Linked by Thom Holwerda on Mon 18th May 2009 19:06 UTC
We all know them. We all hate them. They are generally overdone, completely biased, or so vague they border on the edge of pointlessness (or toppled over said edge). Yes, I'm talking about those "Is Linux ready for the desktop" articles. Still, this one is different.
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Member since:
2006-08-10
No this article is not different. It's point may be slightly different or worded different, but the fact remains that Linux is already on the desktop. It works well for professionals, intermediates and complete beginners.
I would say I am an intermediate. But the PC's I administer are for complete newbs. My in-laws were Windows familiar and my friend was a Luddite. Both parties are blissfully happy with their computers now.
I'll address a few:
0. Premise: As for the masses, no one cares. never even tried to explain it to my in-laws/friends. I just told them it was legally free.
1. No reliable sound system: Really? I didn't know that. I have never personally experienced this so I did not know this.
2. X system: Lets not bring Windows API into this. Not exactly the model of stability. And slow? Again, did not know this.
3. Problems stemming from the vast number of Linux distributives: I am not touching this other than to say that is a strength, not a weakness.
5.1 Few software titles: I literally dropped my jaw.
5.1.1 No equivalent of some hardcore Windows software: so stick to Windows. No skin off my nose.
5.2 No games: Again, jaw dropper. What the hell have I been doing with Secret Maryo Chronicles, Alien Arena, Wesnoth,... wasn't Doom also on Linux?
5.3 Incomplete or unstable drivers for some hardware: lol, yeah, Windows is the model to mimic here.
5.3.1 A lot of WinPrinters do not have any Linux support... no shit sherlock. In other news, water still wet.
7. A galore of software bugs across all applications: see my answer on 5.3.
Honestly, I just stopped here. If Linux works for you, it's ready for the desktop. It already does everything better FOR ME than my Windows installations ever did. Plus, I am having fun again with computers. No more antivirus, adware, malware, registry cleaners and everything else I had to keep up to date just to use my computer.