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posted by martyb on Tuesday October 27 2015, @11:57PM   Printer-friendly
from the if-some-is-good-then-too-much-is-not-enough? dept.

Bruce Byfield's Blog on Linux Magazine explores the upgrade treadmill.

Byfield relates an old comic by Christiann MacAuley that depicts how Linux, Windows, and Mac users relates to a pop-up announcement saying: "An Update is Available for Your Computer".

The Linux user is enthusiastic, the Windows user groans, and the Mac user is glad it will only cost him $99.

One reason for switching to Linux used to be to get off the forced upgrades path common to proprietary software. Yet Linux users seem to have kept the urge to upgrade, even when the necessity was removed. Even when security fixes are back ported, to Long Term Support releases, we just can't seem to resist an upgrade.

Byfield explores the issue of upgrades, and why we Linux users feel compelled to perform major upgrades. Not only the minor patches to fix bugs that happen ever week. We routinely seem to rush in and put our entire systems at risk by installing complete system upgrades to new kernels, whole new desktops, sometimes new file systems, and even the dread systemd.

It's an interesting read, and set me wondering why so many Linux users chase upgrades for little or no new features.


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  • (Score: 2) by naubol on Wednesday October 28 2015, @03:06AM

    by naubol (1918) on Wednesday October 28 2015, @03:06AM (#255410)

    Your logic is that if Windows does something, all distros will, too? Have you never met the neckbeards behind Debian?

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  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by lentilla on Wednesday October 28 2015, @06:55AM

    by lentilla (1770) on Wednesday October 28 2015, @06:55AM (#255462)

    Have you never met the neckbeards behind Debian?

    And yet, Debian incorporated systemd into their distribution despite the considerable weight of dissenting opinions from within their community. I would have expected them to take a more conservative position. It is not out-of-the-question that a similar situation may arise again.

    In the case of the Debian neckbeards, I do wonder if there is some sort of shadowy conspiracy behind it. I think someone is blackmailing them - threatening to out the "neckbeards" as clean-shaven, successful individuals with spouses and children, not even living in their parents' basements. That would really ruin their geek cred.