Phil Hughes's picture

For newbies, maybe it is

On May 7th, 2008 Phil Hughes says:

To me, and certainly a lot of LJ readers, Linux is a lot of things. First, we know what is generically called Linux is a combination of Linus' kernel ideas, some amazing cooperation, GNU software, BSD software and a lot more. We know about FSF licenses, Mozilla licenses, BSD licenses, ... We know about source code, proprietary drivers and even 32- vs. 64-bit processors.

On the Microsoft Windoze side, people might know they are running 2000, XP, Vista but, for most of them Windoze is "a system". Many will think that includes Word, ... They either don't know more or don't care more. The computer, with software they can use, is a tool.

Enter Kubuntu/Ubuntu. For those people we can say:

  1. Put this CD or DVD in your drive
  2. Wait for it to start up
  3. Try it out
  4. If you like what you see and would rather run this than what you have, click on the install icon

Some of us may have no interest in/not like this group of people. But, if the long-time goal of Linux, world dominatin, is to be realized, these people need to be running Linux. Giving them a class in open licenses, distribution choices and such will not accomplish that goal. Being able to get them to click on the install icon will.

If "the word" that makes that happen is Ubuntu, so be it. Now, is it? I think so. The "really free" nature of the software including even mailing you a CD or DVD really does lower the cost of playing with Linux to zero dollars. The effort that has make Ubuntu "just work" cuts the time to give it a try to a few minutes.

Now, am I giving Canonical all the credit for making a Linux system that just works? Of course not. Looking way back, we saw the addition of installable kernel modules, for example. That was an important piece that got us to "it just works". There are certainly lots more pieces that contributed as well.

What I do give Canonical credit for is the marketing approach that Linux needs if it is to attain world domination. Someday, when there are more Ubuntu desktops that Windoze desktops, we will know we have reached critical mass. Then we will probably be ready to start telling the newbies that they are not running Ubuntu but, the Ubuntu distribution of the Linux operating system.

__________________________

Phil Hughes

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