Column: Sturm und Drang

It can never hurt to get yourself a Communications 101 course. I did get some more than that during my university years, but let's stick to a simple model of communication. You have a sender/transmitter, the message and the receiver. To make it somewhat more complete: also take the medium into account as the carrier of the message. Just keep this model in mind with basically all forms of communication and see how much the wiser you get.

Who could avoid the uproar in the Linux world in the last week. The Big Enemy from Redmond U.S.A., known in some circles as Microsoft -the near monopolist in desktop operating systems- went a bit "loco" in the head and accused Linux of patent infringes. 235 infringes! This was such a veil attack that forceful countermeasures were warranted. A how forcefully the responses were on numerous websites and weblogs. A real "Sturm und Drang" with a sprinkle of primal scream  here and there.

Back to Communications 101. The article that caused the uproar was an interview of Fortune reporter Roger Parloff with some Microsoft head hotshots Brad Smith en Horacio Gutierrez. What was the medium or carrier? The CNN Money website!. Indeed, the number one website for hardcore IT-news. Not! The message was never intended for the Linux world, but for Corporate America, to the CEO's and board rooms of the Fortune 500 companies (or the wannabe's and wanna-be-there's). In the U.S.A.. Why is this important? First, we do well to realize that litigation is an integral part of the business warchest of American corporate culture. It is an acceptable instrument and one no company will want to blunt in public. The shareholders accept nothing less than a company willing to do everything to legally protect their interests.

What was the message for Corporate America? The description of the Linux world is a tale in itself. Richard Stallman was presented as someone with a heartfelt loathing for patents -considered part of the life blood for companies and their R&D departments- and the look and lack of flexibility of and Old Testament prophet. The reporter makes a side remark about Eben Moglen that he is professor in the history of political economy. Short translation: Moglen is a Marxist. Stallman then appears as accommodating as Bin Laden. Since Fortune refused to comply with Richard's demand to be consistent in the use of GNU/Linux he did not cooperate in preparation for the article. And then the world of Linux itself. Ridiculous, it is an amorphous mass of developers and companies and nobody can be held accountable. No one is accountable!!! That must some communist ragtag band. The article really pulled out all old images of Capitalism versus Communism. Why did the reporter not present the CEO's of IBM, Canonical or Red Hat? Imagine, Linux might even appear "salonfähig" (to use another good German phrase) enough for the board rooms.

We -in the Linux world- really want to know specifically which Microsoft patents are violated by our favorite operating systems. Personally I am convinced that I violate one or more patents when I open my eyes in the morning, completely aware that some company had that action patented. Anyway, Microsoft came up with some numbers. Linux kernel: 42 patents, graphical user interface: 65 patents, OpenOffice.org: 45 patents, e-mail: 15, all others: 68. Only 45 infringes for OpenOffice.org? Gee. Maybe the boys and girls in Redmond need to take a closer look because there should me more. The complete OpenOffice.org interface and functionality is so Office97 that it hurts my eyes. Anyway, the accusation is nothing new and we still have the same information we had a year ago.

Is it all bluff? Or can the claims be substantiated? It is part of a poker game. Not with Microsoft and the Linux community as the key players, but with Microsoft and Corporate America who may thin migrating to Linux is a bargain. The majority of the patents appears to focus on the desktop side where Microsoft makes it's money through Vista and Office. At the same time it also the market place where it can not act too aggressively to push a small, minute competitor away. Now, the server market is a whole different ballgame. Microsoft is meeting tough and fierce competition from Linux and Unix derivates. Sun (with Solaris in the field) is buddy buddy with Microsoft. Novell is playing nice at well, at least for the next couple of years. It is fighting on a par with the other players to get the contracts for the Fortune 500 companies. Linux is not the underdog here. Now, it might not seem nice to present your competition as a group of fundamentalist communist thieves without respect for intellectual property, bit how often does the Linux world refers to Microsoft as some capitalist monopolistic robber baron. That's also not nice, don't you think?

