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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