What is Digg?225 Comments
- Phocion55, on 08/11/2008, -13/+80I must have completely skipped over the "kernel tweak" step during my Ubuntu installation. Interesting.
- morphie, on 08/11/2008, -6/+58Typical conversations with a relative about his or her computer which, because of you, runs Ubuntu:
+ "Can I have MSN on my Laptop?"
- "You have"
+ "No, this is not MSN. On Kates' laptop it looks different."
+ "I can't get The Sims to install"
- "That's because it won't run on Ubuntu."
- "Here. Try TuxRacer"
+ "I want to view this DVD, but the player says it cannot open the disk"
- "You have to install the xine_d4d_plugin."
+ "How? I can't find it in the software database"
- "Just dowload the source, then ./configure, make and make install"
+ "......"
+ "I bought a webcam, to work with skype, but I cannot get the sound to work during a session"
- "That's because the sound device is in use by gstreamer. You have to disable gstreamer and turn on OSS emulation for Alsa by installing snd-pcm-oss to get it to work."
+ "Wait.... what?"
Etc...
Here, the reason why Linux's desktop market-share is 1%. - sirhomer, on 08/11/2008, -6/+42Wine is free of charge. If Wine doesn't work for you can try virtualization. A virtual machine will run almost any Windows program out there.
- newsboys, on 08/11/2008, -57/+86Because people want an OS that works OUT OF THE BOX - they don't want to tweak with the kernel, and they want compatibility for popular software, especially games, and no flavor of Linux is getting that done properly.
People like the open source aspect of Linux, but then if you want to run games (run them, but fairly poorly) you need to go and BUY Wine to emulate DirectX.
I'm a geek, and I'm good with computers, and although I may have the knowledge to run Linux, I also have the common sense not to just for the sake of 'bragging' privileges. - RKDN, on 08/11/2008, -18/+47BUY Wine? Buy??? Yes that and a big bag of FAIL.
- frontporsche, on 08/11/2008, -8/+35"Why So Serious?" ...that's what I'd like to ask the author of this article. :)
Having lots of desktops and distributions to choose from is pretty cool, I think. - fafnir314, on 08/11/2008, -20/+43Dugg for title and graphic
- inactive, on 08/11/2008, -26/+48For the same reason that the big Unix "unification" of the '90s failed to overthrow Windows: The unification never happened. All you heard about in the mid-'90s was how the Unix camps were going to get their ***** together, create one true Unix, and challenge MS on the desktop. In fact, the hype was exactly the same that we hear every year on Digg and similar sites, where Linux adherents swear that THIS IS THE YEAR!
It isn't the year. It will never be the year. Linux is too big a pain in the ass for the day-to-day tasks of professional programmers, let alone the general computer-using public. It just takes way too much time and effort to figure out which distribution and then which GUI to select, and then to hunt down and install software to get things done.
It's great that Linux exists and enjoys strong support from loyal fans. But STOP TRYING TO RAM IT DOWN ANYONE'S THROAT. It just isn't going to challenge off-the-shelf OSs. EVER. GET OVER IT. - alexforcefive, on 08/11/2008, -1/+20unreg is right, but you have to admit newsboys was being kind of a dick. I mean, "you need to go and BUY Wine..." what?
- kinerry, on 08/11/2008, -4/+23Simple answer
The general public likes things simple. Pick a release and back it, the end. This won't do for the hardcore, but for market share you have to appeal to the general public, not the hardcore. - FlamingYak, on 08/11/2008, -4/+20I have always got better frame-rates in UT2004 under Linux than Windows. With less useless crap, games run better. This is what makes consoles work, and it makes linux just awesome.
- daftman, on 08/11/2008, -7/+22I think you meant people like a free (as in free beer) windows.
If you want Linux to be exactly like windows, run windows applications without paying for the windows licenses then you might as well just stay with windows.
>People like the open source aspect of Linux, but then if you want to run games (run them, but fairly poorly) you need to go and BUY Wine to emulate DirectX.
