Has Ubuntu Replaced Windows on Your Box?

[Mirko Scurk]

Don Parris:
> Look at how many people have responded in the
> affirmative.  The only reason anyone keeps Windows around seems to be the
> games or the odd application here and there.  That's it.  Given what I'm
> seeing in this thread that has continued since last Fall, Windows has
> mostly
> lost its relevance.

My first contact (30 years ago) with computers was computer running unix,
and from then I've always used *nix. I started using dos/windows from
1987. I will always support *nix but I must disagree with Don. The main
reason anyone keeps Windows around seems to be the games and serious
business  application.

Back in 1989 or 90 I went to presentation of HP Apollo WS and Ideas. It
was perhaps best CAD/CAE sw at the time and acad was nothing but the toy.
HP was naturally on unix. Today, you have to look very hard to buy/find
decent CAD/CAE/CAM sw that is runnig on linux.

At same time, when I told my colleges at work that I will write new
payroll and some MRP applications on dos using dbase/clipper they told me
that pc-s are just toys and that it is damned to fail. But when they saw
at what speed that applications were made, that they were functioning in
(lantastic or novell) network and that they worked much faster then their
cobol apps on mainframe, they changed their mind.

What I'm trying to say is that unix lost battle in corporate business
environment and that linux is not jet up to that task, too.

Linux pros (from ordinary user perspective):

On standard, not latest hw, installation is much faster and simpler than
windows. No fuss with drivers. Everything works after installation.

No viruses, spyware or hijacks. This have to be taken with grain of salt -
with greater number of linux users probably this could became problem.

Huge amount of free programs. Ability to inspect every bit of code, to
learn much and to adjust programs and computer to your needs.

Lot of programming tools and very capable databases for free.

Ideal for users that surf, mail, write some simpler documents and play
simple games. Also, ideal for Internet server (mail, web, firewall).


Linux cons:

Lot of problems on latest and specific hw. Some hw is not even usable on
linux. Example: newest chipsets, lots of scannners and printers, tv-cards,
some wifi devices, graphic cards, usb devices and so on.
The biggest anoyannce is when you set some problematic hw to work, then
upgrade system and everything you worked hard for goes down to toilet
because somebody changed some kernel module to work with some other hw but
that change affected your device.
Some guilt goes to hw manufacturers but ordinary user just don't care whom
to blame. His hw simply isn't working.

Too much programs for same use among which there is offten none worth. Too
much developers spreading their efforts instead joining together in one or
two projects. Ordinary user have to try dozen of programs till she finds
right one (if any).

Too few modern RAD, 4GL programming tools. Too few application that can be
used in serious business. Lack of cad/cam/cae apps.

Oracle and IBM could change this and bring linux back to corporate
environment. Then linux will have chance to grab a bigger share of market
and that will force hw manufacturers to oen specifications or write
drivers for linux.

-- 
Mirko Scurk