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402 Comments
- theberlindoctor, on 04/30/2009, -18/+140I dont know how many times I've said this and it always gets dugg down but i'm going to say it again:
I dont care what platform I use. Its the tools that run on top of that platform that is important. If I cant use photoshop, dreamweaver, pro grade audio & video editing software, then a computer is of no use to me. I'd love to, but I actually have ***** to do with my computer and linux doesnt make that very easy.
And please, the Gimp is not photoshop and it never will be. - planet0x, on 04/29/2009, -4/+122It's really about time this gets addressed. Thanks Bryan!
- SniperZero, on 04/30/2009, -3/+76Finally someone who says linux sucks actually has good reasons.
- ZeroNeo, on 04/30/2009, -4/+60So... You didn't watch the video and just posted a pro-ubuntu comment to get dugg up.
- wejmahtin, on 04/30/2009, -9/+59How about all these nubs that thing they're gods because they can spin their own distribution of Linux focus their efforts on improving one or two of the 'mainstream' distributions to make Linux more viable for large software vendors to port to the platform. You're not 'writing your own operating system', you're repackaging Linux.
- Evolve, on 04/30/2009, -6/+54Might be because it was not edited after it was shot because.... there are no viable video/audio editing software for Linux.
- SmilinJoe, on 04/30/2009, -7/+42Back during the DOS days and Win 3.11 I used to be a gun-ho MS fanboy, then I got fed up with all the problems so I went full-on with Linux. I discovered that no matter how much I wanted to over-look the facts, Linux had many problems that couldn't be over-looked. Once I came to grips with the fact that I could not get much past emailing, word processing and wed surfing done, I woke up and took a hard look at Windows. Windows may have problems, but lets face it - it's easy to use and the planet uses it. I can get my daily production done with Windows. Windows makes me money and that's a HUGE plus to me.
- Tabascork, on 04/30/2009, -25/+60Ubuntu 8.10 breaks my sound card. Ubuntu 9.04 breaks my graphics card. Linux sucks.
- piznut, on 04/30/2009, -4/+36Another reason linux sucks.
Developers are too reactionary to criticism. Open your mind...consider the actual experience of Mac and Windows users....strive to exceed them. Dont get defensive when someone tells you that your software sucks....consider their point of view and fix it if they arent insane. Stop trying to be everything to everyone. If you need help as far as development or money and you are willing to commit to delivering something then ask for it!
Decide on some core features and execute them flawlessly. Feature adds are for future revs. Id rather have 3 functions that do exactly what I expect every single time than 20 features that almost kinda sorta work *most of the time. - ng007, on 04/30/2009, -4/+35Haha, I'm a programmer and I love Linux, but honestly, this guy has a point and some pretty good ideas. Some of the most useful software costs money to make, so it needs to be funded. The biggest selling points of Linux to average people have been the lack of viruses and the fact it's totally free to use. Introducing a cost might not sit well with many people.
- Fl0ydP1nkert0n, on 04/30/2009, -1/+30Kinda funny that someone mentioned how bad Flash is in 64-bit Linux, because this particular video played like a slideshow for me. (Posting from 64-bit Ubuntu 9.04)
- hkrob, on 04/30/2009, -8/+37Horrible audio on that video, deafened me when the clapping and cheering happened
- piznut, on 04/30/2009, -4/+32Multimonitor headaches are the reason I dont have Linux on my netbook anymore.
I *love* how fast Linux servers run on minimal hardware. I still can't use it on my general use office desktop.
In my mind, the reason that Linux sucks is that developers are using existing commercial operating systems as the bar for usability and functionality and not quite meeting it. During the video when the speaker talks about audio problems someone replies 'Everybody has those problems'. If the bar for Linux apps was raised, Linux could be the exception to that rule. - vicsvenge, on 04/30/2009, -33/+59I agree. Linux sucks. I'll never use it because it's a pain in the ass. It's pretty sad when a bunch of experienced linux users can't get a damn powerpoint to work properly.
- theberlindoctor, on 04/30/2009, -5/+31Wow, thanks for totally missing my point.
- mizike, on 04/30/2009, -9/+34I love how the entire room, chock full of linux developers, erupts in applause when the guy finally manages to get the projector to work with linux. It's like they could see the "year of linux on the desktop" just over the horizon.
EDIT: I just continued watching and saw that, in fact, he doesn't get it to work, and has to resize the presentation every time he changes the slide. This makes the rousing applause even funnier as they essentially went ape-***** because he sort of, almost, kinda, got it to work; which is how well you can typically expect most things to work in linux. - davidmal770, on 04/29/2009, -3/+27Wish I could have been there
- johnny23, on 04/30/2009, -6/+30linux?
