Linked by Thom Holwerda on Tue 22nd Jan 2013 21:28 UTC, submitted by lemur2
"If you consider NetApplications' data set, then Linux owns only about 1 percent of the desktop OS market and Windows has almost 92 percent. But if you consider all computing platforms, including mobile, than Windows has only 20 percent and Linux has 42 percent - and that would be in the form of Google's Android alone." No more or less legitimate than claiming Windows owns 92% of the market. It's all a matter of perspective.
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Member since:2005-11-29
It is an utter myth that desktop Linux is deficient, except for the fact that most people are not offered a convenient and cost-proportionate way to purchase it pre-installed on decent hardware. That alone is the reason why it lacks more market share than it has (which is significantly more than 1% BTW).
I agree. While Linux has rough spots, they're no more rough than the roughest spots on Windows. That alone isn't impeding it. The desktop market has forces beyond the control of the various Linux initiatives similarly to how a lot of Windows Phone's marketshare woes are attributable to market conditions that outweigh the merits of the product.
Member since:2005-11-13
This is a myth. The selection of commonly-used desktop applications (mail client, web browser, file manager & utilities, office suite, say photo management & editing, etc) for Linux, along with the lack of malware and crapware and the need for anti-virus, make desktop Linux a far better choice for most people, since most people by far are not gamers.
I didn't say Linux didn't have any commonly-used desktop apps. I said there are BETTER ones and a WIDER VARIETY of them on other platforms.
it is an utter myth that desktop Linux is deficient, except for the fact that most people are not offered a convenient and cost-proportionate way to purchase it pre-installed on decent hardware.
And if they were, you could kiss that 'no crapware' sales pitch goodbye. Need proof? Just look at all the vile shit that is done to Android. If you want a decent Android phone without somebody putting crapware all over it, you basically have one model a year to choose from, and even that one is nearly impossible to get at the moment. Oh, I have that phone btw, and it is awesome
Edited 2013-01-22 23:26 UTC
Member since:2007-02-17
"This is a myth. The selection of commonly-used desktop applications (mail client, web browser, file manager & utilities, office suite, say photo management & editing, etc) for Linux, along with the lack of malware and crapware and the need for anti-virus, make desktop Linux a far better choice for most people, since most people by far are not gamers.
I didn't say Linux didn't have any commonly-used desktop apps. I said there are BETTER ones and a WIDER VARIETY of them on other platforms. "
There are indeed a wider variety of desktop applications on other platforms, but they are not any better.
"it is an utter myth that desktop Linux is deficient, except for the fact that most people are not offered a convenient and cost-proportionate way to purchase it pre-installed on decent hardware.
And if they were, you could kiss that 'no crapware' sales pitch goodbye. Need proof? Just look at all the vile shit that is done to Android. If you want a decent Android phone without somebody putting crapware all over it, you basically have one model a year to choose from, and even that one is nearly impossible to get at the moment. Oh, I have that phone btw, and it is awesome
" Actually, as it happens, I am typing this message on a consumer laptop machine that came pre-installed with Ubuntu and no crapware. I purchased it via a customisation page similar to the one linked below, by selecting "Ubuntu" and failing to select any version of Windows.
http://www.pioneercomputers.com.au/products/configure.asp?c1=3&c2=1...
Installing "crapware" is normally a way that OEMs use to offset the cost of Microsoft software they install on machines. If the OEM does not have to pay for Microsoft software, there is no need to offset such costs, and they can deliver a desktop/laptop machine with no crapware and the consumer can still save $AUD109 for the desktop & OS software alone compared with the exact same machine pre-installed with Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium or Microsoft Windows 8. An additional $AUD235 can be saved by not using Microsoft Office 2010 Home and Business Edition as the office suite. This is a significant saving, considering that the hardware itself is $AUD599.
... and it will have BETTER desktop software, and be far easier to maintain and keep running well, as a bonus.
The only real problem is that consumers are forced to shop online & really hunt around to find a great desktop Linux deal such as this, it is not commonly available in bricks & mortar stores.
Here is a glimpse of the desktop & OS software I am running right now, as I type this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ-JOo-tF_Y
"It is a delight to use KDE right now".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNQWVJPLjig
"Kubuntu 12.10 - Fun and Flashy Linux" - "I really like what I see".
Edited 2013-01-23 01:03 UTC
Member since:2007-09-22
I've actually seen the video where Shuttleworth mentions this.
This article says:
"He claimed Linux comes pre-installed on five percent of PCs globally now."
But I think he said: "will come pre-installed on five percent of the global PC-market".
This suggests to me, it hasn't happend yet.
Member since:2006-05-30
This is a myth. The selection of commonly-used desktop applications (mail client, web browser, file manager & utilities, office suite, say photo management & editing, etc) for Linux, along with the lack of malware and crapware and the need for anti-virus, make desktop Linux a far better choice for most people, since most people by far are not gamers
Really? I don't think so. Any serious musician will come up with little on LINUX that can rival Reaper, and that is probably the lowest tier DAW software. There are no half decent video editors - not with the features in apps like Avid and iMovie... both of which do a better job on iOS than a full blown LINUX distro. Where is the port of Photoshop these days? And Illustrator? GIMP is a plaything and Inkscape was still very lacking last time I looked. Where are the specialised drawing tools, such a Manga Studio (which I use on both Mac and Windows regularly)? If you only word process/uses spreadsheets, edit a few basic digital photos and make extremely simple movies I might agree. But no.