Suppose for a moment that Microsoft is correct and that Linux infringes 235 patents. As far as I am concerned Microsoft can make a full disclosure tomorrow in exchange for a promise that we will stop using all code that is tainted. All of it, with no exceptions and no questions asked. No counter litigation. Nothing. I really believe we should deal with these threats by following two established traditions. One is the example set by the Debian project. There has been some criticism about the decision to remove the name and logo of Firefox and Thunderbird due to limiting copyrights, but it does prevent software with any limiting rights entering the repositories. The other example is BSD. In the early days of BSD the developers created a list of code that was not free and wrote new code to replace it. The didn't fight the position of the rights owner, but focused on making new, free code. How long would this take for the 235 infringes? I have no idea, but it didn't take the BSD team long when they had to do it and it only consisted of a handful of people. 235 problems to be solved by a worldwide community of hackers in cooperation with multiple big companies. It could take maybe two or three years but it would be done with the tide on our side. Endusers who know why we take one step back now will wait out this period.

Microsoft plays the game well. It's message was directed at Corporate America, a warning that Linux might be less cheap than some CEO's think. Maybe the Linux world should remember the Carly Simon song: "You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you, don't you...".

This column was originally written for the Dutch website Digiplace, a meeting place for Linux users.

Tags: Linux, Microsoft

Focus: Rhythmbox and Amarok

Rhythmbox is the default music player for Ubuntu/GNOME and Amarok for KDE. Both are 'everything and the kitchen sink' style programs and both are featured in our upcoming book. Why not revive the GNOME vs KDE debate a bit and compare these two programs.

Amarok: first preference
I am slightly biased towards Amarok. When I wanted to listen to Last.FM under Dapper Drake there was no Last.FM client available, but it was supported by Amarok. That, along with the context browser, made it my player of choice for the last few months. My previous experience with Rhythmbox were less positive. I used it to sync podcasts with my MP3 player, but that was more annoying than helpful.

Rhythmbox rematch
Maybe I missed it previously, but finding the plugin section was a pleasant surprise. Rhythmbox has plugins for lyrics and for three music sharing communities: Last.FM, Magnatune and Jamendo. When you like an artist served through Jamendo downloading the whole album is just a rightmousebuttonclick away. The Last.FM plugin doesn't seem okay, since it crashed Rhythmbox most of the time.
The three panel/left sidepanel layout is used almost consistently, though not enabled by default in the podcasts section. As we can expect from a GNOME application the interface is simple, smooth with few apparent bells and whistles. The preference option is easy enough and adding/managing your podcasts is no big problem either. Rhythmbox keeps an eye out for your music folder.
Synchronizing music and podcasts with your MP3 player is not there by default. The workaround for the podcasts is still the same: pointing the Rhythmbox podcasts folder to your device. One problem: when the device is not connected there is no option to queue the podcasts for later on.

Amarok again
As you might expect from KDE based program Amarok is packed with easily accessible options. There is always more than one access point to doing things. For me that makes for a cluttered and restless interface, which is not always pleasing to the eyes.
Amarok can keep watch over your music folder and does a good job at that. Browsing your collection isn't really hard (simple tree structure), but compared to the filters in Rhythmbox a bit awkward. Each albumfolder gets its own cover icon, but you have to search manually in the Amazon collection and select the right one. I have found this option less than perfect and somewhat below Rhythmbox's abilities to select the correct cover.
Magnatune has it's own tab and is easily accessible. Last.FM is a simple menu entry that just works. In combination with the context browser it's a great way to discover new artists.
How does Amarok handle podcasts and my MP3 player? Well, adding and managing your podcasts won't win first prices for looks and ease of use. Can anyone explain why the podcasts folder need to be red? It rings the wrong kind of bells. Anyway, the right mousebutton is your big buddy and from then on it is a matter of downloading your podcasts. Amarok does have a feature to queue episodes for the next sync with your player.
My player is a no brand generic one without a fancy name (nor the high price tag). When you plug it in Amarok recognizes an external device and asks whether you want to set it up for synchronization. From there you are just a Connect and Transfer away from adding the latest podcasts to the player. Or anything else you want to transfer.

