[OT] Test run of 2009/05/25 image

[Mikus Grinbergs]

>> I think that people who focus on "slimming" the OLPC are missing the
>> point.  What they end up with is a slow, small Linux system.
> 
> Are you seriously considering the implications of your statement?
> 
> If slimming ends up on a slow small GNU/Linux system, then *not* slimming
> ends up with a slower and bloated GNU/Linux system.

Yes, I am seriously considering the implications of my statement.

My motivation for starting this thread was to go on record as 
preferring that people "add to" what they believe the OLPC can do 
well, rather than "subtract from" what has been done so far because 
aspects of the OLPC's behavior do not meet their expectations.

Given that 'netbooks' are already outselling the OLPC, and that in 
my opinion the development resources available to the producers of 
netbook systems far exceed the resources of organizations producing 
the OLPC, I think trying to sell the OLPC in competition with 
netbook systems will fail.  Sooner or later, netbooks will cost less 
than the OLPC, while outperforming the OLPC, whether slimmed or not.

My concern is that, even when offered with a non-Sugar interface,
the OLPC __as a GNU/Linux system__ ( or as a Windows system !) will 
be non-competitive.  Therefore I would rather have thought be given 
by those working on the OLPC to how it can be made to 'stand out' 
from other small systems, instead of thought being devoted to fit 
the OLPC into a "me too" mold.  Let's not get sidetracked.

> 
>> For those who think the OLPC *is* suited to
>> the environments in which it is being deployed - let's work on developing
>> OLPC-scale applications to assist 'the things people do' wherever such
>> "computerization" could improve matters.
> 
> Then what's your problem, man? :)

My problem is that a number of people want to change the OLPC to 
improve the way it does things __that other systems already do__. 
If there are other systems that work (better) with "square pegs", 
why fashion the OLPC to be "square"?  Think "round".


mikus