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I think you've hit the nail on the head here, but I think it does have something to do with the current nature of Linux.

Because of Linux's development background, Linux programmers frequently assume a certain level on knowledge by their anticipated users, and therefore don't program the same way Windows developers do.

As much as I hate to admit it, I think MS has a lot to do with why programmers write their install stuff for Windows the way they do, and I think it works pretty well overall. If the majority of the Linux community started writing install programs the way Windows developers typically do, I think Linux would catch on much more quickly. Make it all GUI, have it pop up a dialog box asking for the root password as necessary, and keep the users from having to gunzip, etc., and people would flock to it.

One thing that might make that more difficult is the variety of Linux distros and/or GUIs, where one GUI install tool may not work on all distros. I'm not a programmer and am not familiar with all of the APIs, but my experience in setting up Linux systems over the past year or two tells me that it isn't consistent across platforms. One company even said that their software wouldn't work on any distro besides RedHat.

MS's problem and advantage I think is backwards compatibility. It makes most older programs install and work on newer Windows versions, but I think is also responsible for many of the security issues Windows has.

I'm also not wild about relying on built-in downloads for apps from a distributor, as they may not have every app that I want, and I'll still have to do it manually. Downloads like that for their actual Linux OS is fine, but for apps I'm not so sure.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents on it, for what it's worth.
Posted by: brble   Posted on: 02/14/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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IBM taking open source on world tour  Loverock Davidson | 02/14/05
Even "IF" what you said is true (and that is a big if)  Laff | 02/14/05
Gasp!  Spoon Jabber | 02/14/05
Nice try, Ace.  Yen_z | 02/14/05
Big Business = Bottom Line  djc1309@... | 02/15/05
No way will I support Linux  johns_z | 02/14/05
Mount her instead....  Linux User 147560 | 02/14/05
Try telling the Kinko's lady...  The King's Servant | 02/14/05
why?  doh123 | 02/14/05
Hint  Yagotta B. Kidding | 02/14/05
Your expertise  dougpierson@... | 02/14/05
Arrogant  Altern_z | 02/14/05
What's the problem?  Yagotta B. Kidding | 02/14/05
Trivial  Altern_z | 02/14/05
"Microstinks Windows" Are you saying you do not like  Laff | 02/14/05
ummm..  doh123 | 02/14/05
Linux installations  brble | 02/14/05
Have you tried Yast?  Spoon Jabber | 02/14/05
Well while I will agree that making something easier  Laff | 02/14/05
Thank You  Altern_z | 02/14/05
Lack of knowledge  vance@... | 02/15/05
You aren't getting it  brble | 02/15/05
How very strange  agottschald | 02/15/05
I'll believe it when I see it.  Altern_z | 02/14/05
Very interesting.  agottschald | 02/14/05
PLEASE tell me that's sarcasm ...  Henaway | 02/14/05
Youve got to be kidding  Altern_z | 02/14/05
Your average user does not want to do all that much  Laff | 02/14/05
I agree exactly  agottschald | 02/14/05
Examples, please?  Yagotta B. Kidding | 02/14/05
Yes, but  Spoon Jabber | 02/14/05
Haedware Specific  Altern_z | 02/14/05
Eventually everything is specific.  Yagotta B. Kidding | 02/14/05
Go through your blank to get to your blank? Well if  Laff | 02/14/05
No, he's right  Martin Marvinski | 02/14/05
20 years ago, GEOS on Commodore 64 was graphical (NT)  Update victim | 02/14/05
You don't know Linux  cosmolee | 02/14/05
RE: No way will I support Linux  richdave | 02/14/05
Arrogance again?  Altern_z | 02/14/05
Wow...  Martin Marvinski | 02/14/05
I think he's loosing it!  agottschald | 02/14/05
And you think that someone cares about it because? (nt)  michael-t | 02/14/05
When was the last time you setup a Linux Distro?  sjworth@... | 02/15/05
You still use a floppy drive?????  George Mitchell | 02/15/05
IBM essential for disabled access  susancragin@... | 02/14/05
Linux  Richie_z | 02/14/05
Challenge  Altern_z | 02/14/05
Well since longhorn is a long, long, long ways away,  Laff | 02/14/05
You are so funny!  Linux User 147560 | 02/14/05
More Rediculous Arguements. SHEESH!  Altern_z | 02/14/05
What do you want to do that 's so difficult.  agottschald | 02/14/05
You know  Linux User 147560 | 02/14/05
Generalities  Yagotta B. Kidding | 02/14/05
Corporate Sponsorship  Quenyar | 02/14/05
Money is not the only force  agottschald | 02/14/05
Haha.. hear the little pitter patter of M$hills typing frantically..!  Xunil_Sierutuf | 02/14/05
Not fair!  Spoon Jabber | 02/14/05
American arrogance  tcg25 | 02/14/05
Yup, move to France  achavez382 | 02/14/05
And who...  Spoon Jabber | 02/14/05
Watch it my friend Spoon....:)  Laff | 02/14/05
Yeah, and I used to be...  Spoon Jabber | 02/14/05
You are a very sexy man Spoon this I know!  Laff | 02/14/05
Right on!  Spoon Jabber | 02/14/05
Spot On!  Altern_z | 02/14/05
Not my idea  Spoon Jabber | 02/14/05
Heh heh heh....Oh come on Spoon. The ONLY reason  Laff | 02/14/05
Amendment  achavez382 | 02/15/05
Not exactly  Spoon Jabber | 02/15/05
Sanctity  achavez382 | 02/15/05
That is not true  osreinstall | 02/15/05
No Spoon because Animals and children have not the  Laff | 02/15/05
Is marriage by the state, or church?  Spoon Jabber | 02/15/05
Laff..........?  Spoon Jabber | 02/15/05
Marriage existed before Christianinty and the Jews as  Laff | 02/15/05
Spoon I did read your posts and I understand your faith  Laff | 02/15/05
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More is better  stomfi@... | 02/14/05
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Can't say I've had that problem  agottschald | 02/15/05
Very smart move on IBM's part.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 02/14/05
It will help  Pieintheface | 02/15/05

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