There are a large number of TR blog posts that could use this advice.
Especially those ones about how cloud is the future, everyone has a cell phone, etc.
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More like global centric than any specific location. There is more FUD spread in NORTH America than anywhere else I'm aware of mostly by people that aren't familiar with Linux or other Unix like open source. The FUD is global but far more prevalent in the USA and Canada than anywhere else I'm aware of. Then again, there are probably more FOSS purists in North America than anywhere else as well.
For every action there's an equal and opposite reaction and all of that stuff, y'know.
For every action there's an equal and opposite reaction and all of that stuff, y'know.
of 'a modern textbook for a Management Information Systems class' because ...?
If you are particular about changing opinions, then identify specific sources, and address them one by one. Don't be vague!
If you are particular about changing opinions, then identify specific sources, and address them one by one. Don't be vague!
"Ubuntu will account for roughly 9% of all global PC shipments by 2014."
What's the definition of "all global PC shipments"?
It can't mean desktop operating systems.
What's the definition of "all global PC shipments"?
It can't mean desktop operating systems.
Would there be so much FUD if educators knew that the Mac OSX is just another distribution of Linux?
But a good many pieces of OS X are based on FreeBSD (Unix) which is an open-source project similar to Linux.
Spreading FUD about Linux can only come from one place, and no, it has nothing to do with nationalism or chauvinism. Follow the money, and you'll see that I don't have to even name the source of these lies; you all are big people, you can figure this out.
Linux is probably the savior of modern, traditional IT data centers. It scales, (unlike its primary competition) it can serve either as a single-user or massively multi-user, MP/MT system, it is probably as secure as its alternatives if not even more so than most, and it comes with applications that its competition sees no reason to supply for free (think sed, vi, emacs, Python, Perl, Ruby, git, Mercurial, svn, GCC ... the list goes on forever) -- or was that an opportunity to fleece the customer set?
Me, I think the FUD should be going the other way. What kind of future does WIndows have? Why, if Windows 8 is so great, do 75% of all major desktop-using organizations refuse to consider it? Why, if its supposed "innovation" is so notable, will Microsoft NOT release its code -- or at least fragments of it -- to its most technical user base?
The last 17 years of my experience with Linux, if not 100% perfect, have certainly been real, and I certainly have been challenged and encouraged to provide my own fixes, my own inputs, and my own education as to how this UNIX run-alike works. I can't say the same thing for my experiences with its competition (if we take *BSD off of that competitor list), which has been marked by frustration, proprietary barriers, "no way out" situations, the most DoSed OS on the planet, and oh yeah, let's not forget Patch Tuesdays (just to keep things interesting).
And I'm not getting off my soapbox without noting that higher education should be the very last people to spread FUD about an OS that's completely free, with no strings attached -- completely dissectable, fairly well-documented -- the perfect OS on which to learn how an OS is built and tested. It's true. I develop OS functionality & designs for a living (not Linux), and if I had to teach how the OS business works, I'd be dissecting Linux and teaching the lessons its developers have learned.
Linux is probably the savior of modern, traditional IT data centers. It scales, (unlike its primary competition) it can serve either as a single-user or massively multi-user, MP/MT system, it is probably as secure as its alternatives if not even more so than most, and it comes with applications that its competition sees no reason to supply for free (think sed, vi, emacs, Python, Perl, Ruby, git, Mercurial, svn, GCC ... the list goes on forever) -- or was that an opportunity to fleece the customer set?
Me, I think the FUD should be going the other way. What kind of future does WIndows have? Why, if Windows 8 is so great, do 75% of all major desktop-using organizations refuse to consider it? Why, if its supposed "innovation" is so notable, will Microsoft NOT release its code -- or at least fragments of it -- to its most technical user base?
The last 17 years of my experience with Linux, if not 100% perfect, have certainly been real, and I certainly have been challenged and encouraged to provide my own fixes, my own inputs, and my own education as to how this UNIX run-alike works. I can't say the same thing for my experiences with its competition (if we take *BSD off of that competitor list), which has been marked by frustration, proprietary barriers, "no way out" situations, the most DoSed OS on the planet, and oh yeah, let's not forget Patch Tuesdays (just to keep things interesting).
And I'm not getting off my soapbox without noting that higher education should be the very last people to spread FUD about an OS that's completely free, with no strings attached -- completely dissectable, fairly well-documented -- the perfect OS on which to learn how an OS is built and tested. It's true. I develop OS functionality & designs for a living (not Linux), and if I had to teach how the OS business works, I'd be dissecting Linux and teaching the lessons its developers have learned.
I taught an A+ certification course at a business development center run by the local community college. They had 2 and 3 day courses for workers to refresh/update skills on a number of applications, there was at least one running every day.
They were certified by the manufacturers to teach these courses, eg Microsoft checked them out and gave them their blessing to run outlook, word, excel and basic windows courses.
Originally they also ran Corel WordPerfect courses, which were more popular than the word course. The BDC took polls and over the years the secretaries and such attending the classes preferred WordPerfect over word, regardless of which they actually used at work.
