[ILUG] Naive ADSL/WiFi questions (long (sorry!))?

[Rory Byrne]

Sorry for not trimming this - it's all fairly relevant.

On Fri, Jun 22, 2007 at 11:05:59AM +0100, Ian O'Connell wrote:
> I don't see where your getting this idea of a dependency on windows
> from? As Tim says, why delete something that came with the laptop? its
> there 'just in case', its like saying i've a dependency on an
> airbag,yet it doesn't influence my life at all, i don't drive any
> more, faster or otherwise because of it. But it might come in handy
> some day so i don't see the point in ripping it out of my car so it
> can be a tiny bit lighter and thus more fuel efficent.
> 

I have no problem back-tracking on my use of the word 'dependency'. We
can call it 'insurance' if you like. This wasn't an attempt to
stigmatise Tim, so if that is the way it came across, I apologise.

I think there are a number of valid reasons for removing a windows
parition. These are just some that spring to mind:

1. You don't need windows now, nor do you believe that you will ever
   need it. To hang onto it "just in case" is to act like someone who 
   hoard's stuff. Hording is a preference. Other people prefer to 
   ruthlessly dispose of anything that they believe they won't use 
   again. Both types of behaviour are common and generally accepted.

2. More hard disk space (certainly relevant on laptops).

3. Peer recognition. Achieving a windows-free environment would be
   considered an accomplishment in certain circles.

4. Good training. Being able to support an environment with no windows
   whatsoever is a worthwhile goal in my book. Living without windows 
   on a daily basis will train you in what you need to know. 

5. Remove the temptation of the path of least resistance. For those of
   us with less will-power than we might want, throwing ourselves in at
   the deep end is often a good strategy for learning what we would like
   to learn. 

   It wasn't always so easy to get stuff done on Linux as it is today.
   Maybe you just wanted to rip a selection of tracks from a bunch of 
   CDs and create a compilation CD. Might take you 1 hour to do on windows 
   or 20 hours to learn how to do it on Linux. It's much easier to choose
   path B when there is no such choice :-)

6. Lifesytle. It's what you want for yourself. It's part of how you see
   yourself. You're confident that you can handle any problems that comes 
   your way so you just fucking do it! 

Perhaps you don't think these are particularly good reasons. That's
fine: they are based largely on preferences and so they are unlikely to
resonate with everyone. The point here is that there are solid reasons 
for getting rid of that parition, reasons for wanting to maintain a
windows-free environment.

Given that there are valid reasons. there is no justification for
suggesting that someone is fanatical/over-zealous/irrational simply 
because they choose to delete this windows partition or because they
strive to maintain a windows-free environment. This was my understanding
of Tim's position.