Linuxwatch.com is running a great story called "Five Reasons NOT To Use Linux." It includes a nice list of reasons why one might want to steer clear of Linux, along with a nice comparison to how easily these reasons are addressed in Microsoft Windows. 
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Member since:2005-07-14
Member since:2005-07-04
Is this guy serious? I'm a regular Windows/Mac user and in a recent foray into the Linux world, I decided to try to the most "userfriendly" distro around, Ubuntu 5.04. It took me ages working in the terminal and editing config files, typing in commands from ubuntuguide.org and random websites found through googling to get basic mp3 and video support, Japanese input, install certain programs, etc. I don't EVER have to do that in the Windows/Mac world unless I'm really trying to screw around with the computer.
Give Linspire or Xandros a shot. I used them both for a week and never touched the terminal once.
Member since:2005-07-07
Give Linspire or Xandros a shot. I used them both for a week and never touched the terminal once.
Nothing against you or your experience, but using something for a week doesn't say much at all. When most "ordinary people" want something to replace Windows or Mac, they want something that will last them years and years without major problems. Having to perform weekly maintenance or upgrades is bad, they just want to use the computer. (I know, this attitude is terrible, but most people have it.)
Member since:Yes. Because Joe Public uses Japanese input on a daily basis. It's a complete blocker. From experience I can tell you that my Gentoo installation would display Japanese characters by default, whereas Windows seems to decide at the toss of a coin.
Seriously, first person narratives are pointless, there is no average user. Especially not one who requires Japanese input on an English install.
Member since:2005-07-06
I do need Japanese input as do many, many foreigner I know who are living in Japan and/or working with Japanese clients.
Also displaying Japanese characters is one thing, typing them is another one. With WinXP you can easily display Japanese in the English OS, but I don't think it comes with an input method for Japanese.
You might have noticed that 106 keys are not enough to type every single one of the 1945 jôyô-kanji, so a simple japanese keyboard layout won't do. You need an "input method" to convert your typed romanized Japanese into kana and from there into Kanji. And that is always a big pain to get running on Linux if you're not running your OS in Japanese from the beginning.
On OS X it's three mouse clicks away to activate any input method for Japanese, Chinese, Korean etc. Even if you have switched your whole OS to German (as I have).
Member since:
"Even with the KDE and GNOME graphical windowing interfaces, it's possible -- not likely, but possible -- that you'll need to use a command line now and again, or edit a configuration file."
Is this guy serious? I'm a regular Windows/Mac user and in a recent foray into the Linux world, I decided to try to the most "userfriendly" distro around, Ubuntu 5.04. It took me ages working in the terminal and editing config files, typing in commands from ubuntuguide.org and random websites found through googling to get basic mp3 and video support, Japanese input, install certain programs, etc. I don't EVER have to do that in the Windows/Mac world unless I'm really trying to screw around with the computer.