RE: vector-based drawing tool that runs on Linux/UNIX

Subject: RE: vector-based drawing tool that runs on Linux/UNIX
From: "Humbird, LenX" <lenx -dot- humbird -at- intel -dot- com>
To: "'TECHWR-L'" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Wed, 24 May 2000 11:23:34 -0700

Bruce, thanks for your reply.

Regarding the points you made...

Point #1, I do realize that most people are slaves to their employment
environment and generally cannot pick and choose their tools. This is a
business decision, just as it would be to choose the optimum tools.

Regarding point #2, I do realize that not all designers completely
understand their work environment and toolset, whether it be the OS, app, or
subject matter. In this business, everyone must constantly learn - or become
a relic.

I believe I am fundamentally aware of your point #4, but from a different
perspective. I was a Mac enthusiast during the early years, and still am to
some degree. Not simply because of personal preference, but because I
believe in the philosophy behind its creation. It's not perfect; it's not
the market leader; and there's a lot of things it doesn't do well.

I do believe I understand the points you made. I simply choose not to buy-in
to the rhetoric about the "PC-only" shop at every decision point. I make my
point to management about what I think is the best course of action, defend
my position, and in most cases, I lose the argument. Either way, the outcome
will probably not be death and disaster. And I can always jump ship if I
dislike it that much.

And I do believe you missed my main point: when you are in the market to buy
something, to simply look for a feature list is inefficient - unless you
start with:
1. Clearly understanding what you need to accomplish (the job)
2. Finding out what will get the job done (the app software)
3. Knowing what infrastructure is needed to facilitate the process (the OS
and hardware).

That's the ideal world. Most people (and companies) have baggage, such as an
old PC, a line-printer and a drafting board (I'm exaggerating for dramatic
effect). If you want to integrate that into your plan, then don't let me
stop you. But I contend that you'll be limiting your options, you'll
probably update your hardware infrastructure anyway, and it will cost you
buckets of time. If your decisions are based on sound business principles, I
contend that you'll probably be better off than mindlessly choosing
Microsoft and Intel because everyone else does.

Fascination of a philosophy/religious movement - such as Linux - may cost
your company more in the long run just as shareware does: it's retraining,
quality issues, usability issues, support issues, maintenance issues, and
the endless beta testing factor. Yes, there is some degree of that in the
commercial world.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bruce Byfield [mailto:bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com]
> Subject: RE: vector-based drawing tool that runs on Linux/UNIX
>
> "Humbird, LenX" <lenx -dot- humbird -at- intel -dot- com> wrote
> >Get the job done with the right tool regardless of the other
> >qualifications and chances are it'll get done faster and cheaper.
>
> There's a few things you don't seem to understand:
>
> 1.) Not everyone has full control over the OS or tools that they
> use.
>
> 2.) Many people are just discovering Linux. They don't know much
> about what's available.
>
> 3.) Although many proprietary Linux tools exist, even more open
> source ones exist. [...]
>
> 4.) [...] Linux is not just an OS. It's also a philosophy [...]
> the tool or the OS (or, rather, what license it is
> release under) becomes extremely important. Many will even use a
> tool that isn't as fully featured in preference to an advanced
> proprietary tool.
>
> You may think these ideas are ridiculous. [...] However, they are
> real, and I suggest that any ideology that can mount a challenge
> to Microsoft at least deserves respect (personally, I find them
> fascinating).





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