Because Shiny Things Are Fun - The New New Windows v Linux Thread

I remember the golden years of Windows. Windows NT4.0 and Windows2000 were hands down the best iterations of Windows. Prove me wrong.


PROTIP: You can't.

And walking 20 miles up hill in a blizzard to get to "school" was cool too...

*Shrug* ok, but those were actually good versions of Windows - yes there was such a time. I never had any issues, and things actually worked.

Originally Posted by Jeebizz *Shrug* ok, but those were actually good versions of Windows - yes there was such a time. I never had any issues, and things actually worked.

I have to agree here. At that point Windows was feature-complete and (new hardware aside) there's nothing that Windows can do today that it couldn't back then. Since then it's just been messing with the UI so that more training is required.
The same goes fro any OS+UI, really. Once it has plug-and-play, networking (with optional internet), allows multitasking and graphical task-switching (with the option to window) and WYSIWIG editing and multimedia are supported it's done. The rest, as they say nowadays, is "apps".

Lots of MS love on these boards these days... I think it has a lot to do with this:

https://www.linuxfoundation.org/members/corporate

I doubt it!
It may have more to do with that there IS a place for both.
As I have said before, there are far too many different distributions of Linux, each with its own learning curve.

Is either free to share and modify (for better or worse) or it's not...

"they don't make things like they use to" is a myth. GPL!

Originally Posted by dave@burn-it.co.uk As I have said before, there are far too many different distributions of Linux, each with its own learning curve.

You may have said it before, but it's still not true that there are "far too many". Because there is nothing to stop someone from using just one and ignoring the others. In other words, the existence of other distributions should be irrelevant to a user who has found and stuck with a favoured distribution.

All distributions are basically the same kind of thing: GNU userland, some kind of init system, X window system, Linux kernel, etc. They are based on much the same upstream free software projects.

If you can master one package manager such as yum or apt, then you can probably grasp most others fairly quickly.

What you seem to be suggesting is stopping people from working on what they want to work on and provide freely. That doesn't make sense.

//edit: fixed typo...

I'm not suggesting stopping anyone at all.
I'm suggesting that perhaps if Linux users could aggree on something, maybe it might become more prolific.

I don't think "masering" a package will help it

Some Levity from rok.

"Star Trek Lost Episodes" transcript. Author Unknown

[Picard] "Mr. LaForge, have you had any success with your attempts at
finding a weakness in the Borg? And Mr. Data, have you been able to
access their command pathways?"

[Geordi]"Yes, Captain. In fact, we found the answer by searching
through our archives on late Twentieth-century computing technology."

[Geordi presses a key, and a logo appears on the computer screen.]

[Riker looks puzzled.] "What the hell is 'Microsoft'?"

[Data turns to answer.] "Allow me to explain. We will send this
program, for some reason called 'Windows', through the Borg command
pathways. Once inside their root command unit, it will begin consuming
system resources at an unstoppable rate."

[Picard] "But the Borg have the ability to adapt. Won't they alter
their processing systems to increase their storage capacity?"

[Data] "Yes, Captain. But when 'Windows' detects this, it creates a new
version of itself known as an 'upgrade'. The use of resources increases
exponentially with each iteration. The Borg will not be able to adapt
quickly enough. Eventually all of their processing ability will be
taken over and none will be available for their normal operational
functions."

[Picard] "Excellent work. This is even better than that 'unsolvable
geometric shape' idea."

. . 15 Minutes Later . . .

[Data] "Captain, We have successfully installed the 'Windows' in the
command unit and as expected it immediately consumed 85% of all
resources. We however have not received any confirmation of the
expected 'upgrade'."

[Geordi] "Our scanners have picked up an increase in Borg storage and
CPU capacity to compensate, but we still have no indication of an
'upgrade' to compensate for their increase."

[Picard] "Data, scan the history banks again and determine if their is
something we have missed."

[Data] "Sir, I believe there is a reason for the failure in the
upgrade'. Appearently the Borg have circumvented that part of the plan
by not sending in their registration cards.

