[Precisionix-General] Re: Name change
- From: "Fergus Allan" <f_w_allan@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <precisionix-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:58:53 -0000
Who is Chinese on this group? How many people?
Off memory about 6 years ago (maybe more) the Chinese government started a
project for linux. This was also part of a ploy to get lower Windows
prices, but also, a serious use of linux. Lots of governments are seriously
looking at linux. The French police and a few others have already migrated
to it. (It was the same year Bill Gates visited downing street or there
abouts).
Remember there are 1.2B Chinese people, and a lot of very good programmers
within that community. They are already Chinese distros of linux - but I
cant read CJK (alright I know about 5 symbols out of a very large number).
There are some weaknesses in linux, here is my list:
1: The linux community has a habit of trying to emulate the features
in Windows. Its worst features.
2: The installation process is still poor, and very slow compared to
Windows XP.
3: The performance is slow in a lot of respects.
4: Installing software is a nightmare compared to windows. I can
often install small programs on windows. Linux tends to have very large
dependencies.
5: The interdependencies in linux software is excessive. Its the
biggest failure area, and I have frequently encountered circular
dependencies or version incompatibilities.
I installed freebsd 4.4 some time ago. I almost fell off my chair how fast
it is. I installed 6. Its as slow as the rest.
I don’t know why the modern distros have become so slow. Remember, these
used to run on 486 processors.
Something else to throw into the mix, I used to have an Amiga 1000. (Still
got it actually). It's power supply is 25 watts(input) and was produced
around 1984.
Even my super latest Intel 8300 laptop has a power supply of 150W (input).
This does not even take into account improvements in rectifying electricity,
so the computer end would be worse.
I think there needs to be a clear set of objectives.
Sorting out the packages and dependencies would be an excellent step, but
given the efforts else where, I think its a difficult problem.
Fergus
-----Original Message-----
From: precisionix-general-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:precisionix-general-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Robert
O'Callahan
Sent: 14 August 2008 05:32
To: precisionix-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Precisionix-General] Name change
Andrew asked me to join this to suggest new names for the project. I
think a linux distro could distinguish itself by courting Chinese
desktop users. Right now, all (generalizations are generally accurate
for the Chinese) Chinese desktop users run pirated copies of Windows.
While, their government's claims that they are cracking down on piracy
are unlikely, I think it still is an untapped linux desktop market.
Just package emule, skype, and msn (all Chinese use these programs）
compatible clients along with out-of-box tor, decent CJK fonts, and
SCIM/SKIM, and it would be an easy sell as superior to Windows. This
is the largest untapped Linux market. There would be some conflict
over being unsanctioned by their government, but this just means our
distro will be distrod via emule.
This could still be a multilingual-supporting distro, but attracting
Chinese users would be an easy way to make it successful.
I don't care much for the name PrescioNix. I suggest Inschato, since
everyone who I've ever mentioned that string to has commented how
catchy it is. If you guys are interested in the Chinese tack, I
suggest Kuai Long (Fast Dragon).
-Rob
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