[plug] MS Curriculum at schools and TAFEs ...

[Simon Scott]

	Funny thing is, Ive never once had problems with any printer under
linux.

	The difference may be that Ive never used Debian as a print server,
Ive always had my printers connected to the workstation (Redhat or
Mandrake).

	Maybe Debian just sucks at doing printer config?

	Anyhow point taken. The problem remains however, that most Linux
geeks don't usually care if Joe Enduser can install Linux. It works for us.
We have no financial interest in it succeeding. In fact neither has Debian,
the distro in question at the moment. 

	Try installing a printer under RedHat or Mandrake and I think youll
see a difference. I think this conversation boils down to

		"My printer doesnt work"
		"Yeh, Debian sucks at that"

	:)






	From:	Alex Polglaze <apolglaze at book-keepingnetwork.com.au> on
23-04-2001 03:07 PM
	Please respond to plug at plug.linux.org.au@SMTP at Exchange
	To:	plug at plug.linux.org.au@SMTP at Exchange
	cc:	 

	Subject:	Re: [plug] MS Curriculum at schools and TAFEs ...

	I have read this thread, more like the complete woven fabric, with
much
	interest.

	I have run my computer business now for nearly 17 years, and I
	discovered way back in 1987 that I was allergic to MS. I have always
	used alternatives, and the day came to migrate to Linux. This was
not a
	happy time. Without Leon's help, I would probably still not have it
	working properly.

	This is the problem and it was highlighted by Peter's post about his
	printer.

	Linux may very well be able to do everything that you can imagine,
but
	if you haven't done a CS degree then you have no hope of running it.

	As a businessman I can't afford to spend days and days trying to get
	something working and if I don't push the envelope too far, I can
get by
	with second and third rate products that basically work straight out
of
	the box, sort of.

	When Joe Average can pick a linux cd and install it and get the
printer
	working without too much hassle, then linux will have a chance of
	becoming mainstream. Until then it will remain the province of
"geeky,
	nerdy" (NO OFFENCE) gurus who can make a machine do anything they
like.

	Don't get me wrong, I think linux is the way to go, but I am
committed
	to the cause, if I wasn't, then I too would have bailed out long
ago.

	As far as the schools go, you must remember that the kids they are
	teaching generally know more about the computers than the teachers
in
	any case.

	As far as Uni's go I can recall the days when AT&T or Bell or
whoever
	wrote UNIX initially gave it to the unis, then when the students
	graduated and went into employment, they would say, "What's this, we
	need UNIX". Another sale. MS is no different and in fact always seem
to
	follow UNIX anyway.

	So instead of crying foul and accusing MS of underhand tactics,
fight
	the problem head on. Develop the necessary installation programs and
	routines so that it becomes a real alternative that can be readily
used
	in the home and school.

	Once people can legitimately compare the two we all know who the
clear
	winner will be.


	Alex



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