Open Source and Free Software

Then, as they gave it a try, I watched as the Linux 'ecosystem' repeatedly undermined their ability to understand and use it. Even as late as 2009, Firefox could not use some of the more important pages on eBay (like label printing) while running under Linux (actually, Ubuntu). Then KDE became unusable. Then Gnome did. All the while I hoped the ability to control all of the hardware that came with my system would someday materialize.

I got maybe 15 people to enthusiastically try switching over to Linux desktops, and only 3 continued using it. Those 3 were all advanced technicians. Everyone else rejected it within a space of about 2-16 weeks.

The FOSS OS people demand standards all the time: formats, interfaces, etc. They want them for the benefit of their hacker pursuits. As soon as the idea of creating a standardized, core GUI that everyone can use as a starting point is broached, the 'freedom' rhetoric is deployed and nothing will be settled.

Debian getting a talking installer is kind of a joke, IMO. As soon as the OS is installed and running normally is the moment the visually impaired have to start wondering if audio cues are being silenced by the still-awful audio architecture. Normal operation is not proper operation when it comes to Linux desktops, and that doesn't even account for what happens after you pair a Bluetooth audio device (extra heaps of hilarity are served up).

I gave a FLYING FUCK. You would do people a much bigger favor pointing them to Android.