Big contradiction. People who LIKE the open source aspect Linux would understand that DirectX is pretty much anti-open source. It's a proprietary technology that keep vendors locked into Microsoft.
So may be those "people" who like the open source aspect of Linux only do so because that it is no cost to them.
Freedom always comes at at a cost. You don't have to use Linux but if you do, pay respect to those who put their freetime and effort so that you don't have to pay Microsoft/Apple/SCO licences. - Annibal, on 08/11/2008, -1/+15You have to recompile it
- atgmac, on 08/11/2008, -4/+18...slowly. Have you ever tried to run a modern game under virtualization? Plus you still need to buy Windows. You might as well dual boot.
- Protoss, on 08/11/2008, -1/+15I think that's what Ubuntu is going for, and they've gotten further than any other Linux distro. They did make it onto Dell desktops, which is a pretty big feat.
- sirhomer, on 08/11/2008, -7/+20Linux does lead off the shelf OSes in embedded devices, web servers, and supercomputers. Embedded devices is especially growing. Linux really is everywhere, and you are using it now as you browse Digg.
I don't understand why choice is such a bad thing, you go to the supermarket and have 50 different cereal options, would you rather have only one type? There are hundreds of car models, hundreds of restaurants. Would life really be better with only one choice for anything? - ultrafez, on 08/11/2008, -6/+17Ever heard of the reply button?
- megaton, on 08/11/2008, -4/+15You don't have to recompile Fruit Loops to get it to work with your spoon's "features."
- SamOut, on 08/11/2008, -4/+14Why so seriousss?
- kinerry, on 08/11/2008, -5/+14yes
- deathfix, on 08/11/2008, -1/+10Let's put a smile on that penguin's face.
- Kral, on 08/11/2008, -2/+9"consumer market share is less than 1%"
Uh, no. Getting "consumer market" and "desktop market" confused? The Linux kernel and various pieces of the GNU system are probably on half the consumer electronics you buy these days. - thailand1972, on 08/11/2008, -1/+8Your normal user doesn't even "see" the OS - they just see programs they want to run. END OF. The most popular cars just work. Your average car driver wouldn't know how to fix his car. OS nerds are like mechanics - they like tinkering with the engine, but that doesn't equate to the mass population who don't want to, let alone are able to, tinker with their OS via command line. The OS should be invisible and not make the average user confused.
- WoollyMittens, on 08/11/2008, -1/+8With PC gaming in a slump it is hard to argue that gaming is the killer feature of Windows. There's nary any gaming on OSX either and that doesn't seem to hurt them very much at all.
For gaming I have my xbox... not having to ***** around with drivers, updates and display configuration screens is the biggest killer feature for gaming anyway. - inc595, on 08/11/2008, -6/+12That's not the fault of Linux. If hardware manufacturers didn't treat Linux with such disdain and created drivers that worked well then maybe game developers would port their games to Linux as well. Ubuntu is an example of a Linux flavor that worked hard to work "out of the box" as you say. All the non-free file type cannot be shipped with the OS due to the GPL; otherwise flash, dvd, and mp3 would be supported without having to download another package. Even this though is simpler then downloading a codec for windows media player. I for one haven't needed to "tweak" a kernel yet. Also WINE is free while CrossOver Office makes installation of Winodws software a lot easier has a fee.
- kinerry, on 08/11/2008, -1/+7Because people like choices, they just don't like to make them.
This is basic sociology 101 man...cmon - bytor4232, on 08/11/2008, -0/+6I agree. And if your on Ubuntu its fairly easy to go lightweight. Open a terminal and type:
sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop
Log out of GNOME and before you log back in at the login manager, select Xfce Session as the session.
GNOME is the heaviest desktop environment out there and should only be run on beefy machines. Xubuntu ( uses XFCE, hence the X ) has just as many features and is as easy to use as GNOME or KDE, while using a fraction of the resources. Heck, I run it on beefy machines over GNOME (Ubuntu) at times just to have the extra zip. - kinerry, on 08/11/2008, -6/+12you may think that, but the general public does not
- bobby167, on 08/11/2008, -2/+8Mac works out of the box because Uncle Jobs tested everything and put in only the hardware that his OS can support, even if that meant using some obsolete piece of technology.
