Good evening In the past weeks I tried to "get out of my Windows-world" (Apple TV-ad). Because I couldn't change to a Mac (I'm a student -- and students do not have any money as you know) I tried a lot of software. Just a short overview:
1. MiniWoody-Linux (German distribution in 200 MB): didn't start up after beginning booting 2. Darwin (BSD): Lost all my data; arrived at a screen with 256 Colors; no mouse because of USB. 3. Debian: Took the whole lot of installation-steps but didn't arrive at an end. However -- it crashed at the end. 4. Mandrake Linux: Downloaded only one CD, crashed at the end of installation because packages were missing on my CD. 5. Suse Linux: Too big. Too fat. I have had enough of Linux and didn't want to choose the whole lot of packages again. 6. BeOS R5 (the old one): What a joy! Simple Installation under Windows, fast, simple, great. But not open-source. Too old and just a little programs available. No networking. 7. Windows 2000, the good old friend. Just to work. Insecure, instable, ugly (not as much as XP) -- but it still works. What to say? Well, perhaps I'm just too stupid to get things work. Perhaps it isn't only my fault. What is the aim of free software -- and what it sould be: It's to make free software. Software everybody can change, expand, develop. Everybody can run (and it can cost). Not everybody is a developer. Everybody is Joe Sixpack that wants to have a computer that works. No configuring, no compiling, no choosing. Well, he could buy a Mac -- but as you know, J. S. hasn't the money or the spirit to do. If you thinkg that he has heard of Linux -- and is going to the next Best Buy to get the newest RedHat because people said it is the easiest way to get "free software" -- it isn't J. S. any more. An OS should be simple and impressing enough to be preinstalled on Computers. There is no real difference between Suse, RedHat, Debian, Mandrake, SCO (besides spiritual aspects). They all are very, very complicated to J. S. If your aim is to bring (free) software to everybody -- J. S. included -- why don't you do it? Why are there still hundreds of steps to do before J. S. can run his WYSIWYG-LaTeX-distribution and get documents you can look at (not as docs made in MS Word)? Why has he to chose a Window-Manager? Why has he to choose thousands of packages to be installed? Why has he a Webserver on his machine? Why an FTP-server? Why to read tons of pages of descriptions to install (and not as in Mac OS X just 30 beautiful pages, 1 single page to install the iMac)? Why has he first of all to download hundreds of megabytes of data? Why isn't there a bridge between developer and user, why isn't there a "debian smart"-distribution for my loved J. S.? Being installed from J. S's ugly Windows XP GUI in three steps (chosing auto-partitioning that doesn't delete the whole disk, chosing his country and his language, rebooting) and being able to work (doing configuration later -- or automaticly for usb-devices)? Why isn't working intuitive? Why don't you bring to customers what they are asking for in 310 MBs (or 420 or whatever -- but less than 650 MBs)? Why isn't the customer being entertained, why can't he _love_ and not only like his product? Why isn't he waiting for announcements and praying for some entertaining news? It would be that simple. It would be that great. I'm not a suscriber of your list. If you'd like to answer me (to say that I'm stupid to ask these questions etc.) please write personally back. Besides of complexity Debian is walking a nice way. If there's something I can do for you (explaining further details, let you know more concepts, do some work in marketing, planning, coordinating, publishing (translating) etc.) -- just let me know. I'll be there. Hope you're dreaming of a simpler world. Felix -- Just as simple as possible, but not simpler.
