From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Wed Dec 20 17:08:29 2006 Return-Path: X-Original-To: questions@freebsd.org Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [69.147.83.52]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id B837516A407 for ; Wed, 20 Dec 2006 17:08:29 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from bsilver@chrononomicon.com) Received: from trans-warp.net (hyperion.trans-warp.net [216.37.208.37]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id ECEFB43CB3 for ; Wed, 20 Dec 2006 17:08:19 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from bsilver@chrononomicon.com) Received: from [127.0.0.1] (unverified [65.193.73.208]) by trans-warp.net (SurgeMail 3.8f2) with ESMTP id 93203470-1860479 for ; Wed, 20 Dec 2006 11:52:52 -0500 Mime-Version: 1.0 (Apple Message framework v752.3) In-Reply-To: <3ee9ca710612200820o115a2391n1dccd2a5edeef5ce@mail.gmail.com> References: <4588601A.9030602@swbell.net> <3ee9ca710612200820o115a2391n1dccd2a5edeef5ce@mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed Message-Id: <922831D2-35F5-45D7-9903-55241F0F3FC1@chrononomicon.com> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From: Bart Silverstrim Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2006 11:52:56 -0500 To: questions@freebsd.org X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.752.3) X-Authenticated-User: bsilver@chrononomicon.com Cc: Subject: Re: My recent Epiphany about operating systems X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2006 17:08:29 -0000 On Dec 20, 2006, at 11:20 AM, Andy Greenwood wrote: > On 12/20/06, Terabyte Pete wrote: >> 7:04 AM, Wednesday, December 20, 2006 >> >> In Winblow$, the release & bundling of IE was purposely as >> crippleware, >> virus, & bug delivery system 2 trap people into constantly >> 'upgrading'. A >> simple comparisson of Windows 95 side-by-side with the final >> Windows ME & >> various IE 'upgrades' illustrates how the supposedly 'new & >> improved' stuff >> is actually about 1/5 the speed, & about 10X less reliable. >> >> The Ephiphany: A similar crippleware model exists in UNIX & >> Linux, BSD, >> Dragonfly, IRIX, Open VMS, etc! But what is the method of >> crippling? The >> USER INTERFACE is purposely difficult to use, requiring vast >> tracts of >> arcane code & 'switches' the user is 'supposed' to be able to >> remember. The >> OS Kernels are designed to require constant patching or nothing runs >> properly when 'upgrading' softwares. What is the result? Well, >> the OS & >> applications may be free, but the system administrator type costs >> are not. >> I have concluded, in a flash of insight, that all of the non- >> windows OSes, >> save perhaps TRON (which is a Jap OS that is actually designed to >> simply >> WORK - runs most cell phones, anti-lock brakes, etc.) - the >> function of >> most free OSes & softwares is to create a market for engineering >> services to >> create a functional environment with them. *shrug* another troll to eventually ignore. More people follow up to him, soon the self-anointed guardians of the list will start complaining, eventually the thread dies down (even though it would die sooner if the guardians wouldn't chime in to complain)... This is just another guy complaining because the OS isn't made to his specific expectations while at the same time not being irritated enough to sit and learn how to program his own OS or apparently learn how to configure what he has already. You already know the maturity level he's approaching the "problem" with when you see how he refers to Microsoft and cuts his words down to teen "txt msg tlk LOL!". It's interesting to me that he knows enough of the industry to throw out names like TRON without recognizing that embedded single-purpose OS's are a different ballgame from OS's expected to handle everything from home finance software to the latest World of Warcraft client, since it adds layers upon layers of complexity as the number of lines of code is increased. Also there's the fact that OS's are driven by customers and marketing, not necessarily purpose. OS's are released when they are deemed "good enough" or "stable enough", since overall you losing some addresses or a paper due the next day doesn't result in someone dying, unlike devices like a car computer where a software failure may potentially mean brakes not engaging properly. If he doesn't like the interface of a free operating system, try another distro. There's only a few hundred out there (it seems). What exactly are you looking for? I mean, of course it's not too simple...the closest thing you can get to that is the Mac, and that's because of interface guidelines that are (mostly) followed to keep things consistent. Linux evolves in belches and burps on winds generated by programmer itches. Something annoys the programmer, they code a solution. Programmers are not average people. Hence, you're seeing the result of a lot of eclectic priority shifts and itches that have been scratched. Is there an arrogance to their attitude? Probably. They do this for free in most cases and customize things as they can use them to make the system more user friendly, where user friendly means friendly to them. Sysadmins have paid their dues to get things working until they're comfortable with it or can get comfortable with it. Guess what...that's the price you pay for freedom and flexibility. You have to learn to use it. Don't want to do that? Pay someone to configure an interface with big shiny buttons marked "INTERNET BROWSER", "EMAIL", "WRITE LETTERS". Isn't that what users want, someone to do the work for them? That's the real epiphany. After years of tech support, I realized I was totally wrong. I thought users wanted to learn how to use that expensive piece of equipment. I thought they had the curiosity I had, the fascination that something looking so simple was capable of making movies, writing stories, finding information...so much potential. All they needed was the knowledge to see how the puzzle fit together. I was totally wrong! What they wanted was for someone to come and DO the work for them. They wanted just an end task, and the computer was what someone pointed them to in order to do it. Set up a printer? How many times do I need to explain the same damned procedure to the same user? Oooh....you don't mean it when you ask how to do it. You want me to come over and DO it for you! Every time you screw it up, I get to do that same thing over again. They don't care about OS's, licenses, legalities, IP, owners rights...they just want to make a brochure or look at porn or whatever else this magic black box can do. They don't care how it works or why it works. They can't even be bothered to craft emails anymore, just top post whatever crap blurps into their mind at that specific moment. Email is little more than retarded IM. Get a bounce message? Internet must be down. Fifteenth time I had to explain that before I just started telling them to forward the bounce to me and then I would magically solve the mystery by reading the bounce error right to them (how did you know that name doesn't have an email box at xyz.net?? WOW!) In the end just quit your bitching about how hard it is to learn or how people are out to rip you off by offering services when you're not willing or able to learn to do it yourself. This obviously isn't a secret cabal out to get you. You're so "results oriented", then continue to focus on non-computer use results and just accept that you will need to pay someone to do what you don't want to do or can't do. I accept that if I were to dedicate my life to banking, I'd probably get more value in my investments and I'd understand much more about credit and tricks of the trade while not being able to know every last detail behind building a house. If I become a master craftsman for home building, I could build my own mansion but probably won't know necessarily what money market fund is best in the long run. Or, I can learn fairly easily to change my own oil...but it's worth fifteen bucks to me to have someone else do it faster and dispose of the oil for me. Deal with it. Life sucks. Don't like the interfaces available on "free" software? Don't use them. No one is forcing you to.