writing any component of GNU/Linux. GNU/Linux is a great OS, a toolbox for users of PCs from all walks of life. Estimates from various sources put the level of meeting needs at 80% or more of users as it is. With the help of gurus, the level must be higher than 90%.
I believe there are good bases to argue that GNU/Linux is the greatest OS even if it is not perfect. In the real world, we do not expect perfection but GNU/Linux comes close for many purposes.
I have worked 40 years in IT in several fields. I have not seen anything GNU/Linux cannot do lately without writing or re-writing any component of GNU/Linux. GNU/Linux is a great OS, a toolbox for users of PCs from all walks of life. Estimates from various sources put the level of meeting needs at 80% or more of users as it is. With the help of gurus, the level must be higher than 90%.
I believe there are good bases to argue that GNU/Linux is the greatest OS even if it is not perfect. In the real world, we do not expect perfection but GNU/Linux comes close for many purposes.
I think that Linux made it possible for Google Chrome OS.
