[nzlug] favourite distro

[Simon Bridge]

On Tue, 2008-01-08 at 15:46 +1300, Dirk Pilat wrote:
> On Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:32:15 +1300, Simon Bridge <simonbridge at ihug.co.nz>  
> wrote:
> 
> 
> > A pragmatic user still needs to understand the costs being payed as a
> > result of their choice. If the user is non or ill informed about those
> > choices they cannot make an intelligent decision - even if I happen to
> > agree with it.

> While prudent, this argumentation keeps Linux on the Desktop from  
> spreading. Like it or not, we are in a consumer driven society. What does  
> a non-geek that might be even interested in a non MS option want from its  
> computer:
> 
Technically it is the freedom that needs to spread - but I follow the
argument...

> It should play movies out of the box, preferably his DVD collection.
> It should play mp3s and AAC, synch with his ipod and digitalise his CD  
> collection in a format understood by his ipod.
> It should read pdfs and play him youtube vdeos (and if it's the average  
> male consumer, play all porn formats out there).
> 
> So he takes the Ubuntu CD from his mate home, but none of the above work.  
> So he looks in google, finds automatix and 'hey presto', everything works.
> 
Or, everything breaks because he didn't think about it and automatix is
unstable. As he googles, he may come across information about free
formats and why they are important. 
http://linuxhelp.blogspot.com/2007/10/install-multimedia-codecs-in-ubuntu-710.html
... result of a naive google.

If the formats are provided out of the box, this won't happen.

> 
> If we want Linux on the Desktop to become the popular option, there is no  
> way other than supplying the end user with the codecs that his environment  
> demands.
Sure there is, the user can be empowered to make choices about his
environment.

> 
> Educating him about free and open options should be the next step.
Preferably done before the user has become further locked to the
proprietary formats.