On Fri, Mar 09, 2001 at 05:47:53PM -0600, Steve Grobe wrote: >distribution. (I tried to tell them a jpg or png would be much more >universal, then I got the blank stare????) Now that's counterproductive. >I can't even get the hardware engineers to use the intranet, they still come >to me for hardcopies or CDs for test reports. Shit, click, open and print >how hard is that? hehe, damn some people are hard headed. >If I ever get around to starting my own company all employees will have to >use Linux, BSD, QNX or BeOS for a month as a desktop OS BEFORE they can get a >machine loaded with Windows. Just for email and internet use. This is a >sore spot for me too. I have been dealing with this shit for 3 years since I >started using alternate OS's at home for my personal use. ></RANT> I used to feel this way. Then after careful thought and alot of answering of simple questions repeatedly, I decided this. Most people just use computers to get work done and are not interested in learning more. In this way, it's nearly impossible to teach them the little things that makes linux really usable for the casual user. Little things like mounting a fs before use (yeah I know the new environs will do this, but it's an example), formatting a floppy, using ftp | scp to move file between machines, using lpr to print, setting mime-types for "file associations", installing netscape plugins the list goes on and on. I for one don't have the time to hold each users hand for 6 months to get them proficient and the bottom line is, they are at work to be productive and if goddamn microsnot access is easier for them to be productive that makes it better for my company. I'm all for expanding peoples horizons and helping them learn new things. But not all users care. They are quite content (read: complacent) with M$ apps and don't see a reason to change. There are people I work with who use computers all day long, and while thier quite intelligent will NEVER EVER get linux. Why? cause they aren't interested, they see no need. It's not a priority. Is this a bad thing? No. Whatever they need to use to be the most productive at sistina, they should use. Sure, they're entering data into a postgresq data base on one of my servers using microsoft access. Who cares. The essential boxes are sporting linux, and all the hackers use it. But the accountants, and administrative people don't have the time or the will. >Sorry, I had a really bad day at work. I can't remember the last time I >wanted to just walk out the door, but today I thought about it for 7 of the >10 hours I was there. (I've been there 10 years in May.) I feel your pain. Got room for another person, I'll bring my own scotch :-) Just my 802 cents :-) -- Ben Lutgens cell: 612.670.4789 Sistina Software Inc. worl: 612.379.3951 Code Monkey Support (A.K.A. System Administrator) "It's hard to believe that's the same frail woman who once sprained her wrist from having too much dip on a cracker!" -- Frazier Crane -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: application/pgp-signature Size: 232 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://shadowknight.real-time.com/pipermail/tclug-list/attachments/20010309/e92d61ab/attachment.pgp