Microsoft came by (literally a man dropped in) and told the BDC in no uncertain terms that either the WordPerfect course goes, or all the Microsoft courses will go, along with the certifications from MS.
Straight up threat. Bullying as plain as the nose on yer face. I'm sure this was not a unique situation.
The textbook Jack is talking about may well be trying to earn brownie points in a similar atmosphere to what I witnessed at the BDC.
Fact is most techs coming out of school are going to go to work on Microsoft systems. How does a textbook publisher distinguish themselves and gain the favor of Microsoft? It's probably a pretty competitive market, those text books.
Maybe the FUD is just sucking up to the 800 Lb gorilla in the room?
They were certified by the manufacturers to teach these courses, eg Microsoft checked them out and gave them their blessing to run outlook, word, excel and basic windows courses.
Originally they also ran Corel WordPerfect courses, which were more popular than the word course. The BDC took polls and over the years the secretaries and such attending the classes preferred WordPerfect over word, regardless of which they actually used at work.
Microsoft came by (literally a man dropped in) and told the BDC in no uncertain terms that either the WordPerfect course goes, or all the Microsoft courses will go, along with the certifications from MS.
Straight up threat. Bullying as plain as the nose on yer face. I'm sure this was not a unique situation.
The textbook Jack is talking about may well be trying to earn brownie points in a similar atmosphere to what I witnessed at the BDC.
Fact is most techs coming out of school are going to go to work on Microsoft systems. How does a textbook publisher distinguish themselves and gain the favor of Microsoft? It's probably a pretty competitive market, those text books.
Maybe the FUD is just sucking up to the 800 Lb gorilla in the room?
I would say it is at the very least an admission that Linux really is a competing product. I would also say that the FUD is coporate funded mindwashing so as to prevent people from finding out if Linux is a good fit for them.
The fact that there is still FUD today indicates a fear that Linux might truly compete if the public was left free to evaluate and compare Linux to other solutions. That fear is almost a good thing...
It just like that supposed 1% market share which is probably a crap statistic for very long time. Why even care how many Linux installs there are if not to try and convince the public that Linux is crap. And how do you really track and measure that which is not sold and counted in the first place?
In fact, anyone who accepts any information that they receive as fact without verification from mutliple sources or empirical data is a fool. That goes for what you get from school. Everything from revisionist histories to computer science is a potential lie, or at least an exageration.
The motivation for Linux FUD, may it be sucking up or bullying, is clearly coming from fear of not competing otherwise. The next question is how to make that fear come true?
The fact that there is still FUD today indicates a fear that Linux might truly compete if the public was left free to evaluate and compare Linux to other solutions. That fear is almost a good thing...
It just like that supposed 1% market share which is probably a crap statistic for very long time. Why even care how many Linux installs there are if not to try and convince the public that Linux is crap. And how do you really track and measure that which is not sold and counted in the first place?
In fact, anyone who accepts any information that they receive as fact without verification from mutliple sources or empirical data is a fool. That goes for what you get from school. Everything from revisionist histories to computer science is a potential lie, or at least an exageration.
The motivation for Linux FUD, may it be sucking up or bullying, is clearly coming from fear of not competing otherwise. The next question is how to make that fear come true?
Please include more/better facts. Jack writes pro-Linux rhetoric all the time and that's cool because Linux is awesome! But this, and many other, bits from Jack seem very thin and come from a place of emotion rather than factual information.
Linux is awesome, has been for years, and only gets better, but this article does little to further the idea that Linux is a serious OS with serious applications.
Linux is awesome, has been for years, and only gets better, but this article does little to further the idea that Linux is a serious OS with serious applications.
I have been involved recently this side of the Pond in an online discussion over the very same subject. When you have software suppliers who only sell commercial products to educational establishments and have to blink when you say "FOSS" then here is a good place to start.
Our conversation started over Gcompris (which I am involved with in albeit in a small way). Perhaps if these sales companies were to realise that they could package and sell free software then the take up would increase. A capitalists dream - selling a product that is free ..
Our conversation started over Gcompris (which I am involved with in albeit in a small way). Perhaps if these sales companies were to realise that they could package and sell free software then the take up would increase. A capitalists dream - selling a product that is free ..
It may be that people in general don't use Linux for their desktops but where I am we use Linux servers by the hundreds. LAMP and research are the main applications.
We also have research groups that use Linux for workstations and daily desktop needs.
Also keep in mind that Mac OS X is in the same OS family... Take a look at
http://www.levenez.com/unix/history.html)
We also have research groups that use Linux for workstations and daily desktop needs.
Also keep in mind that Mac OS X is in the same OS family... Take a look at
http://www.levenez.com/unix/history.html)
* Among the social issues of the day, few are as widely debated as the right of women to vote.
* By the year 2000, most businesses will own a computer.
* We some day hope to send a man to the moon.
* By the year 2000, most businesses will own a computer.
* We some day hope to send a man to the moon.
