Joe Monco is right, and Katherine Noyes really is crazy. These endless lists of five are compulsive-obsessive, but her latest effort is FUD of the worst kind … which is to say, FUD that doesn’t even work on its own terms.
I mean, telling Linux first-timers that they’re going to make (more than?) five mistakes before they’ve even downloaded a distro? Whacko. Here’s the implied “Top 1 mistake by linux first-timers:”
(1) Installing Linux on a desktop.
With that in mind, let’s consider the lesser sins enumerated by St Katz:
1. Expecting Windows: Yes, well, they’d certainly be in for a shock, wouldn’t they? “But I thought Maverick Meerkat was …” Windows? Usable? Work-friendly? Stuffed with applications you want and need?
2. Running as Root Unnecessarily: Seduced by the (non-)fact that you can only ever run Windows as Administrator, the poor n00b (il)logically insists on running Linux as root. Indeed, Ms K. Have you ever seen or heard of this behaviour in the wild?
When is it necessary? “There are some tasks that require root privileges, and for good reason.” Refreshingly different from every other operating system in the world. And what a helpful and informative definition, too.
3. Using Google to Find Software: Because package managers are so good at that.
ROFLMAYOing aside, I reckon I use Google to find Linux apps a good 25%-50% of the time. This is because the sort of company that is prepared to take pains to cut out the damaging fluff-heads downstream and release their own installation is also the sort of company that produces solid, useful software of the kind that won’t give me migraines. Funny, that; but then I’m not a Linux first-timer. I am a cyber-cynic*.
4. Fearing the Command Line:
“It’s a testament to how far Linux—and operating systems in general—have come that many people have never had to use a command line.”
Balanced, fair, and completely misses the point that you still need to use the command line on Linux. Quite a lot. If you never have to use it, why should you fear it?
5. Giving Up Too Easily: Because giving up six months later, after hours of futile configuration tweaks and a BiannualForcedDeathMarch™, is so much better for the soul.
It’s all so reminiscent of Happy Fun Ball, isn’t it?
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\* Even more amusingly, Noyes has a “related link” with SJVN’s little gnome face staring out at you. The link?
Five Problems Linux Still Needs To Overcome.
It’s completely the wrong link.
Comments
Oh god. Point 1), again, beats that dead horse of Dominic Humphrie’s “Linux is NOT Windows” article. I love the way every tech journalist writes as if they’re the first to read or mention it. That, along with the GNU manifesto, seems to be required reading in the tech crowd these days.
Speaking of manifestos, I remember a while back a commenter at jerkface’s left a nice little one of his own aimed at the freedomites.
Wow, great find, crazy stuff the web offers. Reminds me a bit on the concept of the “Original sin” – making mistakes before even being born. I also had to look up what ROFLMAYO would be in my package manager, fortunately urban dictionary helped me out:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=roflmayo
Ah, here it is: http://www.binplay.com/2010/04/new-macbooks-snub-blu-ray-and-half.html?showComment=1271397700237#c242370289112717862
@YOUAGAIN
Sorry about the ROFLMAYO — I don’t usually speak teh Netz, but in this case it seemed highly appropriate.
This stuff is all too easy to find. Google Noyes, Pogson and SJVN, and that’s about it, every week … the sad thing, which is something I didn’t mention (because it’s a side-note) is that a number of these Looninaries quote nothing but each other. Time was when SJVN linked to himself alone; Noyes linked to herself alone; and Pogson dribbled in a corner. Now? It really is turning into a circle jerk. Even Schestowitz is in on it.
None of these people would merit space on a proper tech blog, of course, but then they’re all failed editors from something like Ziff Davies, so they’re given all the space they need. It’s pretty despicable.
I think this needs an
IWANTOBELIEVE
It does seem to cover all three mentioned.
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