Linux does not want to be Windows. Linux does not want to assimilate Windows. Windows is NOTHING that Linux wants to be.Linux just wants to be free. Take it or leave it, Linux is what it is.
What is the metric for a 'true' dektop operating system? The fact that Linux exists and installs on desktop computers makes it a desktop operating system. Have I been imagining it all these years?Unbuntu is a very good example of a user friendly 'desktop' Linux.The article and its premise are half-baked and ill informed. Comparing modern Linux vs. XP/Vista with Windows 3.1 era OS/2 is stupid. What the article -really- seems to be saying is that no operating system will match the market -dominance- of Microsoft, which indicates he's been drinking the kool aid.
@MyNameIsLeeMy home PC has a windows install that stretches back to Win98SE without a single clean install. I haven't had to. A "power user" as you seem to think you are can run windows just fine. I've done all sorts of stuff with my current PC and have never had any problems that I couldn't fix relatively quickly. I can not say the same for my experience running Linux as a desktop OS.I use Unix at work. I've run triple boot systems (Win98SE/XP and 2 flavors of Linux) on home computers both for fun and for work (school and employment). In college I helped manage a lab of Solaris and Linux systems. I've done trouble shooting for *nix, Mac OS, and Windows. I am an engineer. I also live with my girlfriend, like to travel, have a moderate commute (.5-1 hr), and occasionally I like to stop looking at a computer screen. I have more than "figured out" Linux. I've run it quite successfully under various conditions and continue to use Unix on a daily basis.Your comment is pretty lacking in intelligent thought and yet it has quite a few diggs. This is very telling of the digg community. You claim that "Anyone with half a brain can figure Linux out in a few short hours" but then claim that "Figuring it out is what makes it fun for real power users." So...just what are you trying to say? Is it easy to figure out or do you need to be a power user to figure it out? What does "figure it out" even mean? Nearly anyone can install an OS. Certainly anyone moderately proficient can get a live CD to work or something of the sort. All they need to do is put the CD and restart...unless their system isn't set up to boot from the CD drive with the CD in it in which case they have to tweak their BIOS. Oh damn, we've just done something that the average computer user wouldn't understand.Much of the problem comes from third parties. Open source drivers are often not included with new products. So a user either has to wait for drivers to be created or create drivers themselves (there's that disposable time thing). If they want to install some new slick software that was just released they often can't just double click an installer. They have to make sure dependencies are met and possibly hand edit config files. Sure if there is a problem you can hit a forum and find an answer (provided you're doing something pretty common). There is that wasted time thing again.I've done enough stuff in different operating systems to get a clear view of what's what. I've installed unsupported sound cards in Linux, done transistor level IC design under Solaris, controls design and modeling under Unix, etc. A *nix operating system is hands down the best option for a multi user shared network environment. IE work and school. Active directory is supposed to be pretty slick but my employers are a little slow on taking up new things and do not use it much. For a home system I want something I can install anything on, play games on, host whatever on, etc. I don't mind spending time tinkering sometimes but I literally have stayed up nights configuring crap in Linux that was more or less plug and play in Windows.I hate comments like yours because you seem to be unable to look at things from another perspective. I value my free time. I will certainly try open source operating systems and play around with them when I have some free time and feel like it. They still are not nearly at a level that I would have them as my main home OS though because I have plenty of other hobbies and distractions and sometimes I just want to install game X or peripheral Y and have it work.
wow...holy crap, I forgot all about my post to you. My buddy was checking in on what my comment said and noticed you had replied, so I thought I'd check it out. I must have hit a nerve for you to post a reply that long. Once again...holy crap. Well good for you and all your credentials. It's great that you had to post about all that just so people would think you are legit....wow...I'm stunned you felt insecure enough to reply. Really.
the following has been crippling GNU/linux for years, and plays a significant role in preventing desktop use of GNU/linux:- hardware manufacturers don't release their hardware specs preventing linux users to develop drivers for the hardware.- hardware manufacturers don't release drivers for linuxmany of the actual linux drivers have been reverse engineered, which is a long and painful process, and if I'm not mistaken is illegal or about to be in many countries (DMCA ?)