What is lacking?
One feature I really missed, looked for and couldn't find is the option to rip CD's. Even the Windows Media Player has that feature and when you are designing the kitchen sink anyway. Besides this I have begun to develop a real fondness for Streamtuner and it's easy access to loads of radiostreams. To have that integrated in both players along with a streamrip option would be nice.

Conclusions
Amarok still comes out strong with the context browser and the way I can use my MP3 player with it. The interface could use some polish, but that is personal preference. Rhythmbox did climb quite a few places on my popularity list. It's simple and smooth. In the end I am still looking for the best of both worlds. Let's say a Rhythmbox with a better context browser and better synchronization, or a smoother looking Amarok with a few extras thrown in for the both of them.

Tags: Ubuntu, Linux, Amarok, Rhythmbox

8 reasons why Linux won't make it to the desktop

The Linux Proliferation Agreement is intended as a means to promote the use of Linux on the desktop and asks endusers to become structurally involved in making Linux visible in the public domain. Apart from the support there came a wide range of counterarguments of things that Linux would need to change before it would ever become a viable choice. Let's look into the counterarguments, summarized in the 8 reasons why Linux won't ever make it to the desktop. But do they stop the Linux Proliferation Agreement as well?

(1) Some programs are not available for Linux
Correct. No question about that. For the most part programs from the Adobe/Macromedia suites were mentioned, but no doubt there are more programs for which there is no suitable Linux counterpart yet. If you use these programs intensively on a day to day basis the migration to Linux is cumbersome. But let's not forget a few things. This problem is valid for a group of endusers, but hardly for all. Not everyone is a Dreamweaver or Photoshop power user. Most software has far more functionalities than are used from day to day or even regularly by the largest group of users. When promoting W2L migration we should focus on the functionalities actually used, instead of the programs as integrated packages. In those cases where the software is intensively used we have two possible solutions: emulation (which can not be called 'emulation', so maybe 'pretendization' is better) and virtualization. The mentioned Adobe/Macromedia suites are in one way or another supported by Wine and CrossOver Office. Virtualization through VirtualBox, Xen or VMware gives desktop access to a Windows installation and the software that requires it. Yes, it might require the investment in extra RAM, but that is hardly expensive in exchange for saving all other proprietary (and paid for) software by open source counterparts.

(2) Linux is not a platform for games
Correct as well, but should that stop the Linux Proliferation Agreement? Vista isn't really a gaming platform as well, but who is stopped by that? Gaming is used as a benchmark and it is a multibillion industry, but in the end it is only a part of day to day use of computers. And hardcore gaming only influences a niche of users, a niche that has people that won't mind paying € 600,-- for a new graphics card in order to play a game that will be released next month. No doubt an interesting group from the perspective of the hardware industry, but hardly representative of most endusers.
Now, there is something strange with the hardware requirements of PC games as well. I remember Thief 3. When it was released, it could be played (officially) on a very limited range of graphics cards (which, mind you, didn't bother the hardcore gamers). However, the xBox version had the same graphical effects on a console that has far lower hardware specifications. Is it strange when I ask myself how this is possible? Could it be that the hardware specifications and the OS limitations are more artificial than actual?
Anyway, the number of games released for Linux is limited in comparison to Windows. Cedega provides a limited solution for some of the most popular games. But should that stop us? Should this prevent the use of Linux in schools? Should we hold back in properly educating and empowering endusers because of it?

(3) Linux needs a unified desktop
Having used Windows for years I can understand the argument. Quite a few endusers panic when the icon is no longer in the same place. Endusers are trained in using the Windows GUI, but how many users are actually able to find the various system tools and use them? The majority can't and don't care.
Linux is different. Linux doesn't equate the GUI with the operating system. What you do and don't do with the GUI is a matter of personal preference, an expression of your personal identity. A unified desktop seems like a good solution, but it isn't. Proper education and training in the use of Linux is. It will provide the endusers with a choice and a freedom to use the computer as they see fit. As we see fit.

