Binary incompatibility of Linux distributions

[Derek Broughton]

Odd wrote:

> Derek Broughton wrote:
>> Odd wrote:

>>> OS, you need to realize this. Installing apps should be as easy,
>>> or easier, than on Windows.
>> 
>> It already _is_.  You can just point and click on any software _intended_
>> for Ubuntu and get it automatically installed.  Just like on Windows.
> 
> Only stuff that's already in the repositories. And no, that isn't "just
> like on Windows".

No, it's that easy for ANY software packaged as a deb for Ubuntu.  Just like 
on Windows.
> 
>> The
>> huge advantage that Ubuntu (or any Linux distro) has over Windows is that
>> you can also, with a little bit of work, install thousands of other
>> packages that were never intended to run on Ubuntu.
> 
> That little bit of work is way over the head of most users. 

Of course it is, but they can't handle a Windows app that doesn't comes as 
an .exe either.

> If we want
> Linux to succeed, we should even remove the need for that. 

We DID (actually, Debian did), and hundreds, maybe thousands, of packages 
are available from third parties, packaged for Ubuntu.  I get Oracle, 
VirtualBox, Wine and GoogleEarth that way.  (OK, to be truthful, I've got 
all except Oracle configured as third-party repositories, now, but I've 
downloaded all of them previously by point-and-click off their websites)

> But as
> I see below, you don't care about Linux being successful.

And no good Linuxer should.  The idea of making "Linux" (the whole 
collection of Linux distros) successful, in the sense of taking market 
share, is completely antithetical to the foundation of the community.

>> adoption.  Not that I actually care about Linux adoption.  People will
>> use the OS they want...
> 
> If you don't care, then you've ruled yourself out of this discussion
> already.

No, I've demonstrated that I believe in the core values of the community - 
choice for everyone.  No distro can possibly provide complete choice AND 
market dominance - they're mutually exclusive.

> I actually want Linux to be very successful on the desktop.
 
Which Linux?
-- 
derek