- kvgirard, on 04/30/2009, -3/+26Let the OS flamewar begin
- 7aji, on 04/30/2009, -1/+24Nice video. A guy who knows what he is talking about, and hopefully some of these problems will get fixed soon.
- nonlisted, on 04/29/2009, -2/+23Well to be honest, most Linux users aren't like that. Don't get me wrong, I hate Microsoft because of the way they do business, but I won't hassle users for what they choose. Also, Linux isn't something you use just because you hate Microsoft, but because you appreciate the benefits, because there are many. I enjoy being able to scale my computer, both in terms of performance, and graphical user interface, depending on what I do. For instance, I get easily distracted, so when I really need to study it's nice to be able to scale the GUI down to minimal and have fullscreen PDF or whatever. When I need to play HD content on my crappy old laptop, I can shut down every single thing on the computer that I don't need.
That's the charm, I think. - jeremyduffy, on 04/30/2009, -12/+33I've always said the same thing, but every time I did, I got buried by the fanboys. Let's try again: There are few, if any, Linux distros that are as easy to use for a regular person as pretty much any version of Windows.
- dekerf, on 04/30/2009, -0/+20I basically just keep Ubuntu around on my system for moral reasons. I like what it stands for. I fiddle with it from time to time but I play games so I'm usually in Windows.
- gitboxgreg, on 04/30/2009, -5/+22Nice job Bryan!
- Chrissilvanet, on 04/30/2009, -19/+34I think ubuntu 9.04 is completely useable and a great alternative to windows or OSX...most people who use my laptop (often at school) dont even know they are using linux. I don't think it comes down to a operating system pissing contest, just go with what is good...pride has no place in progress.
- Rhino2, on 04/30/2009, -2/+16I know right...
EVERY new video card that comes out sucks under linux for about 6 months to a year... the drivers only get good when the card is getting out dated.
Every linux fan boy comes back with stupid ***** like "have you tried the NEW drivers... they are in beta, but will be out in 2 weeks and they are FAST."
they are always "Just you wait! It's fixed in the next version"
Video drivers, Flash problems, firefox slowness, open office/ms office imcompatiablies, wireless drivers.... that is their "default" answer... "It's being fixed in next version!"
next version comes out... and yea it might "work" good enough, but there is tons of other ***** that is released that doesn't work now. - shadus, on 04/30/2009, -1/+15As much as I love Linux, I have to agree with many of these points. Although, to be fair, if I could be guaranteed that the projects I work on would pay me consistently 40k a year even (even though I'm making almost double that), I'd take that over working for someone else (especially since I could work at home everyday)... but right now I spend 9 hours a day, 5 days a week, and an additional 3 hours a day in drive time (1.5hrs/ea way). It doesn't leave much time for development... my apps get there, but very very slowly.
- LoudMusic, on 04/30/2009, -2/+16He really just said a bunch of stuff we all already know. But sometimes it's helpful for someone to say it out loud.
- Nimda11, on 04/30/2009, -1/+15I've said stuff like this a bunch of times, I just get flamed (but I can be a prick so.....)
- newbill123, on 04/30/2009, -0/+14My Summary: Linux is a superstar on the server and in embedded devices, but its diversity, strong backwards compatibility, and low cost make it difficult to create a desktop software ecosystem capable of supporting either open or closed source developers.
The focus is on what can be done as users and developers to improve things. Occasional comparisons are made to Windows and Mac OS X, but the presenter does a good job of staying focused on what is within the realm of people present to influence (not a list of missed opportunities or what should be done if you were CEO of a huge closed source software company).
Consolidate packaging is probably the most technically focused suggestion and probably the most difficult to do based on issues of pride and compatibility. But truly, if you look at Linux products you see a massive matrix of options that must be supported based on distribution and other factors. It's wasted effort that substantially raises support and distribution costs for closed source, and saps a great deal of what could be refocused development time from open source developers. Though the solution is technical in nature, the speaker stayed away from the politics of deciding which technical packaging is best. But the waste needs to go away.
Another area focused upon is the ability to provide consumers with apps they need to get their job done. Some of that is making closed source viable and cheap enough so that the Adobe's and AutoDesk's of the world will put in the 3 million dollars needed to get a return of 3.5 million. But some of that is just being able to provide the lowest common denominator apps that customers of Microsoft and Apple have come to expect. A Garage Band or a Windows Movie Maker type of app needs an ecosystem capable of supporting a group of three developers for a year so that they can eat and still produce the app. Having four dozen low end movie makers that don't work particularly well and no longer supported due to a developer who decides he must eat instead is not sufficient to create interest in consumers and therefore not likely to attract the interest of closed source products. Part of the solution to this is getting consumers to support open source to the level they would for a commercial product on a closed source platform (not necessarily commercial prices though). Would you be willing to pay $50 for a Windows Movie Maker clone? How about $200 for a Photoshop equivalent? The financial part of this ecosystem has to come some time. The open source attraction may make a programmer fight to get by on $24K per year instead of what they could earn at a closed source company, but they still have to eat.