Closed AccountApr 26, 2006
Linux does not want to be Windows. Linux does not want to assimilate Windows. Windows is NOTHING that Linux wants to be.Linux just wants to be free. Take it or leave it, Linux is what it is.
deepsubApr 26, 2006
What is the metric for a 'true' dektop operating system? The fact that Linux exists and installs on desktop computers makes it a desktop operating system. Have I been imagining it all these years?Unbuntu is a very good example of a user friendly 'desktop' Linux.The article and its premise are half-baked and ill informed. Comparing modern Linux vs. XP/Vista with Windows 3.1 era OS/2 is stupid. What the article -really- seems to be saying is that no operating system will match the market -dominance- of Microsoft, which indicates he's been drinking the kool aid.
skyshark88Apr 27, 2006
P.S. if China puts one of those Linux based $150 boxes in every home hell GAME OVER.....................
bruflethApr 27, 2006
@MyNameIsLeeMy home PC has a windows install that stretches back to Win98SE without a single clean install. I haven't had to. A "power user" as you seem to think you are can run windows just fine. I've done all sorts of stuff with my current PC and have never had any problems that I couldn't fix relatively quickly. I can not say the same for my experience running Linux as a desktop OS.I use Unix at work. I've run triple boot systems (Win98SE/XP and 2 flavors of Linux) on home computers both for fun and for work (school and employment). In college I helped manage a lab of Solaris and Linux systems. I've done trouble shooting for *nix, Mac OS, and Windows. I am an engineer. I also live with my girlfriend, like to travel, have a moderate commute (.5-1 hr), and occasionally I like to stop looking at a computer screen. I have more than "figured out" Linux. I've run it quite successfully under various conditions and continue to use Unix on a daily basis.Your comment is pretty lacking in intelligent thought and yet it has quite a few diggs. This is very telling of the digg community. You claim that "Anyone with half a brain can figure Linux out in a few short hours" but then claim that "Figuring it out is what makes it fun for real power users." So...just what are you trying to say? Is it easy to figure out or do you need to be a power user to figure it out? What does "figure it out" even mean? Nearly anyone can install an OS. Certainly anyone moderately proficient can get a live CD to work or something of the sort. All they need to do is put the CD and restart...unless their system isn't set up to boot from the CD drive with the CD in it in which case they have to tweak their BIOS. Oh damn, we've just done something that the average computer user wouldn't understand.Much of the problem comes from third parties. Open source drivers are often not included with new products. So a user either has to wait for drivers to be created or create drivers themselves (there's that disposable time thing). If they want to install some new slick software that was just released they often can't just double click an installer. They have to make sure dependencies are met and possibly hand edit config files. Sure if there is a problem you can hit a forum and find an answer (provided you're doing something pretty common). There is that wasted time thing again.I've done enough stuff in different operating systems to get a clear view of what's what. I've installed unsupported sound cards in Linux, done transistor level IC design under Solaris, controls design and modeling under Unix, etc. A *nix operating system is hands down the best option for a multi user shared network environment. IE work and school. Active directory is supposed to be pretty slick but my employers are a little slow on taking up new things and do not use it much. For a home system I want something I can install anything on, play games on, host whatever on, etc. I don't mind spending time tinkering sometimes but I literally have stayed up nights configuring crap in Linux that was more or less plug and play in Windows.I hate comments like yours because you seem to be unable to look at things from another perspective. I value my free time. I will certainly try open source operating systems and play around with them when I have some free time and feel like it. They still are not nearly at a level that I would have them as my main home OS though because I have plenty of other hobbies and distractions and sometimes I just want to install game X or peripheral Y and have it work.
mynameisleeApr 28, 2006
wow...holy crap, I forgot all about my post to you. My buddy was checking in on what my comment said and noticed you had replied, so I thought I'd check it out. I must have hit a nerve for you to post a reply that long. Once again...holy crap. Well good for you and all your credentials. It's great that you had to post about all that just so people would think you are legit....wow...I'm stunned you felt insecure enough to reply. Really.
izzieApr 28, 2006
the following has been crippling GNU/linux for years, and plays a significant role in preventing desktop use of GNU/linux:- hardware manufacturers don't release their hardware specs preventing linux users to develop drivers for the hardware.- hardware manufacturers don't release drivers for linuxmany of the actual linux drivers have been reverse engineered, which is a long and painful process, and if I'm not mistaken is illegal or about to be in many countries (DMCA ?)