"Over the years, I've had a number of people asking me what I believe the problem was with further migration over to Linux by the public at large. To be frank, I don't believe that there is a simple answer to this. To me, there are a number of factors that play a role in keeping Linux out of the mainstream limelight" writes Matt Hartley in his opinion piece.
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Member since:2005-10-08
> You haven't answered the question yet
The distro I specifically had in mind was Ubuntu, which is supposed to be one of the more user friendly distros out there. I use it as an example because it shows that even what most consider to be the shining example of end user friendly Linux falls way short. And I have used plenty of other distros in my time as well. Fedora Core 4 and 5, Debian, Slackware, Gentoo, and, back in the day, Caldera (which was once the poster child of "Linux is now truly ready for the desktop thanks to Caldera... And we all know where Caldera went...).
> Due to this lack of information, I have intentionally not
> mentionned what to do for installing support for proprietary
> format.
I don't need you to tell me. Iknow how to do it. I have over 15 years of combined experience with various flavors of Unix. I have also helped others do it. But if I had a nickle for every time some one came into an IRC channel to say "I can't get Quicktime videos to play in (insert distro here)", I would be a very rich person.
> you gave a false conclusion with your example
I did not give a false conclusion. I told you the truth you know is the truth, but don't want to accept. Beccause you would rather believe that the average computer user cares eenough about "freedom in software for everyone" that they are willing to put up with this kind of stuff. And the simple truth is, they don't. So none of your excuses about who's fault it is (patents, hardware vendors, lazy users, or whatever) matter at all. Cause in the end, all the end user cares about is "It doesn't work on Linux, or it is too hard to get working on Linux. And in Windows, it either just works, or is much easier to get working"
Member since:2006-02-01
Ok, That's about enough. I've watched you troll the hell out of this entire discussion and modded your ass down where appropriate.
""programs" was a typo. But click on a link in a browser that requires quicktime, and you will usually be offered the opportunity to install Quicktime with a minimum of hassle. "
So you don't even know the difference between an OS supporting a format and a particular web site offering a download because is has detected that you don't have the software to play the file you requested?
"I have over 15 years of combined experience with various flavors of Unix. I have also helped others do it. But if I had a nickle for every time some one came into an IRC channel to say "I can't get Quicktime videos to play in (insert distro here)", I would be a very rich person."
Somehow I seriously doubt that. Here's a hint. Real admins with 15+ years experience on UNIX don't whine because they can't figure out how to install a package on f--king Ubuntu.
Member since:2005-07-06
The distro I specifically had in mind was Ubuntu, which is supposed to be one of the more user friendly distros out there. I use it as an example because it shows that even what most consider to be the shining example of end user friendly Linux falls way short. And I have used plenty of other distros in my time as well. Fedora Core 4 and 5, Debian, Slackware, Gentoo, and, back in the day, Caldera (which was once the poster child of "Linux is now truly ready for the desktop thanks to Caldera... And we all know where Caldera went...).
You have not mentionned a single commercial distribution like Xandros, Mepis, Mandriva, Linspire to name few. Basically, your own example was already flawed from the beginning.
I don't need you to tell me. Iknow how to do it. I have over 15 years of combined experience with various flavors of Unix. I have also helped others do it. But if I had a nickle for every time some one came into an IRC channel to say "I can't get Quicktime videos to play in (insert distro here)", I would be a very rich person.
No matter the experience, we are learning everyday in our lifetime. A good expert is also a good learner and listener too. You keep whining about that particular issue yet you are unwilling to hear other people's advices therefore you are yourself to be blamed no matter the operating system used .
I did not give a false conclusion. I told you the truth you know is the truth, but don't want to accept.
Actually your imposed your view on a specifc distro (Ubuntu on your example) as if it is the only truth. I pointed out that is not depending of the users who have a different Linux based distro.
Beccause you would rather believe that the average computer user cares eenough about "freedom in software for everyone" that they are willing to put up with this kind of stuff.
The problem is you don't speak for the whole average computer user. For example, my mother and sister know how to use Fedora Core 5 once they got an explaination how the system works.
Member since:
2005-07-06
Zealot of a kernel?
Nice try. I only use your own example because you appear to be very familar with a Linux distro given the fact you mentionned how did you get the system work. Nowhere you cited which distro you use for your example so distros users can at least provide assistance as they can.
> This has a lot to do with license and patent issues.
The "It's not Linux's fault. It's patents." argument
You have omitting the quote about free distribution and commercial distribution. When you said Linux, what do you exactly mean? Note that I have specifically mentionned Linux distro which is completely different from Linux (i.e Kernel).
> You have to blame yourself given your knowledge
> of operating system
The "It's not Linux's fault. It's lazy users who don't want to learn details about their OS." argument.
Again, you didn't specify the distro you used for the example as I pointed out in the post. You keep blurring the difference with all Linux based distros. Basically, you knew what you are doing given the fact you have given the step how you manager to install that particular application.
> After reading the last paragraph, I wonder
> what distro did you use.
The "It's not Linux's fault. I never had that problem. The problem. The problem doesn't really exist" argument.
You haven't answered the question yet you have quickly trigged the gun about zealotry.
Again. Clue-by-four: The typical desktop user *does not care who's fault it is* All they care about is "It doesn't work. And I have to screw around to make it work. And even then, it often works poorly" And they care that there is no one they can call up and complain cause Linux just says "We offer no guarantees that anything will work with anything".
Sorry to burst the bubble, you gave a false conclusion with your example as you have deliberately avoided to specify the distro you use and you keep using "It's not Linux's fault" flag without hesitation. Due to this lack of information, I have intentionally not mentionned what to do for installing support for proprietary format.