There was more talked about, but the speaker stayed away from the need to attacking or stroking the OS and instead kept things focused on why Linux as an ecosystem hasn't gotten much traction. - theberlindoctor, on 04/30/2009, -7/+21I'm saying for what I do, the tools arent there. I'm not sure how thats disingenuous. I cant do the ***** I need to do. I dont give a ***** what other linux users do.
- 7aji, on 04/30/2009, -1/+14"pride has no place in progress"
well said - bratterscain, on 04/30/2009, -1/+14Agreed. A normalizer is not too much to ask.
- sloppychris, on 04/30/2009, -2/+15Here here, without the name calling. Linux needs branding, and one of the most important aspects of a successful brand is consistency.
It's not that there can't be choice, but too much of it and you get clutter. Linux should work together, not separately for individual glory. - macmcraeart, on 04/30/2009, -7/+19Every OS SUX. They are far too complex and too clunky. With all of the smart people working on these things - it amazes me that the OS hasn't changed at all since 1992. ***** innovate you knuckleheads. Stop coasting.
- Khast, on 04/30/2009, -7/+19It wasn't the slides that was giving them the problem....if you didn't watch the whole beginning before the address, you would have noticed that they were having problems with dual-screens. (Common Nvidia problem under Ubuntu/Kubuntu) Which also the Nvidia drivers on my computer have some real weird problems as well. (Nice inch wide black bar on the side of the screen.)
I would like to see the Nvidia issues fixed as much as the next person, but the drivers aren't exactly open source, and often get broken with kernel updates. - inactive, on 04/30/2009, -1/+13photoshop equivalent? gimp doesn't cut it.
video editing? garageband style audio editing? cad? simply accounting equivalent? gnucash doesn't cut it. face it, there is a LOT missing. - AngelBunny, on 04/30/2009, -1/+13you have to be a user of the product or service to be able to properly say ***** about it. this is why I had so much ***** that is said about OSX. most of the people have no idea what they are talking about.
- Yazilliclick, on 04/30/2009, -3/+15Linux sucks... but it could be better.
- decoy26517, on 04/30/2009, -2/+14"I've never seen anyone have these kinds problems with Windows." Quote of the day.
- peters1023, on 04/30/2009, -4/+15@jcrew77
What world do you live in? Cause it apparently has nothing to do with this one. - Khast, on 04/30/2009, -0/+11How did a bot get such a cool user name?
- room23, on 04/29/2009, -7/+18A vocal minority will always make the image instead of a silent majority, which is always a problem. To me, Linux is becoming something like Christianity. It started out with Jesus Christ/Linus Torvalds, and then over time you have all these divisions over idealogy and how things should be.
It creates havoc for anyone that wants to become a Linux user or a follower of Christ because there's so many different distributions/churches with their own way of doing things, and the vocal minority of each will always try to proclaim that their way is the best and everyone else is doing something wrong. - ramseypawlik, on 04/30/2009, -1/+12Keys to making Linux an awesome desktop OS:
1. Add more polish and make the desktop run smoother
2. Kidnap hardware and software vendors and demand better Linux drivers/software (flash, etc)
3. INNOVATE! Don't get me wrong, there are some things they've done that covers this but not enough. They need to do what Apple did with OSX. It seems they just try and keep up with Windows instead of doing something far better. - MasterGrief, on 04/30/2009, -1/+11It probably shouldn't have been that complicated in the first place.
- bratterscain, on 04/30/2009, -1/+11More choice = less focus on one individual distro. It's one of its downfalls and strengths. It's like evolution, in the end, likely, the best distros and apps keep surviving. It's less so when you have less choice, there is less selective pressure.
- computrius, on 04/30/2009, -3/+13Friends dont let friends use intel video cards.
- bradleyland, on 04/30/2009, -0/+9You're right. There, I said it, you're right, but...
The "but" is that Adobe, Autodesk, et al are not going to port their apps over on day one. Users of those applications represent only part of the user base, and Linux must sort out it's bigger (in terms of users affected) problems before anyone from a company like Adobe is going to even consider porting their products over. - ramseypawlik, on 04/30/2009, -1/+10Yup, that's why most of the posts are "MACS SUX!!" and not specific reasons they don't like it or think it could be better. The whole OS flame war is VERY, VERY RETARDED!
- oobuntu, on 04/30/2009, -0/+9@nullvector
are you crazy? what more do you expect from a 700MB cd?
ubuntu already has openoffice, gimp, brasero, evince, pidgin, fspot, rhythmbox, out of the box.
stuff like inkscape, elisa, wine are more niche apps that you would expect to install -
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