What is Digg?Sponsored by Travelzoo
Take Advantage of Ridiculously Low Holiday Airfares view!
travelzoo.com - Flights $52 and up for Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year. But move on it now.
167 Comments
- neko, on 10/12/2007, -19/+79FTA: "One distro. Anything more than one distro is too many. There is only one Windows, one Mac OS-X. What we want at the end of the day is Windows, Mac OS-X and Linux, not Windows, Mac OS-X, Fedora, Ubuntu, Frugalware, Suse, Gentoo, Slackware, KateOS, DSL, Zenwalk, Debian, Knoppix, Gnoppix, Boppix, Sploppix, etc, etc, etc."
Well TOUGH. That's not the real problem. The problem is, people keep comparing Linux (a kernel) to Windows(kernel32.dll + explorer.exe + some apps). You can't expect Linux to have one unified interface one unified package system etc because it's not really any of those things.
You want a consistent look? Then choose, for instance, to go with Suse as your OS. Compare Suse 10 to Windows XP.
Look at Windows. It doesn't have a consistent look (I could claim): There's the XP distro, ME, 2000, 2003, 360, MCE, etc. "Leik OMG! They're different! Why can't you all use XP Home?"
end rant. - baalzebub, on 10/12/2007, -8/+33people need to quit trying to cram GNU/Linux in to a microsoft shaped hole, if you cant handle the freedoms and choices GNU/Linux has to offer then stick with Windows or AppleMacs...
- BobTurbo, on 10/12/2007, -25/+43Windows versions you mentioned are either upgrades to the one product, server versions, or.. 360? Even the 100 different Vista versions all share a single, consistent image. They are VERSIONS, not different products run by different people, with different websites etc.
Linux distros to Windows are like gang members to Bruce Lee films. Instead of taking Bruce Lee down all at the same time, they try to beat him one at a time and lose.
:) - hbweb500, on 10/12/2007, -7/+21"Linux distros to Windows are like gang members to Bruce Lee films. Instead of taking Bruce Lee down all at the same time, they try to beat him one at a time and lose.
:)"
I dont think Linux distros are trying to "beat" Windows, just produce a good open source alternative.
I believe that choice is good among distributions, and that a single Linux distribution would be a bad idea, because choice is one of the major drawing points of Linux. Nevertheless, I think each distro needs to consolidate and offer one simple way of doing everything. There are so many ways to do one single thing in any given distro, it would be nice to see a more straightforward solution offered... At least thats what I get from my use of Ubuntu... - XVampireX, on 10/12/2007, -7/+20That's not the case, the case is that when there's too much choice, it gets confusing, that's the problem.
And so far, that solution has been pretty successful it seems. Ubuntu is being marketed as the best distro, so many people switch. - pufuwozu, on 10/12/2007, -8/+20Reading some of those, it seems that the average person doesn't like choice. Kind of surprising and sad. I strongly think that people should be given freedom when it comes to software but it seems that many other people do not want it.
I think this could be the solution: Market a solo distribution so that when people hear "Linux" they instantly think of that distro. It's a really sad solution, but it seems people actually WANT software to be a monopoly. - ThisIsJames, on 10/12/2007, -2/+14wow, I found installing incredibly so easy (I have ubuntu) I have to stop myself from installing random things I'll never need. Come on, theres synaptic and command line, where you can type in sudo apt-get program name.
- joesnow, on 10/12/2007, -2/+13The problem we have w/ Linux is, too many people believe Ubuntu IS linux, when I personally use Linux, I really love Linux, but I really don't like Ubuntu at all. And I've been on Linux for a year now, DOS > Windows only for 17 years prior to that. If it weren't for the massive amount of distros in Linux I probably wouldn't be happy if Ubuntu was the only way to go for people converting over.
I use Fedora Core, not only because it was easy to learn, it also plays nice with all my computers, and it gives me awesome flexibility to do whatever I want with it w/o having to do much if any work at all to set it up.
