Linked by Thom Holwerda on Mon 18th May 2009 19:06 UTC
Linux We all know them. We all hate them. They are generally overdone, completely biased, or so vague they border on the edge of pointlessness (or toppled over said edge). Yes, I'm talking about those "Is Linux ready for the desktop" articles. Still, this one is different.
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*sigh*
by BigDaddy on Mon 18th May 2009 19:55 UTC
BigDaddy
Member since:
2006-08-10

No this article is not different. It's point may be slightly different or worded different, but the fact remains that Linux is already on the desktop. It works well for professionals, intermediates and complete beginners.

I would say I am an intermediate. But the PC's I administer are for complete newbs. My in-laws were Windows familiar and my friend was a Luddite. Both parties are blissfully happy with their computers now.

I'll address a few:
0. Premise: As for the masses, no one cares. never even tried to explain it to my in-laws/friends. I just told them it was legally free.

1. No reliable sound system: Really? I didn't know that. I have never personally experienced this so I did not know this.

2. X system: Lets not bring Windows API into this. Not exactly the model of stability. And slow? Again, did not know this.

3. Problems stemming from the vast number of Linux distributives: I am not touching this other than to say that is a strength, not a weakness.

5.1 Few software titles: I literally dropped my jaw.

5.1.1 No equivalent of some hardcore Windows software: so stick to Windows. No skin off my nose.

5.2 No games: Again, jaw dropper. What the hell have I been doing with Secret Maryo Chronicles, Alien Arena, Wesnoth,... wasn't Doom also on Linux?

5.3 Incomplete or unstable drivers for some hardware: lol, yeah, Windows is the model to mimic here.

5.3.1 A lot of WinPrinters do not have any Linux support... no shit sherlock. In other news, water still wet.

7. A galore of software bugs across all applications: see my answer on 5.3.

Honestly, I just stopped here. If Linux works for you, it's ready for the desktop. It already does everything better FOR ME than my Windows installations ever did. Plus, I am having fun again with computers. No more antivirus, adware, malware, registry cleaners and everything else I had to keep up to date just to use my computer.

RE: *sigh*
by pcunite on Mon 18th May 2009 19:58 in reply to "*sigh*"
pcunite Member since:
2008-08-26

Honestly, I just stopped here. If Linux works for you, it's ready for the desktop. It already does everything better FOR ME than my Windows installations ever did. Plus, I am having fun again with computers. No more antivirus, adware, malware, registry cleaners and everything else I had to keep up to date just to use my computer.


I use windows in SRS mode (software restriction mode) and log into the system as a non-Admin. I use none of the above software you list. Send me a virus, really, it won't even execute.

Edited 2009-05-18 20:00 UTC

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 1

RE: *sigh*
by Mellin on Mon 18th May 2009 20:30 in reply to "*sigh*"
Mellin Member since:
2005-07-06

some winprinters are not supported on windows vista/7 same for other hardware

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 6

RE: *sigh*
by DavidSan on Mon 18th May 2009 22:53 in reply to "*sigh*"
DavidSan Member since:
2008-11-18

No this article is not different. It's point may be slightly different or worded different, but the fact remains that Linux is already on the desktop. It works well for professionals, intermediates and complete beginners.


You really have low standards.

I'll address a few:
0. Premise: As for the masses, no one cares. never even tried to explain it to my in-laws/friends. I just told them it was legally free.


Legally free, while it is nice, it does not make it, technology advanced, useful or competitive.


1. No reliable sound system: Really? I didn't know that. I have never personally experienced this so I did not know this.


Linux is terrible managing sound. Any audio experte can tell you that. The problem is Linux is not a preemtive kernel by default, so real time audio relies on fast hardware an sometimes luck.

2. X system: Lets not bring Windows API into this. Not exactly the model of stability. And slow? Again, did not know this.


Windows API, while not ideal or super modern is highly maintained.

3. Problems stemming from the vast number of Linux distributives: I am not touching this other than to say that is a strength, not a weakness.


It is a terrible weakness, especially for a developer that tries to sell its software.


5.1 Few software titles: I literally dropped my jaw.


Ok... what about software titles that people want to use?


5.2 No games: Again, jaw dropper. What the hell have I been doing with Secret Maryo Chronicles, Alien Arena, Wesnoth,... wasn't Doom also on Linux?


All that is available for Mac OS X and Windows too. All of it. Besides, all are old games.


Honestly, I just stopped here. If Linux works for you, it's ready for the desktop. It already does everything better FOR ME than my Windows installations ever did. Plus, I am having fun again with computers. No more antivirus, adware, malware, registry cleaners and everything else I had to keep up to date just to use my computer.


Very low expectations.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 2

RE[2]: *sigh*
by lemur2 on Mon 18th May 2009 23:51 in reply to "RE: *sigh*"
lemur2 Member since:
2007-02-17

Linux is terrible managing sound. Any audio experte can tell you that. The problem is Linux is not a preemtive kernel by default, so real time audio relies on fast hardware an sometimes luck.


Say what? The Linux kernel is not pre-emptive? On what planet?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preemption_(computing)
"Some modern systems have preemptive kernels, designed to permit tasks to be preempted even when in kernel mode. Examples of such systems are Windows NT, the Linux kernel 2.6, AIX and some BSD systems."


The Linux kernel aside from just supporting premption since version 2.6 can also be made real-time if required:

http://www.windriver.com/news/press/pr.html?ID=4261
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/02/10/redhat_mrg_fedora11/
http://www.novell.com/products/realtime/

Why is there so much misinformation talked about Linux? These facts are not hard to check.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonon_(KDE)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JACK_Audio_Connection_Kit
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PulseAudio

Edited 2009-05-19 00:01 UTC

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 6

RE[2]: *sigh*
by BigDaddy on Tue 19th May 2009 11:01 in reply to "RE: *sigh*"
BigDaddy Member since:
2006-08-10

You really have low standards.

Not really. If I did, I am sure you and I would be friends by now.

Legally free, while it is nice, it does not make it, technology advanced, useful or competitive.

Now see, this just screams to me, "I want to pick a fight."

Ok... what about software titles that people want to use?

I find this amusing since I switched to Linux because of the applications.

Very low expectations.

You know, why reply to a posting if all you want it a fight? Next time, just find somebody online and do a yo mamma joke on them.

Edited 2009-05-19 11:05 UTC

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 2

RE[2]: *sigh*
by Soulbender on Tue 19th May 2009 12:29 in reply to "RE: *sigh*"
Soulbender Member since:
2005-08-18

Oh I see. Anyone who doesn't use your decided set of applications have low standards. How convenient.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 3

RE: *sigh*
by darknerd on Tue 19th May 2009 05:19 in reply to "*sigh*"
darknerd Member since:
2009-05-19

Hehe, the game comment. It's like saying doesn't my calculator have tetris, it can play games too. But this is not the top of line 3D games.

Regardless, those that love Linux play games like World of Warcraft through cedega. There's a significant following for this.

Reply Parent Bookmark Score: 1