(4) Linux should drop the commandline stuff
I don't hope so. It would mean that the GUI has become the operating system and that my choices have become limited. Recently I gave a workshop "Installing software under Ubuntu Linux" to a group of about 20 endusers. They had little previous experience with Linux, but a substantial number had experience with DOS. We started the workshop with Install/Remove..., moved on to Synaptic and continued with apt-get and aptitude. The participants learned four ways to manage software on Debian-like systems. The commandline stuff could be repeated and understood more rapidly than than the GUI alternatives and most went home feeling empowered to move on with Linux. The commandline is less scary when properly explained. Understanding the commandline does prevent a lot of "it won't work anymore"s when the GUI is frozen.

(5) Linux needs better hardware support
It does. But did anyone install Vista recently? And, did it work? Did all of it work? Could you install all software? No, we couldn't. Yes, there is a need for improvement. There are too many accounts of monitorsettings not being correct out of the box, of wifi being hard to get working etc. etc. There are solutions for most hardware problems. In my early Linux days I had to buy a new external modem, since my winmodem wasn't supported. Before that I didn't even know a winmodem existed. My old iMac also gave me some headaches with x, but searching the internet provided the proper solutions. See, empowerment does help.
One thing should not be forgotten. When the number of endusers reach a critical mass this problem will be moot. We have to educate the endusers to buy the proper hardware, hardware that has "Linux compatible" on the box. The market forces will take care of the rest of the problem.

(6) Linux needs to get better first
It needs to and it will. But that doesn't change the basic skills we need to use and troubleshoot Linux on a day to day base, hence the basic skills we need to teach new groups of endusers. Besides, with a larger group of empowered and involved endusers we will see more and better bug reports which will aid the developers.
But what are the areas for Linux to improve? Which functionalities are now non-existent that make most applications unfit for day 2 day use? Yes, there are gaps, but those are not relevant to the largest groups of endusers. For some (even quite a few) lacking a decent Thunderbird- Exchange server connector is a serious problem. However, should this prevent us to promote the use of Thunderbird in all other organizations that don't use Exchange server?

(7) Linux is too splintered
The Linux world knows many, many distributions. Software needs to be offered in various shapes and sizes (RPM, DEB, tarball etc.) and we might want to keep our fingers crossed even then. Managing software through the distribution's own repositories won't cause too many headaches, but a little venture outside the trotted path gives us a serious migraine. The various communities are -alas- equally divided. With religious fervor users defend their own distribution, calling down heavenly fires upon the other distributions and ostracizing those from within who are not as 'pure'.
Honestly, I don't have much use for this kind of involvement. Endusers aren't bothered with distribution A of B, or with softwaremanagementtool X, Y or Z. They are doing their work and use programs to finish their tasks. Most of them hardly care whether the OpenOffice.org runs on Windows, Ubuntu, Fedora, Mepis or Mac OS X. It doesn't matter and it shouldn't stop promoting the use of Linux and open source software. We do need proper IT-education and that is exactly what the Linux Proliferation Agreement is about. Endusers can learn to deal with the choices Linux provide. Compare that to gaming. When was the last time hardcore gamers complained that a game could only be played on the xBox and not a Playstation 3. They don't (or at least don't stop gaming because of it), because they understand the system. Education it is.

(8) Linux is a philosophy
Fortunately it is. Linux is build around the principles of cooperation, transparency, participation and free distribution. Call me an idealist, but I can't find much of a flaw in these principles. When things go wrong in the Linux world it goes wrong when individuals or groups forget these principles.

In the end I appreciate the discussion and the arguments against the viability of Linux and/or the Linux Proliferation Agreement. Most likely there are more counterarguments and I look forward to hearing them. But one thing is clear to me as well: there is nothing seriously hindering the advance of Linux from a technical perspective.

Tags: Linux

The need for the Linux Proliferation Agreement

The year of Linux on the Desktop (May 1st, 2023)
"There is something brewing in the world of Linux, because this year really seems to become the year Linux makes serious headway on the desktop. For Linus Torvalds it is the addition of synchromatic memory support into the new kernel 6.4.12-28 as a serious and major step in the right direction. 'We now have support for voicecontrolled system at the kernel level'. In a few months time we will also see the first distributions with ext9 as the default filesystem, like MepubianSpire and Novell Red Hat. Mark Shuttleworth, the ever active CEO of MepubianSpire, is thrilled about the prospect. 'Wonkey Willy will be the most stable innovative distribution we present to our users and with another delay of Microsoft Himalaya at hand this is the window of opportunity to aggressively increase our market share on the desktop'."