People that use Windows and "want to switch" but want the switch to "look exactly like windows and operate the same way, except stable and reliable" may actually want to get away from windows, but they definitely aren't meant for Linux. Linux developers, and those people directly involved in both Linux as a whole and each individual distribution, aren't concerned about getting people to "switch over" persay. They would entertain the idea of large companies that matter to make the switch to their enterprise solutions such that SUSE and Redhat are into, but as for the free distros...they couldn't give a damn whether Windows ppl want in on the fun or not, in fact in their blogs they always push to discourage that thought in people, saying, Linux only wants you if you accept it for what it is.
"Linux is user friendly, but only to those it likes."
My take on that quote is, Linux is only user friendly to those who embrace it for what it is and don't try to "make it like" something else, and those who want to actually take the time to learn.
Ubuntu isn't the only hope, Ubuntu is just the loudest marketing campaign. Ubunutu isn't bad or anything, it's in fact very well done. It just isn't for everyone, in fact everyone I know who's converted from Linux have said if they used Ubuntu first they probably would've stayed with Windows. Good ones for new converts are SUSE, Fedora, Mepis, CentOS, Mandriva, Knoppix, and yes Ubuntu.
www.distrowatch.com ...the ranking on the side is # of downloads, not number of people using the distro - mighty_mouth, on 10/12/2007, -3/+14The reason ReactOS has not yet caught on is because it does not yet accomplish its goals, not because anyone is lying. When ReactOS finally provides "complete binary compatibility with both applications and device drivers meant for NT and XP operating systems" then I will use it. As long as it does not work, I won't use it.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+14People in Hell want icewater.
- b7j0c, on 10/12/2007, -4/+14i like how gnome and kde work, but i still use wmii. i like the command line. i don't play games. i don't care about exchange and outlook, and i never will. for people who disagree with me on these points, there already is windows. i don't want linux to become a free windows. i don't want linux to become osx. toyota users compain that ferraris are hard to drive and expensive to maintain. ferrari drivers don't seem to care.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -7/+17You know, if Microsoft kept supporting and selling every version of every system since it's founding, it too would be a swarm of distros. Hell, I can still go to ilbiblio.org and get "Ygdrassil" if I want to; "oh NOOOOO! That makes it THAT MUCH WORSE! GOD WHATEVER WILL WE *DOOOO*???"
Look: treat Ubuntu like it's own opperating system. DOS begat Windows; Linux begat Ubuntu. Treat Mandriva like *it's* own system and Slackware like *it's* own system...pretend they all have nothing to do with each other. Those of us who are savvy enough to know that the difference between Ubuntu and Slackware is what packages you install can still have the Linux we always loved, Windows refugees can flee to Ubuntu or whatever.
...or ReactOS, for that matter, which really IS different and is GPLed like Linux and is deliberately built for Windows refugees. WHY the hell isn't ReactOS going anywhere? They should be flooded with support! I think the fact that ReactOS is dying without a fan proves that none of these people who claim to want a free Windows are even telling the truth. But I digress... - maino82, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11I think that current Linux users are the way to get current windows users to switch. It's not necessarily about any one distro, but rather spreading the word about linux as a whole and helping those who might be interested in trying it out. Not too many people are willing to just sit down and try some new OS they're unfamiliar with (no matter how easy it is to install... yes Dapper, I'm looking at you), so it's up to those who already know what they're doing to sit down and help those who might have even a tiny amount of interest in switching. That's how I got into linux, and that's how I got my dad into it. I guarantee if we were left to our own devices and had to do it all on our own, we would have given up in a heartbeat.
- Inaeth, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10@rtilford
It is hard to install things in Linux? You gotta be joking me!
One of the best things about the new Linux Distributions that are coming out is the apt-get utility. Even RPM based distributions are using apt-get on their systems right now. Where in the Windows world can you just click on whatever program you want (let's say it's Amarok) and then, 30 seconds later, it's on your desktop, waiting to be clicked on and used?
Another thing is the fonts. This used to be a main comlaint of mine as well, but since Suse 10.0 and Mepis 6.0, this is no longer a problem. Everything looks hunk-dory within Firefox, and my papers for school are still being written and submitted with a nice format to them.
