Linked by David Adams on Thu 29th Sep 2011 23:47 UTC, submitted by lucas_maximus
Linux is struggling on the desktop because it only has a small number of "great" apps, according to the Gnome co-creator. Miguel de Icaza, co-creator of the Gnome desktop, told tech journalist Tim Anderson at the recent Windows 8 Build conference "When you count how many great desktop apps there are on Linux, you can probably name 10," de Icaza said, according to a post on Anderson's IT Writing blog. "You work really hard, you can probably name 20. We've managed to p*** off developers every step of the way, breaking APIs all the time."
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Member since:2005-11-13
I agree with Miguel, he's 100% on the spot about this, as usual.
Indeed he is. And the sad thing is that it has taken this long for him to realize it? Imagine how much further Linux could have progressed if they had figured this shit out in 2001 instead of now. Of course, it's not like us non-Linux users haven't been beating this drum for the past decade or more, but would anybody listen to us? Hell no. Why? Because obviously, having half a dozen desktop environments and 900 distros to choose from really IS a good thing
As for the '10 good desktop apps thing', can you list 10 really good apps that DON'T run on Windows?
Edited 2011-09-30 01:13 UTC
Member since:2007-02-17
As for the '10 good desktop apps thing', can you list 10 really good apps that DON'T run on Windows?
Depends what you mean by "really good apps". I will interpret it as meaning apps that are at least as good, if not far better, as those currently used for the same purposes on Windows. OK, challenge accepted.
Plasma desktop
digikam
krita
k3b
kate
okular
dolphin
Kst
Amarok
qalculate
Member since:2008-07-07
Member since:2008-10-28
Because obviously, having half a dozen desktop environments and 900 distros to choose from really IS a good thing
What's wrong with choices? Do you really want "one OS to rule them all"? That maybe fine for you and/or most people but, surprise, some other people like freedom (of choice) and are prepared to take the time to learn their way around and, sometimes, even put up with a botched upgrade and a reinstall -- as if such things never happen with a mainstream OS! But don't get me wrong: when I talk about choices I'm including Windows and OS X too.
As for the '10 good desktop apps thing', can you list 10 really good apps that DON'T run on Windows?
De Icaza was talking mostly about Windows 8 and Metro applications and didn't say "Linux only applications", so flipping the question on its head makes little sense to me. Unless, that is, you're interested in a pissing contest. ;-)
That said, I think there's plenty of "great" apps in Linux (and *BSD land) and any modern distribution makes for a fairly usable environment -- at least for the most common activities. It could be said that some of them are not as polished or as easy to use but, again, I value freedom most of all and I like the idea of an OS that's not controlled by a single entity. I don't know, maybe I'm a bit of an anarchist.
RT.
Member since:2006-01-04
Member since:2010-09-25
RE[2]: He's spreading FUD
by lucas_maximus on Fri 30th Sep 2011 09:59
in reply to "RE: He's spreading FUD"
Member since:2009-08-18
The guy wrote midnight commander, started gnome and mono and according to this quote
"I am not a Windows user. It’s probably the first time that I would use a Windows machine."
hasn't even thought about using Windows until now ... so how the hell can he be a MS fanboy?
He doesn't use their flagship products.
Member since:2007-09-22
Member since:2007-02-17
Blender isn't really a Linux app is it ?
You mean, "Blender isn't really a Windows app, is it?"
http://www.groklaw.net/articlebasic.php?story=20080511115151164
Microsoft has just approached the Blender guys, and I would assume have or will approach other FOSS projects since we learn that Microsoft has assigned a guy to work with Open Source projects, with a request for information on how to make Blender run better on Windows. Here's part of what Microsoft emailed to Blender:
With respect to Blender, what can you tell me about your community/user feedback that you have heard regarding file formats? Specifically, Microsoft is slowly shifting toward a more open standards based approach to its file formats. The ISO standard Office Open XML is an example of the direction we are moving towards. A good user experience of Blender on Windows is good for your project/community and good for Microsoft. What we are trying to understand is what file formats, which are not open or not fully open, are impeding the optimal experience with your community.
OOXML is an example of openness? They're kidding, right?
With respect to Blender, what can you tell me about your community/user feedback that you have heard regarding file formats? Specifically, Microsoft is slowly shifting toward a more open standards based approach to its file formats. The ISO standard Office Open XML is an example of the direction we are moving towards. A good user experience of Blender on Windows is good for your project/community and good for Microsoft. What we are trying to understand is what file formats, which are not open or not fully open, are impeding the optimal experience with your community.
OOXML is an example of openness? They're kidding, right?
You are right, Blender really isn't a Windows app. Microsoft wished it was.
Member since:2005-08-18
Member since:2009-05-19
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2005-06-28
I agree with Miguel, he's 100% on the spot about this, as usual. I can probably name 10 really good GUI Linux apps, but then it starts getting difficult (and I used to run the original Gnomefiles.org, so I've tried lots of such apps). Even apps that might be seen as more "revolutionary" than Win/Mac apps, these are usually not ready for the prime time (crash too easily).
I'd say that my favorite GUI Linux app at this moment is Blender 2.5x. Not quite there yet for tracking and other movie-related CGI work, but for stand-alone animations it beats many commercial offerings with its new streamlined UI.
Second app would probably be GIMP, despite its usability problems. Still no actual good video editor though, after 10 years of looking (and yes, I've tried them all): crashy, slow, missing features, buggy codecs, terrible usability. Just bad.