Originally Posted by iamthewalrus

What i also disagree with is the usefulness of asking people to learn some script language or how 'x' works or some other specific system.

Originally Posted by qole

I find it very interesting that, for all the supposed "ease of use" of Windows, they've put all the configuration stuff into inaccessible binary files like the "Windows Registry" and stuff.

Originally Posted by qole

I must say, the fully commented plain text files of Linux are very nice in comparison. Trying to figure out where those text files are, on the other hand, can be difficult.

Originally Posted by tabletrat

although [the Windows registry] isn't exactly binary, it is mostly text.

Originally Posted by tabletrat

which is why they changed from plain text files to the registry in later versions of windows!

Originally Posted by matthewcb4

Ok your all right. Linux isent just for nerds. Everyone should know all about command lines and it should be tought in school. That is just one of the things that people are going to use on a daily basis, including spanish and geometry.

...thay are not going to spend the time to learn all about linux when there is windows that you can just pay $50 bucks a year and have someone else protect that information for you. ..

Or, lets go one step further and say a Mac... now very user friendly and you dont have to worry about viruses and any of that.

How will linux be able to compete with any of that when thay stand idol with command lines?

Argue with me as much as you want but im just coming from the point of a regular computer user who would regulary look at someone using lenux and say that its just to much dedication for something that i can do with minimal background on another OS.

Originally Posted by krisse

"Hands up everyone who uses Linux who hasn't compiled software?"

Originally Posted by Wes Doobner

Basic computer knowledge should be a part of elementary curriculum

Originally Posted by Wes Doobner

and that includes basic OO programming

Originally Posted by joepagiii

well face it the itt is a work in progress...all the command line is kinda necessary

Originally Posted by qole

No, people stick with Windows because everybody they know uses it, and Windows is free.

"So when someone looks at Linux, all they see is the unfamiliarity of it, and nothing there that's so good to make them switch from Windows. After all, they're not saving anything or gaining anything by switching."

Huh? I have had rotation of screens on a variety of computers since the mid 90s and never once needed any terminal access to do it, so I guess it is just a linux thing. I also do a lot of work with windows without ever needing batch files.

Originally Posted by qole

Well, "mostly text" is a long way from "text". Kinda the difference between markup languages like RTF and HTML and the Word .doc format.

Originally Posted by qole

I don't think so. They had a few central text files in earlier versions, like win.ini and system.ini, but I think they really didn't like the whole "editable in a text editor" thing.