So, when will it really happen? The breakthrough of Linux on the desktop is expected for years now and each year we draw the conclusion that it didn't happen. Yet. And 2007 looked promising. Windows Vista is way to expensive, requires a serious hardware upgrade and for what? Eye candy that was available for Linux 6 months ago! Well, it was available for that group of Linux hackers that could install the right drivers for their graphical cards and had no qualms adding the repositories for Beryl/Compiz. Linux mainstream will have to wait until Ubuntu 'Gutsy Gibbon', which may have that feature. Or not.

What is lacking in modern Linux distributions?
But let's step back for a moment and ask ourselves the following question. "What is missing from the current generation of Linux distributions which prevent a regular and day to day use of Linux, both at home as in organizations?" And -please- don't start pointing at your iPods. Why not? Because iPod is a relatively young technology and it is just a matter of time before support is added. It did take time for Windows and Mac OSX to properly support the new toy and every once in a while even Apple screws up an update. So, what is missing? Word processing? Calculation? Email and groupware? Access management for users in organizations? Multimedia functionality? Security? I am sorry, but I can't think of anything that would be needed before 90% of the current Windows userbase van migrate to Linux. In fact, I am even willing to state that Linux has been ready to breakthrough to the desktop for a few years now. But why is it not happening?

Now, all in harmony: "Yeah, but what do you expect. Every computer you buy has Windows pre-installed". That's correct. Even a staunch Linux supporter as HP sells desktop computer with Windows, not Linux. "Indeed", do the channel partners say, "but there is no demand for anything else". Which is correct as well. No demand, no supply. And, vice versa, when there is no supply it is hard to get any demand as well. When discussing the breakthrough of Linux it is usually a discussion between the technophilia. For them it makes sense, gadgets will sell themselves, right?.... Wrong!

The commercial disadvantage of Linux
Microsoft is not just a dominant factor when it comes to the supply chain, with or without serious discounts to the channel partners. The people in Redmond know exactly what to do to promote demand for Windows. Why do you think hardware suppliers and the store owners where elated with Vista? You think it was the alleged technological superiority of the new operating system? Think again. Vista needs at least 1 Gb of RAM, twice the amount of XP. Plus a graphics card with at least 256 Mb of RAM on board. And... Just add to your own list. Vista means dollars for producers and merchants. Oh, and the complaints of some softwarefirms had less to do with the alleged (lack of) quality of Vista, but more the fact that they didn't belong to the first tier partners at the Vista launch. They wanted their own spot on the Windows marketplace. Dollars....

And now Linux? Sorry, but hardly interesting in a commercial sense. Linux runs pretty well and very fast on yesterday's hardware. But that hardware is sold already. Linux doesn't bring a new revenue stream or an opportunity to increase prices for the same functionality.

But.. what about consumer demand? That could change things? In theory, yes, but only when there is a critical mass of users that request Linux. But consider the following:

- At teacher training colleges teachers have the opportunity to get certificates of the European Computer Drivers License (ECDL). Most text books only deal with Windows and Microsoft Office;
- For most children, the first experience with computers, at home or at school, is Windows, MSN and Microsoft Office;
- Users of internetcafés or e-centers sit down behind computers with Windows, MSN and Microsoft Office.

So, when do you think the critical mass of Linux users is reached to make a difference in the market place?

Moving towards critical mass
Let's make a few things clear. Right now there are more than enough distributions that can be used by endusers at home and in a business environment from day to day. The remaining problems with hardware and software can be fixed quite easily. For a small group those problems can be a good reason to postpone a wholesale migration. We don't have to, shouldn't wait for the next generation of new features in Linux. And it definitely is of no use to wait for the box builders to see the light and watch them exchange Windows for Linux. Linux will not breakthrough on the desktop because we wish it so. What do we need to do, other than wait until 2023, for Linux to make it to the desktop? We need to do more.