I do agree, though, on the dependency hell / "which repo" question lingering about Linux. However, my point is this: the software you are searching for is created by dedicated programmers on their own time, and they are distributing it for FREE (as in beer). To tell you the truth, if I'm getting a top notched program like Blender without charge, I will take the time to learn just a little bit about the system to get it up and running. If I paid $50 for the program, however, it better work right out of the box. All of this comparing the binaries between application programming in Windows and application programming in Linux is like comparing wrenches to screwdrivers. Sure, they both are tools used to fix other tools and machinery, but they are meant for different tasks with different philosophies behind them on the why a bolt would work in a place rather than a screw.
Oh, and BTW for people who think that Linux today is too "difficult" or too "alien" for an average Windows user to switch over: I've now switched three of my neighbors over to using Linux. All of them came to me to have their computers fixed from virii and malware, I popped in my Knoppix LiveCD to start doing the analysis, and all of them were intrigued. I gave them four different LiveCD's to play with, and told them I would help with installation if they wanted to use it. All of them installed Linux as a secondary OS without my help, and currently are only using Windows for gaming purposes. Most of their daily tasks are done on either Mepis, PCLinuxOS, and Ubuntu, with much fanfare and "Thank You's" to me! :)
Inaeth
"If someone inherently annoys you, it is because you have an inherent trait you yourself do not like." -Inaeth - Klowner, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11Because it's been #1 on distrowatch.com for months now?
- tylerni7, on 10/12/2007, -6/+15Don't wanna be Windows bashing here, but they are in for a surprise when all 8 versions or whatever of Vista are released. And I agree, Ubuntu should be the standard for people switching to Linux, so let's just all use that instead of other distros?
- spectre_25gt, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11"People in Hell want icewater."
That's a common misconception. What we're really after is ice cream. - Crypty, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9I have ubuntu on a partition and I love it. The thing that keeps me booting into windows though is that it never gives me any problems, and I need to use things like Photoshop, After Effects, Illustrator and Cinema 4D.
But what about Gimp, Blender, and that vector drawing app(name escapes me)? Well they are very impressive for OSS apps, and the price can't be beat. Sadly, they are nowhere near on par with most commercial windows apps.
What drew me to ubuntu(rather linux in general) was when I saw the crazy effects XGL+Compiz were producing. Now I use AIGXL+Compiz, similar, and quite a bit better if you ask me. The thing is, both of these were a real bitch to install. If this were pre-packaged with ubuntu I think a lot of people would move to check it out.
There are a few apps that come in the ubuntu package that I think REALLY suck. GAIM is functionality, and lots of it. But soooo ugly and the window is HUGE for no reason. - Flooq, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10Sounds like you're making things hard for yourself, with a user-friendly distro which has a decent package manager it shouldn't be a problem to install most things. A lot of people seem to think they need to compile things or are stuck in the windows/mac mentality and go looking for apps on the web all the time. The first thing you should do when you want to install something should be a package manager search.
As for the we do don't need you attitude, copyleft wasn't founded on elitist concepts, it's sad to see it attract so many intolerant people who don't understand that the user struggling with a linux distro today might be inspired to help in some non-technical capacity or to support some other kind of open content tomorrow. - dh8r, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10But why?
- i440, on 10/12/2007, -6/+14Choice is always nice, but it would make sense to standardize some things. Binary formats, for instance.
- geomon, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10@spectre_25qt
"And this is exactly the type of mentality that keeps Linux from making real headway into the desktop market."
Perhaps. But the reason I dumped Microsoft products over a decade ago was due to the arrogance of their management. I got sick of being the blame of their shoddy coding: "Our software doesn't have bugs".
What crap. All software has issues. The degree to which a software developer is willing to support their software determines whether I use it or not. If I pay good money for a product and get nothing in return but blame and scorn, you can expect me to dump you like a bad habit. I never bought nor have I installed another Microsoft product on my personal machines since Windows 3.11.
As for my use of open source software, either I get great support for the price I pay, or I get just what I deserve for a free product.
See how that works? I expect nothing from someone who offers me software for nothing. But Microsoft gave me nothing and charged me a ***** in return.
I know that people who leap to Microsoft's defense have a hard time grasping this concept, but I didn't see any value in using their products for the price they were asking. Simple, really. - Crypty, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6@STDOUBT
Eh.
