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Posts in 2009 February
UsbSandwiches Anounces Automated Sandwich Creator Solution 2.0
(Photo licensed under Creative Commons Atribution Share-Alike 2.0 Generic, based on image by Daniel Morris)
UsbSanwiches, a leading supplier of high-quality USB-powered sandwiches and toast, has announced version 2.0 of their Automated Sandwich Creator Solution (or ASCS for short). The first version, released shortly after this famous comic, made it easy for Linux users to feed themselves without leaving their familiar terminal environment, simply by typing sudo make me a sandwich. (For obvious reasons, sandwich creator requires root privileges; you wouldn’t want just any process cranking out sandwiches.)
Version 2.0 of this incredible time-saver offers two browning options (-b for brown and -B for burnt) and a continual sandwich creation mode for speed-eating competitions and extreme hunger. The ASCS can be purchased for $99 from here.
This fake product inspired by the incredibly awesome Sudo Robot.
Open-Source Leads the Way to Rapid Innovation
Great ideas spring up every day, but only in certain conditions are they able to bloom. Open-source software is, in fact, one of the best places for these great ideas to bloom.
In a closed-source software environment, a new idea must be proposed to the right person. Then this person or persons must be convinced that the idea is good.Finally, a business model or monetization scheme has to be developed. By the end of all this, the idea has gotten old and, perhaps, been modified and messed with far too much.
In contrast, in an open-source environment, if the idea’s creator believes in the idea, he or she can go straight to making it happen. Later on, the rest of the issues, such as how to make money off of the idea (if that is even the plan), can be discussed and dealt with.
This may seem very simple and even obvious, but it is an important attribute of open-source software: it allows for the rapid development of new ideas into actual software.
Softpedia is reporting that the new login screen for Ubuntu 9.04 will be this:
While the graphic itself looks just fine, I find this choice a little odd.
For some time, designs like this have existed on theming sites like GNOME-Look, but not in the official Ubuntu release. The thing is, this is a very different style than most of the Ubuntu artwork. Most of Ubuntu’s themes are soft and natural, but this is very metallic and black. It seems like a strange and sudden move.
I realize that there is a lot of time for this to chang, but I really hope that Ubuntu maintains its consistency. I don’t mind if they switch toa new style (though I thought we had to wait for Karmic Koala for that), but it is important to maintain consistency across all of the art.
A ComputerWorld article expresses a concern I hear a lot about cloud computing: that it is just not reliable. It’s true that at this point, with GMail being down too often, it can be hard to have confidence in the cloud, but we have to keep in mind that this may change with time.
It’s true that you can’t be quite certain what is stored in the cloud will always be available, but local storage isn’t perfect either. Right now, it would be risky, at best, to store critical information only in the cloud. In ten years, though, ht might be different. In fact, it is easy to see a cloud computing service proving to be more reliable than standard desktop storage in the next five or ten years.
Today’s cloud computing is plagued by connection issues and various other glitches, but we cannot allow this to get in the way of its potential.
Eventually, who knows if we will even have desktop applications?
Brilliant Brainstorms #48 – Ctrl + Alt + Delete
Brilliant Brainstorms is a (usually) weekly summary of some of the best/most interesting brainstorms from the Ubuntu Brainstorm site.
Why the Artwork Refresh in Karmic Koala is Important
One of the major goals of Ubuntu Karmic Koala outlined in Mark Shuttleworth’s recent announcement is a new look for Ubuntu, something that has been requested a lot. Not everyone, though, thinks this should be a priority. A WorksWithU article voices the concern that there are more pressing issues for Ubuntu than giving it a new look.
It’s a fair point. There are and will always be pressing issues to deal with, but I would argue that artwork and a fresh look are actually a very important issue for two reasons:
At Some Point, You Have to Just Give In
For a long time I have defended Ubuntu’s choice of color scheme, pointing out that it gives a unique look, yet the barrage of complaints keep coming. Though this would not be true of all things, when it comes to something as subjective as artwork, eventually you have to just give in and change it.
A Fresh Look Makes Your Software Feel New
Of course there is an additional benefit to fixing something users like to complain about: they will talk about it and check it out in swarms once you fix it. Add this to people’s natural tendency to check out anything new and shiny, and just changing the theme will get you tons of great PR.
Though it seems a little silly from a purely logical standpoint, introducing a new theme could actually be quite helpful to Ubuntu’s image and appeal to new users and long-time Ubuntu fans alike.
The big question everyone asks when it comes to Linux is “why doesn’t everyone use it?” That is, obviously, what I plan to address today, but first I want to get a few things out of the way.
No one knows what Linux’s market share is, so don’t argue about it. Do you count server users or just desktops? Do they have to be going online to count? Do they have to install updates and, if so, how frequently? Do they have to visit certain sites? Do they spoof their user agent strings so they look like Windows? And so on… The guesses out there vary widely from just about nothing to about equal to OS X, which is a pretty wide range, so don’t even bother arguing about it.. No one knows.
You don’t have to use the terminal to use Linux, as I have demonstrated with my Terminal Test.
For the most part, the problem is not technical issues. I don’t want to go all the way to saying technical issues are not a piece of the problem, but the average user does not use multi-monitor setups, crazy SLI/CrossOver dual-graphics card setups, or anything else crazy. They use computers – the kind Dell and HP sell. Yes, I have built custom computers, but most people don’t and, if they do, they should be able to troubleshoot their own issues.
