ubuntu-hams team mailing list archive

[Nate Bargmann <n0nb@xxxxxxx>]

* On 2011 15 Sep 09:33 -0500, Steve Conklin wrote:
> There's a really nice mention of Ubuntu in the October QST "Eclectic
> Technology" column by Steve Ford, WB8IMY. It's on page 86 and titled
> "You've come a long way, Ubuntu".
> 
> He specifically mentions using fldigi, and by his description it's
> obvious he's running Unity.

It's obvious from his first few paragraphs that he seemed to expect a
Linux distribution to be a bug-for-bug drop-in replacement for Windows.
Was that a failure on his part to investigate it thoroughly or the
larger community's failure with advocacy?  I tell people that Linux is
its own system with its own way of doing things, but that various
applications will work in a familiar way.

At least he presents a compelling case for the curious in his column.  I
am curious how he arrived at the 2% number for hams using Linux.  We
really have no way of knowing.  General computer forums on sites like
QRZ.com have a majority of Windows content, but a fair amount of Linux
and Mac OS/X threads exist to the point that they would seem to make up
more than 2%.

Also, on support lists we only see those who have problems.  It's likely
that we never see anything from those who successfully install and learn
their chosen distribution.  I think that programs such as CQRlog now
make Linux a platform of choice for hams.  I'm learning the darker
corners of CQRlog and am impressed by its capability.  My thanks to you,
Steve, for working with Petr and Martin to get it ready for packaging
and to Kamal for packaging it and the other ham software for Ubuntu, its
derivatives, Debian, and its derivatives.  Its your hard work that
reflects well in Steve's column.

73, de Nate >>

-- 

"The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all
possible worlds.  The pessimist fears this is true."

Ham radio, Linux, bikes, and more: http://www.n0nb.us