Of Linux advocacy in the real world

For those of you who are unfamiliar with such a thing, there are people thatfeel really strongly about their computers. Since you're reading this, Iassume you feel pretty strongly about Windows. I do. However, I try not tosee the world through Redmond-colored glasses. That's why WinInfo iscritical of Microsoft when they deserve it. However, there are always goingto be those who religiously back their favorite system, regardless of thelogic. Back over the years, we've seen this with the Amiga, OS/2, and theMacintosh (heck, there's probably still a guy out there somewhere who thinkshis 68K-based Amiga 500 with 2 floppies can out-multitask a today'sPentiums. You go boy!). And for those who are interested in this sort ofmindless cheerleading, the sites and newsletters are out there too. I won'tname names. They're pretty obvious.

Today, however, the Linux community wears that championship belt of crazedadvocacy.

And no, I don't mean all of the Linux community. Many people on WinInfo areLinux fans and most of them are very reasoned in their defense of Linux. I'mnot criticizing Linux, so put that poison email down for a second. In caseyou're missing the point here, I've actually been using Linux since the fallof 1995. I think it's important to understand that this OS is, indeed, areal threat to Windows, both on the server and the desktop. It really isthat good, and its only getting better. So there, now you know how I feelabout Linux.

But that's not important, or at least it shouldn't be. Linux has nowprogressed/regressed to the point where a member of the media will getattacked--and this is guaranteed--any time they publish an article that iscritical of Linux. Even one that is deserved.

So yesterday's story, "OS survey: Linux not ready, tests show NT outperformsit," generated the expected onslaught of email. Two important points thatcame out of this:

So what do we conclude from this information? The sarcastic among us simplylaugh off the Microsoft sponsorship and move on. In fact that's howSlashdot.org handled the story: Rather than report on this study, theysimply mentioned the results, asked whether anyone had any criticism of thetest, and let the floodgates open. Within hours, hundreds of pro-Linux usershad flung their opinions onto the Web site conference boards. But who caresabout opinion? What really happened here?

The fact that Microsoft sponsored such a test doesn't invalidate it. I mean,the test did happen, right? Those hardware setups are pretty standard,aren't they?

As for the whole Linux vs. NT thing, I'd also mention that it's possible tocreate charts and graphs that show anything you'd like. Previous tests, likethis one, should fall under the same scrutiny. No one seemed surprised whenLinux beat NT earlier, but why? Isn't that a little surprising? I think itis.

Perhaps most importantly, I was simply reporting on this phenomenon, notendorsing it. If you take the time to actually read what it is that I sayabout this situation ("the sudden rise of Linux as a media darling" and "avariety of reports [now suggest] that Linux may not be all that it's crackedup to be", etc.) you'll see that I was simply struck by the fact that thesethree critical reports of Linux--from D. H. Brown Associates, Fortune, andMindcraft--all appeared within a few days of each other. In case you'rewondering, I had the D. H. Brown and Fortune reports sitting on thesidelines for a few days and wasn't sure they were worth it until theMindcraft report came in. Then it all clicked: This is the inevitablebacklash that accompanies anything successful. Now that's a story.

A few weeks ago, I reported on Bill Gates' comments about Linux. I didn'tadd my own opinion to this story, but simply reported what he said. Ireceived over 100 emails from Linux fans and a story in Slashdot as thanks(and that mention generated about 1000 responses on their Web site, some ofwhich were unnecessary personal attacks on me, go figure). Folks, I'mreporting the news here, not inventing it. I'm just asking for the standard"don't shoot the messenger" qualification here.

The Linux community is in a dangerous spot right now. A few years ago, rabid"Team OS/2" members were almost single-handedly responsible for ruining thereputation of their favorite OS, as IBM did everything it could to"unmarket" the product. And the Macintosh community, with its Mac Marinesand "Rumors" Web sites, knows the perils of fanatical advocacy all too well.Hopefully, the Linux community will realize the problems with this approachand just fight the good fight: They've got a great OS going for them. I onlyhope its more fanatical users don't screw it up for everyone.

If you wrote in about the Linux article, consider this your response. Thereis no way I can get to all of the email I received about this and get anywork done, I'm sorry.

--Pau