humbletech99 wrote:no, it's just a lot of geeks don't want to run what the other plebs run cos then they're in the same bracket, it's partially about being different. If linux becomes like Windows and is used by every joe knownuthing then I'll be using BSD unix as will a lot of other people I think...
So they're trying to conform to the non-conformist identity?
The only way I can see "not wanting to make it easier" to be valid is if by making it easier we sacrifice some level of control. I don't use linux as any sort of style statement, I use it for business. I want the control, in fact I reject binary distributions because I want to know what features were compiled in, and want some of those available to be turned off. I'm willing to put up with a more cumbersome maintenance schedule for that. If somebody makes a simpler configuration tool though, I'm more than happy to use it as long as it does not sacrifice functionality I need for simplicity.
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For what it's worth, there is some doubt about how much performance improvement compiling for the specific architecture gives. The argument that Linux is the fastest OS you can put on a machine is false, though I still hear people use it even without any data to support it. That argument was made rightly because at the time people built servers without a window manager. They still retained full capability on whatever systems they needed, and they did not have to run a whole lot of GUI code. These plebs who don't want to run with the other plebs don't seem to be building their linux boxes without X though. In fact, they build with two monitors and every flashy feature of every GUI tool, just so it looks cool. If these guys compared the resulting speed to that of the same hardware running XP, they'd be horribly disappointed.
This is, in effect, "pimp my ride" for computers. There's nothing inherently wrong with it, but having your distro automatically put that crap onto a system intended to be used in a business CAN BE obstructive. After all, if somebody wants a pimped out penguin, they don't want what came out of the box anyway. It's all about customization so why pimp the penguin that was in the box?
OK, somebody with artistic skills needs to make a penguin with a fuzzy hat and a fur coat and some shiny glasses.
Seriously though, the distributions that are attractive to a business come customized so they have a workable, predictable windowing environment that is easy for a non-expert to configure. This makes the entry level Linux admins happy, and in the long run makes the business owners happy. In spite of being free, Linux shows no evidence that it is any cheaper to run than any other operating system. Unfortunately that expense which Linux shows is in long term administration because of crappy (by today's standards) configuration interfaces. These systems need a more rare IT support staff than what is currently available. The current staff has "mcse" stamped all over the resume.
