"I recently read a story that asked, 'Has the Desktop Linux Bubble Burst?' Burst!? No, I don't think so. Actually, it still isn't even half as big as it will be when it's full. The author goes on to explain that he feels this way because GNOME 'lacks any form of a vision', while KDE4 is full of wonderful ideas, but not enough money and effort behind turning concepts into code. I don't see that at all. I think both popular Linux desktop environments are making good progress."
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Member since:2006-04-11
The anti-linux desktop people define "ready" as "Runs Windows Applications."
They don't realize that you don't need these cruddy programs to be productive. Hell, the Linux desktop comes with replacement applications all installed or ready to be installed at a mouse click.
Try doing that with Windows or a Mac.
Edited 2006-12-23 21:49
Member since:2005-07-09
Your comment wasn't bad, until you added your last statement. Have you ever installed an application in OS X? It certainly doesn't seem so.
In most cases, it's as simple as drag and drop. Now *that* is actually one click and one fluid motion.
I am not an "anti-linux desktop person" but do I think its ready? Not yet. Linux needs to be polished and my hardware needs to work. Practically any hardware I buy for my computer will work with OS X and Windows. Linux supports a *vast* majority of hardware out of the box, but when something isn't built into the kernel, for an average joe desktop user, adding that driver is in a lot of cases, not anywhere near easy. It's "stuff" like that that needs to be improved for Linux to become fully ready, in my opinion of course.
Member since:2005-07-06
"cruddy programs to be productive"
You do realise that some people do centre their business around a set of core applications on which they've automated their work flow on.
Instead of abusing the poor end user to buggery, how about lobbying the hold out ISV's comeing up with old wives tales as to why they won't port their application to Linux or some other *NIX of some sort.
Member since:
2006-02-08
Here here (I seem to say that a lot).
I run an office based entirely on Fedora thinclients (ten users)- and other than those who are unable to distinguish between a mouse and keyboard, we have little problems.
Nothing larger than using XP and having to overhead of licensing, security costs (spyware, viruses) I would say.
Linux has been more than 'ready' for the desktop for several years now, you just have to define what you mean by desktop first.