Ask Uncle Jobs for a Mac DVD and install it on your home PC, you'd start praising Vista for its ease of use. - inactive, on 08/11/2008, -17/+23Theres another problem with the Linux crowd - Arrogance and the inability to recognize the issues and perceptions that keep Linux in the backroom.
Denigrating those you wish to convert isn't effective. - pentalive, on 08/11/2008, -0/+6I have installed linux many times - Starting with slackware 3.0 and all the way up to Fedora 9 on my current file server.
I have never had to re compile the kernel.
I have never recompiled the kernel just because I wanted to.
I think I could if I had to.
You don't ever have to re-compile the kernel unless you have a very non-standard set of hardware. - gaucho4, on 08/11/2008, -5/+11Let's start pushing FreeBSD!
- skin, on 08/11/2008, -11/+16Can people please stop saying why so serious?
- manbearpigm16, on 08/11/2008, -12/+17What a predictable and redundant article.
- max1018, on 08/11/2008, -0/+5Lately, it seems more and more people are completely missing the reply button.
- mCanada, on 08/11/2008, -3/+8Linux encompasses more than just a desktop OS. Its malleability is fundamentally it's greatest strength. I fear the day that we have one distribution for everyone, one set of applications for all users. By having a multitude of differing opinions, people aren't constrained to one path to achieve a goal, but an infinite set of possibilities that only comes with choice.
- Kanten, on 08/11/2008, -2/+7Or the fact that console games have always been scaled down for years. A game on a console that is capped at 1280x720 is of course going to be less demanding than something at 1920x1200.
- neko, on 08/11/2008, -2/+7"and the community more divided than ever"
Because it is a COMMUNITY. And the community is made up of HUMANS. You are not going to get them to agree 100% on anything.
There is no Linux Pope. There is no CEO of Linux. You would have an easier time convincing the world to standardise on those silver jumpsuits you see people wearing in 80s sci-fi movies. - mohsenxp, on 08/11/2008, -3/+8haha this is a great post. :)
- netant, on 08/11/2008, -0/+5@unreg
The problem is you CAN'T use Linux ZEALOTs to do customer support/relations. They either think the user must adopt their computer use philosophy, or they're a little too dense to realize that common users experience problems the geeks can blithely ignore.
I believe there is also a problem in linux users perceptions, because the industry evolved so quickly. Ubergeeks really believe that conceptually understanding the underpinnings of the operating system and each application is a user requirement. They cannot comprehend what an anathema that is to a casual consumer user. Nor do they comprehend that it will forever doom linux from widespread adoption. Ubergeeks are correct that the OS should enable/allow users to modify its operation. What they can't see is that it is not enough of a valuable feature to ensure eventual widespread acceptance TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
OSS developer direction is flawed. Example, instead of GUI developers focusing on developing an ideal userfriendly interface, their fanbase fights with each other over Gnome vs KDE. As if killing one will solve the problem with linux adoption. Today, I have my doubts. The original reasons driving the development for both interfaces are moot today.
I am biased toward Gnome, but I believe KDE represents the mindset of what is wrong or what makes linux limiting to general user adoption. KDE users want to preserve the ability to tweak their interface to their ideal specifications. What they may not understand is that casual users don't want to really spend all that time tweaking it. Perhaps KDE zealots (not KDE fans) don't care at this point. Fine, but they can forget about taking a lion share of casual users. (You can't be in favor of low taxes and having the gov't fix everything.)