Linux is in need of more users, but users are not necessarily in need of more Linux. I think the goal is to change this. Some people may have the time and patience to fiddle with commands and configurations, but the vast majority do not. If Linux is ever going to be a major player among OSs like Windows or OSX, it will have to be tailored to the everyman, it has to be intuitive, and easy as hell.
If you just sit there and say "I'm using linux and if you can't handle it then use something else." they will very likely do that. Basically, that is no help when trying to spread the linux love. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -15/+21That's it, I'm done. The hell with these idiots!
From here on out, if you even entertain the notion that Linux shoud be ANYTHING AT ALL LIKE Microsoft: never never never use Linux or think about it or try it again. Unix beat Microsoft to the market by 15 goddamn years, and it will be here when all these MS fanfarts have gummed their last biscuit. It was perfect already, before any of these wet farts (INCLUDING Bill Gates) ever touched a computer.
But if we proceed down this path of ruining Linux, I'll still have BSD, Open Solaris, Plan Nine from Bell Labs (and I DEFY anybody to move in on me there!), and ReactOS. Hey, I own copies of them all. They're all different from Microsoft, they're all different from each other, I had to learn them all from scratch, and I have no problem on any of them. And when those are all spoilt by the morons who must infest the whole Earth and ***** on every last inch of it so they can sit there in their own muck and complain beause it stinks just as bad as the last place they left, by that time I will have a half dozen more OSes derived from the pinnacle of perfection that Unix was, and all the Micro-softbrains will be just as unhappy as they are right now and I'll be just as happy in my refuge as I am now with Linux.
The problem is not the operating system. The problem is in your mirror. No operating system can fix you. Oh, my here come the Digg downs, just because I had to break the hard news to people that life is tough. - rokinroj, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7I am C# developer for a living, with heavy use of Sql Server, IIS, etc. It's not like I could ever really abandon Microsoft. Yes, I know about MONO and MySql, but that's just not where the bulk of the client work is for me. And quite honestly I am pretty happy with Windows most of the time.
But...I have wanted to run Linux along side Windows for years. I actually bought RedHat 4 at Best Buy in like 1997 because there was no high speed yet and the download on dial up was crazy long. So that's how long I've been int rested. I have tried running Suse, Redhat, Mandrake, Fedora, some with KDE, some with Gnome, some with Eclipse, nothing ever really felt like something I could run comfortably.
Call me a Windows lamer, newb, whatever, but I dint want to use the command line to rebuild everything I download, I dint want to modify config files for every change. Not that there is anything wrong with all that, it just isn't for me.
I was firm in my belief that there wasn't a Linux for me until....
UBUNTU!
I have been running it for about 3 weeks now and I absolutely love it. It configured GRUB for me (something I always struggled with) to allow the 3 OS boot of XP, Vista and Ubuntu. It auto-mounts my NTFS drives, it automatically detected my printer, my network, my sound card, even my video card. I can run .deb install files, or run rpg's through the alien software (very easy) and have 1 click installs of most major software. I can use the apt-get GUI for automated updates and installs. Running that along with Firefox/Thunderbird and OpenOffice, I can spend most of my non work time on my Linux box and be perfectly happy and not feel like I need to boot over to Windows to do something or find something. That is a first for me+Linux. - Termina, on 10/12/2007, -4/+9@i440
Binary formats? You mean like ELF? Oh, wait! You probably mean binary PACKAGES, like .deb, .rpm, etc.
Good thing windows doesn't do that... (.exe, .msi, etc.)
Strange that people complain about that, when there are programs like alien that'll convert .rpm, .deb, .tgz (and more) to whatever format you'd like. Or just install it for you! - Keatonguy, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7"Choice is always nice, but it would make sense to standardize some things. Binary formats, for instance." -i440
This guy's got the right idea. What we need is not a single, ultra-rigid Linux distrobution, but rather format standardization throughout all (or at least most) Linux distos. If they all used the same binarys, the same packages, the same software, but they still remianed seperate and, of course, open source, then Linux would be a far easier to use and far more popular OS. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+9" my question to you why linux community want linux to be use by all of us than?"
