[ale] Again with the filesystem recovery SOLUTION?

[Michael D. Hirsch]

On Tuesday 28 January 2003 07:41 pm, Sean Kilpatrick wrote:
> On Tue, 28 Jan 2003 00:55:14 -0500 (EST), John Wells wrote:
> >Kinda the way I look at Windows/Linux.  With Windows, you can jump
> > right in and it has enough safety features in place that you probably
> > will be able to develop some level of comfort rather easily.  Windows
> > is an economy car.  Linux, otoh, is the M5 of the popular operating
> > systems on the market: fast, efficient, and potentially dangerous, if
> > you don't understand what you're doing.
>
> Nice analogy.  I see Winbloze as a consumer-level pickup truck. Does
> just fine for light duty hauling and Joe Blow can probably drive it
> off the dealer's lot without problem. Linux is the 18-wheeler. Doesn't
> have all the latest bells and whistles, but it is what you need for
> heavy duty hauling. It does come with an extensive list of features
> (unknown and unneeded for a desktop Win OS) that make life much easier
> when moving around tons of stuff.
> Driver's ed is mandatory. Joe Blow shouldn't be allowed behind the wheel
> of one without careful training; he's far too likely to tear up the
> equipment. <grin>

I hate this analogy.  I think Windows is a car cast in a solib block of 
metal so there is no way to get under the hood.  It gets about 25 mpg.  
It'll get you there and the most commonly used controls are in reasonable 
places.  The uncommon controls are hidden under seats and inside the glove 
compartment.  You are in danger of crashing if you use them while driving.  
Of course, it has air bags, but they often deploy randomly or not at all.

Traditional UNIX is a Mac truck with lots of little controls for doing each 
little thing.  There is a left turn steering wheel and a right turn 
steering wheel.  Use them both to go straight.  There are 4 brake 
levers--one for each wheel.  You need a special license for this.

Desktop Linux, like Mandrake, attempts to be like the Windows car but made 
out of components instead of cast solid.  You can open the hood if you 
like.  The controls are placed similarly to the ones in the Windows car, 
but they don't do quite the same thing.  Many of the hidden controls from 
Windows are exposed.  It has antilock brakes, which work very well, but no 
airbag.

Embedded Linux is a small little Morris Minor.  It's cute and does what it 
is supposed to do, but you can't use it for hauling.

Gentoo is the sports car.  It is screamingly fast, but you'd better know 
what you are doing.

The problem is that a lot of people want the desktop Linux world, but when 
they complain about the lack of airbags are told that they shouldn't drive 
a sports car, or Mac truck, without proper training.  While true, that 
answer is irrelevant.  

Computers are for enhancing human capabilities.  They should anticipate our 
needs, whenever possible, and let me get my work done.  

Michael
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