[KLUG Members] Linux and MacIntosh

[Adam Williams]

>The Gnome and KDE interfaces are easy to navigate for people (my wife
>and kids use it even).  The problem comes from more administrative
>tasks like adding digital cameras, printers, printing problems, and
>in a lot of ways cd ripping and burning.  

True,  but allot of this stems from Linux honoring the multi-user
model.  In my limited experience OS X gets around allot of these
problems by pretending not to be a multi-user system.  Admining Linux is
much like trying to operate a Win2000 workstation without Administrator
privileges.  But give every user Admin privileges and you might as well
toss the thing out and install Win9x.  Hobbling a system just to make it
easier is certainly not the path of wisdom.  But a solution to this
problem presents itself:  Mandatory Access Control.  This tosses out the
tired concept of root and makes access to all system calls available on
a specific basis,  so things like "Power Users" in NT speak can be
created.  But Mandatory Access Control is not yet well integrated into
mainstream distributions.

>It works but is not nearly
>as easy to get working and keep working as it needs to be.  

On this we agree,  but I think this is in large part the requirement for
root access for many operations.  Another problem with mass storage
devices like USB cameras is "where do I mount"?  In Winbloze you have
drive letters (a reprehensible concept) but they work to solve this
particular problem nicely.  What if a user plugs in two, three, etc...
USB cameras, where do they show up?  This are still questions the
hotplug people need to work out.

The CD burning/ripping is really just the root user required problem.

>It is way
>to daunting of a task for most home users.  The Mac interface is way
>different than Windoze but so is Gnome (KDE is a lot like Windoze). 
>Setting up stuff on it is really quite easy though.  And down the
>road they can use Yellow Dog and dual boot between OS X and Linux
>(Yellow Dog is really sweet on that awesome Mac hardware).  

But unless Linux (Open Source) offers something the Mac OS doesn't, 
there is no reason for a user to dual boot.

>Most home users also do not have a Linux user just around the corner.

Not literally,  but there is a LUG, at least in list form, in every
major city.

>Then there are the idiots at the stores that claim to know computers

You'll get no argument from me there.

>but only know Windoze and then only for gaming with the latest first
>person shooters (mostly 18 to 25 year old kids - hmmmm guess I am
>kinda dating myself here).  In the olden days computer stores were
>there partly to help the people but now, since there is really almost
>no profit in hardware and software sales anyway, they hire the bottom
>of the dregs for the most part and then don't give them the training
>or the time to be able to truly support the customer.  

'Originally' computer stores were owned by people who were into
computers, as a craft; artisans.  The capitalists crushed the artisan
with lower prices and brute force marketing, much to the loss of the
clueless consumer.  And now you get mediocre prices and truly crappy
service.  (Of course, they constantly send staff to seminars on
"Customer Service", blah blah, so they can say that they really DO
care).  This is hardly a story limited to computer retailers.  But thats
OK,  the gap in service created by capitalist over artisan domination of
the retail outlets is exactly the purpose of User Groups.  People on
this list, and others, know stuff and are here because they want to be. 
And we even provide a meeting once a month that people can bring
machines too!  If people are not willing to avail themselves of those
opportunities, they very likely wouldn't avail themselves of any others
either.