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13 Reasons Why Linux Won't Make it to a Desktop Near You

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Cpilot:
Lotta people talk about Linux but the truth is it will always be a stunted child. The reason is that computers are no longer the exclusive domain of computer geeks and nerds.
The market, the money is in mainstreaming OS's so that casual users can get online, chat, surf, write blogs, play games, share media and view porn without tweaks or complicated instructions.
When or if Linux can do this on install then it might make a dent, until then it'll always be a toy......nothing more.

Armando:
casual users can get online, chat, surf, write blogs, play games, share media and view porn without tweaks or complicated instructions.-Cpilot (September 19, 2007, 12:25 AM)
--- End quote ---

I'm surprised you say that. Casual users? Pick any of the top distros, they can ALL do that, as easily as windows (except for games, I admit -- but then Mac OSX is not exactly a gaming platform either...). On install. Even with a live CD. I understand the money idea in your argument, but is there something else I don't understand in what you're trying to convey??

To me, the problem with Linux is not about satisfying the casual user, but about satisfying businesses and the power users. The ones who absolutely need specific apps. The casual user doesn't care if it's OpenOffice or MS Office, firefox or internet explorer, Nautilus or Explorer, Totem or Windows media player, Gnome Deskbar or Windows Desktip Search, etc.  : as long as it approximately does what she's expecting.

BTW, without being overly pessimistic, I don't think that michael shuttleworth is behind Ubuntu for the sake of Africa and poor countries well being. So... I'm not an expert in the economic aspects of Linux, but I'm sure some people see money making opportunities there...

Cpilot:
Well see that's where you lose the proper perspective.
Computers are becoming consumer based, not just for "power users or businesses" (although businesses is IMO a stretch because businesses especially would want a no hassle simple to use interface/OS, anything more costs in production and support).
The ideal situation for any OS in the future IMO is all about plug and play, and that is what M$ is aiming for.
Think about it, what percentage out of say 360 million potential users really care about tweaks and searching for drivers?
Your talking about a very small percentage out of millions of possible customers.
I'm old enough to remember when color televisions were pretty high maintenance.
You couldn't even bump one with a vacuum cleaner let alone move it without a service call.
Ain't that way anymore, the market ...the money, wants to move in that direction with modern computing also.
I also remember working with intel's 4040 and 8080, lot a stuff has changed since then.
Just what I'm doing right now was no more than science fiction then.
Linux is a long way from dominating and unless it become very consumer friendly really quick 20 years from now it'll be a curiosity.
Just like Old televisions.

And you know what? You don't even have to take my word for it, I have no dog in this hunt. It's just that I have seen OS's come and go over the last 30 something years and Linux has never inspired me much as being a real alternative.
I maybe wrong but really, how much headway has it really made?

Armando:
I won't fight on behalf of Linux tonight...  :) There's no need for it anyway, and we all know it's not starting to replace windows tomorrow. Not even in 2 years, most probably.

Think about it, what percentage out of say 360 million potential users really care about tweaks and searching for drivers?
-Cpilot (September 19, 2007, 01:29 AM)
--- End quote ---

The thing is... Even with windows it's not that simple. For example, last week I bought a Canon camera and it took me 3 hours (and I consider myself a power user) to have the software-driver functioning properly — and I’m not alone! Isn't that tweaking? The same thing happened with my scanner (which BTW, worked instantly under Ubuntu).
Anyway, it's true that there is usually some tweaking involved with Linux, but my past experiences showed me that it all depends what you're trying to achieve. If all you want is what you described in your other post, well, there's generally no problem. As we all know, it'S the latest piece of hardware that’s usually problematic… And, well, yes... some proprietary media format are/will become problematic too , especially with the Microsoft heavy involvement in DRM. Nevertheless, let’s also not forget that abig part of planet earth is not using the latest hardware and software, and that not every country intend to respect DRM the Microsoft way (to not mention the existing methods to bypass DRM and countries like China that don't seem to be willing to play the game according to occidentals rules).

mahesh2k:
Yes,Microsoft is beating opensource badly.Microsoft designed Silverlight technology to beat Adobe's Flash technology.They've placed their agents with Project Moonlightor in short called Mono,which allows silver light to run under Linux.
This is just beginning they forced many companies to adopt their .net technology.Their design of j# is just start of beating java technology.In next 2 years there is going to be big war with open source vs MS.We can make difference if we choose carefully our sides.I don't want you to fight on Linux side.Its your decision.I'm developer i can create cross platform app and forget about the war.This way no-one suffers.

What microsoft is doing is that they are playing against their competitors one by one? They are taking them down one by one like:
Putting java or wxwidgets below .net or j# will slow down open source/cross platform developers.This will result in slowing Linux & open source.Next thing they can do as create alternative for each and every open source/cross-platform software like silverlight(for flash) etc.

Linux needs lot of funding for developers/hosting/clients.It needs good tools and must let any newcomer to get into their system without any loss of software while migrating from windows.

If you know where linux lacks or what it needs for survial then post your views on this thread here
https://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=10052.msg77248;topicseen#msg77248

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