Features
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/13/13 14:35 UTC
The third and final WWDC product I want to talk about is - of course - OS X 10.9 Mavericks. While iOS 7 was clearly the focus of this year's WWDC, its venerable desktop counterpart certainly wasn't left behind. Apple announced OS X 10.9 Mavericks, the first OS X release not to carry the name of a big cat.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/11/13 17:07 UTC
We already talked about iOS 7 yesterday (after a night of sleep, it's only looking worse and worse - look at this, for Fiona's sake!), so now it's time to talk about the downright stunning and belly flutters-inducing new Mac Pro. As former owner and huge, huge, huge fan of the PowerMac G4 Cube - I haven't been this excited about an Apple product since, well, I would say the iMac G4. This is the Apple I used to love.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/10/13 23:13 UTC
Apple held its big keynote event thing at WWDC earlier this evening, but since I was away with friends I've had to read up on it later in the evening. The company announced iOS 7, OS X 10.9 Mavericks, and they gave a preview of the new Mac Pro. Especially the Mac Pro impressed me, and while iOS 7's new Holo/Metro-inspired theme looks messy and garish to me, I do commend Apple for finally breaking the mold. This news item will focus on iOS 7 - I'll dive into the Mac Pro and OS X 10.9 tomorrow (it's late here now).
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/08/13 14:57 UTC
And yes, the PRISM scandal is far, far from over. More and more information keeps leaking out, and the more gets out, the worse it gets. The companies involved have sent out official statements - often by mouth of their CEOs - and what's interesting is that not only are these official statements eerily similar to each other, using the same terms clearly designed by lawyers, they also directly contradict new reports from The New York Times. So, who is lying?
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/07/13 11:40 UTC
This story is getting bigger and bigger. Even though most Americans probably already knew, it is now official: the United States government, through its National Security Agency, is collecting the communications and data of all American citizens, and of non-Americans using American services, through a wide collaboration with the large companies in technology, like Apple, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and so on. Interestingly enough, the NSA itself, as well as the US government, have repeatedly and firmly denied this massive spying on Americans and non-Americans took place at all.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/04/13 12:45 UTC
Ah, patents - the never-ending scourge of the technology industry. Whether wielded by companies who don't actually make any products, or large corporations who abuse them because they can't compete in the market place or because they're simply jerks, they do the industry a huge disservice and are simply plain dangerous. According to The Wall Street Journal (circumvention link), president Obama is about to take several executive actions to address patent trolls - which may seem like a good idea, but I am very worried that all this will do is strengthen the positions of notorious patent system abusers such as Apple and Microsoft.
Linked by nfeske on 05/31/13 10:12 UTC
With version 13.05, the developers of the Genode OS Framework take measures to ensure that Genode continues to scale well with a growing number of users and the steadily broadening platform coverage. Further highlights are the improved SoC support for Exynos 5, OMAP4, Raspberry Pi, i.MX, and new components for realizing headless systems.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/29/13 16:59 UTC
At the D11 conference, Apple CEO Tim Cook once again took the stage to be interviewed by Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher. While most of the interview can be replicated by picking and reading 10 random Apple fanblog stories - there were still a number of very interesting things that warrant some closer scrutiny.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/24/13 17:26 UTC
So, the Xbox One disaster continues. Microsoft's policy for dealing with the used games market has reportedly leaked - and it's a clear and direct attack to destroy the used games market. Prices for used games will be set at the retail value of a new game, and retailers have to hook into Microsoft's computer systems and comply with Microsoft's terms and conditions.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/21/13 21:38 UTC
At an event earlier today, Microsoft unveiled the next Xbox - the third model, but confusingly named Xbox One. The big focus was TV, integrated Kinect, and all the other stuff we all expected to be forced down our throats. I think it took them 25 minutes to actually come to what should be the core of the story: gaming. Nothing groundbreaking in the gaming department, except for how Microsoft intends to handle the used games market and borrowing games from friends: pay up, buddy!More Features »
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Member since:
2007-02-17
Yes, absolutely. Despite the merits of each OS, Windows on mobile sucks ass for the same reason that Linux on the desktop does... there are much better apps/games (and a wider variety of them too) on other platforms. "
This is a myth. The selection of commonly-used desktop applications (mail client, web browser, file manager & utilities, office suite, say photo management & editing, etc) for Linux, along with the lack of malware and crapware and the need for anti-virus, make desktop Linux a far better choice for most people, since most people by far are not gamers.
Ubuntu Linux alone comes pre-installed on five percent of PCs globally now:
http://www.zdnet.com/shuttleworth-talks-up-ubuntu-12-10-growing-acc...
It is an utter myth that desktop Linux is deficient, except for the fact that most people are not offered a convenient and cost-proportionate way to purchase it pre-installed on decent hardware. That alone is the reason why it lacks more market share than it has (which is significantly more than 1% BTW).