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- WiZZLa, on 10/26/2007, -8/+981. Linux is Behind the Times
One comment heard often is “Linux was five years behind XP, and it's 10 years behind Vista!” Well, here are some facts:
Windows began separating the basic user from the administrator account by default in Vista, over 15 years behind Linux.
Windows added a firewall in 2001, over seven years behind Linux's 1994 addition of ipchains.
Linux was the first operating system with x86_64 support, beating Windows XP Pro x64 by two years.
Windows added an attractive 3D accelerated graphical interface in Vista, a full year behind Linux's XGL.
Linux's package management system can install, uninstall, and update software from one interface. Everything installed from Apache to OpenOffice and Quake 4 may be updated with one press. Windows has nothing like this on the road map.
And Linux isn't slowing down. The Xen project has added an incredible level of virtualization to Linux, with more work going into the kernels development to add enterprise ready virtualization built-in [4]. Microsoft promised built-in Xen-like virtualization in Windows Server 2008 next year, but has announced that feature has been delayed and should be available sometime after launch [1], possibly in SP1, meaning Linux will lead with built-in virtualization by at least a couple of years before Windows catches up.
2. Linux is Hard to Use
Many have never realized they were using Linux, and haven't used it on a desktop. More troubling is the fact that lots of technically inclined persons tried Linux during the hype of the dot-com bubble, wrote it off and never revisited it. These along with other factors have left many thinking Linux is hard to use.
Well, enter the modern Linux distribution, such as Ubuntu. Ubuntu has an easy to use graphical interface that'll remind Macintosh fans of OS X. Optionally many other interfaces are available ranging from Windows XP duplicates to interfaces focused on certain areas, such as low system requirements or high-end graphical effects. Beyond this many common tasks and features, ranging from system updating to system wide indexing, are all handled automatically by default.
This all extends to every level of Linux use. Novell's Yast for example provides an easy to use GUI for everything from installing and updating software to managing DNS, email, and web servers, and basically anything else an administrator could think of. No command line or configuration files, unless desired.
To top it all off the installation is world class. The Ubuntu installation is done from within a fully functioning environment allowing web browsing, game playing, or or even the writing of a report all as the installation wizard ensures the install goes off not just without a hitch, but in a manor where the user doesn't need to know anything beyond how to click next, unless they want to.
3. Linux isn't Compatible with Anything
Everything from Maya and Oracle [7] to Firefox run on Linux natively. Games ranging from the Doom, Quake, and Unreal Tournament series to smaller gems like Darwinia all run native on Linux as well [8].
Beyond native applications free (non)emulation software called WINE, as well as commercially supported options like CrossOver and VMWare, allow users to run everything from iTunes to MS Office and Photoshop, and the $5 a month Cedega lets gamers play hundreds of Windows only titles, from Battlefield 2042 to World of Warcraft.
Finally alternatives to Windows only software can replace current systems with little to no extra work. Apache can run ASP code [13], OpenOffice can read and save Microsoft formats, and every major distribution can join a domain, or just browse Windows file and printer shares, with ease.
Hardware support is equally incredible, in fact Linux supports more hardware than any other operating system. From hand-helds to mainframes and everything in between, including equipment considered legacy and no longer supported by Windows, the chances are if connected to a Linux box it'll just work. Despite popular belief this does include a vast majority of consumer equipment as well, from digital cameras to iPods and 3D accelerators to wireless cards.
4. Linux isn't Enterprise Ready / No One Uses Linux
Amazon and Google [15] would disagree as they've built their technology off Linux. PSA Peugeot Citroen, the second largest car manufacturer in Europe, also announced earlier this year they'll be moving not only their 2,500 servers over to Linux, but also their 20,000 desktops [16]. Other companies like IBM and Novell have reinvented themselves using Linux as the base, and government deployments from Brazil [19] and India [20] to China and others promise to add tens of millions of new users to the Linux community.