The development and distribution of Linux is mostly determined by two groups: the developers and the companies that use Linux as a competitive tool towards Microsoft. We can see some local and national governments contributing by 'demanding' the use of open standards and open source software. It's a start, but -again- we shouldn't wait for nor trust in it. More than one government reversed it's decision to migrate to Linux and who knows what happens after the next elections. As long as Windows is dominant in the public domain (education, e-centers, internetcafé's) we will hardly see a change in it's use. We - the Linux desktop users- are but a marginal group. Some of us try to convince friends, relatives and neighbors and we are almost jubilant when we have made a 'convert'. We almost 'live' in Linux forums and IRC channels to lend a hand to newbie users with problems. And please, keep on doing that.

To reach a critical mass of Linux endusers takes time. What we need is the establishment of an international community, a movement that is dedicated to the worldwide promotion and distribution of Linux as a system for endusers, analogous to the international developer communities that made Linux possible as a system. Why should it only be the hackers that altruistically devote their precious time and energy? Don't you think it is time for us - the early adopters- to follow their example in a structured and organized way? I seriously endorse launching a Linux Proliferation Agreement, a charter which will the basis for a pro-active promotion of Linux by qualified endusers.

The Linux Proliferation Agreement
What should the Linux Proliferation Agreement entail? In short: to make Linux ubiquitous in the public domain. This means establishing public e-centers, well maintained, with constant personal support and where people can get training and courses in the use of Linux and open source software. It means offering low level training and courses in community centers and on schools, for children, parents and professionals in branches other than IT. It means using all sorts of media to make Linux visible, in the local media and targeted media. No general purpose articles, but indepth articles providing Linux and open source solutions for real day to day problems in organizations. It also means developing educational tools for LPA courses and training, but also for use in schools. We need an ECDL that is completely build around open source and with which candidates can get certified.

The Linux Proliferation Agreement shouldn't be a rag tag band of volunteers, but should be organized analogous to the Debian Project. The LPA charter sets out a clear goal and purpose and quality should be first and foremost. The organization and it's reputation needs to be build in such a way that enlisting the help of an LPA volunteer is synonymous with getting a high quality endresult. To achieve this the LPA needs a system of internal training and coaching. Plus some form of certification. Organizations should have access to an online register of certified LPA volunteers. Branding is one of the key tasks of the LPA organizations, with the development of marketing kits etc. The quality and the network are required to attract funding and sponsorships.

Towards a roadmap
What does it mean for you and me? Well, maybe we are asked to assist in our local e-center a few hours each week. Or to provide an extensive training in OpenOffice.org in our local community center, on Saturday afternoon, for the next 20 weeks. One thing needs to be clear from the outset: joining the Linux Proliferation Agreement brings a new set of obligations. But is it different for the developers of Linux? When there is a serious problem with the kernel, don't we expect a solution or at least a quick fix within hours? I will work on a roadmap for the Linux Proliferation Agreement in the months ahead. Who will join me?

Tags: Linux, education, Linux Proliferation Agreement

Column: What's his beef with Linux?

"What's his beef with Linux?" I can imagine some people wonder if I have something against Linux. The first two contributions to Digiplace.nl were quite critical in tone. Well, to clarify one thing: I have nothing against Linux. On the contrary, I would take any opportunity to promote Linux among Windows users. On April 1st one of my online buddies deleted Windows from his harddrive, after receiving a step by step guidance through all the problems he encountered. After a demonstration, a church pastor recently started promoting the use of Ubuntu Linux among church members in order to reduce the use of illegal software. And in a few weeks time I will explain the joys of software installation via synaptic and apt-get to a group of novice users. That is how I contribute to the spread of Linux.

But, I am not blind and deaf during my promotional activities. At each event I hear real life problems and frustrations. I know there are solutions to most, if not all of them. The solutions start with the phrase: "you have to do a Google search for..", after which the majority of users is bombarded with a variety of possible solutions. Why? You have to know how to phrase the real problem, know what really is wrong.

