Linked by Mystilleef on Mon 29th Sep 2003 06:30 UTC
Linux will become ubiquitous in the year 3000. Okay, that was a horrible joke. Linux is just a kernel, the engine that runs an operating system. By itself, it is essentially useless. Kernels shouldn't be discussed or noticed by normal users. And as such when providing these users with reviews, previews and "professional" opinions, computer consultants, computer reviewers and computer journalists should not spew headlines like "Linux is not ready for prime time", "Linux on the desktop by XXX", "Linux to takeover Windows", "Linux is not ready for desktop" and so on.
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Just read your article it's pretty good except some spelling and gramatical errors such as using where and were.
I agree completely with "I'd like to contribute but to this project but it doesn't look professional. No Documentation"
However, your other points, umm... let's just say that the voice interface isn't exactly very good usabiltiy wise or productivity wise. and you have to understand that simplicity and very few features are a bad way to design softare. It's as if instead of cleaning your house you just destroy all the rooms that are messy, yeh you have a clean house, but would you want to do that?
Anyway, some features do need to be removed completely or at least reorganize dina lto of sfotware projects I know, these feautres jsut get in the way, but most are useful.
Now the other point you made "The "Who cares, its free" Attitude" is also clearly wrong.
This isn't proprietary software, you release half-baked projects in OSS so that many developers can help you release a truly good version fo your software. This is what version numbers are for. responsible developers mark these as pre 1.0 and clearly say they are not ready for primetime.
Also, while nobody is chasing OSS developers deadlines in thsi market odn't come from your boss, but rather from your competition. I'm afraid, that you can't wait forever making your little project perfect, because by that time ther will be a clear market leader which has gathered so much momentum and now includes so many more features than you had planned that its just not worthwile. OSS develoeprs might also be discouraged seeing taht the proprietary alternative is soo much better and that catching up is virtually impossible. OSS projects have as much pressure for release as proprietary IMo.
Also, OSS does not copy MS or other companies excpet when tehy have come wih a good solution, for example the taskbar in windows and windows are very good and not copying these would be stupid. You also need to make the 98% of people who don't use Linux feel at home and not introduce them to something completely different, at least not until linux has at least 10% f the market.
BTW: I'm rooting for mid 2005 as the date Linux will be ready for primetime and I mean really really ready. Too bad that's when Longhorn comes!