[Riker] "Captain we have no choice. Requesting permission to begin
emergency escape sequence 3F . . ."

[Geordi, excited] "Wait, Captain I just detected their CPU capacity has
suddenly dropped to 0% !"

[Picard] "Data, what does your scanners show?"

[Data] "Appearently the Borg have found the internal 'Windows' module
named 'Solitaire' and it has used up all the CPU capacity."

[Picard] "Lets wait and see how long this 'solitaire' can reduce their
functionality."

. . Two Hours Pass . . .

[Riker] "Geordi whats the status on the Borg?"

[Geordi] "As expected the Borg are attempting to re-engineer to
compensate for increased CPU and storage demands, but each time they
successfully increase resources I have setup our closest deep space
monitor beacon to transmit more 'windows' modules from something called
the 'Microsoft fun-pack'.

[Picard] "How much time will that buy us ?"

[Data] "Current Borg solution rates allow me to predicate an interest
time span of 6 more hours."

[Geordi] "Captain, another vessel has entered our sector."

[Picard] "Identify."

[Data] "It appears to have markings very similar to the 'Microsoft'
logo"

[Over the speakers] "THIS IS ADMIRAL BILL GATES OF THE MICROSOFT
FLAGSHIP MONOPOLY. WE HAVE POSITIVE CONFIRMATION OF UNREGISTERED
SOFTWARE IN THIS SECTOR. SURREDER ALL ASSETS AND WE CAN AVOID ANY
TROUBLE. YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS"

[Data] "The alien ship has just opened its forward hatches and released
thousands of humanoid shaped objects."

[Picard] "Magnify forward viewer on the alien craft"

[Riker] "Good God captain! Those are humans floating straight toward
the Borg ship with no life support suits! How can they survive the
tortures of deep space ?!"

[Data] "I don't believe that those are humans sir, if you will look
closer I believe you will see that they are carrying something
recognized by twenty-first century man as doe skin leather briefcases,
and wearing Armani suits"

[Riker and Picard together horrified] "Lawyers !!"

[Geordi] "It can't be. All the Lawyers were rounded up and sent
hurtling into the sun in 2017 during the Great Awakening."

[Data] "True, but apparently some must have survived."

[Riker] "They have surrounded the Borg ship and are covering it with
all types of papers."

[Data] "I believe that is known in ancient vernacular as 'red tape' it
often proves fatal."

[Riker] "They're tearing the Borg to pieces !"

[Picard] "Turn off the monitors. I can't stand to watch, not even the
Borg deserve that."

Originally Posted by dave@burn-it.co.uk I'm not suggesting stopping anyone at all. I'm suggesting that perhaps if Linux users could aggree on something, maybe it might become more prolific.

We can't really make all Linux users agree any more than we can hope to make everyone like the same beer as me.

Software developers develop the software and maintain the distributions/packages, etc. Everyone has an opinion and competition and especially competing standards is normal.

If you want a consistent system where everyone has to "agree" (mainly because there is little choice) and uses a closed development model, then perhaps stick with MS Windows.

Don't you have any sense of humour??
Even though I do have a point about Linux users pulling in many different directions.
Don't get me wrong, I am a Linux user as well as a Windows user and my computing experience PRE-DATES both by some years.

Originally Posted by dave@burn-it.co.uk Don't you have any sense of humour??

I must have missed your joke? Or maybe trolling Linux boards for shits and giggles just isn't my thing...

Have "fun".

So if you don't see the joke, it is trolling!

Typical!!

For those of us with computing experience predating both windows and Linux by some years and some experience of forums, message boards and mailing lists - you're certainly trolling. Think about why you're arguing with me needlessly and then deflecting with your "sense of humour" comment. And it will begin to make sense.

In my opinion there is valid critique of Linux, etc and then there is going to a specific thread repeatedly praising windows, making illogical and pointless comments about "too many distros" and trying to get Linux fanbois to bite. You might think that's clever or humourous, but it isn't and as with most trolling attempts - it's obvious.