"My verdict: Even in the relatively slick Ubuntu variation, Linux is still too rough around the edges for the vast majority of computer users",
says Mossberg. Among others, he complains about one of the things I did too when I was writing my stream of Ubuntu reviews back in Spring.
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Member since:2005-11-10
You can write an article, but the fact of the matter is that Dell sells 99.9% Windows PCs for a living. They could not replace that with Linux tomorrow, without finding that Linux was totally and wholly inadequate for that size of crowd (and computer skill level). Their support systems would collapse under the weight of calls about "hardware faults" that were really ACPI-driver bugs, and "I can't play MP3s".
Member since:2005-11-10
I should add that Dell couldn't do that with OS X either. Microsoft's stranglehold on the industry is so severe that we're heading for some kind of industry disaster at some point unless Microsoft really starts interoperating without patent threats, backroom deals and faux-standards pushing.
Member since:2006-10-10
Let's be honest, the only reason why Dell sells anything, today, is because they are willing to cut their throats on price points. Their customer service is a joke, and their salespeople have all the knowledge of a Burger King manager selling TVs at Best Buy.
Their hardware is cheap and shoddy and basically harkens back to the Big 3 days of old where the car you bought was of better quality if it was assembled on a Tuesday vs. built on a Friday.
Member since:2005-07-06
I can see where you're coming from, but...
How about instead of trying to MATCH windows, trying to BE windows, trying to always win in comparisons with windows in every single way...
Why not EXCEED people's expectations. That's the only way MS is going lose any signifigant market share!
By winning, hands down. Being better in so many ways people make an effort to switch, or it makes big news and makes it into joe consumer's mindshare.
Member since:2005-12-09
You should have provided ways/areas wherein Linux exceeds Windows or should exceed Windows. It's one thing to yell, "we should be better!" it's (as my Dad would say) a far-nuther thing to provide examples. Windows has such a lock on what you must bring to the table for the consumer, that you in essence have to copy them in order to be visible in the same space. Look at OS X. It's a vastly different experience, to be sure, but there are the "windows" and the mouse pointer and so on. It plays mp3s and surfs the web. I don't know the exact point at which Apple's offering simply pulls away from Microsoft's, but my guess is that it would be a tad beyond basic functionality before it occurred. In order to be different enough to be vastly better, Linux would almost have to be unrecognizable, and then it would be biscuit to the cake (not a perceived one-for-one substitution).
Member since:
2007-03-29
Of course we would. But who never has any similar problem with Windows? Especially this kind of problem... Let's talk about the X configuration, complicated sound problems, video editing softwares if you really want to talk about SERIOUS problems. Those are just the everyday little problems of every OS. I can write the same article about XP or Vista honestly. Or the same article explaining that Ubuntu is nicer to use than Vista, based on a few nicely chosen examples.
That's a bit too short to me, sorry. I think people go beyond the first look, they are not stupid, he says it. So they know you will need some time to use a new system. But I'm confident most of them can simply do it.