Ubuntu 8.04 Is Ready to Take On Windows

[John Toliver]

On Tue, 2008-04-29 at 11:09 -0700, michael wilson wrote:

> One thing needs to be fixed before Ubuntu takes on windows.  The
> ability to totally nuke the boot process through the package manager
> needs to be removed.  There is NO WAY I can make windows un-bootable
> through add/remove programs.   Yet, I can remove a few packages with
> no warning and make ubuntu not boot and unable to run any programs
> requiring a complete clean reinstall.
> 
> I know this is a sore subject, but to convince non-teachniocal people
> to use this software, users must be protected from themselves.
> 
> Fix this and there is a chance.
> 
> Sub points to this are automatic installation of printer and network
> drivers
> 
> Rock on
> 
> Michael 

OK.  That is a valid point here's my laundry list Get some coffee:
- What I think would make Linux ready to take on windows is equivalent
hardware support.  (Please no flaming)  Until someone can walk into any
store and get any (I mean most) hardware and it works, windows will stay
on top.  Admittedly some of this has nothing to do with the Linux
community as many vendors release their products closed source but....
-Also, a systematic (AND DOCUMENTED) method for fixing a system that has
crashed.  A proven, and documented method of recovering from the
majority of system failures. If the filesystem fails, a method that is
tested and fail safe to fix it.  If Gnome/KDE decides to take a
vacation-A method to fix that.  If your Xserver goes nuts, a method to
take care of that.  Then all the little things that don't work (but that
are really close to working if you tweak them enough (like being able to
simply plug your laptop into most any windows network and have it be
able to find the resources it needs, browse the network like if you were
on a windows machine etc.)  

-Good documentation: Think support.microsoft.com.  It may be a money
hungry company but they have documentation for everything and IT people
rely on that stuff.....  I rely on it for work.
*One area I think would really set Ubuntu ABOVE Windows, is if ALL the
necessary tools to repair most problems with an OS were included on the
CD/DVD.  With a windows system, you do something to break the system,
then you need to be on the internet to research the problem and download
any software or documents to help you fix the problem.  If Ubuntu came
with every tool to Automagically fix the mission crtitcal parts of your
system (fstab, xserver, gnome, filesystem issues, system restore tools
etc.)it would be a serious nail in the coffin.- Here the emphasis being
on being able to fix your system to a usable state, without an internet
connection.  Or, better yet System restore.
-Also, Windows system upgrades are still cleaner (no flames)  It's just
that too many odd undocumented problems exist out there.  If it weren't
for this list, and the forums, Ubuntu might be in hot water.  I went
from Gutsy to Hardy and blew the weekend trying to figure out how I was
going to fix openoffice, and a few other packages.  That type of thing
shouldn't happen, I know it wasn't Canonicals fault but the problem is
still the same to the end user, who, if it's grandma, would still be
asking you why you took away her "Winders puter'.

I say this not to beat up on Ubuntu because I love it.  Most of the time
it fits me better than windows has ever done.  It's the first Linux OS
I've tried to use, that has worked on my hardware, and wasn't so
complicated to get going.  I decided to dual boot just to be safe and I
can't remember the last time I booted into XP for anything.  I love the
concept of synaptic, and the ability to do major installations on the
fly w/o rebooting and of course the customizability etc.
But emphasis shouldn't really be on compiz, or any of the "bling" yet.
It should be on making the core functionality rock solid.  It should
take a computer science major to break it, and still be usable by
someone who knows next to nothing of computers.  Once I can get excited
because I can do something windows can't, and then go to my friends
no-name-brand computer and do the same for him, then compiz is worth it.

At that point, you can walk into businesses and say, "look what my OS
can do, it does everything you are already doing, it's more stable, just
as functional, just as secure, ****FREE****, and virtually no learning
curve.

When non-IT business persons who don't know a thing about computing see
that they can continue being productive with the technology at a much
lower TCO, They'll leave MS like a bad movie :-)


Patience yields far greater results than brute force or rage ever could
so relax......it's just life !!!
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