Readers here have followed some of my struggles as I learned Linux. Linux is wonderfully stable, but the obscurity of the interface, especially when setting up and running server apps, really limits the utility of the OS for casual users like me.

An example: I struggled for better part of a day setting up my Linux firewall. Once up it stayed up for a year, no problem. But when I needed to make changes, it was back to the HOW-TOs to re-learn everything I'd forgot. In the meantime, the apps had all revved and there was a ton of new stuff - like new prefs directories - to learn

By contrast, VicomSoft Internet Gateway for Mac OS X took 15 minutes to set up with it's nice GUI and setup Wizard. I'm still working to get BIND up on OS X via the command line (the version in Mac OS X has many changes from the versions I last set up in Linux), but it's nice to have the choice to buy an easy-to-use commercial product (when I don't have time) or to use robust, free software (when I do).

Comments 3:25:14 PM    

Chris Gulker's view from Silicon Valley - in words and pictures