...to set up a Linux box. It's not as good as Windoze, it's better. I can configure things to work the way I want them to, not the way M$ wants them to.

Linux still needs a bit more work (fonts, program installation, networking) but overall, sweet.

I've got a web browser that blocks pop-ups, web bugs, and ads served by third-party servers that will also auto-refresh the page on the schedule I set. That's really nice. I have my weather maps open in different windows that refresh every half-hour. Pretty much shut down Outlook Express, too. K-Mail lets me display html as text, a feature I can't believe M$ never included. The calendar, scheduler and task manager all work with the Email client. And it doesn't hog down half my system resources like freaking Outlook.

Not deluding myself that it's going to take a looong time to get good at Unix, it's a different way of life. So far it's very impressive and I'm just getting started!

In the discussions about what Linux has to do to become a widely popular desktop, let's not lose sight of how far it's come and the really cool features it incorporates now. I remember trying a redhat distro just last year, amazing the difference already.

This weekend I'm shooting the second Linux I Switched commercials...a spoof on the Apple switched ads. Response to the first one was quite good.

Yes! Converts rock

Glad you like it, I'm right there with ya. Please, post a link so we can all see the commercial when it's done, that'd be great

Cool

I've always thought someone should start a fund to get Linux some tv advertising time. Even though I don't use apple I love those commercials: "Everything just works!" ha ha ha, so true.

Where is the first one? (commercial that is).

I'm a little embarrassed to post the link...

...it's on a WIN2K server and the splash page is written in ASP.

Hey, I'm new!

Here is Part I

We're going to fix the lighting on the next one, so it's more like the orig. This one's a little dark cause the model wore black.

Ya, SuSE is pretty easy to. If they would just start advertising it would go up in use faster.

ha ha ha, nice job! Is it ok if we beam a link of that to people? That's pretty good

Cool

No problem, link away (thanks for asking, btw). The background music is licensed for this project and unless the Tux creator's had a beef with me using the graphic (I acknowledged them in the properties section) there shouldn't be any rights issues. The music can't be used or redistributed separate from the production, other than that I'm looking at this project as my contribution to the community. It's fun.

The next one's better. And I've got some ideas for a series called Penguin vs Butterfly, but I'm going to need some help with costumes for those.

Until I get better at C, this will have to do.

Do not bother yourself with that commercial.

Go and write Linux Games!

Believe me, that is the only way to the heart of the masses!

(I sometimes play with the thought if the developers of one the two great window managers, kde or gnome would cease concurring with each other and rather go for writing games, then Linux would still have some twenty window managers plus some really great games. More than enough to win over win.)

To be a bit more serious:
There is a commercial tv channel here in Budapest for the youth, called Fix TV, mostly playing music and giving computer knowledge to the masses (the last being possibly a 'community service' required by the laws also for commercial channels).
They deal with computers for more than 4 hours everyday. Do you know how often the words 'windows' and microsoft sound there a day?
You cannot count it.
And how often they mention Linux? Never. Or virtually never: there was a day last year when Linux had a two-hours block. Otherwise it is not even mentioned. That two-hours block was an event. Such an event that it got an article in one of the greatest Hungarian Linux forums.
And why is there such a difference between windows and Linux?
Because a commercial channel deals with things that people are interested in.
And every single soul calling them asked how and from where to download or install this or that windows game, or cheat, or something , and what is better win98, 2000, or XP (for games).
So, someone who watches that TV might think that a computer is nothing but windows and games.
I mean microsoft now would not need to pay a penny for advertising, they get it for free.
So, how much money should we pay to concur with this by advertising? I do not think we would have enought for that.

But there is an other way.
Linux users are mostly considered (and actually are) Windows gurus , at least compared to the masses. So, we have the reputation to say in personal conversations: 'I tried both, windows sux'.
I myself could convert at least 50 windows users to Linux (they play with the thought). And there are hundred thousands like me committed to Linux.
But there is one problem: the magic words are always sounded: 'and what about games?' . I can say anything afterwards, how reliable and safe Linux is, and how many applications there are, they think 'why should I lose or risk my games?'.
I could still convince some to try Linux, all of them said it was great and none of them reported any problems with the ease of installation (perhaps I had luck since they were not computer gurus to overcome any difficulties), but none of them stayed at Linux. They did not have enough motivation. Only games would give enought motivation.
Otherwise Linux is mature now to win.