Is Linux a desktop operating system?

Dave Walker dave at mudsite.com
Thu May 26 04:13:40 UTC 2005


Tom Adelstein wrote:

>On Wed, 2005-05-25 at 16:47 -0400, dave walker 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. 
>  
>
s/everyone/almost everyone/g

I de-generalized the Windows is a great OS to a specific type of user.  
As for everyone and their mother, I guess I did generalize.  The meaning 
being, that software that people feel good about using is still not for 
Linux.  Take finance software.  GNUCash is good, but I would not use it 
over Quicken or what have you.

>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.
>  
>
I was referring to Linux on the desktop.  I know Oracle runs on Linux, I 
admin one now.  As for standard workday tools few have the features or 
capabilities as their Windows counterparts.

>Five of the global seven financial service use Linux to handle all the financial transaction as do the world's largest banks.
>  
>
Banks are still, and will continue to use VMS for their backend 
transfers.  I am not sure where you think they are running Linux.  Linux 
is nowhere near stable, or secure enough to stand up to VMS banking 
software. 

>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. 
>  
>
Too many people, in a small scope.  Something that I have overlooked 
before is John Doe who works at a mom-and-pop shop downtown.  He has not 
graduated with a degree in computing, nor has ever used a *nix OS.  It 
would be hard for him to get something like Ubuntu that has built-in: 
mp3 support (through default player), windows media(through default 
player), java/java-plugin, etc.etc.  That may be a bit to Debian/Ubuntu 
specific, but the point is there.  So what happens when he updates and 
some dependency is not met.  What does he do?  I would guess he would 
not know about the forums/list.

--
David Walker
Computer Science House
azrail at csh.rit.edu




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