acht.drei

[cosmolinguist]

I've heard people complain about this, but I don't think it's happened to me: "I wrote this nice little entry and then ... !" "Then" could be one of many things, usually the computer doing something inexplicable or at least bringing about some unforseen consequence to some innocuous action. Mine was actually kind of interesting, as I could say I'd never seen a computer do that before (and I have no idea what it did anyway, as I fixed it by logging out and then back in again). It's been a while since I could say that ... but then I have Linux now, so none of the rules apply. I said my computing life as I knew it would end; how true that is.

Incidentally, after I told her about this, Tess tried to show me how to install a Linux LJ client--woohoo, I say--but it only served to teach me more things I didn't know I didn't know. Now I at least know that I don't know them; progress is being made.

People as ignorant as me don't use Linux. That's what I think. Only through learning things about it would you want to use it anyway; Windows is fine for most people and they go on happily living their lives without even knowing Linux exists. People who have heard of Linux usually have a reason to--it means they have some context for it and know enough things that, were they going to use it, it would make sense to them at least some of the time.

But, Matthew said I'll never learn it if I don't try it. He also bought a new printer just so I could (so he could?) have Linux on this thing, and I really can't argue with that.

The whole experience has been a bit like going to another country whose language I do not speak and having to pick it up just by being immersed in it, and having no other choice. And hey, people have reached great ends from such humble beginnings as moving to a country whose language they do not know.

Comments

[gurdonark.livejournal.com]

I am a trogolodyte, so when you say you are a Linux user, you somehow seem more cool to me, and you already seemed "way cool" :).

[cosmolinguist]

I have noticed that, actually--someone else made some flattering assumption about my intelligence just because I mentioned Linux.

The funny thing is, all I've done (overtly) is complian (even though LInux isn't that bad). So I have no idea how I'm making myself sound so impressive. :-)

I think it's way cool that you said "troglodyte." I love that word. And using such terms in conversation (is that what this is?) also means I suspect you aren't really one anyway.

[czircon.livejournal.com]

I have to disagree with the assertion that Windows is fine for most people. Here's an anecdote: my mom was having trouble with her mobile phone; there was a problem with the battery or something, and it would just stop working now and then. So we went up to the Verizon place to see if she could get the battery or the phone replaced, but the guy there was less than helpful. He said that because the phone was just a little computer, it needed to be rebooted every once in a while, just like our computer at home. My dad asked me when was the last time I had to reboot my computer (which runs Linux), and I couldn't remember back that far. Not counting power outages or shutting it down to install new hardware or move the machine, it's probably been years since I had to reboot.

So this is my big complaint about Windows: it sucks, and people get so accustomed to the sucking that they start to accept other things sucking. That's why we're starting to get steadily crappier hardware; the manufacturers realize that their hardware doesn't have to be able to work for all that long, because Windows will crash first anyway. And even once the hardware dies completely, nobody will complain too much because Windows has taught them to just accept that they'll have to replace everything after a while.

If an individual can go on happily living his life using Windows, I guess that's his business and I envy him. But the large-scale impact of Windows on society is, uh... not good.

Also: according to Microsoft, memory is like gasoline in a car, and you have to reboot every so often to "refuel." AUGH!

[cosmolinguist]

You know, that's a good point. Of course I really don't believe that Windows it good--ortheriwse it wouldn't bother me so much--but you bring up a really interesting point I'd not thought of before: that people come to expect defects and random inexplicable problems that really do not need to be there.

Yet more proof that Windows and Linux aren't really just different operating systems, they represent a paradigm shift in thinking.

[crushdmb.livejournal.com]

For me, Windows is fine. I'd LIKE to learn Linux, but..that takes work..and I'm a little lazy. Plus, EVERY job I have uses Windows, and so I HAVE to keep up on the times when it comes to Windows. Perhaps someday I'll invest in a Linux box to play with..maybe.

Quite a bit of my friends are hardcore geeks. Including my ex, who I lived with for 2 years. He was a Linux Administrator, and a ton of other geeky things. I even know what BSD is. I know what a Kernal is, sort of..but that's about as far as my knowledge goes :)