Thanks to Microsoft and years of IT-education most users are unable to do that. "It just doesn't work anymore". When was the last time you contacted an IT helpdesk? I won't do that anymore. I'd like to get my assistance on my level of expertise and refuse to talk to a well-meaning assistant that first has to ask whether I plugged in the computer properly. Unfortunately, such questions are necessary for many other users and it helps the helpdesk to isolate the real problem step by step.

There are various methods to promote Linux. The first method -the least effective as far as I am concerned- is the RFTM approach. Let the users find their own solutions. An alternative approach is used by the likes of Ubuntu, Linspire and Xandros. They want to make W2L migration as easy as possible and simplify all management tools. Add closed source drivers and proprietary codecs in the mix and we have a first Linux experience that is not the cause of post-traumatic stress. Granted, this approach is more effective than the RFTM approach, but it is still not enough. Why not? Murphy's Law, of course! Something will go wrong and what do you do then? Besides, even these distributions require rudimentary skills with the commandline interface. And most W2L migrators haven't seen a commandline since Windows95.

If Linux needs to gain ground on the desktop, we don't need to wait for the operating systems and applications require a future level of maturity. The maturity is there. I would argue that it is no problem to migrate most home and business users right now. It might require the support of Wine, Cedega, Crossover, VirtualBox, VMware en/of Xen, but it is possible. Adding Click-and-Run to Ubuntu might look like a good idea, but it doesn't solve the real problem: bad IT education.

And this is where we -you and me- come in, to add effort where our mouth is. Sending around free CD's with Linux is good. Writing helpful How-to's is very useful. Offering tips and tricks in IRC and in forums, please continue with that. But we are talking proper education here, helping people to understand the operating system, teaching them problem-solving skills. No install fests,but educational programs about the how and why of Linux.

And we have to learn to listen in order to send back the problems and obstacles to the developers and distro builders. To help them build real solutions. Until those solutions have materialized I consider it my obligation to point out the shortcomings. Not out of spite, but out of love for Linux and it's scores of developers. Both of which deserve a better place on the computer desktop.

This column is part of a series that appears on Digiplace.nl, a Dutch weblog run by Jos Herni.

Tags: Linux, Ubuntu, Education

Column: What's his beef with Linux?

"What's his beef with Linux?" I can imagine some people wonder if I have something against Linux. The first two contributions to Digiplace.nl were quite critical in tone. Well, to clarify one thing: I have nothing against Linux. On the contrary, I would take any opportunity to promote Linux among Windows users. On April 1st one of my online buddies deleted Windows from his harddrive, after receiving a step by step guidance through all the problems he encountered. After a demonstration, a church pastor recently started promoting the use of Ubuntu Linux among church members in order to reduce the use of illegal software. And in a few weeks time I will explain the joys of software installation via synaptic and apt-get to a group of novice users. That is how I contribute to the spread of Linux.

But, I am not blind and deaf during my promotional activities. At each event I hear real life problems and frustrations. I know there are solutions to most, if not all of them. The solutions start with the phrase: "you have to do a Google search for..", after which the majority of users is bombarded with a variety of possible solutions. Why? You have to know how to phrase the real problem, know what really is wrong.

Thanks to Microsoft and years of IT-education most users are unable to do that. "It just doesn't work anymore". When was the last time you contacted an IT helpdesk? I won't do that anymore. I'd like to get my assistance on my level of expertise and refuse to talk to a well-meaning assistant that first has to ask whether I plugged in the computer properly. Unfortunately, such questions are necessary for many other users and it helps the helpdesk to isolate the real problem step by step.

There are various methods to promote Linux. The first method -the least effective as far as I am concerned- is the RFTM approach. Let the users find their own solutions. An alternative approach is used by the likes of Ubuntu, Linspire and Xandros. They want to make W2L migration as easy as possible and simplify all management tools. Add closed source drivers and proprietary codecs in the mix and we have a first Linux experience that is not the cause of post-traumatic stress. Granted, this approach is more effective than the RFTM approach, but it is still not enough. Why not? Murphy's Law, of course! Something will go wrong and what do you do then? Besides, even these distributions require rudimentary skills with the commandline interface. And most W2L migrators haven't seen a commandline since Windows95.

