[nzlug] Dell are sooo pwn3d

[Denise Bates]

Craig Box wrote:
>> * Many of the people that I have encountered who have tried a free 
>> Ubuntu CD don't really have a concept of what a distro is: They 
>> insert a Ubuntu CD and assume that it _is_ "generic" Linux.
> 
> What's generic Linux?  The one that most people use?  The one people get
> introduced to, and thus develop new applications for?  Is this not therefore
> a self-fulfilling prophecy?

Isn't that the problem? The free CDs are available, Windows-using 
newbies try the CDs, don't like what they see, and then _don't_ 
proceed any further. A self-fulfilling prophecy, maybe, but with a 
high attrition rate.

Whatever merits, if any, Ubuntu might have as a 
properly-configured HD installation, it doesn't necessarily follow 
that the same freebie CD is the best vehicle to provide a fair and 
attractive enticement for Windows-users to consider using Linux. I 
would have thought that Knoppix provides a much better showcase 
live-CD for newbies: What distros the potential Linux novice might 
hypothetically choose as a HD install are meaningless, if they are 
turned off by the live-CD.

regards,
*********************************************
Dr Denise J. Bates,
PO Box 50,
Meremere 2441
New Zealand
E-mail: dbates at iconz.co.nz
Telephone 09-2336433
Mobile 021-2541330
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