[wellylug] Forking Linux.

[jumbophut]

On Thu, 11 Nov 2004 13:16:36 +1300, Pete Black wrote:
>
> And maybe if the people who were skilled with Linux weren't so
> condescending, and helped the distros make it easier for people to keep
> their systems patched, we could avoid the problem altogether.
> 

It's a good point really, that if people want to push for widespread
Linux adoption, they either need to educate users appropriately or
provide easier ways of doing things.

For example, while I think 'apt-get update && apt-get upgrade' is an
utterly trivial way to get security fixes, an automatic start-up
script, or link on the desktop could be arranged to do the same thing
in a more newbie-friendly manner.  It could even make sure that only
the security updates get installed, rather than everything else.

Of course, an alternative is to say that widespread adoption isn't
necessarily a goal.  Judging from Linux-related websites and postings
to this list, I'd say that's unrealistic, but I sort of like the idea
of a distro/OS that favours power and purity over flatness of learning
curve.  And I'd be quite happy to see fewer, more capable users, while
still welcoming newbies serious about learning.

-- 
Tony (echo 'spend!,pocket awide' | sed 'y/acdeikospntw!, /l at omcgtjuba.phi/')