For the past two years I've been teaching a PC troubleshooting and repair class to high schoolers in an alternative education class in western Washington. The computers are donated by my clients who upgrade to new systems or they are surplused by other organizations and we get them for free. Then we repair or clean them up and install the latest version of Ubuntu and give them away to folks, mostly young students but some seniors, who can't afford to buy them. Every once in a while we'll let a system go that has Windows on it by request, if we have the installation disks, but we encourage folks to use Linux.
Was this by chance the "Using MIS" book by Kroenke that Marist IT courses are using? It's very Microsoft-centric, and while it does mention open source as a viable alternative for low-budget sites, it focuses more on cloud and web applications rather than the desktop.
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/12/10/25/2229236/feds-continue-to-consider-linux-users-criminals-for-watching-dvds
FUD? This is far worse than FUD. However FUD it is.
Hollywood has far too much power. One industry is attempting to dictate digital law to the detriment of all other industries who use digital tech (everybody).
FUD? This is far worse than FUD. However FUD it is.
Hollywood has far too much power. One industry is attempting to dictate digital law to the detriment of all other industries who use digital tech (everybody).
Just a little note: FOSS is widely used by animation studios to produce their works and for reliable render farms.
And too bad that Linux and BSD users can watch DVDs that Windows users can't. Most of that has to do with regional "licensing" than rampant copying and "piracy". Suck it up, guys!
And too bad that Linux and BSD users can watch DVDs that Windows users can't. Most of that has to do with regional "licensing" than rampant copying and "piracy". Suck it up, guys!
Don't be shy! Name names!... What textbook is spreading this junk? Which schools are using it? Let's call 'em out! Folks should be held responsible for what they write and what they teach.
It is just so sad when IT graduates leave an institute of learning claiming to be "computer literate" because they are able to use MS Word and Excel. I see this day after day what a travesty!!!!!!
Linux evolved, but windows is the result of intelligent design.
Sorry, couldn't resist...
Sorry, couldn't resist...
I want ANY system I buy to be bare metal.
nothing preloaded.
hpow can some idiot that doesn't know me know exactly what use I will put the system to?
they can't, so don't force their own choices on me.
nothing preloaded.
hpow can some idiot that doesn't know me know exactly what use I will put the system to?
they can't, so don't force their own choices on me.
The only point in using linux as far as I'm concerned is to set it up how I want it, not use some pre-packaged environment geared to the needs some strangers feel I should have...
"The educational system needs to open up its mind and spread truth"
They also teach Creationism! Truth is a variable feast. Have you not been following the US Presidential election campaigns?
If you want an honest world you'll probably be best off praying for it.
I've never been fond of the expression FUD. After all, by spreading disinformation one one introduces Doubt, which creates uncertainty, leading to Fear! So, "DUF" works for me and it's close enough to DUFF, a word that variously means defective or buttocks Take your pick.
They also teach Creationism! Truth is a variable feast. Have you not been following the US Presidential election campaigns?
If you want an honest world you'll probably be best off praying for it.
I've never been fond of the expression FUD. After all, by spreading disinformation one one introduces Doubt, which creates uncertainty, leading to Fear! So, "DUF" works for me and it's close enough to DUFF, a word that variously means defective or buttocks Take your pick.
I recently had an Applied Information Technology intro class. The book was filled with misstatements and misleading gloss-overs (as well as being so non-technical as to be barely useful to the computer-literate 17-19 year olds who made up the rest of the class. I don't remember what it said about Linux but it did not directly talk much about Windows, either. The overall approach to the textbook was just wrong (yes, we know what a USB port is). I'm sure it was MS centric, but it wasn't overt. Doesn't seem to make sense when Linux has a majority in the server market to pretend it doesn't exist for IT students, no more how much FUD the textbook makers experience.
As for professors and students, mostly people don't have a clue what I'm talking about if they start talking about linux. And I don't think they're the least bit curious. Probably have never heard of it or it's kind of like they see it as like hot-rodding/ modding cars. A hobby, not useful to real life. So.... I guess that comes from having PCs and laptops at retail preinstalled with windows for 20 years. They don't see it as relevant enough to think about and so it stays out of the mind share of the PC world.
As for professors and students, mostly people don't have a clue what I'm talking about if they start talking about linux. And I don't think they're the least bit curious. Probably have never heard of it or it's kind of like they see it as like hot-rodding/ modding cars. A hobby, not useful to real life. So.... I guess that comes from having PCs and laptops at retail preinstalled with windows for 20 years. They don't see it as relevant enough to think about and so it stays out of the mind share of the PC world.
Case in point, no one it seems is willing to proudly admit that Android IS Linux, and I look forward to the next 12 months, Go Google!!!
John
John
I'm writing and have almost finished a book on open source software for education that seeks to address this problem. My goal is to inform educators about the veritable ocean of open source software with educational potential that is available while seeking to set aside the apprehension that arises whenever the topic of non-proprietary software arises. The attitudes presented in this article do not surprise me. Knowledge about open source is growing. As this knowledge grows, this fear shall surely sobside.
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