I must be a mediocre user. I am not able to write my own drivers: Hell,
I'm still stumbling over man pages! But that doesn't prevent me from
having a lot of fun with Linux.
Linux is challenging. Sometimes I'm up to the challenge: more often (I
fear) I'm not. Even so, I'm still trying (some would say I'm very
trying.) I've asked many questions of the local "community," and Plug
members have been generous with their help. This help is appreciated.
It has been said that any sufficiently advanced technology is
indistinguishable from magic. Many, if not most, Plug members are
sufficiently comfortable with the technological nuts and bolts of Linux
and other OS's that they forget that the vast majority of the population
still regard computer technology as closely akin to magic. Easy tools
to use, perhaps, but magic, none the less. And, this vast majority I
speak of just want their tools to work.
It may be Linux enthusiasts' role to educate the majority as to why
_this_ OS is better than _that_ OS and why everyone should use "code
that doesn't suck," but we should never forget the hours,days
weeks,months of sometimes frustrating study that enabled us to be
comfortable in this role. Not everyone is willing to spend the time.
Most don't care what goes on "under the hood."
"One should never examine too closely the making of laws or sausages."
This may be the way of the world: it may even apply to the philosophical
basis of computer technology. A blend of both free and proprietary
technologies _may_ be a real world necessity. The pristine free code
that we hope for is slow to arrive. As it is unsubsidized, this is not
surprising. For the real purists, there is always HURD.
I truly don't mean to sound pessimistic: I do have hope.
Linux is proving to be a powerful and secure OS, and one that is
becoming increasingly easy to use. (I know because I started out with
Red Hat 3.01, or thereabouts.) However, until it becomes demonstrably
easier to use than other OS's, power and security don't matter so much
to the majority. (Yes, yes, I know. They really should.) But until then,
Linux will remain an elite OS for an elite user group.
In the meantime, let us hope that the community keeps the code coming,
keeps solving the problems, and keeps improving the ... (what's another
word for product?)
My $.02
Bob Eaton
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