[Cialug] OT: mac-mini?

[Jeff Davis]

Stuart Thiessen wrote:
> I think it is a container relationship. Mac OS X contains OpenDarwin. I  
> don't think anyone says it is the same thing.
> 
>>
>> Saying that MacOSX is a little bit proprietary is like saying someone  
>> is a little bit dead.

> Uh, Oh, Black and white thinking. 
You say that like there's something wrong with it.

I don't presume to speak for Dave, but I think his point was/is that
you can use [insert linux distro] as a desktop OS using only OSS.
You can't do that with OS X.   That doesn't make OS X bad and it's not
some attack on you as an OS X user, it just makes Dave an OSS advocate.
I'm sure we can all point out some feature that we'd like to have
on linux that is missing, but that's the case with every OS.
Most ordinary users are doing basic stuff: email, web surfing, and
word processing.  Those things are (IMO) very well covered by linux.


> Not just hardware driver support, but just configuration issues too. I  
> have to be honest ... I have tried to use Linux at home. The command  
> line didn't faze me much, but the GUI interface leaves a lot to be  
> desired in configuring the system. Ordinary users want to be able to  
> set everything up easily without ever having to go to the command line.  
> The challenge with Linux is that there is no clear indicator how to  
> perform those tasks.  That caused me to lose motivation to have Linux  
> on my desktop before because my wife and kids want something they can  
> follow. When I had to replace a stolen tower, I just decided that Mac  
> OS X has what I was looking for in a user experience that still allows  
> me to work with Unix based tools, etc.  I really recommend that the LUG  
> seriously consider how to educate the public on how to _use_ the  
> desktop on Linux so they can get more comfortable.

I actually find that somewhat amusing because I've recently gotten my
hands on an iBook. I'm trying to use it at home for normal things
and I'm having the same 'problem' with OS X that you say you had with linux.
Typically I just pester the mac guy here at work the next day.
I use that as an example that neither OS is 100% intuitive and there
*is* a learning curve.  If OS X works as a better solution for you
that's great and I doubt anyone in this group will shun you for it.
Just keep in mind that this is a Linux group, even though we all use
other OS's (either at home or at work.)  Some are more fanatical than others.

I'd like to point out that educating the public on how
to "_use_" linux is what a TweakFest is about, and to a
much lesser extent what a IntallFest is about. (e.g. Demo laptops & Live CDs)

If there are any specific linux desktop things that you think ordinary users
have trouble doing, please add them to the topic list on the LUG website or
suggest them to the list.  Someone may respond by making a slideshow or
do a presentation at a meeting.  I'm sure a ton of them could be
covered in a single meeting.  Chances are if you had a question about
it then someone else did and they just didn't bring it up.

-Jeff