The answer to your question is: you made that up. I have never pushed Linux down anybody's throat. I brag that it's good for some reasons. I advocate Free and Open Source software in general. No, I have no insistance on what anybody should use. I stand by my comment history.
All I ever wanted (and the majority of FOSS users wanted) is to not be OPPRESSED by history's biggest monopoly just because of what WE use. What, did Martin Luther King want everybody to be black? No, he just spoke for black people that they'd sure all appreciate it if you passed on the burning and lynching part.
You want free Windows? Google ReactOS. And then get your ass in there and help build it up, or flip out your wallet and donate if you don't know how to code. It's GPLed just the same as any free software. When you have it like you want it, you'll have your free Windows and be happy, I'll have my free Unix (which is exactly what Linux was built to be!) and I'll be happy. Together, we'll both be free.
THAT is what I object to as a Linux user. Don't come to my house with all your *****; here's the lumber: go build your own! But you're welcome to settle in the same neighborhood. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8"But what about Gimp, Blender, and that vector drawing app(name escapes me)? Well they are very impressive for OSS apps, and the price can't be beat. Sadly, they are nowhere near on par with most commercial windows apps."
Good, I'm glad you say that. I use those very apps to sell freelence graphics work twice as good as and at half the price of the Phiotoshoppers. Hey, but if you tried writing and you sucked and Stephen King outsold you, it would be the keyboard's fault, right? - sneakerelph, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7then.... what's the point of it being linux? ok, so it's the same kernel. it would need to be heavily modified to fit MS's needs. and then when you're done, what you're left with is Windows. which is what you DIDN'T want in the first place!
- commiecat, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Please don't confuse the desire to have consistency with wanting a software monopoly. The article is right about distros and the first comment is also correct in saying that comparing Linux to Windows is like comparing apples to oranges. Strictly speaking, Linux is just a kernel. Windows is an entire OS. When you use Windows, you're using Microsoft's version. When you use Linux, you could be using a plethora of different distros. The argument isn't really about semantics as I've seen a billion articles/comments on Digg suggesting that Linux is an OS - so it's pretty much implied now.
Consistency is one of the big reasons why I've used BSD as my Unix o' choice (I'm still an avid Win user). BSD has a gorgeous release structure (amongst other things). In the time that I've been using BSD, I've heard the Linux community boasting about the best distro at the time; from Red Hat to SuSE to Slack to Debian to Knoppix to Ubuntu.
It's not that we don't like choice or *want* a monopoly. Things work the same across the board with XP, OSX and FreeBSD (separately). With Linux it depends on the distro. - hivltg, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5I think that if Linux had the games platform that Windows has then i would switch over. Another reason I haven't switched is cus I have been put off by how complex it seems too be. Linux is great for servers (web,games etc.) because of being virus free and secure. But when it comes down too it Windows does the Job for the majority of people. When they buy it with there new PC they know that they can sit down at there new computer and they can just start using it. And yes I know Windows is insecure etc i have heard all the windows bashing comments b4 from ppl i know. When I came too trying out Linux I didn't know which distro too try and also didn't want to risk messing up my Windows install so i thought 'why bother Windows dows everything I need anyway'. I will be getting a mac when i go to uni and am looking forward too getting it. Since I'm not going to do much gaming it would be ideal for me. If Mac had all the games titles then i would be there. I love the macs look and feel. Use Linux for server's Windows for gaming and home and Mac for office and design. Cus each have there good and bad points. Every person too there own use what OS you feel comfortable with. I don't want to spend my life messing around with my computer so Linux isn't for me atm. But I love Open Source so keep up the great work.
- chris86wm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Having so many different distros is what makes Linux so apealing. Lets say if I dont like Suse, I can use Ubuntu. If I have an older computer or if I want a screaming fast system, I could install Slackware along with a lightweight window manager. If I dont like any of those 3, there are 100s of distros that I can choose from.
Now, on the Windows side, whats going to happen if I dont like Vista?
