Sun puts its weight behind Ubuntu Linux

IT WEEK ^ | 17 May 2006 | Tom Sanders

[zeugma]

Funny. For those who didn't go to the link posted to the troll, 

More Linux fragmentation.

Somewhere in California - At 8:30 PDT with the release of Snoopy Linux 2.1 and Goober Linux 1.0, the number of Linux distributions finally surpassed the number of actual Linux users. 

"We've been expecting it for some time," Merrill Lynch technology analyst Tom Shayes said, "but this is a little sooner than most expected.  We've seen explosive growth in the number of Linux distributions, in fact my nephew just put out Little Tommy Linux 1.1 last week."

Long time Linux guru Bob Tallman said, "This is great for the open source movement.  I have 7 different versions installed on my computer at home.  Some guys I know have over 30."

[rzeznikj at stout]

Ask Dell why he still won't sell Linux on home desktops.

Simple. Exclusivity Contracts.

Dell can't sell some computers with Windows and some with Linux and still get the cut rate from MS.

So, he has to sell all his computers with Windows if he wants to not have to pay full price for each copy.

MS relies on those exclusivity contracts to maintain its monopoly...

[Golden Eagle]

That's not the reason he'll tell you, since he commonly admits it's the fact there's too many different versions to support. As for your claimed reason, why should Microsoft be criticized for giving volume discounts? And why would it matter unless Linux can't make that revenue up for Dell when they sell Linux boxes instead? The real answer is most Linux users want the cheapest thing posible, which is why they use it to begin with, and why Dell doesn't waste his own money trying to support them.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Somewhere in California - At 8:30 PDT with the release of Snoopy Linux 2.1 and Goober Linux 1.0, the number of Linux distributions finally surpassed the number of actual Linux users.

BWAHAHAHA! Almost true!

I like Ubuntu - super-easy install and it runs perfectly on my older Sony R505 notebook, allowing me to get some more life out of that machine.

[antiRepublicrat]

Yes, I took a look at Krita again after not trying it for a long time, and it has progressed quite a bit. It supports CMYK color, which the Gimp still lacks.

I still sit on the sidelines, waiting. I'll start looking at an OSS graphics program when it supports all of the following: duotones, LAB, Pantone/HKS, CMYK, more than 8 bits per channel, good color management and gamma, adjustment layers and quality font rendering. I might be missing a few from this quickly thought-up list, so don't hold me to that right now.

[rzeznikj at stout]

Of course he isn't going to come out and say it. If he's getting Windows at a cheaper rate, he's going to keep his mouth shut--lest MS cut his discount.

So when asked about why Dell doesn't support Linux, the company has to give a different answer--it's classic CYA.

I'm not criticizing MS for giving volume discounts. I'm criticizing them for using as a tool to manipulate the market in order to retain their monopoly--in clear violation of federal anti-trust laws.

Finally, the reason why I believe Linux isn't as popular is because it's not as well-known for being a capable OS--there's still the stereotype that Linux is a geek's OS.

Translation: You're wrong. Why not you come up with something original--instead of MS talking points?

[antiRepublicrat]

More Linux fragmentation.

No, more Linux distributions. This is a good thing. Choice is good. I know you don't like choice, since we should all be ruled by Redmond and proclaim Bill's latest offerings as the best thing since sliced bread.

[antiRepublicrat]

Simple. Exclusivity Contracts. Dell can't sell some computers with Windows and some with Linux and still get the cut rate from MS.

Last I heard, Microsoft was forced to stop that. Dell's problem for desktop Linux is partially the fault of distro bigots in the Linux community itself because Dell thinks if it offers one distro there will be a "Why not my favorite distro?" uproar. I know this from a previous article on FR where Mr. Dell stated this.

You know the Linux community has its crazies, so you know this will happen. We have our own Microsoft version of these crazies right here on FR.

[Golden Eagle]

My problem is with that foreign fake Linux, and that leftist Stallman who wrote its license. Run some US version of Unix like Solaris or OSX, nothing wrong with those choices, in fact they're both better.

[ShadowAce]

I'm trying to capture a short clip from a video file I have. I can play the file in Xine and VLC, but neither product seems to be able to capture a short clip of the video--stills, yes, but not video.

Do you know of any linux product that can capture short clips from .avi or .mpg files?

[antiRepublicrat]

My problem is with that foreign fake Linux, and that leftist Stallman who wrote its license.