This isn't even including the countless smaller government deployments like the city of Munich [22], the Indiana school system [23], or the U.S. Army's Land Warrior program. Paired with millions of users via the One Laptop per Child initiative and massive academic deployments, this means that outside of the United States the world is positioning Linux to be the foundation of computing for their children.
Of course Linux works fine outside of the enterprise. Whether it's browsing a website, chatting on a cellphone, checking email, getting cash from an ATM, or even just kicking some anti-lock brakes into action, there's a fair chance Linux is in control.
Then again Linux also accounts for an estimated 70% of the super computing market [25]. That means Linux has huge footholds in the embedded, server, and high-end market, leaving the desktop arena clearly in its sights.
5. Linux isn't Professionally Developed or Supported
It's true Linux started at the hands of a single college student, but that's not true today. Linux is now a multi-billion dollar global technology. The vast majority of code is now contributed by professional programmers [26]. Over the last year major code modifications have been submitted by IBM, Intel, Novell, VMware, and countless other big tech players. Beyond actively developing code others, such as Dell, have begun pushing vendors to develop higher quality Linux software [27]. And this isn't even going into the academic or government development, such as the security patch set developed and deployed by the U.S. National Security Agency for internal use, but available to anyone who wishes to use it, SELinux.
Support has taken on the same level of professionalism. Countless forums, IRC channels, and wikis are of course still available. But beyond that help can be sought from one of many books, certifications, or by contacting any one of the major players from IBM and Oracle [29] to Novell and Red Hat. If 24/7 global support in a dozen different languages is needed, it's just as available as free community support.
That about covers it. There are many other areas of interest, but those listed above are certainly some of the biggest misconceptions heard about Linux on a regular basis. Overall it just comes down to ignorance, be it having never used Linux, or having not used it in the past few years of heavy evolution. Of course Linux isn't without its faults, just like all software, but that's for another article. What it really boils down to is a responsible administrator has to do what's best for the company cutting the checks, and that includes keeping an open mind and evaluating all options, even open source ones. - TheLoneWolf071, on 10/26/2007, -3/+64One more thing is LiveCD's. You can test out linux to it's fullest without having to install a damn thing.
- Pause, on 10/10/2007, -6/+67*****
- niallabrown, on 10/26/2007, -12/+66Nicely written. Please make sure you Digg this up. It's time people start to see what the new Linux looks like.
- subxero37, on 10/10/2007, -2/+53Never give bad jokes root access.
- Gerbil_Juice, on 10/26/2007, -4/+49Yeah, probably. Linux doesn't have keyboard support yet.
/sarcasm - canthraxp, on 10/10/2007, -7/+51I usually don't digg the "n things about x" but this article is great.
- cranium, on 10/10/2007, -14/+53Linux ain't there yet folks, but it's getting really, really close. The mortals still don't like having to go in and manually disable ipv6 and crap like that. And no, you can't ridicule them because they didn't know you can fix things with "cdyysv -n -s -g -t2048 -n20m".
It's still a geek OS. Far superior to Windows, but a geek OS just the same. - imran7, on 10/26/2007, -3/+39Oh and don't forget #4:
4. Linux isn't Enterprise Ready / No One Uses Linux ...Wrong - NicksVideo, on 10/10/2007, -2/+37Does using number four twice count as five?
- Foamator, on 10/10/2007, -1/+31Minimalist and to-the-point. Dugg.
- DeathGod321, on 10/10/2007, -1/+30sudo Those_jokes_are_old.sh
- realityiswhere, on 10/26/2007, -1/+29This isn't the first time you've complained about Linux. You haven't learned to spell yet correctly either.
- Nidy1, on 10/10/2007, -3/+26I agree.