I am basically left with two options:
1) Continue to run an old, outdated OS (XP)
2) Or be forced to use an OS that I am unsatisfied with - LocoMan, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8Back when I tried Ubuntu (for like 3 weeks or so because I loaned that computer for my brother and he installed XP) the one big thing that made me think it wasn't ready was the lack of a single simple way to install stuff (outside of synaptic and apt-get, that is, which is VERY good but fails if it doesn't have what you want already... like in my case Opera or another graphical FTP program that wasn't gFTP, not sure if it was that I didn't look in the proper place but couldn't find either on synaptic).
In my experience, installing something in windows is easy once you have what you're going to install... either double click on the file/pop the CD, and hit next until it's done (enter serial keys if needed). In mac it's even easier, just drag-drop the app into the apps folder (or the icon that the installer shows you). In ubuntu first I had to find what file I needed depending on the distro I was using (and the distro version), then if it was a .deb file (that was one of the files I got) I had to go to the command line and type several commands that were usually a copy/paste of an instructions page. I got another kind of file (.run or something like that) for a game demo, which also sent me to command file to copy/paste more commands because it wouldn't install from the GUI (it needed SUDO to give me enough privileges to install... I preferred the mac way that would just ask me for the admin password when trying to install something). Same thing happened when trying to install the nvidia drivers when the ones in synaptic didn't work, took me 4 days of command-lining and 3 howtos to install the drivers I got from nvidia (oops, you need this library... oops, now you need this other one... oops, sorry, not that one, you need the other version... oops, now you need environments...). And that was without going into buying hardware. All the computers in my house have wi-fi, except for the linux one that's still wired mainly because I'm afraid of going to the store, buy a wi-fi card and only then find out that it won't work with linux (yes, I know it's not linux fault and that I should yell at the card manufacturer, but from my point of view as user the result is the same).
IMHO, using linux is already there for the regular user (barring some user preference, that is... I found ubuntu's default theme very ugly but very easily installed other one)... the two thing that prevents me from installing it on other people's computers (my mother's one) are the lack of a simple way to install anything you want (that I described above) and the lack of a good alternative to connect to MSN (everyone here in Venezuela use it, and they want ALL of it, including the ugly fonts and background, annoying animated letters and emoticons, webcam and file transfer). - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6OK, Windows users AND Linux users, over here. All in one big huddle. I think I've finally found the answer to what's going on:
Prisoner mentality. A prisoner who's been incarcerated too long and is then released flounders around for a while and ends up right back in jail. Because that's what they know!
So Windows is prison, Linux is freedom. But Windows refugees come to Linux and sound just like ex-cons: "Where do I go? I'm not used to making decisions for myself, what do I do? I'm used to having everything provided for me, how am I going to get by? What, I have to do WORK? I've never worked in twenty years, I'm scared! Well, I give up, it's just too difficult. And it's not MY fault, it's SOCIETY'S fault!"
LOL Waddaya think? Think I've nailed it? If the phrase "Windows prisoner mentality" catches on, you heard it here first! - STDOUBT, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7@i440
I think that's his point --they need to stop *expecting* - joesnow, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8you're right when you say, at least we'll still have FreeBSD untouched and untainted by the MS look
- arachnist, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6ntfs3g, just wait till $your_distro_of_choice includes fuse and ntfs3g by default.
- Crypty, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4@hosiah
You seem like you could use a chill pill (suppository) right about now.
A poor workman quarrels with his tools yadda yadda, we all know that one, but you honestly can't convince me that gimp is in any way better than photoshop I find the PS feature set, interface and workflow to be far beyond that of Gimp. I'm not saying gimp is a poor tool by any means, and this has nothing to do with who can design nicer stuff using their tool, that would depend on the person.
Blender is just an interface disaster. In the right hands it is a fine tool (elephant's dream) but the learning curve is ridiculously steep, even compared to superior 3d suites like Maya and XSI.
Most of my work is motion graphics so After Effects is one of the most essential apps I use. That said, Linux is a non-option for my work anyway.
@mookieXL
I mean windows always works fine for me so i'm not motivated at this point to make any "full" switch. No viruses, spyware or crashing. Ubuntu I have had minor troubles with. Usually they have something to do with AIGXL+Compiz which I guess is to be expected. C4D Linux sounds cool, although I've never tried it. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -11/+15No, it's just marketing mind-share. A generation of kids have been born and raised under the MS monopoly, and are determined to go to their graves with their misconceptiions rather than learn from the system that was around before Bill Gates himself touched a computer.
