Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> espoused:
> ____/ Jeremy Fisher on Wednesday 16 April 2008 22:58 : \____
>
>> Roy Schestowitz wrote:
>>
>>> Linux for Grandma - Part III, Finale
>>>
>>> ,----[ Quote ]
>>> | For limited use, like browser based applications only, there is no
>>> | reason not
>>> | to use Linux. In fact, most people in her case wouldn't know the
>>> | difference. The three main reasons to use Linux are that it works, it is
>>> | free, and runs
>>> | on low end hardware fairly well. Nor did I need the overhead of
>>> | anti-virus and anti-spyware software.
>>> `----
>>>
>> I do start to cringe when I read posts like this, although I agree with what
>> is being said, I find the sentiments to be wrong, why shouldn't Grandma
>> have a medium to high end machine, the fact that the OS is free is not that
>> important in this description of a system, the fact that it is Open Source
>> is far more important, maybe a bit pedantic. Its the inference that Linux
>> based system is best run on older machines, and that other lesser systems
>> should be installed on new boxes.
>
> I agree entirely. That indeed comes to show that Linux is not a problem at all.
> It's only a problem if the user actually /thinks/ of it (a kernel is ideally
> totally out of sight). What's important are the applications, of which
> GNU/Linux has plenty of very advanced ones (including specialised ones that
> are used in production studios). Unless the user requires a program that is
> not available for Linux *and* cannot run in Wine, there's no flaw in Linux.
> It's only a myth or a perceptual thing.
>
There are a couple of reasons for seeing this in some positive way,
though. Firstly, the number of "old" machines out there greatly
outnumbers the number of new ones, so having those repurposed into viable
linux boxes from virus-ridden botnet members running windows very very
slowly is, in fact, a great gain. The more of those machines which are
repurposed, then the more the network effect will take hold, which is a
good reason indeed.
Of course, there is another thread which says that Linux runs /really/
well on new hardware, for many of the same reasons that it runs so well
on old hardware, basically, it runs better on *all* hardware.
The second reason why this is a positive thing is that recycling of
older hardware is inherently good so long as the overal CO2 and energy
gain equation works out. By using software which can run satisfactorily
on lower-end hardware, then power consumption, too, can also be kept
down.
I think more work on reducing power consumption of free software
generally would be a good thing, not only would it assist in the Asus
EEE, OLPC and mobility device arena, it will also help in general to
enable older hardware to be repurposed and to keep costs down.
--
| mark at ellandroad dot demon dot co dot uk |
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| Open platforms prevent vendor lock-in. Own your Own services! |
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