informage

Michael Robertson responds to Slashdot interview questions. Robertson founded the notorious mp3.com and now owns Lindows.com, a company attempting to make Linux a realistic option for the average non-geek. They've persuaded Wal-Mart in the states to sell PCs with "Lindows" - their version of Linux - preloaded for $200.

The geek world has had very mixed reactions to Michael, some see him as a hero for attempting to bring Linux to the mainstream, others see him as an alien from the world of flashy marketing and broken promises trying to bring down their ivory-coated elite world. I liked the way he addressed this in the interview:

I attended UCSD and as part of my major I was required to take an assembly language programming class. It was one of the computer science “weeder” classes where 60% of students fail or drop out. I struggled through it with a passing grade and had a great sense of accomplishment. The next year the major requirements were changed alleviating the assembly language requirement. I have to admit I wasn't happy with this decision since it meant that those sharing my degree after me didn't have to go through the same torturous experiment.

Until recently, it was a badge of honor to get a Linux desktop running. LindowsOS makes it possible to install in 3 minutes and have it auto-recognize all your components and then install most software with a single mouse click. Those who went through the “weeder” class path naturally won't be that excited.

I first went through that particular "weeder" class in 1996 or so, and although personally I'm all about access to good technology for non-technologists, I also know the feeling he's getting at. I had a similar sense from him when myself and Ken flew to California in 1999 to try and persuade him to invest in our dot-com-didn't-ever-actually-start-up SomaCity.

We got to talk to Michael because Kurt, the third member of our terrible trio, did the afore-mentioned UCSD degree with him. My impression was that he was a highly intelligent, very blue-eyed/white-teethed Californian with big ideas, big energy, and a big ego. Anyhow he seemed to want us to go through the same start-up pain he'd had to, he was more than willing to ask us difficult questions but had no interest in helping us out with the answers.

Good luck, Lindows.com, I'm all for driving Microsoft off consumer PCs - and it looks like they've got the best strategy so far...