[Tfug] ubuntu

Thu Apr 24 10:19:35 MST 2008

I truly don't mean to insult linux. I am actually quite impressed with it. If
you think about, here is an assortment of programs which has developed over
time that has gotten to the point of pretty good usability. But I won't post
again. I am tired of being told I am insulting you are your industry.

Some other uses of computers which have not yet reached their full potential:

1. sensing devices - sensing different spectrum of the EM field
2. new forms of communication - perhaps tactily or thru biofeedback
3. translation devices - not just spoken languages
4. GIS services - everything can be mapped
5. learning devices - extending 'how to' guides
6. travel devices - papers please
7. currency devices - trade, accounting, and asset management on the fly7
8. and who knows what else

Some of these uses are already developed, others are getting more so. 
The point
is we can't pre-determine what these uses will be. Users will build their own
applications. In order to do that they need a device that is configurable. A
laptop will do, although it could very well be something else.

Certainly we will be carrying around with us various smaller electronic 
devices,
but personal computers won't be dissappearing anytime soon.

Bye,
m

Quoting Judd Pickell <pickell at gmail.com>:

> Not sure that it is impractical.. Our house looks like a wall of
> terminals and most offices I worked in were basically overly bulky
> terminals (as users were not allowed to make them their own). Variety
> for the masses comes in their PDAs, iPods, cell phones, etc. But pure
> computer use? nah.. I see it being very much dumb terminal usage
> atleast for the average user. Even if that terminal is a walk around
> tablet like I have seen at a few doctor's offices. They will be using
> to set the tv/movie/music station and doing a quick check of their
> email before climbing into the shower and heading off to work. Or in
> the case of house wives, carrying it into the kitchen and doing the
> quick shopping list, then picking up their blackberry and texting
> their friends if they want to go shopping or swapping schedules.
>
> If the masses really cared about having the variety of uses you are
> talking of, laptops (particularly the small ones) would rule the day.
> As it is Most common unwashed masses are using desktops, not laptops.
> Although the numbers are getting there to support a possible split,
> however those numbers don't really take into account how many are
> actually owning that laptop due to work, or for fun at home.
>
> How long have you been in this industry? Your understandings and
> conclusions seem to lack a more rounded understanding of the working
> world. I have put aside responding many times just chalking things up
> to the "you aren't in the thick of it" so that I don't feel annoyed,
> but this is getting beyond silly. Can you do more than state an
> opinion please? Perhaps explain how you got to the conclusions you are
> coming to? Your responses at time feel almost like they are intended
> to invoke this type of response from those 'old-timers' that make a
> living working in the environment you claim to be unreasonably hard to
> use.
>
> On Thu, Apr 24, 2008 at 9:33 AM,  <sitkaa at email.arizona.edu> wrote:
>> Wubi looks to dispel many problems having to do with linux's first 
>> bug hurdle.
>>  Perhaps this will be a major catalyst to get things moving the 
>> Ubuntu way. And
>>  8.1 is supposed to focus on mobile computing. I s'pose there is 
>> always more to
>>  look for.
>>
>>  It would be nice to see 20 'pre-build's for the top 20 or so laptops
>>  being used.
>>  Perhaps with Wubi and/or continued simplification of the configuration
>>  process,
>>  such a thing would be moot.
>>
>>  Computers are part of the infocom system that holds society together.
>>  They will
>>  be used in a wide variety of ways, from home users to users who 
>> have no homes.
>>  IMO, the idea of a computerless population that only uses 
>> ubiquitous terminals
>>  is just not practical. People are just far too resourceful to put up
>>  with that.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  Quoting Eric Christian <ericdanc at alice-dsl.net>:
>>
>>  > /Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:17:05 -0700
>>  > From: Andrew Ayre <andy at britishideas.com>
>>  > Subject: Re: [Tfug] ubuntu
>>  > To: Tucson Free Unix Group <tfug at tfug.org>
>>  > Message-ID: <480FC371.6060804 at britishideas.com>
>>  > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>>  >
>>  > Huh? What does the proliferation and decentralization of information on
>>  > the internet have to do with linux? I guess I missed something...
>>  >
>>  > /Whatever happened to the idea of the no-computer home user - ultimate
>>  > decentralization, if you will? One just has a terminal or work station
>>  > hooked up to an ISP and somewhere (Unix-, what else?) servers provide
>>  > services.
>>  > Eric
>>  >
>>  >
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