[NTLUG:Discuss] Discuss Digest, Vol 85, Issue 18

[Chris Cox]

On Fri, 2010-01-22 at 12:34 -0800, Dennis Kaptain wrote:
...snip...
> It is my observation
> that Linux is easier to install than any version of windows if you include the drivers for every device you have and 
> all the applications. Windows is not bullet proof or even stable (although I must say more recently Windows 7 
> is looking much better). You will have applications crash. You will have data lost. You will have applications that
> conflict with each other and cause headaches. Updates will break your system and cause things to fail.
> 
> In Linux (I can speak for Fedora 11) you will have the same kind of problems. I expect in other distributions you will suffer the same ills.
> I've seen things break with an update. Programs that seg fault on start up and some just plain weird stuff.
> 
> The thing is, modern day computers and operating systems are very complex systems. Far too complex for any single
> person to master on their own. That is why there exist teams of developers who make applications, kernels, drivers,
> and who knows what else. Each person can take care of his or her piece and hopefully when they all come together
> there won't be too big of a mess.
> 
> The difference is, in Linux you have a hope of fixing things. In windows... most likely not.

Well said.  And very true.  But there's an expectation level and level
of acceptance that Windows users make with regards to their OS.
So, Windows gets forgiveness, Linux does not... because
it's different.

Maybe Linux should put up BSODs?  Maybe we should popup dialogs
saying something awful happened and ask the user to press the
'Ok' button? :-)

You have to be willing to learn something new with GNU/Linux, but
as you pointed out... at least there's not an inpenetrable wall
in the way.  I only get frustrated in Linux for a moment... with
Windows... it lasts and lasts and lasts... (but we feel ok, because
our Window's friends are all in the same boat).