Monday, June 27, 2011

My answer to Ubuntu's Unity Desktop Critics

My answer to Ubuntu's Unity Desktop Critics

It looks like Ubuntu Linux has given lot of heartaches to its fan base.
I only use Ubuntu for demonstration of Linux versatility.
I am bit different compared to other Linux uses.
When I demonstrate Ubuntu I always say "Linux is not only Ubuntu".
My point is to state that there are over 100 lovely Linux distributions for one to try.

Unlike the majority I strongly support the canonical's new move to Unity.
I will only state one out of the many reasons.
Because of the smart move by Microsoft to give XP to OEM guys with netbooks, practically free, Linux could not penetrate netbooks.

If Ubuntu does not penetrate emerging tabloids market another opportunity will be lost..
Linux will be ahead of both Mac and Microsoft (Like the Android of Google) because of this move of Unity.
It is a smart move by the Ubuntu creator Mark Shuttleworth.
Only smart people will survive in this game.

I think ones who had come from Microsoft base will spread this negative publicity with hidden agenda but young and newbies will embrace Unity without reservation.
Time will be best judge whether what I say will materializes.

Ubuntu has to do one small thing right to shut the negative campaign.
Give them both options in a single DVD (two images for the prize of one, old and the new Unity) and I am sure they also will embrace Unity in no time.
I believe they already give this option and if thereis any problem Mint is there to fill the void.
Having said that Big Brother or the Good Father Debian will be is there to take the free open software to another level without anybody noticing it.
That is why I support many distributions.
For example Porteus (SLAX) base has done a excellent job without much funfair.
It is one of the best (KDE, LXDE) little distribution that has hit the market.
It is a little gem.

Marketing and Labelling or is it Cheating?

Marketing and Labelling or is it Cheating?
There are many ways we can poison ourselves.
Just drop into a supermarket, rest assured, one is able buy an assortment of poisons home from vegetable to bottled water to drinks.
Basically biologically and chemical but in some instances physical which include radiation in contaminated coal imported for power plant.
 Beware those who live around power plant. in any case land value and house value of the houses will go down in proportion to how close it to the plant except for ones who have no choice but to live there.
I will be brief here and deal with the supermarkets.
Just yesterday, i went to a supermarket in Kandy and wanted to buy a soft drink.

 My first problem was they do not store item in an organized way.
I was looking for a particular Sri-Lankan brand but I could not find it.
With hot and dry condition even within the supermarket, I could not wait till go home and drink some plain water.
So, I browsed, rather scanned through all the shelves and found a cool tea brand for RS 50/= and fruit brand of the same company price was over Rs.100/=.
I have never seen this brand and I wanted to see the contents and where it is produced.

I could not find whether it was marketed or produced in what country.

The  expiry date was there with very small font and my poor eyesight I could not read it properly since the letters were on font 5 (even a child won't be able to read it).
I got a service girl and a shelf manger and then the manager of the floor to tell me exactly what the information is.
They could not.
I asked if not Ceylon why can't the put SIRI LANKA on the bottle.
Are they ashamed to state it not from SIRI LANKA?

Bottom line is the exporters were cheating us to the tune of millions.
Mind you the expiry date was stuck with a label to cover most probably the label on which the expiry date printed in the country of origin (date probably passed).
An imported stuff from some godforsaken nearby country and all the information was missing except for a email printed in very small letters.
I was so annoyed I left the place without buying anything and when I glanced through the cold chain area I could count at least 4 varieties of flies not seen in Kandy but imported from Colombo with the foods stuff.

I think it is time for us to say good bye for good before we get poisoned including arsenic (the latest discovery) and start growing our food in tea pots.

Read my entry Poisoning the Nation, too.