I've been a strong advocate for linux since the 90's. It was obviously THE superior operating system in its day. That was the day of Windows 95/98. Back then, Windoze would crash after a few weeks of continual use without a reboot. Look zealots, those days are over. As clunky/proprietary/defective as XP/Vista may be, it provides a superior computer ease of use compared to linux, and the one obvious advantage linux had over M$, stability, is GONE. Stop blaming it on manufacturers who won't spend the money to support their product on linux. Sure its a problem, but whining that the business world is not Communist enough is not going to fix it. Linux will not have a notable advantage over Windoze even if device manufactures provide supported drivers in linux and software manufacturers make ports of their games to linux.
What I believe needs to happen is that a major linux distributor needs to be the vanguard for interface usability and invest the money to direct development that way. I am so happy ubuntu has come along, because I had given up hope on SUSE or RedHat taking the lead. And there is even another player, gOS, which may solve the linux usability problem for users. (And Enlightenment has risen from the dead.) Finally, the real competitor to the computer desktop is not only Windows, it is Apple/OS X. Because Apple can focus on the user experience. And users who don't want to screw around with linux are going there for its UNIX. - inactive, on 08/11/2008, -7/+11For ***** sake. Why does this ***** matter to anyone? This redundant ass argument pops up on digg at least 6x a day. Probably about .01% of the population uses BSD and its the greatest family of OS's ever. Why do you guys need some kind of market share or popularity to dignify your existence. *****'s ***** pathetic.
- rootnik, on 08/11/2008, -0/+4Ubuntu works out of the box, SOMETIMES. Most laptop users have to figure out how to get their wireless cards to work. In my recent Desktop install I had a hell of a time with my graphics card and kept getting stuck in low-graphics mode. While I eventually got it worked out and am enjoying Ubuntu as I type this, they have a long way to go before it works for everybody right out of the box.
After you go through setting up Ubuntu to be stable on your system, I would choose it over anything else out there. Lets not kid yourself though... it is still not for everybody. - vincentweber, on 08/11/2008, -3/+7What do you mean what are we doing wrong? Linux is lego. You can do everything with it. Why are we divided? Choice. Linux is an all purpose OS for everyone with different opinions and for different devices (watches, phones, PDA's, consoles, servers, pc's, etc).
Isn't it great you can choose to have a lightweight system if you want to, or go with the latest and greatest OpenGL desktop? You don't like a particular interface? Well why don't you just choose another one?
There are distro's for nerds and geeks, for businesses, for the army, for Google and for the people who want everything automated and easy (Ubuntu).
If you think Linux should be a choicelessness single Windows-like OS you are dead wrong. - RetepNamenots, on 08/11/2008, -0/+4Ok, but my point still stands that in my experience, Linux has been the best for not requiring any configuration by far.
- zombies187, on 08/11/2008, -0/+4You have to BUY the reply button.
- Naidel, on 08/11/2008, -0/+4While you are correct that people should stop trying to ram Linux down other people's throats, I respectfully disagree with you on the notion that Linux won't ever challenge what you call "off-the-shelf-OSs" (with what I assume you mean Windows and OSX). Just wait and see.
- Kanten, on 08/11/2008, -4/+8"then you might as well just stay with windows."
Um...did you read the article? The article was asking WHY the Linux community was so small. You pretty much did nothing but confirm newsboys statement. - thelastknowngod, on 08/11/2008, -3/+7i am a mod for a forum that focuses on the new user. it is VERY rare that you see any of this. people have their opinions and when expressing it they will say so. for the most part everyone id helpful and courtious all the time. there is very little banning i have to do.
just because there is some bad people out there doesnt mean that the whole community is like that. sure there are linux *****.. but im sure the number goes right along with the number of windows and osx ***** though. it really doesnt matter where you are. no one/nothing is perfect. - Naidel, on 08/11/2008, -0/+4Xubuntu has the functionality that Ubuntu has, but uses a different window manager (XFCE). However, if it was a pain for you to install, just download the metapackage "xubuntu-desktop" via Synaptic Package manager. Next time you login, click sessions and choose XFCE instead of Gnome.
- inactive, on 08/11/2008, -0/+4Hmm, I wonder if he will be able to find your reply.
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