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To the Editor:

Freeloaders

Well, I don't think I am a freeloader.
I have sitting around here paid for linux products, including:
Caldera 1.2 <---Not used anymore
Caldera 2.4 <---still use it
Redhat 7.2 <---Still use it
Suse 6.1 <--Not used
Win4lin 3.0 <--still use it
Corel Linux <---Not used
Corel Office for linux <---Not used

Pretty bad when a major office suite for linux is essentially unusable, no?

I bought a printer, a Lexmark, specifically because of linux support,
and I told the lexmark salesman (Yes, a real lexmark employee) that that
was why I was buying his printer.

On the other hand, in the last five years I haven't paid a nickel for
microsoft products except for:
Office 97 (required by my wife's computer classes.
Various flavors of preinstalled windows, bought with new computers from
time to time.

I would happily pay $100 for a linux browser that worked. (None work.
Don't get me started. I haven't had plugins working since netscape 4.75.
I can live without plugins most of the time, but the javascript
associated problems are just too much.)

And, of course, I have a large library of linux books, now. That has
been a MAJOR expense.

I have spent much more $$$ on linux than windows, that's for sure,
except for those new computers from time to time. So, I don't think we
are freeloaders, if I am typical. I just think we are a very small
minority. And, nobody is forced to use linux, unlike windows.

The main reasons I don't buy more linux software (applications, games)
is, based on experience:
1. Limited availability.
2. I just don't expect it to work. There is always a missing library or
some such, for example, or it won't compile for some odd reason, etc.
Even when it installs, there are numerous problems. Crashes, wine
associated problems, incapability with windows document formats, and
missing features all make for a bad experience. Thus, I'll try free
software, but am very wary of paying for it. How can people be expected
to buy bad software?
3. With win4lin, I have all the applications I need by running windows
over linux. These apps don't crash, they are fully windows compatible
with their file formats, and there are no missing features.

Boy. I feel a rant coming on
<RANT> The linux desktop advocates should take a hard look at
themselves. For example, they never tire of dissing staroffice. This is
the only office suite I have found for linux which actually works
properly. Imagine, they complain it is "bloated" and starts up up slowly
and they don't like its desktop. So what. IT WORKS. It is the one I use
when I am not in win4lin, and I have tried several. (Koffice, applix,
corel office.) The linux types are always on a crusade ("standards",
thus the fiasco of netscape 6.0, or opensouce and free, thus the
silliness of Koffice.) Does anyone imagine they can build for nothing an
office suite to compete with Microsoft office? They do, and that's says
more than I can about their naivet_. Linux advocates think the average
desktop user wants choice. Wrong. He/she wants functionality and ease of
use. Just give me something that works.
</RANT>

Well, you said you wanted feedback.

Joel Hammer