The Underground Man

Hmm, I dropped Linux about 3 years ago for FreeBSD and never looked back. I think it helps to clarify your point: if you're talking about a desktop OS, I think the various factions that are Linux have a long way to go.

On the server side, I've never used OS X Server so I can't say anything about it. I'm sure it's good for a lot of you need a server OS to do, and the fact it's multi-platform removes the "Apple hardware is too expensive" argument.

But it helps to keep in mind the links between the FreeBSD project and Apple's Darwin team. Jordan Hubbard, one of the founders of the FreeBSD project, now works for Apple as manager of their Darwin group, and there are bits and pieces of the new FreeBSD 5 release code in Darwin/OS X.

Linux and the *BSDs have different agendas. FreeBSD's in stability and power, OpenBSD's in security, NetBSD's is summed up as "of course it runs NetBSD" (even the Dreamcast!?). Linux is a collection of factions and philosophies, none of which meet my needs.

If you're looking for an Intel/SPARC/Alpha-based server OS, I recommend FreeBSD over the mindshare-dominating Linux.

I know what you mean.

But I read somewhere (link lost) that a Linux user base is conducting useability experiments at the moment. People are looking to friends and family to sit down with Linux and to go through installations (building and general tasks) - with the Linux experts only allowed to step in when it gets impossible. This is supposed to give a picture of where Linux groups needs to concentrate on useability issues.

I've spent a good few years educating my better half on the ins and outs and do's and don'ts of day-to-day Windows use - now we're starting on OS/X. She can play DVD's, navigate iTunes and run Tiger Woods PGA - our house is full of joy at the achievement ;) But the thought of her tackling Linux...there are a lot of useability issues to work on before that stage comes.

I' would have loved to dual boot...but would have to mess with the firmware on my usb modem if I wanted to have internet access....not gonna happen. But now I don't need to with the powerbook.

For a while I gave some serious thought to writing a book on Mandrake Linux (seems like the best UI of all the current distributions). Knoppix isn't bad either.

Most Linuxes suffer from the access of programmers to the interfaces. They throw in everything including the kitchen sink. This leads to huge lists of nested menus of apps. All having divergent UI metaphors. All with cryptic names. Most with little or no decent documentation.

So my idea was to develop subclass of Mandrake that installed only the "best-in-class" apps for users. One could have basic, intermediate or advanced installs and the advanced install would have several options for each type of application software and might not include full documentation. The basic option would have only apps that have decent documentation.

I tried to interest the Mandrake folks in my writing a book while I was in France but they were about to enter bankruptcy and never got back to me.

I still think it's a good idea. Especially as I could test it out by distributing it as a Live-on-CD at local user groups until I found the right mix.

Linux is still a hobbyist's OS right now. Until someone comes along and provides a distribution with a consistent UI across all apps with accompanying first-rate documentation it will remain inaccessible to the majority of folks.

We should take a leaf from the BeOS book--that was a nice integrated OS.