Re: Talk to your frTalk your friend into switching to Linux(Re:)

[BinaryBillTheSailor@Sea++.com]

On Mon, 25 May 1998 16:32:54 -0400, Jeremy Crabtree
<crc3419@delphi.com> wrote:


>
>Please, elaborate. You need to say specifically what you think is
>missing, tell the developers, don't just sit there and assert  that "it
>lacks tools and flexibili," you won't get anything done and more than
>liklely you will irritate many people.
>
>> I have StarOffice 4.0. I'm not impressed, Very primitive.
>
>Is it really primitive (I didn't think so) or is it just more conducive
>(sp?) to your argument to *call* it primitive?
>
>> So where is the Illustrator-like program?
>> 
>> Where is the PageMaker/QuarkXpress-like program.
>> 
>> They are really needed for Linux to be useful to me.
>
>I see you are finally getting to the real issue. The software that *YOU*
>need isn't available. To state just that, would have been acceptable,
>but instead you decided to be a horses a** about it and assert, point
>blank, that there is *NO* software available, when really there is no
>software that *you personally need* available. A distinmction you
>trollishly ignored.
>
>-- 
>Vive Macintosh, all hail OS/2, Long live the Amiga, UNIX forever, umm,
>and all the other systems I didn't mention. We all compute differently,
>get over it.                                          Jeremy Crabtree


Jeremy, 

I have now read probably thousands of posts by proponents of Linux and
the one theme I have come away with is that they are very narrow
minded and overly defensive about it. I think the single biggest
obstacle to the eventual success of Linux, is that pervasive overall
tone of "know it all" arrogance. 

This fellow is actually saying he will give Linux a chance when it
meets more of his own needs. He is not saying Linux is a toad. Why do
you think that flaming him is going to help your cause? I think his
questions are fair and should be asked when selecting any OS. Will it
do the work that you need to get done. The truth is that Linux is not
yet ready for prime time. It has great promise, but there are still
some holes to fill and growing to do. There is nothing wrong with that
and it is to be expected. 

Meanwhile, the only way it is going to grow fast enough to avoid an
early demise is for those who have already adopted it, to be less
hostile towards those who are still not satisfied that it will do what
they need.  This fellow's personal needs are legitimate and not at all
unreasonable from any operating system that is expecting to find a
wide audience. 

I have news for you - a version of Quark Xpress and Photoshop for
Linux that are totally conversant with Mac and PC versions would
probably create a sensation in the publishing world and accelerate the
spread of Linux more than anything else. I would sure consider it
seriously at that point. A program that is "as good as" won't cut it.
We would  need the specific name brand programs ported over to Linux
for very good reasons. My company not only has to create things with
those programs, but it must also accept and process print advertising
from other sources that all use these two programs. We don't have time
to screw around translating and converting things. 

I also know that when I need to hire people, these are the programs
that they know how to use. If I advertise for graphics professionals
who know how to use some obscure program, linux or otherwise, I really
don't think I'll be very successful in finding anybody. If I did, I
would have to hire them based on the fact that they know the
particular program, and not on their actual skills at doing the job.
Not a very enticing proposition, eh?

So, my suggestion is that you back it down a few notches and start
talking to us as potential allies instead of as idiots who have no
idea what is what. My early career was centered around equipment with
vacumn tubes. I've adopted and fostered more pioneering technologies
than you've ever even heard of. Linux has potential. Don't kill it by
chasing everybody away before they really have a chance to see what it
can do or might be able to do in the near future.