It’s never an even playing field for the little guy. Almost no one has the luxury of starting with an even playing field. If you’re smaller, you have to prove you are better –as in a lot better. Sometimes even that isn’t enough. No it’s not fair, but it’s not going to change either.
So what is it?
The answer is marketing. No, not big-budget TV commercials, but ordinary word-of-mouth “hey, give this a try” type marketing.
Look at Apple. Not long ago they were in a similar position to desktop Linux. What was it that got them from there to where they are now? TV ads? They were certainly helpful, but no. Steve Jobs? He definitely helped get the Apple fanboy movement started, but no – at least not directly. Word of mouth marketing? Yes.
Passionate users encouraging their friends and co-workers to try a new type of computer (seriously, most people don’t use the words “operating system”) is what drives people to try that new computer.
Yes, but that already happens.
True, there are already a lot of passionate (perhaps too passionate) Linux users out there marketing Linux to just about everyone they come within twenty feet of. The problem is that Linux also suffers from the problem so perfectly described in this XKCD comic:
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 2.5. Image from XKCD.
(Side note: if you haven’t already heard of XKCD, you need to check it out.)
It’s not that you have to be geeky to use Linux, it’s that a lot of people enjoy becoming geeky while using Linux. (*cough* don’t know anything about this myself). That’s fine. I have nothing against people who like exploring and tweaking their systems, but, please, when you suggest Linux to your normal (not interested in the internals of their system) friend, try to be user-friendly in introducing it. Set everything up for them and help them through any problems without taking terminal-based shortcuts (we already demonstrated you don’t have to, remember?)
And one more thing: don’t recommend “Linux.” Recommend Ubuntu. Or Fedora. Or OpenSuSe. Or whatever distribution you like, but pick one and tell them to try that specific one. Preferably, pick the one you use on your own computer, so that you can best help them out if they run into any issues.
Conclusion
Word of mouth is the most powerful way forward Linux has. The key is just to keep in mind who you are talking to. Not everyone is as interested in comptuers as you are.
Mark Shuttleworth Announces Ubuntu Karmic Koala, Highlights Server Features
Every six months you’re guaranteed at least one entertaining post on the Ubuntu mailing list: Mark Shuttleworth’s announcement of the next Ubuntu release. I don’t know how he does it, but each announcement manages to relate the planned features of the next release to specific characteristics of the chosen mascot. This year, though, something is different.
Shuttleworth’s announcement of Ubuntu Karmic Koala is separated in to two difference categories,server and desktop. In the past, these announcements have been largely desktop focused with no separate section for server-related plans. This time, though, it looks like more attention is being put on the server side of Ubuntu. It makes sense, too. For some time it has seemed that Canonical was beginning to focus more on the server. This is just an additional indication.
Canonical’s increased focus on the server makes sense, since it would likely provide a revenue stream for them while they are building up their desktop offerings. On the other hand, Canonical has no footing in the server market, which is dominated by big players like Red Hat and Novell, so they could have trouble getting themselves in the door.
Whatever you think about it, Canonical seems to think it needs to expand furthur into the server side.
Linux Can Be More Than Your Desktop; It Can Be Your Back Up
Many, many of us, I am sure, use Linux on our desktops but what about using it as a way to recover from computer issues.
Distributions such as the Ultimate Boot CD, or even just normal distributions, are incredibly useful when you have a problem that prevents your computer from booting. In fact, it might even be a good way to introduce new users to Linux. Just give them a copy of the Ultimate Boot CD, and some instructions. Then, when it helps them, mention it is based on Linux and offer them a chance to try out Ubuntu or something.
Even if it isn’t good marketing, a Linux live CD for recovering from unexpected computer issues is a great idea. Just in case.
The Problem With "My First Experience With Linux" Posts
A popular topic for bloggers and technology journalists (I would even argue that some major newspapers have participated) are “my first experiences with Linux” posts. In other words, the author sits down and installs and tries to use Linux writing whatever they think as they go along.
In theory, I understand why people write them. It should be useful to understand the experience of a new user, but all it ends up being is a war between Linux users and Windows users/the author in the comments. What’s wrong? Two things:
Authors, Do Your Research
Most of these posts are written like notes with whatever the author was thinking at the time. In other words, almost no research goes in to these posts. Unfortunately, I admit, it is very hard to criticize Linux if you are not well informed. If you make a wrong claim or an apparently mis-informed claim, it will be jumped on, particularly if you used it to point out a flaw. Instead, I suggest authors keep these notes to themselves. After trying out Linux, or while you try out Linux, figure out the solutions to the problems you encounter and take the time to understand what the perspective of an advanced Linux user would be. Then, once you have done this, tell me the difference between the newbie’s perspective and the geek’s perspective.
You Can’t Fit Everyone’s Wishes
Everyone has a way they want everything to be done and it better work that way or else it makes no sense whatsoever. The problem is that if you make one person like it, the next person comes along and hates it. You can’t win – except by education. Now I realize this depends on people doing a little bit of research, but, in my opinion, the most important thing for Linux now is to improve the end user documentation, so that they can easily discover how things work in Linux. Then, at least, you can point out that the information is clearly documented and the author should have read it.
It’s not that I want the Linux-haters and Linux-dislikers to just be quiet, I am just sick of poorly -researched posts that do nothing more than generate a war.