- Scynet, on 10/10/2007, -2/+19I've had Ubuntu on my laptop for 5 days, and I have to agree, it's mostly great. I've learned a great deal already, even about technical things. Some things though:
Flash seems to be a problem with Firefox, causing a lot of crashes. and I'm not the only one ( http://www.google.fi/search?hl=fi&client=firefox-a ... )
Some incompatibility with laptops, mainly sounds (my volume wheel isn't working, even after recompiling alsa, whew)
Of my collection of 37 retail games, only a handful actually work (Only reason I can't switch completely yet)
That being said, Compiz-Fusion makes up for a lot of the faults :P ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4Fbk52Mk1w ) - realityiswhere, on 10/10/2007, -3/+19We hate you too :D
- Phocion55, on 10/26/2007, -1/+15"facts and logic means nothing to religious freaks"
I'd really be interested in where YOUR facts are coming from. 20,000 desktops? wtf? - Tippis, on 10/10/2007, -2/+16"The ONLY viable OS based on Unix"
Weeell... that's not fair, really, since that puts Linux out of the competition by default. After all, Linux is not based on Unix. - dschep, on 10/10/2007, -3/+16wtf? linux is the kernel. techincaly its the only thing that is linux, the base utils are mostly gnu.
- zwaldowski, on 10/10/2007, -1/+13How the hell did that happen?
- hplasm, on 10/26/2007, -2/+14The thing about vista is that it will be unsaleable in 6 months whereas linux will still be free in 6 years
- Randinn, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1310 Minutes, what are you running a 486??
- Tippis, on 10/10/2007, -1/+13No, the kernel is based on Minix, which is not based on Unix either.
- BasharTeg, on 10/10/2007, -5/+17Why is it great? I hardly think any of these "misconceptions" are great, it's just a straw man argument they're setting up so they can knock it down. Who the ***** thinks Linux isn't compatible with anything, or that Linux isn't enterprise ready, or that no one uses Linux? People who live in a cave? I'm not a Linux fanboi, but I certainly don't believe any of the above nonsense about Linux, nor does anyone with the slightest clue. This article is knocking down "common misconceptions" that don't exist. It's another shameless "OMG LINUX ROX!" article, which is great and all, but don't falsely promote it as an effort to dispell common misconceptions.
This kind of Linux-as-the-little-guy article is really getting to be timeline.jpg. Sing us a different song please. - sirhomer, on 10/10/2007, -0/+11err, that's http://www.videolan.org/vlc/
- realityiswhere, on 10/26/2007, -0/+11actually, if you check his profile, you'll see he's just a f***ing idiot.
- Wyzard, on 10/10/2007, -0/+11Linux very possibly does support more hardware than any other operating system, but the statement doesn't mean quite what you're probably thinking. Linux runs on a wide range of hardware platforms, from cellphones to supercomputers, and that gives it a very broad base of hardware support, much broader than Windows.
- rabidjade, on 10/10/2007, -4/+14Probably becuase it was hosted on a Linux server.
[/sarcasm] - chrispeters, on 10/10/2007, -3/+13So Compiz Fusion is behind the times?
- Irco, on 10/26/2007, -0/+10dude seriously, stop it! you only make yourself look even more stupid...though by looking at your comments; I don't know if that's possible
- Phocion55, on 10/10/2007, -2/+11The only reason your bluetooth peripherals didn't work was because you didn't install BlueZ.
Linux can't do Bluetooth, huh? http://trifinite.org/trifinite_stuff_carwhisperer. ... - inactive, on 10/10/2007, -2/+11GTK needs a better file picker, it annoys me to no end....
- inactive, on 10/10/2007, -2/+11All I can say is: It has been working for me for the past 4 years. No complaints.
There are some difficulties, occasionally, but easy to workaround.
Does it mean that anyone can use Linux? No. Do I care? No.
So ***** them. - VulnoX, on 10/10/2007, -7/+16I am glad one of those is not "Linux based web servers are unstoppable" because the page does not seem to want to load anymore.
- zwaldowski, on 10/10/2007, -2/+10FANBOY ALERT
- inactive, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8Yes.
- thosiris, on 10/10/2007, -1/+9I'm a friend of the admin. Its a home built and hosted server. He's trying to get it up and running right now. It's all outta RAM right now.
- dbr_onix, on 10/10/2007, -2/+9Erm, 99.999999..% of people couldn't care less that their OS can also run on a supercomputer and a toaster. They are more worried about the fact that game they bought yesterday from the shop won't work, or their accounting software won't install when they put the disc in anymore.
