Linked by Ben Mazer on Mon 26th Jan 2004 19:52 UTC
Lately, there has been a "Why linux isn't ready for the desktop" article every 3 days. Most of the time, these articles originate from a lack of understanding or acceptance of the open source system. I'd like to try to address some of the common arguments against linux here, and try to help people understand why linux probably won't be on your desktop for a while.
Permalink for comment
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Recent Original Stories
Recent Comments
Headlines
Random Comments
Random Stories
Random OS Link
> No, my point was that the user will deal with the same software. Mozilla, Evolution, GAIM, etc are all the same on every distro. The only thing that may differ is the default theme.
The user also needs to deal with installing software, installing hardware, updating if needed, making the desktop look pretty, dealing with users etc. These are usually handled by some distro specific software.
> I think you missed the point. You're still thinking the Windows Way. The user doesn't have to search for a package in linux. They just have to type "apt-get install program" or "yum program", etc. Like I said, the developer only has to release the source code,and people will make packages for him.
I am not thing the Windows way. I am thinking the distributed way. Windows just happen to use this approach. I want to install application X. I can go to the developers site, download the package and know it will work in Windows XP. The same cannot be said using a repository. Using a repository, I am stuck with what is there.
Honestly, both are fine approaches and one is not better then the next. I just prefer distributed.
> The point was that hardware manufacturers SHOULDN'T keep their hardware secret. We all benefit from open specs. Look at the open hardware out there. There are wonderful drivers for it built into the kernel.
You can't change the world. Windows works in a way to keep everybody. You propose a way to make users happy, but piss off the hardware manufactures. This does not seem the best solution to me.
> What happens when NVIDIA decides not to support linux? We're screwed. If the hardware/drivers were open, we don't rely on one company.
But you already rely on the company to make the hardware.
Harware company makes everything releated to a piece of hardware. OS developer makes everything related to the OS. Software developer makes everything for the software. Everything just works for the user. Everybody has their role, everybody does their job and everbody is happy.What is wrong with that? The way you put it users, hardware manufactures, and software developers need to play by the rules of Linux.