In comp.os.linux.advocacy, AHappyCamper
<>
wrote
on Tue, 09 Oct 2007 09:55:26 -0400
<470b8852$0$15384$4c368faf@roadrunner.com>:
> Oxford wrote:
>> George Graves <gmgraves2@comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Could a company like, for instance, Adobe, release a single shrink-wrapped
>>> fully compiled version of its applications marked "For Linux" and have it
>>> install as easily on ALL modern Linux distributions as it now does on PCs or
>>> Macs? If so, then you're right. But that begs another question. If all the
>>> distros are that alike, why haven't any of the major software publishers
>>> released any of their applications on Linux?.
>>
>> from my understanding Linux simply doesn't have a modern enough
>> foundation to support high level apps like PhotoShop, InDesign, etc.
>>
>> they'd have to do a lot of software kludges to make a Linux versions
>> work correctly and since the Linux market is so tiny compared to the Mac
>> one in the creative fields they simply can't afford do it.
>>
>> Same for all other professional level apps, like Office, iLife, AutoCad,
>> etc. Their approach is too fractured and hard to support is the other
>> issue. Wish it was different, but unless they "focus", they will never
>> be a serious contender.
>
> But, Linux sure does a great job on Mars,
??
AFAIK not in use on Mars I'm having problems locating it but
it's probably a specialized affair. They might be on use
here on Earth for talking to the Martian rovers, though.
http://research.microsoft.com/~mbj/Mars_Pathfinder/Authoritative_Account.html
is an accounting of a problem with the Mars Pathfinder,
which is admittedly the best I can do at the moment.
The file system is probably a variant of FAT (with wire
reports suggesting it is "DOS" -- silly groundlings, they
can't get cyberspace quite right
).
> on the Shuttle,
Ditto. The Shuttle computers would have been outpaced by
a 386, but are rad-hardened and very reliable (and check
each other's operations thousands of times a second).
One hopes they're whisker-free as well, in the future --
an issue that is beginning to surface with the elimination
of lead in the soldier. Bizarre.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solder#Lead-free_solder
Anyway, Google coughed up
http://klabs.org/DEI/Processor/shuttle/
which among other things specifies a high-level language
specification (HAL/S) for the GPC units, and pictures of
the boards therein (with chips clearly marked "SINGER" and
"TORWICO", along with some smaller chips with the Texas
Instruments logo). No doubt HAL/S could easily be adapted
to Linux, but it is not the most exciting of languages,
apart from its being used on actual space hardware.
The syntax reminds me of an odd mixture of BASIC and PASCAL
(or maybe BASIC and FORTH), but also has macros and can
do matrix algebra.
> in NASA space
> programs,
I'll admit to some curiosity as to the newer spacecraft,
at this point. If Linux can be used in ASUS, it certainly
could be adapted for use on various hardware launched
into space.
> at the NSA,
http://www.nsa.gov/selinux
> for Google,
Internally. Some Google offerings such as Sketch still
assume Windows. Mixed bag, to say the least.
> in the FBI, CIA, DOT/FAA, and DOE.
Probably mixed.
>
> The majority of top 500 clustering computers run GNU/Linux.
>
> Most ISPs offer webspace on GNU/Linux servers.
Dunno about that specifically Earthlink, however, does state
it's running Apache on Unix.
> Microsoft leases 15,000
> Akamai Linux Servers to protect Microsoft.com, MSN.com.
>
> Microsoft runs all firewall/routers on Aruba Linux boxes.
>
> The National Weather Service uses Linux for forecasting, and to simulate
> storm development.
>
> For the much larger and very professional government and military
> applications, simulators, weapons systems, GNU/Linux is the answer.
It is *an* answer...clearly a very good one, at this point.
FreeBSD might be a better answer for some applications,
though I can't specifically state precisely why. With
the buzz surrounding Linux, FreeBSD might very well go
invisible, which would be unfortunate (after all, Linux
needs competition too!
)
>
> I would categorize that as very professional use of an OS!
>
> Go ahead and compartmentalize the proprietary programs you are familiar
> with, into the little pidgeon holes your brain envisions.
>
> Others of us have no limits and no boundries. We use the proper tools
> for the job, and most PR hype is not about competent achievement of
> strategic goals, but is about selling snake oil to ignorant masses of
> folks who want to be popular with their peer group.
>
> CEOs, CTOs, who are competent have this awareness. Twelve Microsoft
> servers, with record 'up times' of 12 days do not even compete with a
> single GNU/Linux, or BSD, server, that replaces that Microsoft server,
> and the GNU/Linux or BSD server runs maintenance free for a year or more.
There are Windows servers with an uptime of several years.
fp002.crayfish.net is running Windows 2000, and apparently
has been up for more than 4 years.
www.root102.co.uk
with Win2003 has been up for more than 4 years as well.
Granted, it is far from clear whether the system in this
case includes a load distributor, and there are systems
running FreeBSD and BSD/OS that have been running even
longer.
Linux, regrettably, does not make the cut.
http://uptime.netcraft.com/up/today/top.avg.html
>
> There are some in the colleges, Universities, academies, and hospitals,
> here.
>
> As the Amish say: Trust in the Lord, but, tie up your horses!
>
>
>
> Competent, reliable, secure are key words used with and about GNU/Linux.
Certainly more than Windows, in general.
--
#191,
ewill3@earthlink.net
Windows Vista. It'll Fix Everything(tm).
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