January 4, 2008

Slashdot carries a story about whether Apple is sentencing doom for desktop Linux.  Look it up here and see what you think. I’ll tell you my take.  Linux on the desktop is beset by a few problems which seem to have been around for a bit of time and the idea of Linux and how people could possibly use it has been blogged ad nauseum.  Here are my new ideas:

Killer Applications – there needs to be a killer application that people would want to use and guess what?  Its only on Linux.  Is there such a thing?  What one application would you choose to leave the OS of your choice for?

Integration – not just apples and Orange Juice.  But the pieces must fit seamlessly together into the whole.  Its not just Beryl or Compiz Gee Whiz Bang, folks.  Things need to be tightly bound.  Fonts, display, how the desktop apparatus manages power, themes, skins, etc.

Portable uses – Yes people will want Linux on portable or embedded devices and they already do.  But on a laptop, challenges remain.  To me, the laptop must be fully supported and be able to do the things that make it a laptop.  Is this the case now?

Finally, Critical Mass must be defined or not.  Does it matter if there is no battle?  People will use Linux and I do also; but I also choose and pick the tools I want to use.  If I feel like using Windows XP, I’ll just use it.  I like Linux and Ubuntu and Debian just as well; but I stopped feeling warlike some time ago.  Consider what you feel are the compelling reasons to use a thing. Does it satisfy a need?  Does it make mundane tasks special or special tasks mundane?  Why do you use it?  You are in love with free (as in speech or beer) software?  I’m interested in the why of it and always have been.  I know people that confine their use because they feel that XX or YY operating system is beneath them.  They believe they have a quality of life to maintain.  Yay for them.

I’m a habilis though and I’m interested in statements like these from the article above:

It’s not hard to understand why Linux has failed to live up to the promise of being a viable desktop alternative to Windows. Linux’s problems are many. For example: Apple has Microsoft Office, Linux doesn’t; Apple has Adobe Creative Suite, Linux doesn’t; Apple has easily accessed and easy to use service and support, Linux doesn’t; Apple is driven by someone who has some understanding of end-user needs, Linux is not.

Consider what the article is attempting to say here.  Does it make Linux an influence or casualty?  Is Apple truly to blame or is the passage of time?

I’ve been at work at Visa for almost 10 months now and its been a very interesting ride and I’ve enjoyed the level of challenge.  I have to admit to feeling a sense of change that overwhelms me every so often.  I think human beings require change much like many of the other core needs.  Either change influences us or we influence the change to happen.  Its a question of whether we are in the driver’s seat and own our existance or whether we are but pawns and larger forces can act on us.  My son would say its a conspiracy theory.

As an armchair anthropologist, I’ve dwelled on our own human condition far more times than perhaps I should; but we seem to be propelled by the idea that we are prime movers, changers, adopters, and adapters.  Witness our own political and cultural history and how it marks us.  Is it purely my imagination or are none of the political candidates on either side truly worthy?  We just seem to have lost the level of intelligence, focus, responsibility with the political leaders of today.  They are all lacking in key areas.  Its a shame.  I think our history shows that our leaders have gradually become less and less down to a level where voting is more of a social responsibility than vesting leadership.  I challenge the so-called leaders to rise above that estimation.  Obama, Edwards, Clinton.  You all are posers.  How about reaching farther, becoming more?

One of the things I’ve considered going back to my own changes is what I’ve done, where I want to go, and what I’ve done.  At a positive level, I’ve lost almost 90 pounds and gone down 10 inches in the waist.  Amazing and what a change!!  But perhaps one change influences another and now I have to admit to wanting more changes.  I want more at work and I want to own more and be more.  But based on our changes, that cannot really happen.  I could venture out…

Out into the wild.  Become a SuperTramp and venture into new places.  I think we all become that person when we face substantial issues that require us to adopt or turn away from.  I’m ready to take it on though and sit on that virtual bus lost in my own wilderness.  I’ve seen the path and the place and thanks a lot to Sean Penn for letting me get back to the consideration of my own “wild” places.  Now I see I could never just leave anthropology and archeology.  It was a part of core load.  I also see that my days of doing the rush out technology are ending.  I enjoy Linux and open source and startups that flare and fire and are silent.  Many things must change to stay relevant.  I’m moving on myself to new pastures.