Re: Is Sun sincere about encouraging new Solaris users?
- From: Stefaan A Eeckels <hoendech@xxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 29 Jan 2007 23:24:56 +0100
On 29 Jan 2007 11:39:51 -0800
"Shannon Jacobs" <Shannon.Jacobs.nospam@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
The DVD version of Solaris is not an option because the target
machine is somewhat older and does not have a DVD drive. It's
basically my primary scratch monkey.
DVD drives cost $40 or less. Get one. It's simply not cost-effective for
Sun to spend money on improving the installation of Solaris on old
systems.
I for one wouldn't install a system from a network resource that
doesn't at least require me to log on to save the hassle of installing
a DVD drive.
However, from reviewing the entire discussion, it seems pretty clear
that the answer to my original question is "No, Sun is not sincere
about encouraging new Solaris users."
First, you cannot deduce Sun's intentions from the replies on this
forum.
Second, I believe you're mistaken - Sun wants as many people as
possible to download and run Solaris. What they cannot do is replicate
in a very short space of time what grew up over several years in Linux
(and don't forget, most of the Linux distros spend $0 on the main OS,
they just try to woe users though flashy installation procedures).
Their first target is people with business needs that will consider
buying support, and that category of users is not swayed by sexy
install procedures, unlike the typical Ubuntu user.
I regard that as unfortunate. In spite of the personal ad hominem
attacks mixed into the thread, I think I do appreciate a good OS as
well as or better than most folks. Heaven knows I've suffered with
enough bad ones over the years. However, I also appreciate Larry's
three virtues. Or perhaps I should simply state that I am not a
masochist looking for fresh forms of pain. The evidence is pretty
clear, both from Sun's website and this discussion, that Sun is
indifferent or even hostile towards new users.
That's far too strong a conclusion. It is true that Sun doesn't go out
of its way to duplicate the install procedures of certain Linux
distributions, but given limited time and budget (Sun pays each of its
Solaris developers) they have to make choices. You do not like their
choice because it doesn't satisfy your immediate need (installing from
the network on an old machine that doesn't have a DVD drive), but that
doesn't mean that Sun is indifferent or hostile towards new users, or
isn't sincere in its promotion of Solaris. Of course they are sincere -
what on earth would they have to gain by pretending to promote Solaris?
Sun's decision not to encourage new Solaris users is obviously
reasonable in some ways. One obvious example is that less
sophisticated users will be looking for more help in comparison to
more technically sophisticated people.
I don't think that that is part of the rationale - there have been lots
of improvements to the installation and boot process of Solaris/x86
(Solaris on SPARC has always been a doddle), but if I were to decide
where to spend limited development dollars it would not be on making it
easier for hobby users with outdated systems - that's what I would be
hoping the OpenSolaris community to come up with.
However, I do think it unfortunate that Microsoft's position has
become so strong that no one is even willing and able to seriously
enter the field of battle.
Which, in case you hadn't noticed, isn't installing the OS from the
network, but making sure it's installed on new systems. Given the
stranglehold of Microsoft over the Dells and HPs of this world, it's a
minor miracle that other OSes get installed at all. Here your analysis
is correct - if Solaris wants to compete with Linux for a share of the
Unix desktops, it will have to offer similar (or better) installation
options.
They could have waited 10 more years before waltzing out Vista and it
probably wouldn't have made any difference--but I'm still going to do
my best to never own a Vista machine (though of course I expect to be
inflicted with them at work).
Actually, they're not in a very good position. Vista has proved that
their innovative abilities are so low that releasing even what is (apart
from the DRM mess) only a cosmetic update to XP is a major hurdle. In
the history of Windows they managed only once to offer such a compelling
new version that was really worth to plonk down your shekels for - and
that was Windows95. Since then, as far as the end user is concerned, no
new functionality has been added.
They do need to take a long and hard look at their business model.
Take care,
--
Stefaan A Eeckels
--
A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion,
butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance
accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders,
give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new
problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight
efficiently, die gallantly.
Specialization is for insects. -- Robert A. Heinlein
.
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- From: Shannon Jacobs
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