quote:
Originally posted by choasmaster:
i really really really like windowmaker, and for toystory, i love that movie
Yeah, I finally got to watch Toy Story 2 last night; kind of a coincidence, huh?
Anyway, I'd like a clarification about the project.
It's pretty much a given that this project is oriented toward businss applications n a professional level. That is most likely the biggest hurdle that Linux has to get over before there is general acceptance of Linux as a viable alternative to a commercial O.S. (read: Windows). I think that everybody involved can agree on that point.
My question is this: Do we want to create a suite of apps that consist of native Linux apps that are capable of daily use on a commercial level, and where such apps don't exist, use an emulation app to run Windows programs under Linux to complete the suite.
OR:
Create a suite of native Linux applications that cover ALL commercial applications, including word processing, accounting, scientific applications, technical applications, etc.?
The reason I ask this is kind of hard to explain, but if you've got the time to read this drivel, I'll continue.
Sleeping Dog has mentioned, on a couple of occasions, applications that seem to be oriented toward the machining industry, specifically CAD and CNC; well, this is an area close to my heart, I've worked in the industry for about 35 years, both as a machinist and now, as a Q.C. tech. At the moment, I'm working for a manufacturer of aircraft hydraulic controls in upstate N.Y. We are currently incorporating a product line from a recent aquisition which will require a major change in our manufacturing capabilities. My current assignment is to calibrate all the gages from this aquisition, and incorporate them into our ISO 9001 tracking system. My (personal) concern is one of my most important calibration tools. a Pratt & Whitney Model C Supermicrometer.
This device uses a DOS-based recording program that will only run on WIN95A or older. This is becoming a concern to me, because Pratt & Whitney has no plans to upgrade their program; they are eliminating the Model C from their product line. There are THOUSANDS of these in use, but they will soon be obsoleted, not because they can't do the job any longer, but because the software that operates them can't be updated. It strikes me that this isn't an isolated case. I think that there are a huge number of perfectly capable machining tools that only lack software to be productive pieces of equipment.
While my specific problem is something I'll be able to deal with, it strikes me that Linux proponants are missing out on a great opportunity. Maybe it might be a good idea to look in that direction for our project; wouldn't it be great to offer an inexpensive solution to small manufacturing operations that would allow them to continue to use equipment that is mechanically in good shape, but lacks software to be usable? That would be a hell of an incentive to switch to open source, wouldn't it?
