Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

[Ian Meyer <ianmeyer AT mac.com>]

Sorry Alan, but...

Years ago, Apple donated thousands of computers to schools for  
classroom use. The idea was that kids would learn on that Apple's and  
then when the family went out to buy a computer, they would but an  
Apple as well. Judging from how many kids go through public schools and  
how many people have bought Apple computers...I don't think it worked  
too hot.

Now, getting Linux into the home is a little more of an achievement,  
but I think that most users will (a) be attracted solely by the price  
(b) be attracted to the price but "wtf?" about this "Sun Linux" thing  
and buy a more expensive Windows PC and/or (c) won't really care what  
it is and not explore it (tinker with the command line) at all.

So as great as it is, IMHO, and as neat as it is to see these being  
sold, I don't think its going to start a revolution.

~Ian


On Apr 5, 2004, at 11:32 PM, Alan MacHett wrote:

> http://edition.cnn.com/2004/TECH/ptech/04/01/wal.mart.linux.ap/ 
> index.html
> > Wal-Mart offering PCs running Sun's Linux software
> > Thursday, April 1, 2004 Posted: 1646 GMT (0046 HKT)
> >
> > SAN JOSE, California (AP) -- In an invasion of Microsoft Corp.'s home
> > turf, Sun Microsystems Inc.'s version of Linux operating system is now
> > available on inexpensive personal computers sold at Wal-Mart's online
> > store.
>
> Linux for the masses.  As much as I hate WalMart, if they can put Linux
> into the average (which is not to say middle class) household, then  
> kudos
> to them.  The effect will be neither apparant nor immediate.  Mom and  
> Dad
> might not necessarily get the advantage or even understand anything  
> beyond
> the gui desktop, but imagine the effect 10 years from now of  
> innumerable
> households of kids messing around with a command line.
>
> Or should I assume the kids will be just as apathetic or uninterested?
>
> I'd like to be optimistic on this.  The issue at hand, though, is the
> accessibility.  We've been discussing refrigerators and garbage cans  
> that
> will reorder food for us, but that kind of technology is meant for and
> priced at the middle and upper classes.  And I don't mean "meant for"  
> as
> in the lower class doesn't deserve it, rather "meant for" as in the  
> people
> dreaming up these technologies aren't considering whether or not  
> someone
> earning $10k, $15K, or $20k can or would ever use the technology.   
> That, I
> believe, is the interesting facet of this Sun-WalMart deal.  For $300,  
> not
> only can a low-income family obtain a computer, but they can get one
> running a "geeky" or "cutting-edge" OS (""... as in the popular  
> mindset).
>
> Anyone care to be optimistic with me?
>
> -Alan
>
> ---
> Come and play at the InterNetWorkers Web site!   
> http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/
> You are currently subscribed to InterNetWorkers mailing list
> To unsubscribe visit  
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/internetworkers