The key to getting more Windows users to switch to Linux | Hardware 2.0 | ZDNet.com

[RtX]

Very interesting stuff. I think that there is a gap in the documentation. On
one side you will find docs that just explains the history of Linux, or
simply that Linux exists in many different fruity colors (distros). One the
other side, you will find docs that explain how to recompile the kernel to
add support for something. It's the meat in-between that seems to be
lacking. Weird things are missing one would think would be "out there" in
plain sight. One of the latest truly helpful pages I have found is a
comparison between Windows programs and Linux equals. Like if one runs
Photoshop in Windows, use GIMP in Linux. How the hell is a newbie supposed
to know that GIMP is what you run to do the same jobs one would do in
Photoshop?

After reading the article and then reading everyone's posts, one argument
came to mind that has not been mentioned. At the risk of sounding smug, what
about, leave these newbies to their fuckin' Windows machines and take the
money they pour into them. Linux is for more advanced computer users anyway.
I don't believe that this is meant as a smug statement. Some would say I am
saying I'm smarter that others. Bullshit. I am an experienced and more
advanced computer user, this doesn't mean that I know how to plumb my way
out of drowning! I know that there is a movement to try and get Linux into
the mainstream to compete with Windows. Fine. But I think that Windows is
good for most people who don't have the interest or computer understanding
for more advanced computer usage. Those that do run Linux.

On 6/23/07, Oren Beck <orenbeck at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> On 6/22/07, Jon Pruente <jdpruente at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > On 6/22/07, Billy Crook <billycrook at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > The author needs to learn how search engines work.  You can't converse
> > with
> > > them like a person.  "Why choose linux?" is not a smart query.  Maybe
> > "linux
> > > benefits OR advantages".
> >
> > This is the problem that Kozoru (the place where all the 1U rackmounts
> > servers around KC suddenly came from) was working on.  It worked, but
> > when they sat test subjects down and had them use it, they had already
> > been "trained" for keyword searching.  They might put in  a few
> > questions, but they would shortly revert to keywords and end up
> > defeating the advantages of the new tech.  The tech got bought and
> > moved to Ask.com, as one of the Ask VPs had a stake in Kozoru.  Ever
> > wonder why Ask.com suddenly started doing a bunch of commercials about
> > a month or so ago, several months after Kozoru folded and Ask.com had
> > time to get it integrated and working?  ;)
> >
> > Jon.
>
>
>
> IIRC "Ask" is the current incarnation of what used to be called "Jeeves"
> A naming that was intentionally evocative of an olde English butler.
> With cartoonish theming carrying the meme a bit to extreme for many users.
> The focus difference with "Jeeves" being that conversational queries were
> handled more gracefully than other search engines of that time could. With
> the results often being either very much spot on or weirdly way off. I used
> it for "game show" questions or soft searches like " how many cover versions
> of the Johnny Cash  song  "ring of fire" are there ?
>
> Oren
>
>
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>


-- 
RtX...

Ty Unes - Overland Park, Ks.
riverty at gmail.com
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