Yes, if you install Linux for an average computer-user, they can use Firefox, Thunderbird/Evolution/Pidgin and such for internet/email/IM. But what happens when they try to click the "Install Flash" button because Myspace just isn't the same without all the flash-banners - I'm sure they could care less that Flash "is a properitery, non open-source application, thus it not being installed by default".
Sure, you could setup flash on Linux no bother, but you are not an average computer user..
The problem with Linux for most users isn't the software itself, it's everything around it - The support, the computer shops, the society, their work/school computers - All Windows-centric, and staying that way for the foreseeable future.. - GaiaAP, on 10/26/2007, -2/+9Short, correct and to the point. Dugg.
- mtekk, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8What kind of ***** hardware are you using? My Microsoft (Yes Microsoft) wireless keyboard and mouse work 100% even the hot keys (with a tiny bit of terminal work to get three of them to work). My Razer Diamondback and Pro mice work (in 3 button mode, have not bothered to enable the other 4 buttons yet). My Logitech USB Music Anywhere wireless music transmitter is automatically recognized by ALSA and works (I had the foresight to build the kernel with USB audio device support, didn't bother to get the remote mapped to multimedia buttons, but that shouldn't be difficult).
- insanebrain, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8-"I hate you all."
It's time that you start using Linux. . . - gameforge, on 10/26/2007, -0/+7I think the misconception the author was trying to dispute was that Linux is any harder to use than Windows. There are two basic categories here:
1) People purchased their computer with OS installed
2) People purchased their computer and installed their own OS
In category 1, I don't see why a user who purchased a Dell with Linux on it should have to spend hours on a message board - they should have to spend hours on hold with tech support, just like when Windows crashes. Regardless, I also don't see why Linux-shipped computers should be any different than Windows-shipped computers in terms of no. of bugs or quality. It's not just Linux, it's the manufacturer's product.
In category 2, you either obtained the OS with the option of support (such as Windows Retail or any retail Linux) or without support (such as free Linux download, hand-out CD, or Windows OEM). Either way, it doesn't matter - if your computer crashes, you either have to spend hours on hold with tech support or hours on a message board getting support. But I will say that if you have compliant hardware, Linux is far easier to install than Windows is - you don't even have to reboot when you're done installing, you just log in and start using it.
I still think you're giving a lot more credit to these "normal" people - all the ones I know who have legit support contracts and everything they need to restore their Dell to factory condition instead just go buy a new computer... - Ademan, on 10/10/2007, -3/+10I've been running Ubuntu linux for almost a year and a half, 3 years ago I thought linux was SOLELY a text only terminal.
- fuzzynyanko, on 10/10/2007, -2/+9I was impressed on how easy Linux was to install, but adding new drivers to a system that's already installed can get messy.
- sirhomer, on 10/10/2007, -0/+7"cowsay" is the only command you need to know to use Linux.
- elementop, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8Quote: would you really want your mother using Linux?
If I am supporting her machine, yes I would. And my (non-technical) wife, mother-in-law, etc., etc. Where I work, we have a number of field techs who are an IT department's worst nightmare. They are great guys, and in their own fields, they are pretty competent, but they are are the stereotypical "User from Hell". We've rolled out a number of Gentoo desktops to these guys that will let them get on-line and do their jobs (read and clear trouble tickets, send and receive e-mail, etc.). In our experience, it has actually been *EASIER* to support Linux lap/desk-tops remotely than Windows XP.
So yeah, I'd rather have my mom using Linux than Windows. If all she wants to do is type up documents, browse the Internet and read her e-mail, then a secure Linux machine that I administer and lock down would be much better for her than a buggy, virus-prone, spyware-infested Windows box. - mcmlxxii, on 10/26/2007, -0/+7Some people seem to be having trouble spotting a wind up, man you have to keep doing this I'm weeping with laughter
- wattersm, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6Yes, several of them.
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