Is Linux a desktop operating system?

Tom Adelstein adelste at yahoo.com
Wed May 25 21:32:02 UTC 2005


On Wed, 2005-05-25 at 16:47 -0400, dave walker wrote:
> hagen van rissenbeck wrote:
> 

> >
> > Linux, especially ubuntu is of course ready for the desktop, but the 
> > pc-sellers and hardware-producers are mainly not ready for linux (they 
> > don't want to?).
> >
> > Hagen
> >
> I am going to have to disagree with a few of your points.  I agree 
> people who use Windows are using it because they are not looking to 
> install and potentially 'crash their systems', or they don't want to 
> try.  And for good reason.  There have been times where everyone who is 
> reading this would have had a hosed system if it was not for their 
> understanding of the command line, and ability to edit config files.  
> The standard user does not know about changing their resolution in 
> /etc/X11/xorg.conf. 
> 
> However, I am going to disagree that that is the main or only reason.  
> People have seen the IBM Linux ads on TV (at least in the US) and they 
> hear about it every now-and-again in the media, like New York Times.  I 
> am going to say people are using Windows because they have used it for 
> as long as they have owned a computer.  You are right, that the lack of 
> choice prevents this.  But people stay with what they are comfortable 
> with.  The learning curve is not an easy one, granted that it is leaps 
> and bounds easier than 1 or 5 years ago.
> 
> I believe, correct me if I am wrong, there are hardware companies that 
> are trying to get support into Linux more and more.  Places like nVidia 
> release drivers for Linux, however can not release the source because of 
> some NDA they have.  Taking this further, my opinion is that the nvidia 
> X driver is much better than the open source nv driver.  How would a 
> normal user know or care about the difference.  All the user knows is 
> that some 'magic' happens to make a computer work.
> 
> I also think the problem lies in the software.  Linux stacks sort by far 
> on this one.  Everyone and their mother who write business software are 
> writing it in Windows only.  Programs like wine can't keep up with the 
> advances with that software.  Even programs that are coded for Linux to 
> compete with Windows ones fall short.  I have to say MS Office is still 
> better and more feature complete than OpenOffice is.  Now I have not 
> used OpenOffice 2.0 yet so maybe it has made a comeback.
> 
> The one thing you have to remember is that as much as we don't like 
> Windows, it still is a tool that has a purpose.  All Linux 
> distrobutions, even Ubuntu, is not ready to be pushed to the standard 
> user.  I think we are getting closer, and more automatic.  Windows is a, 
> don't kill me, great OS for that user, as much as I don't like to think 
> that.  Ubuntu has and is doing a fantastic job on making a desktop OS.
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> --
> Dave Walker
> Computer Science House
> azrail at csh.rit.edu
> 

Dave,

I disagree with your disagreement but I don't take exception to it.

I am surprised at how you liberally used generalizations as if they were
universal truths. Such terms as "everyone who is reading this",
"Everyone and their mother", "Windows only", "Windows is a great OS",
etc. 

> 
> Everyone and their mother who write business software are  
> > writing it in Windows only.
> > 

Perhaps Oracle slipped your mind. Also American Management Associates wrote the accounting packages for government use on Linux - especially those used by the US Judiciary. In fact, a long list of business software exists on Linux.

Five of the global seven financial service use Linux to handle all the financial transaction as do the world's largest banks.

The subject of this thread refers to Linux as a desktop. Personally, I do not see Windows as a tool with a purpose.
Too many people are glad to use free software exclusively. 

You might also want to read an article encouraging governments around the globe to use Linux. It was published yesterday in a Mexican periodical - in English:

http://chiapas.mediosindependientes.org/display.php3?article_id=113397

I think this article makes a compelling case.

Also, consider the case at 

http://sillydog.org/msbad.html









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