Just out of curiosity, I decided to try a few Linux distros to see if there was one that really stood out, for me anyway. I didn't really like any of them and because my last 15 years at work was spent mainly on Unix boxes, and I HATED the s/ware, I realised that Linux is not my bag. I don't find Unix/Linux easy to learn or easy to run with. I was an engineer with electro-mechanical accounting machines - clonkitybonk stuff. When electronic kit began to really make a difference to computing I was moved into mainframe computing and lots of different s/ware systems followed. I didn't get into PCs until about 1996 and DOS was ok. But Microsoft made all the difference to me and millions of others who didn't really want to "waste time" keying in commands. (After all it's a computer ain't it? It should know what I want!) I worked on the very early NT and thought that NTFS was very good.

What is really wanted by most of the business IMO is a good journaling system that can be automatically switched off when running programs that don't need the security - like games - and 64/128 bits, so that it can take care of developments in encryption/security. Naturally a good clean and TOTALLY configurable GUI that should give everyone the opportunity to have the "face" of their computer look how they want it. I love Windows 98 for its clear clean lines and detest XP for the cluttered look that can't be configured completely to how I want it. XP is also so bloated that it's far too much for most inexperienced users and not required for the family PC. But Linux is too fragile at present to take over the family PC where various inexperienced users would soon destroy the filesystem with their actions. All of my Linux "trials" brought back that old command line Unix feeling that I loath and the GUIs are a bit flakey, so I'm still chugging along with 98/2000 but waiting for something better, and Linux isn't going to be the thing. Not for me anyway.

What a rant. Sorry if it's a load of rubbish. It's my age.