If Linux does it, it's bad. Microsoft does the same thing, it's good. Period. Microsft has dependency issues with DLL-hell, but it's OK. Linux you can install a package just by typing it's name in a box, but a package fails a dependency still in a couple of cases, so it's bad. Microsoft has had DOS command line since day one, but it's OK. Linux has a command line, it's bad. Microsoft is famous for being the least secure system in history, and everybody makes excuses for it. Linux may be vulnerable to one proof-of-concept virus invented in Kapersky labs, and it's all anybody can squawk about for a week. and on and on and on...
If Bill Gates punched Linux Torvalds in the eye, the story would be reported as "Linux Torvalds caught using his eye to assault Bill Gates' fist!!!".
You don't win wars like this. What you do is, you keep Linux just as good as it's always been, and you teach your kids Linux, and then there's hope for the next generation. - jetpig, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5there are third party repositories out there. i'm using an official opera repository to keep my opera installed and up to date (automatically, can't get that in windows sadly) as well as one for xgl and compiz. sure it takes some digging, but it does for windows too. if there was a way to add a repository automatically (it'd be like installing or downloading a program in windows) i think that would help a LOT. however the security problems are quite obvious there. the stupid user that wants '500 FREE SMILEYS IN YOUR EMAIL' will add the repository and have an automatically updating piece of malware now.... so much for that idea. :(
- giancydni, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I love it! yep, after using MEPIS, I will never go back to Windows..
- Crypty, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Not a bad idea, even if a bit ambitious but I think there is still a lot of work to be done. An effective ad now would be a disaster. People would just be frustrated out of their minds.
As easy as it really is... I don't think many people would be comfortable at the command line. - joesnow, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4that's what minimize to system tray is for ;-p
- uttles, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Linux doesn't need to be smashed together into one distro. having lots of diferent distro's is great and offers choice as well as flexibility.
Linux needs a standardized method for computer management. This in itself could be an app that you could choose to install or not. The problem with Linux for 99% of the people out there is that it's just too much of a pain in the ass to change anything. Your sound doesn't work? Well go off to google and sourceforge and recompile this and that and 2 days later you finally figure out how to hack your sound into working..... that may sound fun to some of you, and it is probably bearable for most of you, but for the other 99% of the world they don't want to have to put that much effort into something as trivial (to them) as getting the sound to work.
Basically, until linux has an app or a method of installing software and drivers, and making configuration changes easy, it will not be a good replacement for windows for the normal person. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4"But it doesn't explain the users who switch from Windows to a Mac and find themselves doing everything they used to without a problem."
Ummmm, I hate to break it to you, but Macs are proprietary, too. - njdevil, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Hi. After years of periodically using Linux as an average user (or low-average compared to people on this forum), it seems that Linux adoption would be much more widespread if there was more professional documentation, which would be readable and more understandable by nearly everyone, from newb to pro.
As it stands now, the MAN pages are a disaster, and seem to require a professional translator to get them from Developerspeak back into English. Googling & Sourceforging for info & code is fine for me, but for most it isnt. Paid documentation has always proven to be much more effective at reaching the common denominator in the populous than fan-docs or developer-docs. People getting paid to document various aspects of a piece of software will write it better because their livelihood, income, and personal well-being (through employment) are on the line. - chris86wm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3"the reasons that i dont like linux is its to hard to install stuff, then when you do finally get it loaded it does not appear on the menu then you have to hunt for it and make the icon your self. Its all too much faff at the moment! Also getting fonts to look good in browsers last time i upgraded firefox would have taken all night!"
what is so hard about apt-get?
sudo apt-get install
how is this hard?
if you dont like command line there are tons of gui based installers for this. - i440, on 10/12/2007, -6/+9You're forgetting that many switch to [GNU/]Linux /just because it's free/, and they expect it to be exactly like other proprietary operating systems.
-
Show 51 - 100 of 170 discussions
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is