If Linux needs to gain ground on the desktop, we don't need to wait for the operating systems and applications require a future level of maturity. The maturity is there. I would argue that it is no problem to migrate most home and business users right now. It might require the support of Wine, Cedega, Crossover, VirtualBox, VMware en/of Xen, but it is possible. Adding Click-and-Run to Ubuntu might look like a good idea, but it doesn't solve the real problem: bad IT education.

And this is where we -you and me- come in, to add effort where our mouth is. Sending around free CD's with Linux is good. Writing helpful How-to's is very useful. Offering tips and tricks in IRC and in forums, please continue with that. But we are talking proper education here, helping people to understand the operating system, teaching them problem-solving skills. No install fests,but educational programs about the how and why of Linux.

And we have to learn to listen in order to send back the problems and obstacles to the developers and distro builders. To help them build real solutions. Until those solutions have materialized I consider it my obligation to point out the shortcomings. Not out of spite, but out of love for Linux and it's scores of developers. Both of which deserve a better place on the computer desktop.

This column is part of a series that appears on Digiplace.nl, a Dutch weblog run by Jos Herni.

Tags: Linux, Ubuntu, Education

Column: "But mine is free"

Didn't you ever drive behind one of those? One of those vehicles on four wheels that are legally considered cars, whose proud owner has a bumper sticker with the line: "Smile. But mine is paid". Before the Berlin wall came tumbling down there were proud owners of Eastblock produce. Lada, Skoda en Yugo. During my years on Curaçao I had the Lada sportsmobile, the Lada Samara. It was ideal! The thing was a tank with a platework so thick no rust could get a handle on it. And when someone drove into it, the other car had the damage. You only needed to paint it army green, put a cannon on the roof and the monster was ready for the Cold War.

But, what was the sales pitch for these cars from the workers' paradise? They were cheap, functional and robust. The owner were almost elated about the barren simplicity. These cars were so simple you could repair them yourself. You had to. The market value was zero point nothing and sales were less than sluggish. No, then the Japanese cars. More rust then metal. But sales were soaring, because they did have a deluxe shine with that metallic coat of paint. Hmmm, reminds me of an operating system I know.

Fast forward to the present. The workers' paradise is no longer behind the Iron Curtain. The communist continues life as a Linux hacker and the Communist Manifesto is transformed into the GPL. World domination is to be achieved via an operating system and applications. Do you know the main sales pitch? Linux is free, secure, stable and functional. Yes, you can, are allowed, no, even should look into the source code. Ha, you won't see that with those capitalist pigs from Redmond.

Yes, Linux even has a female spokesperson nowadays, a slender your woman who can tell you that Linux has 30 million users. Vista achieved 20 million in the first few months of it's existence. Okay... put yourself in the position of a hormone driven teenager with his modded gamerig. Neon, shining lights, black and chrome. Got that? Picture Suse on it.... Or worse, Debian Woody, default install, because it is developed by a group of bickering hackers bound to a social contract.... See the problem? A nice paint job still does miracles, even 25 years later. Yes, yes, I can hear some of you think: "What about Compiz and Beryl?" True, but by the time that has reached mainstream Linux Vista has sold another 20 million. We have to change that.

It didn't matter in those days for the average car buyer that the Yugo was a fine car for the money you paid for it and it doesn't matter for average computer consumer Linux is superior in terms of security, stability and price. To push it's way to the desktop, both in the business as at home, Linux needs a paint job. Free and reliable don't do well in a sales pitch. It might, for the nerdy sysadmin, but not for his boss who controls the budget. By the way, I can still see the IT professionals during the employment heydays, waiting to pick out their company cars. And no, there was no Lada to be seen. The boss knows what sells.

Oh, and for those who are interested, you can download this bumper sticker for your computer: "Smile. But mine is free"

 

Tags: Linux

This column is part of a series I write for Digiplace.nl, where it appears in Dutch.