• Or the American fake BSD (cribbed from Unix)?
• Or the American fake UNIX (cribbed from Multics)?
• Or the foreign fake Minix (cribbed from Unix)?
• Or the American fake Multix (cribbed from CTSS)?
• Or the American fake CTSS (cribbed from FMS)?
• Or the American fake DOS (blatantly copied from CP/M )?
• Or the American fake Windows NT (cribbed from VMS)?

Or the Foreign fake Linux* that is sold by profitable American companies, supplying American jobs?

* Can be said to be cribbed from Minix, but its structure is vastly different from that of Minix, it was just really written from published standards.

Run some US version of Unix like Solaris or OSX, nothing wrong with those choices

OS X is known to be slower than Linux on the same hardware in many cases, and Solaris doesn't have as much driver support.

[antiRepublicrat]

Do you know of any linux product that can capture short clips from .avi or .mpg files?

Sorry, I'm not your guy for this on Linux -- never tried it. On Windows I'd say use the excellent open source VirtualDub.

[B Knotts]

Pantone and free software

Krita supports 16 bits per channel. Dunno about the rest.

[Golden Eagle]

No I'm exactly right, like usual. If there were any money in it, Dell would be selling it. But a thousand different versions of something free does not a good business model make. I guess you haven't gotten to your economics classes yet, or had terrible instructors if you did.

[rzeznikj at stout]

No I'm exactly right, like usual.

You're never right. All you do is project and cherry-pick half-truths.

We've proven you wrong more often than not--but anyways, continue with your delusion of grandeur, O Master Troll...

But a thousand different versions of something free does not a good business model make.

There are enough versions of Linux, yes. But there are several mainstream distributions that could be added. For example, Dell could install and support RH/Fedora, and provide tech support for installing and using Suse, Mandriva, Debian and Ubuntu on these computers for a nominal fee. As far as other distributions, if I were Dell, I'd just state that while other Linux distributions might work on the computer, they're considered unsupported. Meaning, use at one's own risk.

I guess you haven't gotten to your economics classes yet, or had terrible instructors if you did.

It's called doing legal and honest business--instead of having to worry about being able to afford legal copies of Windows because MS is controlling the strings.

But if Dell sells desktops with Linux and then subsequently discontinues selling them if they don't sell, then that's a different story.

I took one economics class, and got a B in it.

[zeugma]

Somewhere in California - At 8:30 PDT with the release of Snoopy Linux 2.1 and Goober Linux 1.0, the number of Linux distributions finally surpassed the number of actual Linux users.

BWAHAHAHA! Almost true!

:-) Personally, I think having lots of different distributions is a good thing. Means there is a lot of choice out there, and you can find exactly the system to fit your needs, as opposed to having one single "choice" shoved down everyon's throat.

[Golden Eagle]

the American

Yep that's what I said, use something American. Too bad you don't seem to want to.

[Golden Eagle]

But if Dell sells desktops with Linux and then subsequently discontinues selling them if they don't sell, then that's a different story.

No, actually that's the story as it is, go look it up. Of course, no way you'll ever admit it.

[antiRepublicrat]

Pantone and free software

I know how it works, since I used it for years. It is worth the money to buy Pantone-calibrated software and a Pantone-calibrated proofer. By calibrated, I mean the Pantone company has certified that those colors match their colors (although there are known limits).

When you say "Pantone XXX" in Photoshop, your proofer knows to put its calibrated Pantone color representation on the paper. Anything else is an RGB or CMYK guess, with nobody to turn to if things don't come out right. It's almost like buying a Red Hat service agreement and knowing you're covered rather than rolling your own and hoping you got it right, except in this case each mistake costs cold, hard cash.

You waste money with "Well, it looked right on the screen" and "It looked right on the proofer." One bad color caught after plates are made and the first are copies printed can easily buy a few copies of the entire Adobe Creative Suite.

[antiRepublicrat]

Yep that's what I said, use something American. Too bad you don't seem to want to.

I use whatever the circumstances require. I'm certainly not one of those 80s "Buy American" guys who preferred to get ripped off buying a POS GM car rather than buy a quality Honda (personally, I had a VW in the 80s). All else being equal, I will buy American. But I will not sacrifice myself or my company on the altar of "Buy American."

And besides, exactly how much money is going to foreigners if I buy Red Hat Enterprise Linux? I do know that if I buy Windows a portion of my purchase goes to the billions that Bill is giving out overseas.