"caver1" <caver1@inthemud.org> wrote in message
news:48508a2d$0$4262$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> jim wrote:
>> "caver1" <caver1@inthemud.org> wrote in message
>> news:485084a4$0$4250$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>>> jim wrote:
>>>> I have been chatting with people about my frustration with getting
>>>> simple stuff to work "out-of-the-box" with Linux.
>>>>
>>>> Things like simply plugging into a network and being able to browse XP
>>>> folders on a peer to peer XP network (that means no server and no
>>>> authentication needed) that are not password protected. Still don't
>>>> have an answer to that one....
>>>>
>>>> But, yesterday, I ran into a shining example of one reason that FOSS
>>>> will never work for small business (which is MUST to be able to
>>>> legitimately challenge Microsoft's monopoly).
>>>>
>>>> While I was testing some software in a Linux environment, I came across
>>>> an area in which it would not work as advertised by the authors. I
>>>> raised some polite concern (really...I was polite) about the problem in
>>>> a user forum specific to this software, only to be told politely to
>>>> rtfm.
>>>>
>>>> I re-rtfm. The problem persisted, so I raised my concerns again.
>>>> Again I was told to rtfm. Again I re-rtfm and returned with the same
>>>> questions that were unanswered by the manual.
>>>>
>>>> This time I was politely informed where I could reach the authors of
>>>> the software. I went there and we went through the whole rtfm, re-rtfm
>>>> loop another 2 or three times until they finally asked to see my data.
>>>> I sent them my data files.
>>>>
>>>> In about an hour, they confirmed that there was a problem. Great! Now
>>>> they'll jump right on it - because everyone wants their code to work
>>>> like they say it will, right?
>>>>
>>>> Well, not really. I offered to help where I could (sacrificing a goat,
>>>> providing beer or money) but was told that the only help needed was to
>>>> fix the code. Unfortunately for me, I don't know C coding - so I am
>>>> SOL.
>>>>
>>>> Small businesses (which are 90+% of all businesses) are called "small
>>>> businesses" because they are small. This generally means no in-house
>>>> programmers. So, small businesses are at the mercy of the coders that
>>>> provide the software that they run on.
>>>>
>>>> In this instance, I am at the mercy of these coders.
>>>>
>>>> As nice as they are, this "I'll get to it when I can" attitude is just
>>>> not acceptable to small businesses. They lose market share. They lose
>>>> customers and they lose money when software doesn't work as advertised
>>>> in tfm.
>>>>
>>>> This is why FOSS just doesn't work for the majority of businesses
>>>> (which are small businesses).
>>>>
>>>> While I move on to look for proprietary sources to replace the broken
>>>> open sourced software, I am again reminded that the FOSS movement still
>>>> "just doesn't get it" where small business is concerned.
>>>>
>>>> If it doesn't affect your earning a living or some other important
>>>> aspect of your life, FOSS may be just fine. But, if its important, its
>>>> important enough to pay to have it done right and supported.
>>>>
>>>> jim
>>>
>>>
>>> Why don't you preach to you're believers. After all you really don't
>>> want the truth.
>>> I have no problem with Linux cooperating with MS. But try to get MS to
>>> cooperate with Linux that's another story.I really think you need to
>>> talk to Dennis, Hadron, and Jeff Glatt.
>>> I do have my own "small business" and have had for 30 years.
>>> Go some where where someone wants to listen to you.
>>> caver1
>>
>> I'm willing to listen and I have tried everything I have been told to
>> try.
>>
>> Do YOU have the answer to getting a clean install of Linux to connect to
>> XP shares (that are not passworded) on a peer to peer XP network?
>>
>> I'm listening.....
>>
>> jim
>
>
>
> Why don't you ask MS why they won't cooperate with Linux. The only times I
> had problems was with MS sharing with Linux not Linux sharing with MS.
> I have always found it easier to share between Linux machines than between
> MS machines. Connect a MS machine to a Linux network and Linux lets MS see
> the network. Connect a Linux machine to a MS network and you have to work
> to get the MS network to let the Linux machine in.
> So is it Linux or MS?
> Go preach to your own believers. :Q
> caver1
> caver1

You could have just said that you didn't know.

jim